melatonin?

[bugsmomma89]

I've done alot of research on this and im just wondering if other moms give it only at bedtime or if you give it at nap time to and how much? 

[blessedwithboys]

Only at bedtime!

How old is your kiddo?  What are the sleep issues?  Have you talked to a sleep specialist?

[freestylemama]

We gave DD a small amount at bedtime for a while during a really stressful time in our family.  Our doctor recommended it because she was having serious anxiety and couldn't fall asleep.

I wouldn't recommend it unless you absolutely need it.  DD had a very, very difficult time regulating her sleep without and it and there's really no evidence that it's safe for small children.  She also told me about some really weird dreams she had and she was irritable during the day.  She's off it now and seems back to normal, but I would caution against long time use.

[blessedwithboys]

I have more time now so I wanted to come back and add more.  :)

My 17yo ds takes it occasionally, but it's under dr's orders.  He has narcolepsy.  (He also takes rozerem, which is a melatonin agonist.)

My 9yo takes it, also under dr's orders, but he has a mood disorder (probably early-onset bipolar).  Circadian rhythm problems are par for the course with mood disorders.

I wouldn't just give it bc I felt like my kid never slept and I wanted a quick-fix.  I don't mean to imply you are doing that, but I'm sure we've all seen the craptastic mamas on talk shows who dose their kids with benadryl so they can be free to do whatever they want throughout the day.

If you are travelling across time zones, I wouldn't think it would be a big deal to use it for a few weeks without checking with a doctor, but for regular, on-going use...not a good idea. 

OTC melatonin is NOT all-natural.  It is a lab-created, totally synthetic version of a hormone that the human brain makes, but it is sourced from animal brains (are you vegan?) and messed around with until it is close to what a human "needs".

I don't play around with hormones.  I don't let my boys eat soy and when my friend gave her kid human growth hormone I was a bit horrified (he had no disorder, he was being teased for his short size).

Please talk to your doc and get his/her opinion before trying melatonin.  It can be a life-changer when truly needed, but if it can be avoided at all, it should be.

[incorrigible]

Mine both have PTSD. They used melatonin alot for awhile, and just occasionally now. In my experience, it's something they can become physically dependent on if you use it too much. When we thought it was fine to use regularly, I found that they had a LOT of trouble getting to sleep if they didn't use it. It isn't something you keep needing more and more of though. So, I don't see an issue using it just occasionally.

Before their trauma, we never used it...even though they both have always had sleep issues. A few drops of ylang-ylang in their bath water or on the souls of their feet with a foot rub before bed pretty much always did the trick. That is my preferred method of helping them get to sleep. You know, other than just teaching them to listen to their body's ques and learn how to function without aids...obviously. lol

[bugsmomma89]

Thank you everyone for the advice any and all advice is GREAT! Im a first time mom my lil one is almost 2. His father has bipolar and epilepsy but the doctor has not tested him for it yet. I talked to the dr about him not gettin enough sleep he told me to record how much sleep he is getting and we are going to talk about it at his next visit next week. He is only getting on a good day 9-10 hours of sleep thats naps and at night. We have moved around alot in the last year and now he is sleeping in the bed with me. I dont want to give him any kinds of meds to get him to sleep i think thats horrible if the child dont need it! Im at a loss though he screams for 3 to 4 hours at a time before settling down and even laying in the bed with me it still takes almost 2 hours before he falls asleep. There are alot of sleep problems in the family history and im hoping the dr will run some tests or something to make sure thats not the case. like i said i dont want to use anything to make him sleep all the time i just want to know he is getting enough sleep and that something isnt causing him not to sleep and that he is healthy. any advice would be great!!!

[blessedwithboys]

Have you considered sensory issues?

[freestylemama]

I highly recommend you read the book, "Sleepless in America".  It pointed out some really major mistakes that we were doing in regards to getting DD to sleep at night (she's all about routine and creating a very calm space for hours before bedtime). 

We also noticed a big difference in her sleep when we cut out red dye.

[bugsmomma89]

My younger brother and sister were actually diagnosed with sensory issues they were also diagnosed with aspergers. I was never tested for those things but im worried that my son might have inherited them from me because he is showing all the same signs that my younger brother did ( his was worse than my younger sisters). Im not sure how to get the dr to listen to me though it took my mom almost 7 years before they would test my younger brother and it was so hard on him in school and at home. I dont want to have to see my son go through that.