10 Year old boy with Cerebral Palsy having trouble falling asleep

[stressed6004]

My 10 year old son whom also has cerebral palsy has always had seperation anxiety.  About, a year ago he was having trouble falling asleep.  He said that he was afraid that strangers would come into our house.  The pediatrician reccommended that he be the one to set the alarm and make sure that doors and windows were locked at night.  That to our amazement helped him relax and fall asleep.  But, just about a week ago he started having trouble again falling asleep.  He says that he is afraid of dead people.  We think that it may be anxiety since school just started today as well.  Since last school year he had kids that would tease and make fun of his physical disability.   We, my husband and I have tried to understand and stay calm but I think that it is getting harder and harder because it seems as though the older he gets the worse things seem to be.  

What should we do?  Do we let him sleep with us?  We have even at times put our 9 year old son while asleep in bed with him so that he would feel comfortable and fall asleep.  Do they grow out of this?  We want to help our son but don't know how....  




This discussion is related to 10 year old w/fear of sleeping alone.

[nicky1973]

I have a daughter with spastic quad who is now 7.  For the past 7 years i have been laying beside her to get her to sleep. now instead of taking 2-3 hrs to go to sleep it is around 1/2 - 1 hr.
I play a lullaby cd and hold her hands and sort of lock them into place with mine so she feels secure and eventually falls to sleep.