~Bedtime~

I have never had issues with any of the kids going to bed. Until now!! Over the last 2 months Emily will not go to bed. She's up night after night fighting with us to stay in bed. All she wants to do is either play or hangout with us downstairs. We have tried to Super Nanny her (not talking to her & placing her right back in bed) but it becomes hour, after hour, after hour of screaming! It ends usually with exhausted parents & Emily still awake but now absolutely upset.  We have tried taking away her daytime naps hoping that she will be exhausted by bedtime. Nope she is still awake! She will not go to bed without the cheap IKEA hanging light on (oh & the night light by the bed). Right now that is the only leverage that I have. "If you don't stay in bed, Mommy will turn out the lights". Usually it works but not always. 

My only thoughts are that maybe along with Apraxia she has a very mild Sensory Disorder (SD). SD's very commonly accompany Apraxia. She does have other traits that are commonly associated with SD's such as hyperactivity (only at certain times not all the time), sensitivity to light, mouthing things, seeks out "daring" things (like jumping & bumping into items or people) just to name a few. some of them can go along with normal things kids do at her age group but all together can be a sign.  There really aren't any treatments I would try for SD (if she does have one). I only hope that she learns how to live with it. Right now everything is so new & we are still in the process of learning exactly what is going on with her. So until we have a firm diagnosis this is all just speculation. For now we can only wait & see.

So I am up every night, just like tonight... put her back in bed for the 28th time. Telling her she needs to lay down & go to sleep or the lights are going to be turned off.  Now back to bed for the 29th time tonight but this time without the lights!

Alicia