Child won’t sleep. Need suggestions

[SharMor]

Hi, I’m new to the group. I’m raising my granddaughter who has ADHD, SPD, and may be ASD. She is 8 years old. She takes 15mg of Ritalin 3 times a day, Wellbutrin 150mg in the morning, and .2 clonidine, 5 mg melatonin, and 50 mg trazadone at night. Usually this works well. Every few weeks the sleep meds don’t work and she is up all night. She trashed the living room and draws all over herself, and sometimes other things, as well as sing loudly to the tv. I leave the room to try and remove additional stimulus but after a while she starts seeking me out and can be physically aggressive. She will laugh while she is attacking me because she thinks my reactions are funny. Anyone have suggestions? I get so frustrated I don’t know what to do.

[Mommabear08]

My son has ADHD and ODD oppositional defiant disorder and he does some of the similar stuff he will destroy whatever he wants be disrespectful rude violent and laugh in my face while doing it he will pull these random all niters and not sleep all night go to school the next day come home and stay up till 10 PM that following nite melatonin does the opposite for him but I finally found that if I put lavender oil in his bath water and then rubbing some on his feet and put socks on him he's out within 30 min

[SharMor in reply to Mommabear08]

I tried lavender before I did melatonin. It did not do anything. Thank you for letting me know she not the only one. I appreciate it.

[Boodle1018 in reply to Mommabear08]

I’m a grandma of a 6 ur old boy and sometimes i wonder if he is ODD .. how did you get that diagnosis?

[SharMor in reply to Boodle1018]

My granddaughter was hospitalized twice due to a severe meltdowns that lasted quite a while. The diagnoses started there and continues to see a psychiatrist to continue diagnostics. It has been a long process that actually started with the school.

[Mommabear08 in reply to Boodle1018]

From his pediatrician I went and seen him with my son and explained what was going on and he diagnosed him

[Mommabear08 in reply to Mommabear08]

I also googled it Oppositional defiant disorder after he was diagnosed and everything fit

[LL_Mom in reply to Mommabear08]

Hello...How have you learned to handle ODD? I know that each child is different, but what has helped you?

[MotherofthreeKs]

Double the melatonin and trazadone

[Chazzy14]

Hi. I have a 7 yr old with adhd. I am trying to remove most sugar as well as most gluten from his diet. Im learning that those products are very bad for children with these issues. Watching labeling more, and not so quick to get fast food for him. I have to cook more whole foods. I also give him multivitamins daily including, vitamin D, and omega 3 fish oil for children that has less of the fish taste. (I have to give the fish oil in a bit of milk or yogurt to mask the taste & smell for him). Also learned that artificial food coloring is harmful to them as well. So in the candy, soda, a lot of juices etc.. just check labels and opting for all natural products or organic. Hope these suggestions help.

[cnp06 in reply to Chazzy14]

Which vitamin d brand do you give your child? Is there a children's version?

[Chazzy14 in reply to cnp06]

Hi. The vitamin D i give him is a brand called yummi bears. They are all natyral fruit flavored gummy vitamins. Allergen, gluten, & dairy free.

[cnp06 in reply to Chazzy14]

Thank you

[ladysoc]

My son is now 15. He has had periods of insomnia, too. Some other things we tried:

Exercise every day ("Run him like a dog" is what my pediatrician advised)

Warm milk at bedtime

Valerian root supplement

Sleepy Time tea

Badger Balm that is rubbed into temples at bedtime

Lavender bath salts

Weighted blanket

Having a consistent bedtime routine helps (bath at 8 PM, stories afterward, then lights out at 845, for example). Have you tried a sleep sound machine? My son cannot sleep without the sound of the tabletop fan in his room. I didn't try this, but wonder if a light projector/toy might help your granddaughter?

My son has had similar episodes; I will share with you what my husband tells me when I get frustrated and it helps me: He didn't ask to born like this. Our son's therapist pointed out that when he is acting out, he doesn't want to be but just can't help himself. I know how frustrating this can be; remember, you are not alone! Hang in there!

[SharMor]

Thank you for all the wonderful suggestions!

[ADHDMOMNAT]

Try these you can get them at Walgreens ZarBee's Naturals Children's Sleep Aid Chewable Tabs Grape

[Samanthabailey]

Hi my son who is 9 is on the same night time meds and I usually give him a week break of the meds as I found they didn't work but since doing this its been better.i can totally relate with u

[SharMor in reply to Samanthabailey]

A week break seems a little scary as she has gone for days without sleep before her meds and was very aggressive, but I will keep that in mind. Maybe a shorter time than a week. Thanks for your input!

[Karibear21]

My 21 year old daughter has gone weeks without sleeping for more than an hour or two and mostly less. We have tried just about everything, clonidine, trazadone, Flexeril, melatonin, warm milk, bananas, turkey. We are desperate.