"walk sleeping"

[Evie&Adam]

My 7 yo daughter is a big time sleep walker. She calls it "walk sleeping"!! LOL She will often move around the house, and you can even talk to her. Well, as funny as this is at times, its becoming a problem. Walk sleeping is talking so much time away from actual sleep! My daughter has dark, dark circles under her eyes, and is very tired throughout the day. She is extremely difficult to wake up in the mornings!!!

While this story is funny, I am beginning to worry about her....

My daughter fell asleep on the floor watching tv on saturday night. I had planned on taking her to her room when we all went to bed. So, in the middle of the movie, she jumps up (like someone kicked her! just flying!!!) and runs upstairs into the kitchen. She flings the fridge door open - just about layin herself out!! LOL I ran after her. I asked her where she was going. She said "to the bathroom." I said, "honey, its not in the fridge.! (yeah, I'm laughing cuz i know she's walk sleeping! :D ) So, she closes the fridge and opens the pantry door! LOL I said, "honey, its not in either either" and I guided her up the stairs to the bathroom. At the top of the stairs, she sits down and starts to cry. I asked whats wrong. SHe said "you know, that thingy." After prodding her and her growing very scared and more crying, I found that "that thingy" is a white object that chases her and is trying to take her away. (here's why I'm nervous about this sleepwalking!) I told her that it was ok now, and she got up and went potty and climbed into her own bed.

My daughter walk sleeps probably 2-3 times a week. In the mornings, she is often in bed with my other daughter. I think these terrors of her "that thingy" are happening more often that I know.

Has anybody else deal with night terrors or "walk sleeping"??? How do I help her get some good needed rest??

Thanks tons as always!!

 

[MyGirlHeidi]

I have no experience with sleep walking/talking..I just hope your daughter gets some rest. It sounds like she's too active at night to get enough rest like you mentioned. I'd take her to the doctor and see if there is some kind of meditation (I know she's 7) or something that would relax her and make her sleep thru the night. I'm not big on meds especially for little children but if there is something that wouldn't harm her and you all could rest maybe the white thing would stop chasing her. I do find sleep walking/talking storie hillarious and I could read about them all day! Best of luck to you and your daughter. Good thing you're there to guide her along the way!

 

[RavenGirl]

Wll the walking I dont really know what to say, but as far as the talking, I can tell you plenty about that. Gary talks in his sleep all the time, he will even have a conversation with you. Alot of the time though its like 5 things all thrown together. He has sleep abnea(sp?) and Dr. says thats what causes it. I would say to ask a Dr.

 

[xenaprincess]

Oh boy...I'm having childhood flashbacks!! I was terrible for sleep walking!! I too looked for many places to "pee" except the toilet! I would go in bathroom drawers, closets, sofas....I even tried to run a bath for myself...3:30am and freezing cold water!! That incident I remember so well because I woke up the second my foot hit the water!! My brother actually got out of the house one night..he was 5, and while sleep walking he managed to get to the playground across the street and woke up in the sandbox, crying his head off. My parents were woken by his cries!! As a parent it can be nerve-wracking and for the child, normally there is no recollection unless they wake up while sleep walking! Our pediatrician said that we were most likey too wound up at bedtime and needed to do quiet activities before bed. Also, I do remember that our family was going through a difficult time, and believe that that may have contributed to the problem. Kids handle things differently, and sleep walking could be a sign of distress somewhere in their lives.
My daughter who is 4 sleep walks also, and believe me, there was a whole lot of stress in her life recently! She was on medication to help her sleep...a very mild sedative. However, I have her on a routine now where we read or do puzzles at least an hour before bed. She no longer takes the med. :D
Best of luck to you with your daughter. Hopefully this is something she will grow out of, or maybe a change in her routine will reduce the chances of her going for a midnight stroll!! She must be soooo tired during the day! I hope she can get some sleep soon.

 

[Evie&Adam]

Thanks all!! I've been doing some reading on WebMD as well. It says it helps to have a dream catcher and to have the child help make it! that way, they can hang items on the dream catcher that mean something to them. I have a friend that makes them :D She's agreed to help us make one for my daughter. it will have her fav on it - - Hello Kitty! LOL Another suggestion from the article was to make a bedtime pillow with fragrence inside. We will also change our night time routine....no more tv after 8pm and now have story time before bed. i was also thinking of finding a relaxation CD to play during the night.

Hoping we can get a good nites rest!! Off to the craft store....

 

[Rocky Hoya]

Hope your daughter is feeling better. Let us know how the dream catcher works.

 

[Jaime&Louie]

Maybe try herbs?

Hey Jenn!
Have you tried any herbal remedies? Valarian Root (sp?) is often used as a natural valium and could maybe help her stay sleeping. Kava Kava also is used as a natural sedative... maybe you could try one of those? The Good Earth and other health food stores may know some other remedies... I used to take Valarian Root because I had insomnia... worked pretty well for me!

Good luck and I hope she stops "walk sleeping" soon!!

 

[Evie&Adam]

LOL I forgot about this post!! duh!

We made our very own dreamcatcher. Well, the web part didnt exactly turn out the way it was supposed to, but its still neat and unique! :D My daughters room is done in Hello Kitty - - so - -we put white leather trim, with purple sparkely feathers, white stringly type feathers, and pink beads. We also made a bead-letter charm that says Hello Kitty, and bought two silver charms with a soccer player and an angel (two thing she LOVES). So, the dreamcatcher has many components that mean a lot to her :D

Wow! what a difference it made!! I've also been watching what is on tv before bedtime - just in case Thanks all for the tips!!

Jaime: long time no chat! don't be a stranger round these parts! LOL