Melatonin for toddlers ?

[Bella1185]

Has anyone tried (or not tried for any reason) melatonin for your kiddos? DD is 3 and just a flat out awful sleeper. Have had several people suggest melatonin (the liquid dose is 1/2mg). Pediatrician said its fine and likely helpful - pharmacist agreed. I just haven't been able to bring myself to try yet....I get nervous giving her just about everything, so this would be a huge jump. I've read up on it for years now, am familiar - but still it would be nice to hear other opinions

FWIW - I'm a shit sleeper myself and it never worked for me? Not saying it wouldn't for her....but yeah...any info or opinions would be great!

 

[sil]

DS1 is 3 and a half. While I have not given him melatonin by itself as a sleep supplement, when he has a cough he takes the zarbee's night formula for coughing which actually has melatonin in it (1/2 mg).

He is typically a bad sleeper (takes about 30-45 min to fall asleep, wakes up 2-5 times per night, occasionally up for an hour or more straight in the middle of the night).

I have noticed on the nights where he's taken the cough syrup, he has fallen asleep faster but it did not stop his night waking. He's been sick with a horrible cold all week so he is actually using it now. He falls asleep in about 10 minutes instead of the usual 30-45, but is still waking up 2-5 times per night.

Good luck!

 

[Bella1185]

Oh gosh it's tough tough!!! Ahh sending you virtual hug for the noooo sleep!!! It's like you expect it with a newborn - but as they get older it gets increasingly more frustrating (at least for me!) Hope your little one is feeling better soon! Thanks for the info!

 

[SucreK]

Hello! I've not used it for the kiddos, but certainly would if needed! I wonder--have you tried some dietary changes? It would've never occurred to me before I started Whole30, but my diet was actually contributing to my bad sleep.

 

[Bella1185]

Hello! I've not used it for the kiddos, but certainly would if needed! I wonder--have you tried some dietary changes? It would've never occurred to me before I started Whole30, but my diet was actually contributing to my bad sleep.

Thank you for your reply!! I agree it's important for everyone to be aware of their specific dietary preferences and needs just for overall wellbeing. We are pretty "clean" eaters here (DD included). I'm a strict vegetarian (borderline vegan but can't commit because...cheese YUM!!!) and am neurotic with all we consume We did try the melatonin tonight and wow she fell asleep quickly!!! Here's hoping itll last throughout the night

 

[sil]

How'd she do? Did she sleep through? Fingers crossed!

 

[Bella1185]

How'd she do? Did she sleep through? Fingers crossed!

Thank you for asking!! Sooo....Yes and no.....she fell asleep very quickly, in less than 5 minutes...woke up once in the middle of the night (which is better than her usual 3 times!) but I had to wake her up at 730 for school and she was in a deep sleep at that time.

The strange part is - after she was at school for like an hour- they called me and said she had a huge meltdown and couldn't stop crying. This is soooooooo unlike her! She LOVES school (it's only 2 halfdays a week) and is generally a super happy kid. So I rushed to go get her and when I got there, she said she was so tired and couldn't stop crying. That's really odd behavior for her. Could be a stretch, but I'm wondering if maybe the melatonin had her in a deeper sleep, and getting her up much earlier than normal was just too much?? Like I said I could be putting too much on it - but next time we try the melatonin it won't be a school night

 

[OnErth&InHvn]

we may or may not use it. i wont say for sure due to the negative thoughts on it.

if we used it, the sleep is deeper and it CAN have bad dreams along with it. If i used it.

 

[sequeena]

You can't buy melatonin in the uk it needs to be prescribed. I wish I could, my 5.5 still sleeps very poorly. Getting him to sleep can take hours.

 

[OnErth&InHvn]

You can't buy melatonin in the uk it needs to be prescribed. I wish I could, my 5.5 still sleeps very poorly. Getting him to sleep can take hours.

buy it online

 

[Zephram]

Personally I wouldn't try it. There is research that says that getting lots of natural light in the early afternoon can help with sleep. So get her outdoors as much as you can doing lots of physical exercise in natural light.

 

[Bella1185]

Personally I wouldn't try it. There is research that says that getting lots of natural light in the early afternoon can help with sleep. So get her outdoors as much as you can doing lots of physical exercise in natural light.

Thank you - that's likely true. I remember when she was born ( up all night and sleeping all day) people said the same....

Despite the fact it's dead of winter here - we are outside nearly everyday. Very active. We play outside most days despite cold - even if just for a bit flying a kite or something. In addition the downstairs of our home has tons of windows. Yeah....not helping unfortunately.

I'm afraid she's just a sh*t sleeper by nature like her mother. Ha! Hopefully she outgrows it

 

[Spudtastic]

Cherry juice is a naturally full of melatonin. I buy 100% tart cherry juice and store in the freezer. I then make gummies using cherry juice and a good quality organic grass fed beef gelatin. Both the gelatin and cherry juice help dd2 sleep. I'm fact I.May go and have a slurp of cherry juice because it's gone well and I'm wide awake.

And give about an hour before bedtime.

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

Melatonin is not that good. My son has it and it only helps him fall asleep not stay asleep and he is 12. He also gets nightmares on it so only takes it occasionally x

 

[OnErth&InHvn]

Melatonin is not that good. My son has it and it only helps him fall asleep not stay asleep and he is 12. He also gets nightmares on it so only takes it occasionally x

a SE of it is nightmares.

 

[Bella1185]

Cherry juice is a naturally full of melatonin. I buy 100% tart cherry juice and store in the freezer. I then make gummies using cherry juice and a good quality organic grass fed beef gelatin. Both the gelatin and cherry juice help dd2 sleep. I'm fact I.May go and have a slurp of cherry juice because it's gone well and I'm wide awake.

And give about an hour before bedtime.

Oo good to know!!!! I didn't know tart cherry was good for sleep! But I've heard it's wonderful for joint pain! Cool! I'll get some and give her a sip before bed! Thanks!

 

[Spudtastic]

Cherry juice is a naturally full of melatonin. I buy 100% tart cherry juice and store in the freezer. I then make gummies using cherry juice and a good quality organic grass fed beef gelatin. Both the gelatin and cherry juice help dd2 sleep. I'm fact I.May go and have a slurp of cherry juice because it's gone well and I'm wide awake.

And give about an hour before bedtime.

Oo good to know!!!! I didn't know tart cherry was good for sleep! But I've heard it's wonderful for joint pain! Cool! I'll get some and give her a sip before bed! Thanks!

We love out tart cherry. It has lots of vit c too. After I had some last night I had an amazing sleep. I left my fit bit on (I usually take it off) and I only woke once for the toilet. Just one redress period before waking and I normally have about 8 restless periods (I'm hoping you're familiar with fitbits).
Though the company does usually say adults with really bad sleeping take a month for it to really work.

 

[Bella1185]

Great to know! Thank you!

 

[faith82]

I've never tried it myself even though both of mine were bad sleepers (ds is nearly 3 and he wakes every night and cries for me) as neither of them have had any trouble falling asleep and that is all it does, helps them fall asleep, it doesn't keep them asleep all night. If it did I'd be the first one to use it!!

 

[paintrider89]

I split a 3mg tab between my 3 year old and 18m old on nights they are not going down by 9ish. Works great and they STTN most of the time. I try not to make it a daily thing because I have herd people can become dependent on it.