Sleep Aid for Children

melatonin is what you are looking for, but read up on it I give it to my 16 year old..

Try some sleepytime tea
And then try chamomile before resorting to the Melationin

You also may want to try some aromatherapy there are certain scents that bring on peaceful sleep. I prefer lavender

Instead of melatonin, you can use products that are made FOR kids. Rescue Remedy by Bach flower essence has a kids sleep aid(Rescue Remedy works well on it's own but they have a product called Rescue Remedy Sleep) Calms Forte by Hylands is made for kids. The Rescue Remedy is a drop and the Calms Forte is a tablet that melts as soon as you put it in your mouth.
Also, fill a squirt bottle with water and 6 to 8 drops of lavander essential oil. Spray a few times around the room before bed.

All of these remedies have worked for both me AND my 2 year old daughter. There is no fear of overdose or side effects.
Good luck!
Oh, I purchased every product that I listed at www.vitacost.com

A homeopathic remedy called Calms-Forte for Kids works great.

K.,
So sorry about your divorce... all the change must really be h*** o* your girls. I can't say I have heard of a natural sleep aid... however, I would recommend a few things that may help.

#1- Johnson/Johnson makes a soothing bath wash- think it is chamomille and jasmine, try a nice warm bath using that.
#2- make your house nice and quiet in the evening, read a story before bed.
#3- might even try letting them drink chamomille tea before bed (always helps me unwind)
#4- say prayers with them before bed

#5- understand that they are coming to get in bed with you, because they are afraid you might leave too. So reassure them that you are there for them and are not going anywhere. When they come into your room, be reassuring but tell them they have to sleep in their beds.

It will take time, but it will get back to "normal".

my dr recommended benedryl (just one) a bit before bedtime and they sleep like babies all night normally.

My daughter takes melatonin, which is something your body produces naturally; she just, apparently, wasn't producing enough. It is the chemical in the brain that triggers sleep, and it has helped tremendously. Her doctor recommended it ... be sure you check with your kids' doctor first, too, although it's sold over the counter in the vitamins and supplements aisle. Best of luck. Getting enough sleep is KEY to EVERYTHING!

These are all good bits of advice, and I just wanted to add one more suggestion. Children process things very differently from adults and it is very difficult for them to know how to express what is going on in their heads-- many times their anxiety about a situation is brought about in a physical way. I think a great way to help the sleep problems is to see a child psychologist. She could likely ask the right questions to help your girls recognize what their worries are. Once you have a good idea how to talk to them and reassure them accordingly. I would think after this process, your girls would be much better able to sleep well again. Just be careful to interview people before you take your kids in and make sure they have a plan to get your children to progress in a few weeks. I have heard that there are many therapist that don't really help so they can continue to see you and collect fees. What you should look for is that you and your girls are learning skills to live with this "loss" and create new patterns & traditions for your new family dynamic.

I wish you the best in this difficult time.

Hi K.,

Sorry to hear about your divorce. Melatonin is the sleep aid I have heard of. If they were good sleepers before it is most likely the stress of what you are all going through. You know how you feel as an adult. For kids it can be hard to express so they have trouble sleeping, act out, become introverted, or can seem like they are normal. We had a high stress situation in our family that affected our daughters sleep habits. It was seperation anxiety. You may all sleep better if you let the girls sleep with you or in your room on the floor in sleeping bags. That will help the girls feel more secure being close to you, especially since you are in a new home too. It may help you feel more loved too. Just a thought.

Hope you find the answer you are looking for. Lack of sleep makes stressful times that much harder.

Praying for you and your girls.

All good answers here and I have one additional thing to add. Children get used to sleeping with a parent and that is a hard cycle to break. It must be broken as this may be now the biggest problem.

If you develop a loving night time routine and let them know they may not come into your room. If they do, walk them back to their beds, tuck them in, and leave. (No rewards like kissing them on the forehead, laying down with them awhile, etc.)

They may throw a total fit the first time or two. Be strong. Explain one time why it isn't good for you or them to have sleep interrupted this way and it isn't good for kids to sleep with a parent.

My daughter made this mistake and she was horrified how big of a fit her daughter threw. I just happened to come for a visit and we got her to not do this by telling her not to wake "Mimi" so Mimi could get her rest. SHe didn't want to throw a fit with her Mimi there. We explained that my being there sleeping by myself, mom sleeping by herself (dad works out of town a lot), and her sleeping by herself (with her white noise or ocean sounds) was the norm for everyone. She hasn't complained since.

Hello K.,

Sorry to hear about your situation. You can do a few things.
Get lavender oil (100% essential oil) and you can put a few drops on a tissue and put that in their rooms (that will relax them)
you can also put some epson salt in their bath water.
Herbs 4 Kids has chamomile calm and valerian calm. it will not make them sleepy but it helps them relax and perhaps they'll sleep through the night. I used to give my son valerian calm in his morning chocolate milk (he was stress out about going to school) anyways, let me mention that for some kids is sort of the opposite. valerian calm did not work for my daughter. maybe she needed at a different time or maybe it made her too sleepy and that's why she got cranky so daytime use was not for her. I tell you this so you realize that not everyone reacts the same to natural or pharmaceutical products. music/white noise is a good suggestion too. Good luck! ~C.~

I am so sorry for the difficult time you guys have had to go through. I would still try to go without giving them something. I would keep a bedtime routine as far as bedtime, soothing activity, etc. And, some quiet time with prayer to assure them that you guys are a team and you won't be going anywhere during the night. I would also add some "white noise" with a humidifier for consistency in "lulling and keeping" them asleep. My 5 year old still loves that sound because it drowns out any other unfamiliar ones. Best wishes to you!

maybe start a bed time routine of drinking chamomile tea together. The tea itself is calming and sitting down to a big grownup mug of hot liquid shared with Mom might be emotionally settling for all of you.

Hi K.,

I am so sorry to hear of your situation. This must be so hard as a mother to see. I have a friend who has a little one that has trouble settling her mind down to sleep at night, so she found some melatonin spray at whole foods that she just gives her a squirt or so and it has helped greatly.

Hi K.,
All of the rest was good advice, although with Melatonin you might want to be careful with children (make sure you check with a doctor first and get dosages right). It's usually only recommended if your child isn't creating enough of it on their own. If you start giving it to them regularly, their body adjusts and makes less of their own and then you can really see how their sleep cycles could get screwed up or dependent upon the supplement.

I recently heard from my mom's group that lettuce tea works.
You can just use iceberg. Wash, then boil a few pieces of iceberg lettuce, then let it sit for a few minutes on the stove with the burner off and then serve warm. Apparently
lettuce is used as an ingredient in juices that are used to treat insomnia. You could also try a good dose of calcium and magnesium (that always gives me a good night's sleep).

Best wishes for a smoother transition for you and your girls.