Child given melatonin without our consent

[HuckleberryBlackcurrant]

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?

So your family friends invited your little boy to their house, drugged him so he passed out, so much so that little boy peed himself and you’re asking if you’re right to be “irritated”? Heck no - that’s perfectly normal - WTF.

I’m not normally a volatile person but I would go ballistic about this and then they would be no contact - your poor wee boy.

I also think it’s very very suspicious that adults drugged children leaving them helpless - I’d be asking why?

It is not a sedative. The concern you are raising is OTT.

Oh, give over. OTT, my arse.

One of my DCs is prescribed melatonin for a medical condition and I would be furious if somebody else gave it to them without my consent.

That said, my DC's consultant was at pains to tell me that it is not a heavy drug and it is available OTC in most other countries.

Stop the sleepovers. You cannot trust these parents. If you child wants a sleepover, then offer to have it at your house where you are in control.

OMG Do American constantly be out of it on drugs.

when I think about it about 30 years ago in the UK Dozall from the chemist was used to make children sleep.

*American kids

That is definitely not a tiny dose for a six-yearold. I was prescribed 3mg and I weigh 74 kg.

I wouldn’t say any herbal supplements or vitamins are just fine. Iron poisoning can kill children and it’s why anything like this should be kept away from children who may eat way over the dose, which is what that article is talking about. I find it a bit bizarre you posted this to educate US users of melatonin. All vitamins and supplements are dangerous when overdosed.

The mother would be picking her teeth off the floor if she had done that to any of mine.

How does that work in the event of a fire? Five children all zonked out unable to wake up to being called?

@Dombasle

I'm not sure how deeply it puts them out.

It's not normal in the UK because you can't buy it over the counter so of course we'd be outraged if anyone gave it to our DC

However I know it's normal in the US so I have no opinion on it because I don't know enough about it

If it was me though I'd be like yay it works miracles on getting my DC to sleep in 10 minutes so I'd have grabbed the box off her and driven off to the nearest shop to buy a load more

I still rage that my DD's future MIL gave her an inhaler at 16! It was 24 years ago 😊 I was absolutely livid. Something needs to be said.

Eh?

I think melatonin is a great drug, and the safety profile is actually pretty good. But giving it to a child without the parent's consent? That is absolutely fucking appalling. I'd be livid.

I think it's clear I need to say something. I want to think about how to approach it. I don't want to end a friendship but we need to stand up for our child

There's a lot of misinformation here.

Melatonin is a naturally occuring hormone. It should not be classed as a "food supplement" or a "drug".

It is very safe. However - like with any hormone - it's only appropriate to take in specific circumstances.

It is appropriate for autistic people because there are studies showing that over 90% of them suffer from significant chronic sleep problems and controlled studies have demonstrated that melatonin makes a significant difference to improving this for the majority.

It can be prescribed regularly for children in the UK by a GP if a consultant has authorised this. Usual dose for children on prescription is 2mg.

For adults generally e.g. elderly patients with sleep problems GPs can prescribe 2mg for adults however, consultants can prescribe doses of up to 10mg for an adult.

The amount given to the OP's child is extremely unlikely to have done any harm.

Just wanted to correct some of the misinformation.

However: that is not the point at all!!! Nobody should be given another person's child any type of medication/ hormone/ even food supplement without permission/ a medical emergency.

Poor boy, he must have felt so uncomfortable about the accident in the night, too. I'd be livid OP, totally unacceptable behaviour. What on Earth did they think they were doing?!

For those saying tiny dose, in terms of paracetamol, you cannot just half a tablet and give that to a child. The measurements for medication are not just done on weight or body mass but on how well children tolerate them. This is why we have paediatrics. They aren’t just small adults.

as for it not being over the counter, where did she buy these? Amazon (dodgy as fuck), holland and Barrett style store (still mildly dodgy as supplements are full of non regulated additives)? You just cannot trust this woman to act in the interests of your child. She just wanted him asleep, regardless if that meant he wet himself. I hope it was on something expensive too.

I love Olly gummies. We tend to stock up when go to the US. I’ll usually split them into quarters for DD’s, they’re handy as we often travel long haul or at home if they’re having a particularly bad night. That being said, I’d never give it to a child without a parents consent. WTH Can you imagine if something happened?!

I totally know it’s not a sedative!
However, the little boy slept so deeply, he peed himself.
Melatonin Studies have shown that people taking melatonin go into a higher % of periods of deep, REM sleep.

This,no way on earth would mine be going back there, I'd be fuming.
Not their place.
How did they know he wouldn't have an allergic reaction or something?!
Disgusting

Yeah id be going mad if someone gave DS melatonin.

He would be really likely to wet the bed and would be completely embarrassed and its prescription only in the UK for good reasons. You do NOT give a hormone to a kid without parental or medical consent!!

It helps a person go to sleep -- it doesn't sedate them. Suggesting to the OP that the sleepover parents administered it in order to abuse her child is fucking nuts and totally unfounded.

It is by prescription only in the UK but it is available in the vitamin aisle in Canada and the US. I'm sure an American parent did not have a nefarious purpose, or at least you have no reason to believe they do. If the OP called the police and suggested that to them, the sleepover parents would probably end up suing them. Get a grip.

Research shows that it can increase the periods of REM (deep) sleep.