need advice

Joy - posted on 01/21/2011

Have you tried a "heavy" or weighted blanket? This may give him the sensory input he is seeking.

Jessica - posted on 01/19/2011

I think that maybe if you got your hair cut keep a couple strands and tie them up like they do for weaves and let him use that. I know "LOL" but really it could help. That is what I would do if I was in your shoes. My son has to have a specific blanket and it's fuzzy we tried when he was 2 to get rid of it but that didn't work out so well so needless to say it's all ragged and falling apart because he chews on it but he still has it and can't go to sleep without it. I hope you find a solution I know having achild with spd is frustrating and hard at times but they are really funny and joyous at other times too so that makes up for it, right? It gets easier as they get older if you start getting them prepared now.

Ashley - posted on 01/12/2011

OMG - that is exactly what my son has done since he was about 6 months old! I had to wean him from my hair mostly - at night I let him hold it a little, then I sit in a chair next to his bed when he is mostly asleep and let him fall the rest of the way asleep without it. In the night he has done much better since then. My parents recently got him a pillow pet and it has very fine fur. He keeps that by him and runs his fingers through that as well. He only wakes up about 2 times a night now. During the day I don't let him hold my hair at all. Trust me it was hard at first - and he would freak out. But he has gotten to the point where he only seeks it if he is tired or upset. I tried a doll and a furry animal with long hair, but it wasn't the same. Maybe if I had slept with it a few nights and given it my scent it would have worked better. He just turned 4 in NOV and we just got him to not be so obsessed about it.

Jennifer - posted on 01/07/2011

I use Melatonin for my daughter at night time as well. It works wonderful. She can focus much better at school when she gets a good night's sleep. I only give her a fraction of the dose the doctor suggested and she sleeps all night. She does have to have her 5 fuzzy pillows and we have to count them all to make sure she has all of them in the bed with her so she can "pet" them. The other option would be to get him a doll that has hair that feels real. Boys can have dolls too, right?

Andrea - posted on 09/23/2010

I agree with the Melatonin meds. I have two boys with SPD and it has come in handy many nights!!

Dori - posted on 09/21/2010

Is he seeing an OT? They can help with sensory issues, such as tactile needs. He needs to learn how to soothe himself to get to sleep and they can help you acquire tools to help your son do this.

Shelley - posted on 09/19/2010

A doll with long wolly hair worked for my son plus me cutting my hair short has helped alot he no longer is after my hair all the time to suck on.

Sandy - posted on 09/17/2010

Interesting. Get him something that has long hair he can touch, a stuffed toy, a wig, something of that nature. Try Melatonin for a sleep aid. I have twins win ASD that would stay up until 3 am, this worked mircles for me. However, if you use a picture schedule for a bedtime routine and incorporate the things the toy, melatonin, etc. aLso a reward chart next to the bedtime schedule with easy goals such as 3 stars a small cone at dq, etc.

Pick your battles one at at time. I chose getting mine to sleep was more imortanted than where they sleep. Many nights they sleep on the couch and that is fine for me becuase they are sleeping!!!! I would rather have them sleeping on the couch then staying up until 3am when they have just started 1st grade, kwim.