Ok, so my 9 year old has done some sleep walking in the past, but recently its been happening more frequently. Last week he got up 4 times after going to sleep. One night he woke up in our spare bedroom and didn't know how he got there. A couple of night he has come up to our room and I'll bring him back to bed. He doesn't remember come morning time. He woke up one morning with a big scratch down his leg, which happened sometime during the night, but doesn't know how.

Its starting to concern me cause I hear stories of children walking outside in their sleep. All our doors are locked with dead bolts.

I'm wondering if you have had any experience, either with your own kids or someone elses, and sleep walking. Any suggestions as to "remedies" for this. I've heard no eating at night helps, I have him on a regular bed time routine. He's in bed at 8pm every night, because we are up at 6am so that he can be dropped off at the sitters before I go to work.

My husband suggested locking him in his room at night (not sure how serious he was about this). There is no way I'm locking him in his room. Maybe a security alarm that warns me if he gets out of the house?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions/comments

Lorie

This may be of no help whats so ever but then it could be
I remember watching Hey Arnold one day WAY back and Helga started sleepwalking ALOT and was going to Arnolds house and in the end it was something she had started eating, So it could possibly be something hes eating. And If its not food and alarm when he nears the front door would be a good idea

Brieal

Dear Lorie,

Locking doors doesn't really work as they can easily open them.

Once i was in the USA with my children for a week and my daughter, who was 13, started sleepwalking and opened the locked door, so locking doors doesn't really work.

I'd advise you to go see a doctor he is the only one who can actually help you with this problem.

Have a nice day.

Bella

my brother does this frequently and stands over my bed which gives me a hell of a fright. i do suggest you go to the doctors about it as we found him walking to the beach one night.

My Grandma had the sleep walking problem I think she said she woke up out side one morning and after that she always locked her door.

My middle son, sleep walks. I actually bought overhead locks, and had them installed in all exterior doors of our house. I ended up putting a beeper on his door, so when he opened the door, I would hear it, and I have security on all windows of the house. Before I did this, I found him outside in the centre of the cul de sac, running across the road, as he was sleeping. The doctor told me, to gently take him, and put him back into his bed, not to wake him up, as that can cause terrors, and not to make a big deal out of it. (blaming, trauma occurs in the childs psyche if you make them feel ashamed, guilty, or not Normal.) Never Shake your child awake, ever.

As the parent, you need to protect the child, and do whatever you can to insure he is safe.

- Genevra