SMS Discussion

[alyssacolby (Brenda)]

Okay folks need your help here!

I am turning a bunk bed into an enclosed bed. My son is going to be sleeping on the bottom (remember, he's only 13 months) and my daughter up on top.

Anyone else done something similar to this?

Thanks,
Brenda
mom to Colby 1 sms
Alyssa almost 6

[dawn mock (-=hidden=-)]

Hi Brenda, Gald to see Colby is pulling up! I read often, post some, we have a son Garrett who just turned 5 with SMS. Some background - He crawled at 16-17 months and walked at 22. He is potty trained and has been at a developmental day school with 1/2 sn kids and 1/2 typical since he was 18 months! His speech is really taking off and sign language is key early on. We did turn his bunks into an enclosed bed for awhile. I would really recommend trying to get an enclosed bed approved through insurance. Meanwhile keep him in the crib as long as you can. I have a 2 1/2 yr old that is still in his crib. I put a file on the yahoo site with my letter that I sent to insurance and it got approved 1st time.

We bought bunks when we knew I was having another boy - this was before Garrett's dx of SMS. At the time we didn't realize he had a sleep issue. We got his dx when he was 2 1/2 and our other son was 3 wks old. There are a few families who have kids that share a bedroom, however, if at all possible I wouldn't recommend it. If Garrett knew there was someone else in his room, he would have them up all night.

Here is what we did the bunks. Put 2 rails on the side (blue ones from babiesrus), other against the wall. This worked until he could climb over - less than 3 yrs old, the PT paid off. Then I took a cloth shower curtain with metal rings at the top and looped a rope through it and wrapped it around the top, and reinforced the sides with duct tape and poked a whole through it and tied it around the sides and we brought it under the matress and tied it to the far corners and middle of the bed. Then we pushed him in and out of the end. It was the laddre style. This worked until we got our official enclosed bed. It got harder to push and oull him out of the end as he got bigger. The downside though, he would bite the wood, I couldn't climb in there, so there was no cuddly story time, and it was a pain to wash the sheets. I will try to find the picture and post it so you can see what we did. He doesn't have sever tantrums, but on the occasion he did at bedtime, he would bang his head on the bed. The enclosed beds, like vail and posey, are padded so the kids can not hurt themselves. This is very important. When we travel and as someone else suggested, we take a 2 man tent, put a matress in it or under it, and we zip and lock Garret in it with a lugagge lock. This is so key to being able to travel. If you can't get an offical enclosed bed - I would do this.
His room is very dark, cool, and there are no toys for him to play with in his bed. Sometimes I leave music on, but only recently started doing it. The key with him is to get him in bed by 7:15-7:30, or he is overtired and things could escalate. We hear from him around 5:30 - 6:15 most days.


I look forward to meeting you at the conf. This will be our 2nd. The first one my husband and I came alone, which I think is very important if it can be done!!!! A lot to take in and you'll have to split up to attend simultaneous sessions. This time we are bringing our 7 yr old daughter, b/c she needs some 1-1 time with us. My husband and her plan on taking some tours, so he won't be at as much of the conf this time.

Have a good day and hang in there.

Dawn
Alexandria - 7
Garrett - 5 SMS
Andrew 2

[alyssacolby (Brenda)]

WOW! That's the kind of info I am looking for!! Thanks! I have seen the blue rail but I am afraid that he will flop over it and onto the floor. I like the shower curtain idea.
I am afraid he will hit is head on the wood so I came up with a solution to it. You know those foam swimming noodles? I think if I covered it with them there shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks for reading. Post some more though! I don't know about you, but it's an outlet for me to say what's on my mind. I find it hard to talk to my family - even my dad ! They just don't understand the SMS. Everyday life is hard for me and they walk around as if he is fine!!

I can't wait to meet you either-as well as everyone else. I look forward to talking with others about their experience and of course the kiddos!!

Brenda

[Griffariff (-=hidden=-)]

Before we discovered that Melatonin was available here in Edmonton, Rayne had very bad sleep disturbance. She would go to bed at 8 pm and then wake up at 12, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. She was next to impossible to get back to sleep. My wife and I had to trade nights of interupted sleep. We found she would sneak out of her room and get into trouble, breaking things and making a mess.

She hates alarms and sirens, so we decided to put a simple magnetic switch alarm on her bedroom door and that way she would knock on the door if she needed her diaper changed or wanted something. She did not knock frequently as she knew she would get put back into bed. This saved us on avoiding complete exhaustion. With Melatonin (6 mg sustained release and 6 mg regular release) she sleeps a lot better although she still frequently wakes up.

We also made sure to remove anything from her room that she could hurt herself with.
_________________
Glen Peters - Father of Rayne (13)