only 5-6 hours of sleep

[Blackcat31]

How could anyone NOT love sleep? Are you human?:: I can't imagine a child sleeping only 5-6 hours when they "require" twice that amount. I mourn sleeping like it was a dead relative! My DCK's who are 3 & 4 can't function without nap-they are cranky by 4PM and their parents tell me that they are nightmares in the evenings when they don't sleep here (I can make 'em lay down, but I can't make 'em sleep).

She doesn't like to eat either!

Seriously, BC...two of the best things in life How do you stay so happy and upbeat? It's just not right!

I dont know.
Seriously, I dont know why I dont sleep, like it or seem to need it :confused:
It used to worry me but I'm very healthy, don't smoke, drink alcohol only once in a while and feel good so... ??

I "force" myself to go to bed by midnight (I say force because I don't feel tired but must be) and I get up by 5:00 a.m. naturally. No alarm necessary.

I feel well rested, don't yawn or feel tired at all during the day.

I don't remember ever napping.

The upbeat/happiness? ....... that's just what feels natural.
Life is just cool... Kwim? Everything is interesting. Literally. :

wow.... do you wish that you would have known earlier that your son had a disorder?

I am wondering if knowing that there is one will make any difference. is there anything that anyone can do to help this child?

YES!! I think he couldve gotten more help and felt better about himself. If we'd had some sort of diagnosis... A starting point.
Something other than just making do and surviving from day to day.

Yes I wish we wouldve known early.

[daycare]

I dont know.
Seriously, I dont know why I dont sleep, like it or seem to need it :confused:
It used to worry me but I'm very healthy, don't smoke, drink alcohol only once in a while and feel good so... ??

I "force" myself to go to bed by midnight (I say force because I don't feel tired but must be) and I get up by 5:00 a.m. naturally. No alarm necessary.

I feel well rested, don't yawn or feel tired at all during the day.

I don't remember ever napping.

The upbeat/happiness? ....... that's just what feels natural.
Life is just cool... Kwim? Everything is interesting. Literally. :




YES!! I think he couldve gotten more help and felt better about himself. If we'd had some sort of diagnosis... A starting point.
Something other than just making do and surviving from day to day.

Yes I wish we wouldve known early.

THANKS BC for your feed back. makes me realize that I do need to press the issue at least one more time. i know the parents feel something is not right. they tell me this all of the time. I always tell them they should talk the their doctor. but when they do, the doctor tells them they are not concerned. doc says everything developmentally about the child is on point so nothing to be concerned about.

I do have video of this child for almost a year. I did a school project on concept development and would video me teaching the class and then write my papers off of it. Every video you see the anger in this childs face. You see then withdrawn and you see them stimulate themselves to no extent. perhaps I should share with the doctor a few of my videos strung together and my observations.

I am feeling bad that I didn't push harder earlier with the parents, but since the brother fought sleep at home too, I didn't think much of it and saw it as a behavioral issue. i think it is way past that at this point.

I hope I can be of some help to this child. you know me. I have to try at least one last time before I throw in the towel.

btw off to the hospital..I am going to be mad if they give me a casting for my foot....oh bloody hell I am mad..... opps

[e.j.]

He has never been officially diagnosed but more than likely has Aspergers.

I know he has always had sleep issues but we've never figured out why or the root of them. He is currently being screened for a sleep study so we may have some answers but I dont know yet.

Many kids with Asperger's have sleep problems so his sleep issues may be part of that syndrome. My son used to have so much trouble falling asleep when he was younger. I lost so many nights of sleep because all he wanted to do at night was talk, talk, talk - especially when he was anxious about something - which was pretty much all the time!! As an adult, he's still very much a night owl and there are many nights when, after talking for hours with him, I have to just tell him I need sleep and we can pick the conversation up again tomorrow.

Daycare, I don't know if any of the tips in this link would help but I thought I'd post it just in case: http://www.aane.org/asperger_resourc..._asperger.html

[daycare]

Many kids with Asperger's have sleep problems so his sleep issues may be part of that syndrome. My son used to have so much trouble falling asleep when he was younger. I lost so many nights of sleep because all he wanted to do at night was talk, talk, talk - especially when he was anxious about something - which was pretty much all the time!! As an adult, he's still very much a night owl and there are many nights when, after talking for hours with him, I have to just tell him I need sleep and we can pick the conversation up again tomorrow.

Daycare, I don't know if any of the tips in this link would help but I thought I'd post it just in case: http://www.aane.org/asperger_resourc..._asperger.html

awesome read...thank you so ooooooo much

sorry i had to giggle at this part


Diet

It is recommended that children with sleep problems avoid all caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, high fat food, and monosodium glutamate (MSG). In contrast, food rich in protein may promote better sleep. Large meals within 2-3 hours of bedtime should also be avoided.

[Leigh]

She doesn't like to eat either!

[e.j.]

awesome read...thank you so ooooooo much

sorry i had to giggle at this part


Diet

It is recommended that children with sleep problems avoid all caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, high fat food, and monosodium glutamate (MSG). In contrast, food rich in protein may promote better sleep. Large meals within 2-3 hours of bedtime should also be avoided.

:: Yup; take that beer can and cigarette away from him as soon as he walks in the door! ::

[Blackcat31]

Yes. I am a weird eater too...
Eating completely utilitarian to me and I honestly couldn't care less if I ate the same thing day in and day out for every meal. Its simply an act of survival.

:: Yup; take that beer can and cigarette away from him as soon as he walks in the door! ::

Lol! ::

Your descriptions of your son are similar to the experiences I've had with mine.

[Blackcat31]

THANKS BC for your feed back. makes me realize that I do need to press the issue at least one more time. i know the parents feel something is not right. they tell me this all of the time. I always tell them they should talk the their doctor. but when they do, the doctor tells them they are not concerned. doc says everything developmentally about the child is on point so nothing to be concerned about.

I do have video of this child for almost a year. I did a school project on concept development and would video me teaching the class and then write my papers off of it. Every video you see the anger in this childs face. You see then withdrawn and you see them stimulate themselves to no extent. perhaps I should share with the doctor a few of my videos strung together and my observations.

I am feeling bad that I didn't push harder earlier with the parents, but since the brother fought sleep at home too, I didn't think much of it and saw it as a behavioral issue. i think it is way past that at this point.

I hope I can be of some help to this child. you know me. I have to try at least one last time before I throw in the towel.

btw off to the hospital..I am going to be mad if they give me a casting for my foot....oh bloody hell I am mad..... opps

I think the biggest thing was the self esteem. My son suffered from low self esteem because he knew he was "different". ...Add in not really knowing why or how to treat it and what little self esteem left was depleted.

I hope your ankle is okay.
Maybe it's just sprained... instead of broken... That would be better than a cast.
Let us know...

[e.j.]

Your descriptions of your son are similar to the experiences I've had with mine.

Ditto. Self-esteem has always been a big issue for my son. He's such a good guy - kind, thoughtful, intelligent, great sense of humor.... I wish he could see himself through my eyes. School bullying took such a toll on him that even now at 24, he struggles to see his strengths.

[e.j.]

THANKS BC for your feed back. makes me realize that I do need to press the issue at least one more time. i know the parents feel something is not right. they tell me this all of the time. I always tell them they should talk the their doctor. but when they do, the doctor tells them they are not concerned. doc says everything developmentally about the child is on point so nothing to be concerned about.

I had a hard time getting my son's pediatrician to see my concerns, too. He just about laughed me out of his office once when I mentioned that I thought my son had AS. I dropped it for a little while but then started to write down all behaviors I was seeing at home. I gave the dr. my list and told him if it wasn't AS, it was something similar. It wasn't until he read through my list that he realized the kid he saw in his office for 30 minutes every 6 months or so wasn't the same kid I was seeing at home. You might want to suggest that these parents write down the behaviors they're seeing at home and if you're willing, you could also provide a list of things you see at dc. It might help the dr. understand that he isn't seeing the whole picture during the short office visits he has with this boy. Also, if you wouldn't mind sharing that video you have, it might give the dr a lot of insight as to what you're all seeing that he isn't.