Does anyone give their child meds for sleep?

[kellyds]

I am SO anti-drug that I'm obnoxious about it. Drugs have to be a last resort, after everything else has been tried. I'm there now, with Joshie's sleep pattern. I'll spare you the details, but let's just say it's amazing how a child can go from an infant who needs to be awakened to nurse . . . to a six-year-old who wants to ONLY sleep between five and ten p.m.

After doing a bunch of online research, I gave him 5 mg of melatonin tonight. (Hubby works nights and has it in the house to take occasionally.) Hubs is an RN and agreed it was worth a try.

I'd still feel better hearing from other parents whose kids use sleep aids. Got any stories for me?

[Pat]

Kelly,
I give John-John melatonin at night and have for a couple of years. It's natural so it's okay with me. I know there's others who do also. I know all about lack of sleep.
I don't know if you've seen the other posts that tell you about the child's ferritan level. Their iron level can be fine, but the ferritan level can be low & when given more iron they sleep well. I give John-John Gummie Vites. (only ones I can get down him!)
He's been due for a blood test, but I'm late on that. One test I had added was the ferritan level.
John-John is eleven and a half.

[carolyn]

I have used melatonin in the past as well. Because he can't swallow a pill, I had to crush it up into food so I couldn't use the slow release melatonin, just the regular. The problem was it put him to sleep but did not keep him asleep. We became aware of the ferratin connection when a developmental pediatrician at University of MI told us about it. We checked his levels, which were really low, put him on an iron supplement for 3 or 4 months and honestly he sleeps so much better now it is a miracle. It has been over a year, and he is a much better sleep and a much less restless sleeper. He will occassionally go threw a period of days when he gets up from his room and comes into mine, but he has a chair in there he can curl up in and I don't even hear him come in. Then he will go weeks or months and not do it at all. My John is 12.

[wrblack]

Yep, BTDT. Haven't done lately but might again if we hit a pattern of not going to sleep.
Here's snip of old post to the List in 2006.
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We have been giving Charlie, turned 7 in July, approx. 1 1/2 mg melatonin about 30 min. before bedtime. It seems to work well and we haven't noticed any ill effects. At first we tried giving him melatonin on sort of an on demand basis, only gave it to him when he appeared to be having difficulty settling and getting to sleep. But couple of doctors told us melatonin doesn't really work that way, usually takes a couple of hours to kick in, at least the regular form, slow acting, long lasting. Nevertheless, often Charlie falls asleep within 20 to 30 min. of getting his bedtime snack.
I cut, as best I can, a 3 mg tablet into half--tablets not scored, often sort of saw off approximately half and leave the half that's left for next night--and mix in small serving, maybe tablespoon or two, of applesauce.
When I first asked his pediatrician about giving melatonin, in a quick phone consult he said he wouldn't recommend this in any kid with history of OSA. Later, face to face, discussing this further, and offered the choice of telling us it was okay to try melatonin or we'd expect him to come over and sit with Charlie the next time he awoke at 3 a.m. all ready to play, he said okay.
If your child's problem is staying asleep, you might do better to try the time-released version.
Here's an unauthorized snip, maybe he won't mind too much, of something Dr. Leshin posted about melatonin to the list in Jan. 2005:

<< A few comments about melatonin since my name is on this thread....

First, melatonin is not a regulated medication. It's been shown that the total mg of the tablet may not actually be what's on the label. Consumerlabs.com did a study on commonly sold melatonin and found that the following manufacturers were trustworthy: KAL, Twin Labs, Biochem, Duane Reade, Jarrow Formulas, MRM, Natrol, Nature's Bounty, Puritan's Pride, Schiff and Walgreens brand.

Melatonin is available in quick-release form ­ regular tablets and capsules ­ and special time-release forms extending its release over several hours (also referred to as extended-release, controlled-release, or time-release forms). Quick-release aids the ability to fall asleep, while time-release may be more helpful in staying asleep. Time-release versions cannot be crushed or chewed, but can be found as very small tablets.

There does seem to be some tendency to "get used to" the melatonin with less effectiveness over time. This varies from person to person, however.

Finally, melatonin's safety in young children has not been established.


Len Leshin, M.D., F.A.A.P.
Down Syndrome: Health Issues
www.ds-health.com >>


Charlie has autism as well as Down syndrome. So, to my mind, all the more reason to try melatonin. I think he's getting more and better rest, and so are we. If the effect seems to lessen, I might go for whole 3 mg tablet. If that stopped working, I think I would just discontinue for at least 3 weeks. And, though melatonin is a dietary supplement, OTC, not a drug, believe I would treat like lots of medication with our kids, often best to start low and go slow--have heard that several places, just recently on the DS-autism list.
And, though it's not a drug and you don't need a script, can buy at drug store or vitamin shop, I would suggest you check with your child's doctor before trying any version of this. Who knows, maybe Emily's pediatrician would welcome the opportunity to come over in the wee hours and rock her to sleep.
Good luck,
Bob
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[Googsmom aka Jennifer]

I take Melatonin every night. I have the Nature Made Sleep vitamin kind. I love it. I go right to sleep but don't wake up all groggy like perscription kinds i've tried. I have never given it to Brook but I know alot of our kids do take it.

Yes Ferratin. Have that checked! If it wasn't for Carolyn telling me about it I would have never found out Brook had low levels. She did the iron for a few months and now sleeps better. She still has the darn apena so she flips around some but not near as much.

I pulled up a post for Myria the other day on iron. That might help too. I think it says Iron question *myria*

[laurasnowbird]

We have used melatonin in the past, and used the timed release kind because Ethan had no trouble GETTING to sleep, just trouble staying asleep. We didn't use it for a really long period of time, I dont' recall exactly how long, but maybe a couple of months. It seemed to help him establish a more regular sleep pattern, and we haven't needed it since then.

I will say this, it is very helpful to have your child's room as dark as possible to promote good sleep. Night lights and the like will reduce the body's own production of melatonin, so a dark room is a good thing! Ethan does not like his room dark when he goes to sleep, so he has a night light on. The moment we know he's asleep we go in and turn it off. He doesn't awaken during the night, so it's never an issue.

[Claire]

Since Adam started puberty he was not sleeping well. he was never a heavy sleeper to start with, but this 2am singing in his bedroom at the top of his lungs were a little too much for all of us. We started giving him Melatonin before bed at night and it works wonders. We started off with just one but have had to increase to 3 every night under the doctors orders. He now sleeps at least his 8 hours and gets a more peaceful sleep and is also more energetic during the day. The only thing I was worried about giving him any sleep aid is becasue he has central sleep apnea, but it seems to be fine.

[Renee']

Lauren is 12 and has been taking Melatonin for years. Her neurologist "prescribed" it for her. At one time we were up to 20 mg a night at his suggestion. It worked well to put her asleep. We had to ass Clonodine to keep her asleep. She is now off the Clonodine and only takes Melatonin on occasion.
They have melatonin that is chewable and orange flavored. They also have cherry flavored too. There is also liquid. My other two children take it to go to sleep. They are both ADD. I have never heard of the Ferratin level. I will have to check that out.