https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 26 Apr 2026 08:27:22 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/early-waking-in-preschooler#post-2914953 Mon, 04 May 2020 19:55:00 +0000 Jess1483 2914953@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: That sounds really hard. I'm sure your sleep specialist knows about this, but in combination with the possibility of ADHD, has anyone mentioned caffeine? As a behavior specialist/teacher, I've seen a few students with ADHD really benefit from caffeine, particularly as it has related to sleep issues. Again, probably not telling you anything new, but I know 3 kiddos in my professional life who have been significantly helped in both the behavior and sleep arenas by caffeine (in consultation with appropriate professionals of course.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/early-waking-in-preschooler#post-2914911 Mon, 04 May 2020 06:30:18 +0000 MrsADS 2914911@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I will preface this by saying that we are seeing a sleep medicine specialist and a child psychologist.</p> <p>My son (age 4, will be 5 in August) has always been a bad sleeper but it has gotten SIGNIFICANTLY worse in the last few months. He regularly wakes for the day at 3:30-4am, and he is EXHAUSTED. He refuses to nap and go back to sleep, just screams and cries. NOTHING. WORKS. As you might imagine, his behavior is horrific because he's so tired. He is super aggressive with his little brother, ignores everything we say to the point of danger. He's not like this when he's well rested (which is unfortunately almost never).</p> <p>He is dealing with some anxiety we're trying to address and we think he may have ADHD. It's like he wakes up and he is so amped up he can't settle himself back to sleep. </p> <p>(another note - he did have sleep apnea and he's had his tonsils and adenoids removed already.) </p> <p>Anyone else dealing with this? Of course it's hell for me getting no sleep, but developmentally it's so bad for him. I'm super worried. </p>