Parenting 'Tweens (9-12) Support Group

This community is focused on the joys, challenges and concerns faced by parents of tweens (9 to 11 year olds). The major areas of child development include: physical development, perception and sensory development, communication and language development, cognitive development, emotional development and social development.

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soulgone 12/04/2008

My 10 year old has never been a very good sleeper, even as an infant. She takes a long time to go to sleep and rarely (though not always) will stay asleep. She usually moves in the middle of the night to room with someone else.

So, she saw her Pedatrician yesterday and we've discussed this before. My Dr is great in that she tries to let things take care of themselves naturally with the kids, try things and medication is always last unless they have a virus or something that warrants it.

So, she suggested Melatonin for a little while to help induce sleep and then see a counselor to help with the Anxiety's she experiences at times and see if the counselor/therapist can help with some relaxation techniques.

So, my question. Has anyone had their child use Melatonin? If so, what did you think? The Dr assures me that this is something our bodies produce normally anyway, it is natural, not addictive and should not cause side effects. My daughter does not like medicine (nor do I), so I want to know what to expect.

Any alternatives that anyone can suggest if this doesn't help? I know I read somewhere Yoga, but I don't know how to do any of that and there isn't a place nearby to take a class.

Thanks for any suggestions.

CarrieDawn 12/04/2008

Yes, we've given our son Melatonin off and on since he was about 6 years old. The first time, we bought the sublingual Melatonin, but he would be asleep within 10 minutes of taking it. We started buying the chewable peppermint ones from Trader Joes. They are 500 mcg apiece, and at the age of 10, he only needs one. About half an hour after taking it, he wants to go to bed and he falls asleep quickly and stays asleep. We used to use it almost every night but now it's just every once in awhile. I very highly recommend you try it. The bottle will say not to give it to children, but it is safe. I would recommend starting her on 500 mcg and if you think she needs more, increase it fom there. The most my son has ever needed is 1 1/2 tablets (750 mcg) but the amount someone needs can really vary. Good luck!

soulgone 12/04/2008

Thanks, the Dr suggested the little pills that come in 3mg. That sounds really light from what you wrote.

Where else can you get this? I did make a run to Walmart last night (only thing in our town) and they don't carry it. I work in an area with pretty much everything, so I'll have to pick it up here. Dr suggested to give it to her while brushing her teeth so she'd be ready within 1/2 hour to sleep.

CarrieDawn 12/04/2008

3 mg is a pretty big dose for a child. My son takes 1/2 mg which is 500 mcg. If I were you, I'd start at 500 mcg and move up from there if you need to. When I take it, I only take 500 mcg and even 250 mcg works for me. The chewable tablets are great because they taste minty and are easily absorbed. Most stores that sell it, sell the peppermint chewables, which most kids like.

soulgone 12/04/2008

Thanks for the clarification, I see you had mcg, Doc had mg. I didn't catch that at first. I like your advice though, I'd rather undermedicate than over medicate.

Ok, I'll have to find out who sells that around here. Maybe Walgreens or something. Thanks.

deleted_user 12/04/2008

My daughter has ADHD and we have used melatonin in the past to help her sleep. It was a great help but quit working after awhile - she used it every night. I found that a nice double-bag cup of Sleepytime tea (celestial seasonings) does nearly as well. It is all natural, tastes good and seems to help.

CarrieDawn 12/04/2008

I think most stores that sell it, sell the 500 mcg peppermint chewables. We buy it at Trader Jes and have seen them at Fred Meyer. If you cn't find it at a place like Walgreens, check out a health food store. It's pretty cheap too. We pay a few bucks for 100 500 mcg tablets.

soulgone 12/05/2008

Awe - the tea sounds like a good thing to try too. My H and I aren't real keen on medicating her even if it's natural. So, maybe we'll try that first. Sure glad you mentioned the chewables though if that doesn't work. I know how scary it is to swallow a pill, I couldn't do it until I was well into High School.

CarrieDawn 12/05/2008

We couldn't get our son to drink the tea when we wanted him to try it. We tried some sublingual drops with chamomile and some with valerian, and nothing but melatonin has worked for him. He's become quite a pro at taking pills as I make him take fish oil, magnesium, B-50 complex, vitamin D, and a couple other pills on different days of the week. He still prefers chewables though and I get him those whenever possible.

soulgone 12/11/2008

Thanks for all the tips and useful information. One more question to throw at you since you have been here. Once they are asleep, do you have nighttime wanderers? In other words, changing bedtimes doesnt' help because they keep getting up?

10 has really gotten bad in the last week. She will let me tuck her in fine and I can even see she's asleep, I check on her before I go to bed, but not 5-10 minutes after I've gone to bed, she's up and by me and can't sleep or has a headache or too warm. I bring her back to her room, tuck her in again and this goes on and on. The problem, this is causing disruption to my home now and she nor I or my H are getting any sleep.

Thoughts to the nighttime wanderer?

Too bad she isn't sleeping in a crib. LOL.. JK - just frustrated.

deleted_user 12/14/2008

What a great topic. My son has had night terrors and walked in his sleep since he was a toddler. He is now 11. I am going to try the melatonin. He has troubles at school and I'm always worried he's simply not getting enough sleep.

He recently told me he sees 'shadow people'. I don't think he could verbalize this before. I use some soft music and audiobooks to help him relax. I told him that shadow people don't like noise so now he puts mediation music on to keep them at bay.

Thanks for all the great info! I had no idea there was an over the counter med I could give him. I'm always so scared of that route because I know his brain is so malleable.

soulgone 12/16/2008

Thanks for your reply Samadian. I'm sorry your son has been experiencing night terrors for so long, but happy you found something to help.

Seperate question, besides the music (we've tried with and without, she prefers music playing softly) and audio books, what else have you tried that seemed to work? Would he resist going to sleep to saying he wasn't tired, or just simply waking up?

Thanks, this is so frustrating.

deleted_user 12/16/2008

Nothing else has worked so far other than time. He rarely has night terrors anymore but is a very, very light sleeper and will wake up and knock on my door. We go through periods of him waking up and needing comfort nightly and then he can go almost a week of sleeping on his own.

It is only recently that he has been able to verbalize his fears. He sees 'shadow people'. I researched and found that it's quite common to see them. He's terrified and that is where his sleep issues stem from, I think. One of my nieces saw red glowing eyes, which also is common with shadow people. My son never acted afraid though. Kids are so hard to figure out, at times.

With time, he has needed me around less. I've tried to respect that he is simply trying to get what he needs, which is to feel safe and comforted. It's exhausting and frustrating though. I have had to remind myself he is only a child for a few years more.

He is never tired at bedtime. He has never enjoyed going to bed and avoids it like the plague. It takes us a good hour, every night, just to get him settled in bed. Right before he falls asleep, he tosses and turns and gets really fidgety.

soulgone 12/16/2008

Wow, thanks for the information. She avoids bedtime like crazy too. I ask about bad dreams, or shadows in her room, changed the lighting, etc., but she is terrified of the dark. Maybe she's seeing shadow people too and isn't ready to verablize it. She hasn't had night terrors unless it's all within and she hasn't been able to share it as she doesn't wake up screaming or anything.

I'm glad to know I'm not alone and will work on being more compassionate and reminding myself she is only a child. Thanks.

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