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Child Behavior (Expert Forum)
7 Year Old Sleeping
Answered by
Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D. - Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Family Therapy, Crisis Intervention
Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates
This forum is for questions and support regarding child behavior issues such: Child Discipline (behavior management), Normal Child Development, Parent-Child Communications, Social Development
7 Year Old Sleeping
by RMR Parent, Jun 14, 2004 12:00AM
Our daughter (only child) is turning 7 next month. When she was a baby until 4 she had slept with us/mom becuse when she was an infant she had a bad acid reflux problem that required 24/7 monitoring and although that went away after 8 months, we had a very hard time breaking sleep the established sleep habits. Over the past 2 1/2 years she has been sleeping fine (on her own). The only time that she has slept with us/mom is if she was sick, which she had gotten regularly due to recuring sinus infections which led to an accumulation of mucus in her stomach and subsequent vomiting.
3 weeks ago she had her adenoids (adenoids) removed (to alieviate the sinus infections) and since the surgery she has become very emotional (cyring episodes for an hour or more) and wants to sleep with mom. She even deliberately purged herself to create the impression that she is sick (this has been stopped) but her emotions are still a major battle every day (we do talk to her about this). She is fine all day (at school - gets excellent grades and at play) but as dinner time comes and the realization that betime is 2 - 3 hours away the emotions start. We have been told about the fact that sometimes kids have nightmares and this could be a result, but we still think there may be other factors.
She has alwats been a sensitive kid (admittidly at times a little too sensative) but nothing like this.
Any thoughts or recommendations?
Thank you
3 weeks ago she had her adenoids (adenoids) removed (to alieviate the sinus infections) and since the surgery she has become very emotional (cyring episodes for an hour or more) and wants to sleep with mom. She even deliberately purged herself to create the impression that she is sick (this has been stopped) but her emotions are still a major battle every day (we do talk to her about this). She is fine all day (at school - gets excellent grades and at play) but as dinner time comes and the realization that betime is 2 - 3 hours away the emotions start. We have been told about the fact that sometimes kids have nightmares and this could be a result, but we still think there may be other factors.
She has alwats been a sensitive kid (admittidly at times a little too sensative) but nothing like this.
Any thoughts or recommendations?
Thank you
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D., Jun 14, 2004 12:00AM
, Jun 14, 2004 12:00AM
The fact that she is doing well throughout the day is encouraging, because it indicates that the problem is narrowed to the family situation and in particular the nighttime issue. If she identifies particular variables that frighten her, of course offer her reassurance. But don't be surprised if she doesn't cite any such variables. Be sure to be faithful to the plan of her sleeping in her own bed. IT's OK to help her figure out how to make that as confortable as is realistic, but don't respond to her distress by having her sleep with you. You may have to bite the bullet, but it's worth the temporary pain.
