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Behaviour/development

would you give rescue remedy to an 8 year old?

34 replies

duke · 11/11/2012 22:04

My ds 8 has developed a going to sleep problem. He's always been good at going to bed and usually reads himself to sleep. But just recently he's been crying and saying he can't sleep because he's crying. I've gone through all the usual questions checking he's ok at school/friends/home etc he says he really doesn't know why he's crying. I think he's getting himself in a twist about going to sleep. I have used myself rescue remedy night spray and found it helped me and wondered whether to try it for him. Am I mad to even consider this??? Feel like he needs something to break the habit.

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Trills · 11/11/2012 22:05

It doesn't actually have any drugs in it, does it? Just brandy and a bit of scent. So no reason why you shouldn't.

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AntoinetteCosway · 11/11/2012 22:06

I would check with a health professional but I doubt it would do any harm. Our vet told us to give it to our cat when she had to go in the cat box in the car because she hated car journeys!

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Trills · 11/11/2012 22:06

Spray version doesn't even have the brandy, so it's water and flowers.

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duke · 11/11/2012 22:11

He's fallen asleep in my bed now. Going to carry him back to bed. Thought these days were over!

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Trills · 11/11/2012 22:14

Lift with your knees, not with your back!

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RavenVonChaos · 11/11/2012 22:14

My dd is going thru a phase of being scared at night....scared of ghosts etc. she uses story tapes on iPod.

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duke · 11/11/2012 22:20

Wait....he's awake more crying!!!!

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ZuleikaD · 12/11/2012 11:14

It doesn't actually have anything in it, its assistance is purely psychosomatic, so feel free to give it to him but it's doubtful it'll have any effect unless he 'believes' in it.

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Durab · 12/11/2012 11:30

If that's the case ZuleifaD, how does it help the cat?!

I'd be more inclined to find some "science" about how a warm bath and a milky drink help and hope that has the same psychosomatic effect TBH

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ZuleikaD · 12/11/2012 11:32

A vet telling an owner to give it to a cat is far more likely to be for the owner's peace of mind than actually doing anything for the cat.

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GrimmaTheNome · 12/11/2012 11:40

Its probably OK so long as when he's old enough, you make sure he understands the placebo effect.

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Trills · 12/11/2012 11:46

Placebo works on children and animals - they are calmer if their parents/carers/owners are calmer.

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GrimmaTheNome · 12/11/2012 12:09

Placebo works on children and animals - they are calmer if their parents/carers/owners are calmer.

yup, placebo by proxy.

Rescue remedy smells nice and wont harm him; something like lavendar aromatherapy might help too (that conceivably actually does something even). 'This is something that will help, I'm not alone with my getting to sleep problem'. That sort of thing. Good luck! Smile

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Trills · 12/11/2012 14:14

Plus an 8 yr old is definitely old enough to understand that being given something to eat or smell or put on skin is "medicine" and so they shouldfeel better.

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DameEnidsOrange · 12/11/2012 14:18

DS' paed recommended it to help him when he was 5 (ASD so has sleep issues)

I give it to 8yo DD too now as she struggles to sleep

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bealos · 12/11/2012 14:33

I've given it to my ds since he was 3... It's booze really. A few drops of booze.

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duke · 12/11/2012 20:16

Tonight I have done no telly after tea, warm horlicks, cuddles, stories and in to bed I can hear the first starts of tears already. Going in with the rescue remedy....

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GrimmaTheNome · 12/11/2012 20:19

Hope it (or something) works. Poor lad - poor you.

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shrimponastick · 12/11/2012 20:24

I wouldn't.

What if he becomes so used to having the Rescue Remedy he won't sleep without it, in future.

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seeker · 12/11/2012 20:24

It can't possibly do any harm- what with it having no active ingredients. But would be very wary of getting a young child dependent on this sort of "prop". Have you tried story tapes? Or sitting with him while he goes to sleep? Or if you don't want to do that, pottering about upstairs cleaning the bathroom or folding sheets or just sitting and reading at the top of the stairs. Anything to make him feel completely safe and secure.

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bealos · 12/11/2012 20:34

Yes, hard if they become dependent on it. I've only used Rescue Remedy for injuries....

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duke · 12/11/2012 20:58

I'm in the room next door. That's what I am worried about, him thinking he needs it, I just feel he needs something to break the habit, he's turned it in to a 'thing' He said tonight its started again I can't sleep. I said you don't have to go to sleep just relax and think of a 100 nice things. If he was a girl I might think it was hormones do you think that's what it could be?

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seeker · 13/11/2012 09:06

Duke- what happens if you sit with him? I had to sit with my dd for a while when she was 7ish. I just sat qnd read my book and by the time I'd finished my glass of wine cup of tea she was asleep. Have you tried that?

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poozlepants · 13/11/2012 09:12

Get him a kids hypnotherapy cd to listen to.
I use a free one I downloaded onto my phone and after I sniggered a bit at his annoying voice I found it really good. There are kids ones about. My sister had one for her boy who was having the same problem at 8 or so. He listened to it everynight for a week or so and then was fine and he just put it on himself if he was having trouble.

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bealos · 13/11/2012 12:14

Unless, duke it's a "pretend' Rescue Remedy dropper thing... I mean, kids have teddies, comforters, all sorts to get them to sleep.

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