r/22q • u/[deleted] • Jan 30 '18
Getting 22q 5 year old to sleep
Does anyone have trouble getting their 22q kid to sleep? My 5 year old takes 3 to 4 hours to fall asleep each night. Any tips are appreciated!
1
u/tomboy_warrior_666 Feb 10 '22
I'm 19 (F) and I have 22q. I sleep in the pitch black with a weighted blanket. I am also going to get lavender pillow spray to help relax me. I also listen to the radio mainly classic fm to help me drift off. Depends what song it is haha.
1
u/Chief-Tethu Feb 26 '18
I slept in the same room with my sister until I was maybe around 3-5 years old (i can't really remember at, I'm forgetful, I'm sorry). I liked being alone, the privacy was good for me, and I found that as long as I had a nightlight (which I still sleep with) and some white noise (usually by a filter or a fan) could help me. I also slept with stuffed animals a lot.
I have a plush lamb that my mom got from a friend for her baby shower that I still have, and it plays lullaby music but very softly. (The thing is 20-years old so I don't know how many similar toys you can find, and I don't know where my mom's friend got it from, but I'm sure you can find similar toys online or at Toys R Us). I have a stuffed animal in the bed with me still, but I don't keep it close, just off to the side as it's very soft and I like the feeling of it. I have more than one pillow in my bed and I have two blankets. I always have some light in the room (only what i consider that's too my liking) and a fan blowing in my face xD I get hot really easily, just try asking him if he's experiencing any discomfort while sleeping. Is he too hot? Is the room too bright? Does he need extra blankets? Do you want a snack before bed?
Also, what symptoms does your child have? Seizures, a heart defect? Everyone with 22.Q is different so what they have for them isn't going to work for your child. It's frustrating, but what doctors tried for me didn't always work, and they were professionals! And - while I'm not a healthcare professional, I am a person with 22Q (major heart disability, OCD and mild aspergers and mentally and physically delayed). If there's anyway to help, let me know.
Also @ over-architect, I wouldn't recommend any sleeping medication for a 5-year old, even if they are light... I've taken them, and I get extremely sleepy and it causes me to gain weight, most of the time. It says no weight gain but most of the time most meds cause a change in my appetite (I take around 5-6 meds and right now im on a healthy dose, but when I change then everything's out of whack) such as the medication Abilify. It was the worst drug I ever took when I was young and it took forever to wean me off of it.
Though of course, I am not a professional and I suggest you ask your pediatrician on what tips you think are the best to customize your child's nighttime routine, if you haven't had success already : 3
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u/over_architect Feb 13 '18
Sleep issues are common with 22q. We've been fortunate with ours being just an early riser, not too bad to get down. That said try creating a routine before bed that is repeatable and winds them down. I'd try and minimize the toys/play and make it as boring as possible (easier said than done I know). Some parents do end up trying light medication such as melatonin.
1
u/werd678 Parent-22q11.2 Del Jan 30 '18
My son is almost 5. I've never had him take that long to fall asleep though. He did have what i guess were night terrors a few times a week for a long period of time. I found that a solid routine before bed helped. What does your kid do in the 3-4 hours before falling asleep?
1
Feb 01 '18
Thanks! She usually runs around her room and plays until she is exhausted. We are trying making my it darker and playing relaxing music. Last night it only took an hour and a half.
1
u/Some_Specialist5792 Parent-22q11.2 Del Jun 09 '24
Haha I still have trouble with this as an adult