The Great Sleep Experiment - Part 2

So in Part 1 I told you a million reasons why Tom never slept well. With so many surgeries and recovery periods he just never had the chance to get a routine going before it would be disrupted again.

When we tried sleep training he could never reach the point of falling asleep in his own bed. He would cry until he threw up. So we accepted that he was not capable of being sleep trained at that time and just did what we could to get him to sleep. We used to stay in the living room (tv low and lights off) and let him fall asleep on the couch with us and then we would carry him up to his bed already asleep.

Sometimes he didn't fall asleep until 1:00 am or 2:00 am. He would sleep a couple hours in his bed and then wake up and not be able to get himself back to sleep. Of course he couldn't! He had never developed the ability to fall asleep by himself.

But this December I noticed some changes in him. He was no longer sleeping peacefully in our bed. He was getting up every hour and restless all night. No one was sleeping well. I began to wonder if he would sleep better in his own bed. I think he was too hot and too crowded in bed with us.

Napping post-surgery, Spring 2011

We had also asked Tom's doctors about trying Melatonin many times. But that was before he got his g-tube and he was very underweight. The next time we asked he was on a strong diuretic to help relieve glaucoma pressure. Each time there was a reason why it was not a good time to introduce a new medicine.

But this December there was no reasons not to try Melatonin. Tom's only meds are two eye drops for his glaucoma and his weight no longer a worry. I did some internet research and found tons of studies on the use of melatonin in blind children. I even found what dosages these children were getting. I called Tom's pediatrician down at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh (Diagnostic Referral Team) and got the go ahead to try Melatonin. I was able to purchase it over the counter at my local CVS!

Tom is now getting 9 mls of Melatonin about 30 minutes before his bed time. The melatonin helps his body recognize that it is time for sleep. I think that was a major problem for him. His body never knew when to sleep before he started getting Melatonin.

So the Melatonin was a start but it wasn't keeping him asleep. He was still waking up and wanting into our bed. It was time to try sleep training again. (Deep Breath) Sleep training is ugly business but necessary. It is not for the weak. You need an iron will and the knowledge that you are doing this for everyone's benefit.

So while we were was off from work during the holidays I decided to try sleep training again; this time armed with Melatonin and a much older Tommy. The first night was awful. I put Tom into his bed at 9:00 and explained that it's time for him to start sleeping in his big boy bed all night. He wouldn't lay down and he cried and cried. He couldn't believe that he was not getting his way. I repeatedly helped him lay down but I wouldn't pick him up and comfort him. I helped him to lay down and rubbed his back and talked to him.

Wide awake in the back seat

But he never got hysterical like he had before. He complained and he cried but this time their were cycles of quiet too. I stayed in his room quietly and there was quiet music playing. Every time he started to cry hard I reassured him but otherwise I was quiet. He fell asleep at 2:00 that morning.

Every night got a little better. Now sometimes he doesn't even cry when we put him in his bed. I hear him wake in the night now and he is able to fall back asleep himself. I think he was ready to sleep in his bed. Even with Melatonin I don't think this would have worked last year.

Tonight Tommy fell asleep at 9:00. Now it's my turn.