New to community

[lmeyer0423]

hello community! my name is Lauren and I have a 5 year old son named Lincoln who was recently diagnosed with ADHD this year. I am 24 and a (mostly) single mom. My son visits his father on the weekends. Since birth I have noticed signs of adhd in Lincoln. Rarely slept, cannot keep concentrated and extreme behavioral outburst. We have been working with a behavioral center with in home therapy since September of last year along side a psychiatrist who has provided him medication for his adhd. Lincoln has made tremendous improvements since starting therapy and medication but, as I think for most of us, is still struggling a lot with emotional self control. I am here in hopes to find support from other parents who are in the same situation as I am! I look forward to chatting with you all and giving and receiving advice!

[Kaysmom84]

Welcome! What a beautiful child! Glad to know we are all in this together! I have a 10 yr old recently diagnosed with adhd feel free to message me anytime!

[zetareticulibound]

Hello and welcome! I, too, am a newcomer here and I'm so grateful to have found this community. You and your son are just lovely. I have a question for you. You mentioned that he showed signs since birth, and my 11 year old daughter did as well. You know how when you're expecting a baby all the "old wives" provide you with well-meaning advice to see you through those first few months of new motherhood and you think you're going to be able to handle things just fine? They tell you "sleep when the baby sleeps!" and then... your baby doesn't sleep? Like, ever? lol. I have been there. I was wondering what other behaviors Lincoln displayed as an infant that made you wonder what was different. My daughter required constant motion, otherwise she screamed. One could not sit down and hold her; they had to be standing up and, not cradling her, but rather holding her upright so she could "survey her kingdom," as her father liked to say. She had severe colic from 4 weeks to 8 months. I could find no solution to her constant screaming. She loved eating, though... nursing her was the only thing that made her calm. She refused a pacifier. She only slept (in short bursts) in her papasan swing, and so we relied heavily on that for many months. We should have bought stock in Duracell. Anyway, just curious as to what you experienced with your son as an infant. It was a very dark time in my life, when all I wanted was to be able to enjoy my new baby! None of my friends can relate and it's kind of hard to feel happy for them, lol. Some friend I am.

[ChristinaReader in reply to zetareticulibound]

Yes I'm curious how other babies with ADHD were acting as infants too. My daughter was in constant motion. She had to be held up and facing out so she could see everything. She slept for only 20 minutes at a time, unless we were in the car but that wasn't a guarantee. She never ate well, barely nursed, didn't finish bottles when we switched at 6 months and would rather play with her food then eat it. She screamed, not crying, screaming for one or two hours two or three times every day from day three until she was about five months old. She was an angry baby. One doctor said "failure to thrive" but the second said she was healthy and growing just at the bottom of the curve. It was not colic they told me. All of her milestones (crawling, walking, talking) were right on time or just a little early. I thought I would die the first two months, it was unbelievably hard. At about six months she started sleeping four or five hours on most nights and I felt like I got my sanity back. Once she could walk at eleven months she was so happy. She walked and ran everywhere. Life was better. Anyway, what did you notice in your ADHD baby?

[Eliza2013]

My daughter is 4.5 and recently diagnosed. We didn't know from birth as she was a great baby .. however sleeping was always a challenge. She refused to sleep in her crib and we failed with all Sleep Training methods . When we recently told the doctor this, she said she isn't surprised, as they usually do with kids like my daughter. She has ALWAYS been strong willed, and independent . Another thing that we always knew wasn't right, is that she would always run away form us . We could never go on a walk, bc she would just jet off. It doesn't matter if we were by our home , or in a store. Even now at 4.5, she will wander and not look back. Much different to my 18 month old, who is aware of where I am at all times, and knows not to go too far.