3 Yo Lots of Trouble Falling and Staying asleep...any Ideas?

Our developmental pediatrician suggested we try melatonin (a supplement) to help our three year old fall asleep. It has been a miracle for us and several friend are also now using it with their young ones. The one she suggested has only a tiny amount of melatonin in it. You can get it at trader joes. It's chewable and peppermint flavored. Don't buy just any brand as those have too much melatonin for young children. Give it to her a half hour before bed. And while it will help her fall asleep it may not help her to stay asleep so her 3am waking up issue may not get resolved with the melatonin. Also don't let your child know the melatonin is to help her sleep so that she won't think she had to have it to go to sleep. We tell our daughter it's a vitamin but not what it's for so that she doesn't become dependent on it to sleep. You may want to talk to your pediatrician or psychologist first but I did the research and it appears to be really safe. Best of luck!

Totally off the cuff could she be teething? the paci may have been helping her. bighting down on them relieves the pressure of those 3 year molars coming in? try some childrens tylenol an hour before bedtime or there was this liquid drops you could buy at walmart, sorry can't remember name, but they help too.

I feel for ya, sleep deprivation is no good..

sweety, your daughter is going through a lot right now. It's ok for her to sleep by you. You both will be happier. I promise she won't be sleeping by you all her life, she will find that she won't need you as much, but for now please allow her to sleep, anad allow yourself to sleep. She need the cuddle time, and she has to know that you have a routine before bed. she learns a lot by watching you, and its not worth the struggle

Hi Friend,
Let me start by saying, "give yourself a break:)". You are doing really good and you sound like an amazing mom. I am a mom of 4 children and my oldest is only 8. My youngest is 2. Please do not listen to what you hear about your child sleeping with you right now. My three older kids sleep just fine through the night and they all slept with me and my husband in our bed at one time or another. My two year old was a lot more attached. She is doing well and only gets up once a night. But if she needed to sleep with me so we could both get sleep I would absolutely let her sleep with me/us at night. And some nights she does. Some nights one or two of my older children do. But for the most part they all sleep in their beds with no problems. Also, with what your daughter is going through with the divorce she needs you now more than ever. That comfort she has with you will make her feel safe and give you both a good nights rest:) which is what the ultimate goal is, right? Eventually, she will want to sleep on her own, at least most of the time:). I can't stress enough not to worry about what you hear, that your kids should not sleep with you. You are her mom and she feels safe with you, what a blessing!:) Again, I worried, at first, that I might be doing something I would regret by letting them sleep with us. But, my kids sleep just fine. There were some nights that all 4 were sleeping with us, and we loved it!! Kids grow up too fast as it is and you are going to miss these days. I will keep you in my prayers.

Put up darkening shades or blinds in her room, establish a set bedtime routine with low lighting, warm bath, talking in almost a whisper, all to get her relaxed and prepared for bed. No roughhousing or TV/computer after 5 pm. You have tried the turtle light, special blanket, or animal, but what have you stayed and stuck with? Pick something and do just that, she needs to learn to sooth herself to sleep, you cannot do it for her.

When she wakes at 3 screaming go in, lay her gently down, talk in a whisper, "It's OK, time to go back to sleep," no engaging, no lights on, and sooth her, but not to sleep, she needs to learn to do that herself.

I wish i could tell you how long this will take but i can't, the key is to stay consistent and don't stop until you get the results you want. Hopefully the child psychologist will help you deal more specifically.

What the hell.........let her sleep in your bed. She's still young and she can go back into her bed when she is ready and can better understand whats going on around her. That's what I would do. If you don't plan on having any men in that bed any time soon, then whats the harm? They always grow out of their issues. It always seems hopeless when the problems are happening, but everything is always temporary.......and they grow up...... with new problems.
Don't stress and allow both of you to get some sleep.
Getting professional help is step in the right direction.
Good luck and take care!

My daughter had a hard time when she gave up her pacifier too. : ( If you're specifically looking for the homeopathic stuff for children, Hyland's Calms Forte for Children works great. If you have a Sprouts in your area, they should definitely carry it. Also local health food stores should also have it. Hyland's is the brand and Calms Forte for Kids is the product. Good luck on all of it.