Ok, since I am pretty new to all this I have another question. For those of you with little ones on CPAP, what do you do when they get up in the night?  This is assuming that they sleep in their own room and that you have to hook them up when they go to bed. I am thinking I will have to hook up Hannah and if she gets up in the night to use the bathroom I am worried she will break the mask geting it off. I was thinking of getting a video monitor with night vision so that I can know if she needs help.What do you all do or are they all pretty self sufficient with the whole thing?

You don't mention how old your child is. If Hannah is old enough to call, then a simple nursery monitor should suffice.
The video monitor you mention will only work if you are watching it, not to mention the expense of a night vision camera. If she can call you, and you use the nursery monitor, then if she needs help you will hear her through the nursery monitor.


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painless

Sleep Apnea is a Killer! Get it Tested!
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thanks for the info. Hannah is eight and could call to me but I know when my husband has his CPAP on he can't speak well. I was thinking of the video monitor so I could actually see what she was up to. I was looking at one at Lowes for about $80.00. I have to check if it has sound capabilities.    
Also-when starting out did most of you sleep with your kids for a while to help with the adjustments??? She has a twin bed and I am thinking about setting up a cot for me in her room. If I let her in our bed she will never leave and also she thrashes so much I won't sleep at all. I am however suspecting I won't be sleeping well for a while though!!!


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Heather-Mom to Hannah(8-hose head) and Logan(4), wife to Paul (also a hose head)

Hi Heather,

Chris is 7 and I use a baby monitor to listen to her while she is using her machine.  I actually turn the sound up all the way so I can actually hear the machine, as she is so quiet with it on.  I plan on using the monitor for quite a while because she may be too deeply asleep to realize that the hose has disconnected or that her mask is leaking.  Also I have a concern about her safety if she should become ill at night......my older child has become sick at night and thrown up without knowing it for quite a while...this would be bad with the full face mask on.  As for taking the mask on and off Chris can do that herself, the masks seem pretty unbreakable.

For the first week Chris did sleep with me (my husband is working out of town) so I could help her get used to the mask.  It took about 3 nights for her to stop taking it off at night.

I have to say that the best sound I have ever heard is the cpap over the monitor, it helps me relax knowing that I can hear the change in pitch as she breaths in and out...... I sleep so much better when I can hear her.

Susanne

I have seen some kids who are independent enough to put the mask on on their own, and some who need more encouragement.  I doubt that she could break the mask - they are usually pretty sturdy...As long as she knows how to work it properly, and put it back on.  I know its tempting to want to be right there for your kids during the night, which is very understandable, but I would probably discourage sleeping in the same bed as your child.  Perhaps just sitting with her whils she falls asleep may be better - although probably less comfortable!  Or even just laying with her for a bit and making sure you make it back to your own bed soon after she falls asleep.  Even on a temporary basis, this can quickly become habitual, and that is not fun!