An anonymous parent writes: Just a little something I thought worth sharing in case it could be of use to someone out there...Our highly gifted 6 year old has always had trouble sleeping: going to sleep and staying asleep. She didnt stop waking us up in the night until she was 5 years old (she still wakes up, but is now content to read until she feels sleepy again). As for going to sleep, having a rigid routine has, for the most part, helped us all a lot but some nights she will still lie awake for two or more hours, unable to switch off. We have a very soothing, comforting night-routine; I have taught her deep breathing (which has helped some), but in desperation - after another spate of falling-asleep-struggles which inevitably involve us - I undertook another bout of frantic researching, and I added two more things to our routine which seem to have tipped the bucket a bit further: 1) Dry brushing when she first gets into bed, before Bible and stories, calms her fidgets enormously! I just use a natural-bristle brush and brush towards her heart, starting in the front of one leg, the underside, the sole of her foot, then the other leg, then a similar pattern on each arm - top and underside, including her hand in the motion - then her back, and she likes her tummy done last. I do about five strokes per limb/torso side. 2) A laser-cut glass angel ornament that sits on a LED light base - we turn this on when we leave the room and for almost two weeks now we havent heard from again after doing so! Research I did indicated red lava lamps worked best for this but I have not been able to get one yet and so far the LED lit angel is working...She overnighted at my Moms a couple days ago (usually a nightmare!) and with Nana adding the two new steps to the routine it was the best sleepover theyve ever had. FYI: oils and various natural remedies have not helped; CDs worked when she was littler but soon had the opposite effect, keeping her more awake; white-noise Im still testing. Good-luck to those of you still stuck in the sleep trenches - it does get better! Onwards and upwards....
Posted on: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 18:00:20 +0000
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