My daughter is 4 1/2 yrs old. She wakes up between 2 to 5 times per night with meltdowns (crying, screaming, head banging). The meltdowns usually last about 15 to 20 minutes. If we have to restrain her from hurting herself, she becomes combative. It is awful to watch her go through this. Plus, we are all exhausted. Any advice would be really appreciated.
Are you sure they aren't night terrors? My son has these, wakes up approximately 90 minutes after he goes to sleep, out of it, kicking/fighting wildly, urinating, and in an utter panic. If we don't calm him all the way, he keeps rehaving these. The less we ask him questions the better it goes.
Something I found with the night terrors, and why investing in a nutritionist has perhaps worked for some, is that the terrors can be set off by stress in the immune system or nutrition wise. My son's first started on a regular basis after a medical issue where he became anemic. This led to my own research which showed the connection. His use of an iron supplement has helped in reducing the frequency of the night terrors and his pica, but both still occur.
My daughter had the night terrors. The only way we solved those, and kept them from coming back was to get her deeper in sleep at night. It was a vicious cycle. Benedryl is what works for her sleep. Simple, but awesome. Extra benefit, she breathes easier at night because her allergies are treated, too.
Try GF diet, if you are not trying already, it helped my son with the sleeping issues.
Have you invested in a nutritionist? It is costly however the benefit for us was amazing. You daughter might be frustrated that she unable to sleep. Karen Nielson helped my son with sleeping issues. Www.senseablesupplaments.com hope that helps :)