HI frubsdad

I can hear the frustration and wish I could offer to take your little guy for a night so you could have a break!

I know you said you've tried everything - can I check if that includes a weighted blanket? You might need to go a bit heavier than 10%. I'm no professional, but to me it seems like he's needing something solid in bed to give him a feeling of security - maybe his senses get out of whack when he lies down and he feels like he constantly has to check where his body is in relation to the bed otherwise he might fall?

I would try that, and maybe get a big, long bear, at least as long as his torso, open it up, take out some of the soft filling and put as much weighted filling in as possible, without making it hard or uncuddly. I would try something like that in the bed with him.

Another thing to maybe try is see if he would feel more secure sleeping on a mattress on the ground. Subconsciously he might be scared of falling off - if he realises that there's nothing to fall off of - or if he does roll off, it won't hurt, that might also settle him.

Have you raised these concerns with the OT/counsellor.

Other things - maybe get him on an iron supplement, and magnesium (restless legs). Also talk to a doctor or pharmacists about a possible melatonin supplement. I know a few people who also had incredibly bad sleepers and a iron supplement almost completely sorted the one boy (who has been flagged as ADD but hits every red flag for SPD), another has been helped by a weighted blanket and melatonin supplement.

It might take a LOT of reinforcing, but tell your son that he's not allowed to interrupt you and his mom. If he has something to say that's important, he needs to lay a hand on your leg or arm and WAIT for you to say right what's up? before talking. We did this with my son early last year as he was doign the same thing - he was just 5, so maybe you need to wait a bit, but start and see what happens. It did help us - you need to praise like crazy when they start actually doing it. The only problem we really had after that was that our boy would forget what he had wanted to say and then get upset about forgetting... but that also passed.

Hang in there - and book a babysitter if you can. It's really important that you and your wifey get time to breathe and think about each other and talk without the stress of constant interruption...

I can hear how desperate you are and wish I knew the answer that would help your son specifically. Alas we still have 2 kids (3 & 1 year olds) not sleeping through the night, so we're also trying the above for the middle one. Seems like it's like most things - try everything until you find the combination that works for you and your family.