Melatonin - Canton,OH

My son took melatonin last night, one his own, so he could get to bed earlier (band camp at 7am all week).
He is 15 and has been taking it on and off all his life.
Much more natural than benadryl or the other OTC sleep remedies
Not addictive
Non narcotic
No sluggish side effect the next morning.

I've been hearing alot about it too, but i haven't heard of any long term studies on how safe it is in the long run. I'm sure it does help those with medical issues, but i think we expect our babies to sleep through the night for long stretches and that just isn't realistic for some little pumpkins.

I love love love the advice you've been given about a calm bedtime routine. and no TV. I wanted to add that there is alot of Caffine in things i've seen people give their kids, NO soda and super easy on the chocolate.

good luck and sweet dreams to your little one.

Melatonin is a naturally-produced hormone that helps us to sleep.

The production of melatonin can be inhibited by certain things, most notably, light in general and LCD lighting specifically.

You can help the body to recognize "bedtime" and produce this hormone by -

1. Unplug and slow things down an hour before bedtime. Don't allow any stimulating food or beverage at this time.

2. Have a bedtime routine in which you try to soothe and relax the body - a warm bath, a story, deep breaths together, cuddling

3. Keeps lights down during the bedtime ritual - I don't use any bright overhead lights at this time, just the lamps and nightlights.

4. Make sure the room is dark (esp the windows). Opt for a nightlight that glows amber or yellow. White, blue and red can interfere with meletonin production. (A study confirmed awhile back that even the light from digital clocks can do this)

I would do this for at least two weeks. If sleep problems persist, ask your doctor.

Happy zzzzzz's!

Valerian, unlike melatonin, is an adaptogen which brings the body back into balance. Taking melatonin more than just occasionally could stop your natural production of it.
I would not use either in a child that age without a pediatrician's approval.

You don't need a prescription as it's over the counter aka OTC. It's perfectly safe, but the recommended dosages for children are between 1-3 milligrams. Melatonin is sold in tablets in 1 mg and higher and is also sold as a liquid.

The reason it's safe is because Melatonin is a hormone that the body naturally produces that let's us know when we're tired and supposed to go to bed. When you feel tired and you're drowsy and yawning? That's your body's melatonin kicking in and saying "go to bed." People with insomnia don't produce enough (or any) Melatonin. So if you give 1 mg to your child, or even start with .5 mg and go up to 1 mg and go up .5 mg until it starts to work, it's safe to continue to give because the body metabolizes the Melatonin within 3 hours or so. There are no remnants of it in the morning or even halfway through the night.

I have to use it for my daughter that has Autism because, as is common with autistic people, her body simply doesn't make enough Melatonin. She could wake up at 6 AM and still be awake until 2 AM wide awake yet exhausted. The Melatonin helps her body's sleep-wake disorder adjust, if only for a few hours, so that she can rest and get a normal night's sleep.

Once in a while I use it myself if I find that I've taken my Trazadone too late in the evening. I've also had to rarely give it to one of my other children.

I have the okay from our pediatric neurologist and it's in the file with our pediatrician that we use it. For proper dosing, speak with your pediatrician.

EDIT: I do want to add that our routine is very simple and soothing at bed time. We also have a simplified, restricted diet that contains no HFCS, very little sugar, no artificial food dyes, no caffeine, and is relatively allergen free. We have a lot of health issues/sensitivities to watch out for, so we know that she's not getting overly stimulated by processed chemicals in her foods.

A.:

Melatonin is a natural sleep remedy...however, it is my opinion that at the age of 3 - it's not something I would want to give my child.

A routine must be started and kept - consistency...bath, brush (teeth/hair), book, bed....absolutely NO ELECTRONICS for at least 30 minutes prior to bed time...no tv, DS, gameboy, XBOX - ANY electronics...in order for a routine to be formed it has to be done for at least 2 to 3 weeks...

I would stop any day time naps at this point especially if she is up until 11PM....

If you want melatonin - talk with your pediatrician about the amount to give..

Our son has ADHD and can't fall asleep on his own due to his high energy. His doctor recommended melatonin when he was three and we've used it for years. He currently takes 1 mg. and he's sleepy within an hour. I've also used it and it just feels like you're naturally sleepy.

I would take to her pediatrician to see what he/she thinks, just for your own assurance.

You can find it just about everywhere -- Target, markets, drugstores.

Some peditricians do recommend melatonin for kids with certain types of sleep issues, and reportedly, it can be effective. But bear in mind that like all hormones, it has powerful actions on the body in very small amounts, and researchers are not certain of all of melatonin's effects, especially in combination with other hormones or the addition of light. According to some research, melatonin used in the presence of incoming light can statistically increase the risk of breast cancer. So, like any hormone, it should not be used carelessly or casually.

Here's one very informative article on melatonin and light: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/05/health/05light.html?pag...

You can possibly optimize your daughter's natural melatonin production by giving her plenty of exposure to natural daylight. Earlier in the day is thought to be better. Reduce her exposure to light, especially in the green to blue end of the color spectrum, during the last two hours before bedtime. This means no television or other screen time, because those produce light in the blue spectrum.

Other things that can negatively affect a child's ability to sleep are not enough physical activity during the day, a room that's too warm or cold, and the presence of many chemicals that modern homemakers have learned (through clever advertising) to rely on: central nervous system irritants are common in laundry products (especially fabric softeners) and scented detergents, air fresheners and many household cleaners. Your daughter might be hopped up on chemicals if you use these products, especially in her room. This ends up looking like "not tired," but she may actually be overtired.

Good luck, I hope you find a way to help your little one sleep better. But it's also true that many kids simply are not able to sleep well during certain developmental stages – they are mentally stimulated by all the new things they are learning.

I would not give anything to a child without consulting a doctor. I have used melatonin before but only after a doctor recommended it. Doctors do recommend that we keep our sleep patterns consistent so that we do not have sleep disturbances.

We use routine and music by Dr. Jeffery D. Thompson to help our children go to sleep. They rarely fight bedtime because the consistent routine lets them know what to expect. The music is wonderful! There are different types that help you relax, sleep, etc.,. Definitely look into his work.

Medications aside, does your daughter still nap? If she does, that would be the place to start. My son stopped napping around 2PM, and our bedtime troubles disappeared. Even I can't get to sleep if I have a nap in the afternoon.

Of course, in a daycare situation you may not have a choice about naps, but that is a whole different story. :)

Anyway, a couple things that help my son go to sleep: listening to a book on CD followed by some soothing music. He has been listening to the same night music since he was a year old and is now 9. I wonder if he will take his CD to college.:)

Melatonin is natural, it is produced by our body to help induce sleep. I am not a medical doctor, but I would be concerned that supplementing with melatonin may change (decrease) the natural production of melatonin in the body and could be disruptive in the long run. Check with your doctor of course.