Melatonin and early waking?

[MsF1t]

Youngest (4) has been on low dose of 1.5 mc Melatonin recently. The issue is that although they now drop off really well, they seem to wake again through the night repeatedly and are still up very early (often 4 or 5).

Has anyone else experienced this? We are all knackered!

I haven't, but my DS is on Melatonin too

Is it prescribed by a paediatrician? Ours says if needed we can give another dose in the night, she was quite strict about what time it has to be though so do check. We've thankfully never had this trouble although DS still struggles to get to sleep some nights

Some people use a split dose so you can top up later on waking

We used liquid melatonin (kidnapz) for a while but it only ever helped with dropping off at bedtime or if DD woke in the middle of the night (pre 2am). After about 3am it did nothing, especially if she’d also had an earlier dose.

We also tried the slow release type (circadin) in the hope it would help with early waking but it did nothing at all, at any time.

Is the waking at night new? Maybe try a slightly lower dose eg 1mg?

PS DD’s early waking did improve once she was in school (after the first half term when it was worse!) so I hope this helps for you.

We have been advised to give our dc melatonin as needed, ADHD and anxiety.
It helps with dropping off and maybe skips the first waking but that is it.
It doesn't help with later in the night or morning waking.

Thanks for the replies- I didn't realise anyone had, because of the gap. Sounds pretty much as I thought- it really helps with dropping off (this has taken up to three hours in the past!), but not a guarantee of a full night. Hopefully school will help. She's never been a great sleeper, regularly woke in the middle of the night for a couple of hours and/or very early. The last week she has been waking around 4:30 to 5:00 and rarely sleeps later than 6. Anyway, this too shall pass...