MELATONIN HAS ANYONE EVER USED TO help there children get the rest they do need?

Question

i asked my dr and she said its a great thing cz its all natural

Answer 1

Yes...Its natural and completely safe...

Answer 2

I wish people who answered this question knew anything about the body or melatonin. It's not a sleeping pill, or a "drug" it's a chemical your body naturally produces to make you tired.

It'd not "dangerous" to give to a child...the child's body is designed to have the chemical in it's system. Sometimes our bodies get off track, and need help getting back into a cycle. There is nothing wrong with taking a supplement to help the child get in a normal sleep pattern. However, there isn't clear research on whether or not long term use of a supplement prevents your body from producing it's own melatonin. Therefore, it is recommended only for use while adjusting sleep cycle. The goal is that once your body gets used to sleeping, it will begin to become tired around the same time every day.

As long as you have consulted their doctor, take her advice. Just check out which supplements you buy you sometimes can be sure that over the counter supplements don't have other harmful chemicals in them.

Answer 3

The only time I used it for my children (aged 6 and 8) was during a transatlantic flight (Chicago - Paris). They fell asleep within 15 minutes and slept throughout the flight.
The flight from Paris to Amsterdam, they stayed awake and were kept awake until it was their normal (Dutch) bedtime.
I was told it would speed-up the process of getting back into the European time, but that was not true. My kids were falling asleep normal time, but woke up in the middle of the night and kept waking up for three days.
But still.... during the flight it gave Mummy some time to sleep a little herself :-)

I wouldn't use it again, I threw away the bottle. I think giving children plenty of activity and fresh air at daytime and no sugar before bedtime, and creating a peaceful environment once they are in bed works best! Also make sure there is enough fresh air in their bedrooms.

Answer 4

I don't know about children, but my natural homeopathic doctor prescribed it to me because of a medical condition I have that causes insomnia and none of the regular sleep aids - prescription and over the counter - worked for me.

It works great for me - but do your children have insomnia or just a lot of energy?

Melatonin is a hormone - I would look into a little further before giving it to children.

Also, the hormone should be fillled (if that is the route you take) by a compounding pharmacist and not just some herb or vitamin you buy over the counter. A compounding pharmacist makes sure it is the real deal.

Answer 5

my exhusband was giving my daughter wo is 8 this at night., I had a fit and called around and the pharmacist told meto have her taken off of it immediately you see..... The body creates melatonin on its own and taking more can eventually cause a defficiency of it when she does stop taking it. Also overdosing can cause seizures. And lastly there arent enough studies done on this drug with children who do not have a nuerological problem. ANOTHER THING is that it causes depression. Please research this completely our local social services agreed with me this should not be given to children.

Answer 6

I use it. Start them off with 1mg dosage per day, or at the recommendation of your doctor. I myself use 3mg every other day.

Answer 7

That's what my retired father uses to help him sleep.
Children? No way. What you need to do is wear them out. They need to turn off the TV and get some exercise. I realize that in the winter months it is harder to get them to burn energy. Maybe take them to the gym and let them go crazy and burn off their energy. It's what they need anyway, to be healthy. No more TV or video games - that gives them ADD and behavior problems.

Answer 8

thats not a good idea try limiting exercise or stimulation before bed have them read a half hour before bed this will relax them a bath is good too try to stay away from things like that try other methods first