sleeping

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Kristal

For us, sleeping was a long term problem. Caitlyn

only got 5-7 hrs of sleep per night at the most for

the first two years. So my recommendations are based

on long term problems.

At age 2 we received authorizations from the MDs to

start sedating her. At first it took an adult dose of

Melatonin plus Benedryl to get her to sleep. Benedryl

prevents deep sleep, but it was better than nothing.

She would get an average of 10-12 hrs at night and be

very pleasant during the day for the first time in her

life. I don't recommend this for short term problems.

Last year we had to switch to Rx sedatives. We've had

great success, but they are addictive and should only

be used when all else fails.

Less invasive methods that brought success, leaving

either a CD playing on repeat play all night (Mozart

works great and also MIGHT, as some say, help brain

development--I do believe), or like when your CD

player breaks after 2 yrs of continuous nighttime use,

buy a $16.99 sound machine at Target. It has 8

sounds, heartbeat, white noise (great for kids like

Caitlyn who had hospital equipment in her room for the

first year of life), brook, rain, crickets, waves,

etc. It works great. Also, make sure your walls do

not have a pattern--it can overstimulate your child.

And keep a very strict bedtime routine and way of

handling night time rousings.

A book by V. Mark Durand called " Sleep Better! "

addresses sleep problems, particularly for special

needs kids. It's not a cure-all book, but it may help

you understand more.

Jeanne

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