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My Grandaughter Wont Sleep

A MyAutismTeam Member asked a question 💭
Honey Brook, PA
January 29, 2015
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A MyAutismTeam Member

I'm sure everyone will go berserk on me when they see this, but my daughter is 11, and we have given her benedryl for several years when she can't sleep. The doctor actually suggested it, and it works. We know whether she's been active enough during the day to go to sleep at night. She also sleeps with me. Sometimes just seeing me turn off the lights and close my eyes will be enough to get her to follow. We've also used melatonin since she was about 5 years old.
I suggest you get her going on meditation and yoga while she's as young as she is and open to it.

February 1, 2015
A MyAutismTeam Member

Melatonin worked briefly, but honestly, the best thing has been to just let him sleep with us. I know it's not practical, but it calms him and I swear it's the reason for his positive self-esteem.

He starts off in his own bed. He knows if he can't sleep, he can read for a while and try again. If he still has no luck, then he can come and get us. We've got him in a double bed so either one of us crawls in with him or he crawls in with us.

We woke up with him most mornings until he was 12 and then the occurrences took a sharp decline. Now at 15 years, it happens only rarely and just when he's particularly stressed. I think just knowing we are there is enough at this point. I hope this helps.

January 31, 2015
A MyAutismTeam Member

I do melatonin on occasion when I know we have disrupted the schedule too much. But the rituals give me an acceleration to a sleep mode

February 3, 2015
A MyAutismTeam Member

This is the solution that has worked for my child. He is 10 years old. This has worked for him for about 3 years. Prior to that, he had other medications but they did not work or had side effects. About one year ago my son had started waking up during the night. He would go back to sleep but he wasn't as rested the next day. The psychiatrist added clonidine extended release - it has helped us.

February 13
A MyAutismTeam Member

My son’s brain doesn’t turn off on its own so we give him clonidine 2 hours before bedtime and then Melatonin. Most of the time you can see him start to get drowsy and fall off to sleep. If he doesn’t take clonidine he can be up until 2 am.

March 10, 2023

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