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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Child given melatonin without our consent

996 replies

HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 28/07/2023 22:44

DS6 went to his first sleepover last night, at a close friend's house. 4 other kids were there also, ages 6-8.

His friend's mum messaged to say he was asleep shortly after 9 which I found unusual because he would usually stay up later with all that excitement. But I thought that he was just very tired. We have been very busy recently, he has been in swimming lessons and football and was starting a mild cold.

This afternoon when I picked him up it was casually mentioned that the kids were all dosed with melatonin. I know it's super common to do so but our son has never had melatonin, and we certainly would have said no if we were asked.

It put him into a really deep sleep, causing him to have an accident in the night which really embarrassed him.

I didn't really say anything when my friend mentioned this. I was a bit blindsided, and the party was still going on so I didn't know how best to address it.

My husband is really irritated that they went ahead and dosed our child without our consent. Melatonin has been something we agreed not to give our children unless medically directed. He wants me to say something to the parents. I'm inclined to leave it as he's unlikely to go there for a sleepover again for quite some time. I was thinking we could just bring it up if he ever sleeps there again.

My husband thinks that on principle, you don't give a child anything without their parents' consent, so we should raise the issue and set the boundary now. Our children do play there occasionally in the daytime. Usually he is the non confrontational one and I am the one bringing these things up. Idk if it's because I'm 38 weeks pregnant so I just don't feel like pursuing it?

What would you do? Are we right to be irritated?

OP posts:
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14
MamaBear2210T · 28/07/2023 22:46

I'd be furious if my child was given something without my consent! My child would never go back there again.

IMustntBeLate · 28/07/2023 22:46

WTF?!
and I say this as someone who’s DS is prescribed melatonin.
Where are you? I’m presuming in a country where it’s bought otc, even so, nobody should give other peoples DC something like that.

Wertie · 28/07/2023 22:47

I’d be very very annoyed and tbh struggle to address it calmly. I think it needs to be said in some way, that you weren’t ok

AndTheSurveySays · 28/07/2023 22:47

She gave your child medication without your consent? Medication that's actually supposed to be prescribed and not just bought (in the UK)? I'd be livid.

Hankunamatata · 28/07/2023 22:48

Wtf I have a child who takes prescribed melotonin. Had to get it specially prescribed from a hospital consultant. I'd be livid. Where did they get it?

WestOfWestminster · 28/07/2023 22:48

Since when is it super common to dose up children with medicine at a sleepover?

Taylorswiftly23 · 28/07/2023 22:48

This has got to be a wind up?

BobbyBleu · 28/07/2023 22:48

I wouldn't be happy and I don't understand why the parents didn't just message and ask if you were ok with it.
I wouldn't even give another child paracetamol without checking with their parent.

Allmarbleslost · 28/07/2023 22:48

Melatonin is a prescription only drug for children (assuming you're in the UK?) I would go ape shit. And I say that as the parent of two dc who are prescribed melatonin.

purpleme12 · 28/07/2023 22:49

Is this in UK or somewhere else?
Just that's it's not common to give melatonin here...
No idea about elsewhere

holjam · 28/07/2023 22:49

Are you seriously questioning whether to say something or not???
I would be absolutely livid if either of my children were given something like this without my consent.
Like WTAF?????

Harryyourenogoodalone · 28/07/2023 22:49

Wtf! I'd be furious and I'm really not easily angered.

ArcticSkewer · 28/07/2023 22:49

Are you not UK based?

HopityHope · 28/07/2023 22:50

Holy shit balls!
I would be going crazy, that’s assault worthy of talking to the police. Giving your kids medication at a sleep over that’s prescription for an easy life.
There are no words, you can’t under react to this.

BiscuitsandPuffin · 28/07/2023 22:50

Jesus Christ! That's not something to mess around with. It can cause a serotonin imbalance (and it gives me really bad headaches). What kind of fucked up human thinks it's ok to drug other people's kids like that?!

INeedAnotherName · 28/07/2023 22:50

I know it's super common to do so but our son has never had melatonin.
Which country are you in as I thought it was prescription only?

Harryyourenogoodalone · 28/07/2023 22:50

Also I've never ever heard of this and I have four children who regularly sleep at friends houses.

Viviennemary · 28/07/2023 22:50

Of course you don't give chilldren drugs.She should be reported to the police.

Atnilpoe · 28/07/2023 22:50

I would report them to the police

SquigglePigs · 28/07/2023 22:50

That's insane! I'd be beyond furious if someone took it upon themselves to unnecessarily medicate my child!

TwelfthGiraffe · 28/07/2023 22:50

I’m not even sure this isn’t a crime. I’d go ballistic, and I’m pretty laid back.

Bleepbloopbluurp · 28/07/2023 22:50

It's not common to dose children with melatonin.

Your "friend" should not have dosed your child.

My own view is that six is too young for sleepovers. What if something is wrong at a friend's house (you know, like the parents medicating kids...). Will a six year old know what is wrong and be able to articulate it? No. Because they are too young. And frankly people who want small children to sleep over are wierd.

Boomboom22 · 28/07/2023 22:51

In no way is this common in the UK. If you call the police I am almost 100% sure she will go to prison. Wtf?

NotAMug · 28/07/2023 22:51

Was it kids melatonin gummies? Tiny amount of melatonin? Not that I would give anyone's kids that either but quote different to prescription melatonin I'd imagine.

Multipleexclamationmarks · 28/07/2023 22:51

It is definitely not super common to give other people's children random drugs! I'd be properly angry!

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