Sleep study tonight....please wish me luck!

[Jend1002]

We are having a sleep study conducted overnight tonight. I am a stressed out mess! I can't even imagine that my son will sleep at all with sensors on his head. They assure me that they have done this many times but I still think that this will not happen and I will have an angry and overtired little guy on my hands.

I feel like we need to do this though - he has been a challenging sleeper and wow, the phases we have been through! We had about 4 weeks with a few STTN days per week. Now, he is up for 2+ hours straight every night. But even on the nights when he STTN, he was EXHAUSTED during the day. I am so curious if he ever gets restful sleep. If all goes well, I should know soon after the study.

Fingers crossed that we get any sleep tonight...

[Alisse]

If it happens that he doesn't sleep well tonight, don't fret too much in the wee hours; just remember that you're being the best mom that could ever be by attempting to have his sleep monitored.

Lots of love and luck!

[LadyCatherine185]

My DS has been a challenging sleeper his whole life as well. We recently nightweaned and moved him to his own bed with Daddy taking care of him when he wakes. He went from waking every 1-3 hours, to sleeping 5-7 hour stretches consistently. I don't know what you've tried, but this worked really well for us.

Just curious, is he teething? My DS would also wake for several hours in the middle of the night when he was in the midst of teething. He now has all of his teeth in (except 2 year molars) and I think that has really helped him be able to sleep better.

Also curious about the sleep study.. what are they looking for? And what can be done if he isn't sleeping soundly? I ask because I have looked into doing one as well, and even thought of doing it for myself, but realized that even if I and/or DS has a "sleep disorder" the "cure" that they would give would be strict scheduling (waking at the same time every day, going to bed at the same time every night), not responding to DS when he wakes at night, and for me taking some sort of medication. I was not comfortable with any of those things, so I decided to forgo the study. However, I read Sleepless in America, and that book really helped us organize our day to help DS sleep better and get to sleep easier.

[Jend1002]

You know LadyCatherine, he may be teething again. Although it would have to be his 2 year molars because he has the rest. Just like you said, when the other teeth were all through was when we started to actually have good nights. And now this - so maybe it is teeth again.

I totally get what you are saying about the "cure" if something is wrong. I think I am such a need to know kind of person. I just want to try to get at the root of his sleep issues, if there even is one. It's kind of a way just to either find something out or rule something out. We do have a pretty strict schedule already, mainly out of necessity. I will not let him cry, so that's off the table. And I won't medicate him - and neither will his neurologist. She said that flat out from the start. I just feel like I *have* to do something.

I have yet to read Sleepless In America and want to but for some reason, I am so afraid of hearing more reasons why lack of sleep is detrimental to a child's health and development. It makes me even more crazy about trying to get my son to sleep. Know what I mean?

[LadyCatherine185]

I dont' know that Sleepless in America will make you feel guilty, but if it does just SKIP that part! Have you taken him to a chiropractor or chraniosacral therapist? Have you nightweaned? Have you looked into food allergies? How is his development? Does he seem to have any sensory issues?IMO, the sleep issue is usually the result of something else going on, not the cause. For us, DS had gotten into the "habit" (I really hate using that word, but that is what it was for us) of eating at night (nursing). Once that wasn't an option for him anymore, and his body got used to not getting calories during the night, he began sleeping SO much better. Last night he slept straight from 9-5, then went back to sleep until 6:20. Ask me a few months ago if I ever thought that was possible.. NO WAY!

I hope you get some answers.

[Jend1002]

What a night! My little guy was so good. We actually made it until 4 am with all of that stuff attached to him. Turns out he stops breathing - A LOT. It was scary to see the oxygen level drop. He doesn't sound like he isn't breathing which is why I just didn't know. I have to wait for the neurologist to call to discuss the results. He also had a lot of abnormal transitions between sleep cycles.

As far as the other things you mentioned, I think that we have looked an many of those things and that is why he is sleeping better now than before. All of the things you listed are great suggestions!! He does have sensory issues and we work with an OT on that. He is off of cow's milk and takes probiotics - both of those things helped. He is completely weaned, but for a while, I had been giving him bottles at night to get him back to sleep. Eliminating that has really helped too.

I am glad that your DS is sleeping now - I remember some of your earlier posts and this is such a huge change for you - what a relief!! Do you feel like a new woman?!

[Louisep]

Originally Posted by Jend1002

Turns out he stops breathing - A LOT. It was scary to see the oxygen level drop. He doesn't sound like he isn't breathing which is why I just didn't know. I have to wait for the neurologist to call to discuss the results. He also had a lot of abnormal transitions between sleep cycles.

I am so glad you have some answers. I admit to being skeptical about the sleep study. Let us know what solutions the neurologist comes up with. Good luck.

[LadyCatherine185]

Originally Posted by Louisep

I am so glad you have some answers. I admit to being skeptical about the sleep study. Let us know what solutions the neurologist comes up with. Good luck.