When anxiety keeps your child awake through the night.

This is the story of a mum and her daughter who hardly slept through the night since she was a toddler. When stress and anxiety keep your child awake through the night, life can be miserable. Thanks to Nutritional Therapy, this little girl, now aged 6, is finally enjoying good night’s sleep.

This little girl is my daughter. If this story inspires you and you know someone in a similar situation, feel free to share this story with them.

When anxiety keeps your child awake through the night, this can affect the whole family

My daughter had a habit of waking up around 2 or 3 am EVERY NIGHT for at least 2 hours. She could not go back to sleep. When she tried to come into our bed (which we didn’t encourage), she could not stay still. We tried everything. I even tried to sleep with her to allow my husband to sleep. She was so agitated, it broke my heart. She even said, “Mummy, I can’t sleep”. We felt like we had tried EVERYTHING until I ordered a genetic test.

Below is an extract from this genetic test purchased from a company called Lifecode GX.

Her test showed me that her body struggles to make Melatonin (the sleep hormone). When she experiences stress, it is even more difficult for her to produce Melatonin.

Diet can affect your child’s sleep

On top of that, she is a very fussy eater. She hardly eats any vegetables. Yes, can you imagine this situation for a Mummy Nutritionist? Disaster. But I’m staying calm about it because I want her to have a good relationship with food even if her repertoire is limited at the moment.

This meant that her nutrient status was far from ideal. So I did another private test to look at potential deficiencies. I chose Metabolomix + from Genova Diagnostics. It is an investment but it is so worth it if it means you may get good night’s sleep in the future. You can clearly see below the nutrients which needed supplementing.

Key nutrients required for good sleep

The body needs a range of nutrients to regulate our stress and anxiety. The main ones include B vitamins (especially B6), magnesium, vitamin C, essential fatty acids, quality protein, and vitamin D.

After weeks of taking all these supplements, my daughter was still not sleeping through the night.

Her genetic test showed that she could benefit from a herbal supplement: Lemon Balm. Research shows that this herb is helpful in supporting the neurotransmitter GABA. This neurotransmitter is known for producing a calming effect.

So we tried it (the alcohol free version)!

This was a game-changer for her. It is very early days but so far we have had several nights when she sleeps through and so does her parents. Hurray!!!!

Lesson learned…

So why am I sharing this story? Well, although there are talks about food supplements not being helpful and being a waste of money, they can be life-changing. It is important to work with a qualified therapist who will be able to carry out those tests for you and will also recommend the best quality supplements available on the market. It is not easy to give supplements to children and it should be done carefully however, there are convenient formats such as powders and sprays that will make life easier.

It is worth remembering that you cannot replace a balanced diet with supplements (hence why I have to be very creative in the kitchen – get in touch if you need help with that) but it can be life-changing for a child. My daughter is much happier in herself and more willing to do things she did find difficult to do before. May it last!

Like I mentioned at the beginning if this story inspired you, and you have a family member who is struggling with sleep or anxiety or both, feel free to reach out. I would love to help.

PS: please seek advice from a Registered Nutritional Therapist before trying out some of those supplements. It is very important to get the combination and the dosage right for each person. Anyone already taking medication should be extra careful and should follow professional advice.

How do I book a Nutritional Therapy session?

If anxiety keeps your child awake through the night, it is time to explore something new. If you are interested in finding out how Nutritional Therapy can help you or your child, feel free to reach out. I offer a free chat to explore the options available to you. You can email me on s.olmi@savoirfayre.co.uk or you can call me on 07983335647.

You can also request a free chat online HERE.