Sleeping.... we finally are!!!

by Khat
(Boca Raton, FL)

My daughter is almost five and for at least 2 years, has slept 3-6 hours a night, often wakening and unable to fall asleep for hours. She's miserable during the day and her parents aren't much better :>




Her neurologist suggested using melatonin, which I thought wouldn't work. Well, it did. We've had a week of sleep, a week of our daughter falling asleep 20 minutes after receiving melatonin! Her sensory problems are slightly lessened during the day as she is finally sleeping enough (now 11-12 hours a night, only wakens if she isn't touching a parent while asleep.)

Has anyone else used this? Should we take a break from it from time to time? Any information you have about melatonin and SPD?



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Aug 17, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		thank you!
by: Anonymous

Thank you for posting that last comment: my 4 year old couldn't tell me that she was having different dreams but I'm sure that's why she was upset sometimes when she did wake up.

I think I will try a smaller dose now that it's working so well with my daughter. She was the same way, getting so wound up then breaking down into tantrums. Taking melatonin has really helped her. She's like a different child, getting enough sleep. Some nights she sleeps 12 hours- I think she's just been exhausted for years. She's starting to gain weight and is able to concentrate more...

Thanks again to everyone who posts and shares with us! Khat
Aug 16, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		works great
by: sarahsmith

Haven't used it for more than a month, but it's been GREAT! My 8 yr old is sooo revved up at night that sleep did not come, and then she would get really agitated with rages/tantrums.

Found 1 mg gave her very vivid dreams which scared her so now I cut it in half. With no TV, 0.5 mg works in 30 min to 1 hr. With TV, about 1.5 hrs before she zonks out.
Aug 05, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		Melatonin
by: Dhadet

I use for my 12 year old son. It works perfect on his sleep pattern. He doesn't need it all the time, but only when I feel he is overexcited.
Aug 01, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		Melatonin
by: Eileen S

Melatonin is terrific. My son is 9 and has always been a terrible sleeper. We finally tried Melatonin this past winter. We started at 1mg and then increased it to 2mg. He slept so amazingly well from the very first night we tried it. In fact, he used it all winter and stopped one night this spring simply because I ran out. I noticed that he slept well. So, we have not been using it in a few months and he is still sleeping well. Another idea you might try is a weighted blanket. Just google that term and a number of products pop up. My son tried one this winter and just loved it. It really helped him calm down. Here is a website I found tonight with a nice blanket that I may try: http://www.sommerfly.com.
Jul 31, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		ah!
by: Anonymous

Hi, What stomach trouble did your son experience? I have noticed differences but I wasn't sure what it was- possible stomach pain and a change in BM.
Thanks, everyone, for helping us.
Jul 30, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		Melatonin
by: Anonymous

We too use Melatonin but found that the 3 mg gave our son tummy trouble. We were able to find 1 mg Melatonin drops which helped the tummy. Our son was exactly like your daughter...never could go to sleep.
Jul 30, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		response
by: Khat

Hi, I'm giving her 3 mg with ibuprofen at night.
Jul 30, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		=)
by: Angie

I know! My son's doctor suggested it when he is almost 8 so it's been about a year now. I wish she had said something earlier because after 7 yrs with hardly any sleep, what a blessing! My other son is 10 and only needs 1/4 of a 5mg pill and he's out with in half hour.
Jul 30, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		Melatonin
by: wright2bmom

Our whole family uses it and it's awesome. My son used it prior to his neuro's suggestion. He had a horrible time with sleep for a long while, probably from the seizure meds. Melatonin is found naturally in your body. How much is she being given?

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