Sleeplessness

Dear Allison

Do you have any tissue salt recommendations for sleeplessness? I have an 18 month old toddler who is very insistent about not sleeping for more than about two hours at a time, every night. No exaggeration. This is the case whether he is teething, ill or normal, and it has been this way since he was about 4 months old. Needless to say, Daddy and I are exhausted and strung out.

At that around about two hour mark he will become increasingly restless, then start to moan and groan, and then finally he will start crying, or depending what mood he is in, scream-crying. This in turn will wake up his sister, giving Mom and Dad two headaches instead of one. Most times the only thing that will calm him is a milk bottle, and consequently we will go through about 4 bottles in the night, which in turn will result in many nappy changes.

We have tried not giving a milk bottle and only water or his dummy but he won't have it. Like I said, very insistent (lots of bottle throwing and lots of scream-crying).

We have tried melatonin as well as child safe antihistamines. Even, I am ashamed to admit, higher doses of pain medicine. That had a very minor effect. I am now using lavender oil and crystals but so far doesn't seem to be helping.

SO, is there anything you could suggest in the tissue salt range

Yours in hope
Tannith

Dear Tannith,

I feel for you all - this must be utterly exhausting. I assume you've had him checked out at the doctor to exclude any medical problems, although this sounds behavioural. I'm not sure if he sleeps much in the day at all to catch up after the night antics either; if so, it may be an idea to minimise or shorten daytime naps.

I'd suggest you try our Rescue Synergy to start out - generally, Kali Phos and Calc Phos help to calm anxiety and sleeplessness in children; the Mag Phos in the Rescue Synergy can help with tension or cramping if there is any of that, and Silicea also has a calming effect. I think all three of you could probably do well on it, and in his case give it to him routinely at least in the morning and evening, before bedtime and whenever he awakens at night.

I'd hope that the pattern will break after a short time. You can crush the tablets and either rub the powder onto the gums, dip the dummy into it or add it to the formula if you give a bottle at night.

I wish you all the very best, please let me know how you get on.
Alison

Dear Alison

Thank you very much for your quick response. It is much appreciated.

Yes, we have taken him to doctors and the ENT. In fact he had grommets put in when he was 9 months old due to continuous ear and nose infections. But the grommets only helped his sleep improve marginally.

I agree that this is a behavioural issue. We have tried training him in the past but he always won out with his strong will and persistent and loud voice, mostly because it would upset his sister trying to sleep in the next room.

I have ordered a bottle of your Rescue Synergy, so I will see how it works in 'taming' his temperament.

Thank you for your thoughts and suggestion. Hopefully this will have a positive effect.

Kind regards
Tannith

Wonderful, Tannith. I really hope so too! Please keep us posted as to how you get along.

All the best,
Alison