Welcome to the February 2013 Natural Living Blog Carnival: Addressing Sleep Challenges.This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Natural Living Blog Carnival hosted by Happy Mothering and The Pistachio Project through the Green Moms Network. This month our members have written posts about how they address sleep challenges in their homes.
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Now this is a doozy of a topic for us right now! For starters, Spencer just cut 3 teeth. His Baltic Amber necklace helps a lot, but we also use Hyland's Teething Tablets when he is having a rough time. The roughest times are when he can't sleep. So... teething tablets occasionally administered during the night when he woke.
However, Spencer was recently diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. (We've met our Endocrinologist and are headed for further testing.) We caught it very early and the doctor stated that Spencer didn't have any symptoms. Only... I then researched the symptoms and we have one: restlessness. Over the past few weeks it has gotten worse. Its worse than the teething making it hard to get to sleep. He often wakes every hour, but sometimes wakes as often as every ten minutes.
I am sleep deprived much of the time and driving to appointments has literally become a grave risk. Something has got to give!
With the help of some friends, I researched Melatonin and asked the Endocrinologist and Pediatrician for their approval. Both signed off without argument. My doula, however, suggested Valerian Essential Oil in a base of coconut oil, rubbed into the soles of his feet. I liked the idea. The local store only had Valerian Root, though, no essential oil. We're trying it anyway while we wait for some Valerian Essential Oil that she ordered to arrive.
Then I happened to be looking in my "medicine cabinet" one day and noticed a product I'd forgotten we had: Calms Forté 4 Kids. Its also from Hyland's, a brand I already trust. I thought it might help both of my littles to sleep better. The first night I tried it was actually the night this post was due. Sasha (3½yo) absolutely slept more solid than she has in a long time! She didn't wake once! I saw some results from Spencer, but it was pretty minor. That is why I went ahead and got the Valerian Root.
Sasha asleep in her new bed,
when we started transitioning while expecting Spencer.
Spencer is still waking quite often through the night. Adjusting my own attitude and sleeping in pajama pants (rather than angrily pulling them on in the middle of the night to come downstairs with him) has made a big difference for me. He is falling back asleep faster, too. One of the most baffling points, though: Spencer wakes about 20 minutes after my head hits the pillow every night.
I am sorry to not have more results to offer yet, but am very much looking forward to reading other posts in the carnival as well!
What home remedies and/or natural products have helped you right your little ones' sleep cycles?
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Visit Happy Mothering and The Pistachio Project to learn more about participating in next month’s Natural Living Blog Carnival!
Please take some time to enjoy the posts our other carnival participants have contributed:
