DS took too many Nytols - I was unaware we had them, I had put out some Kalms for him, they have different doses!!!!!

[PurpleLostPrincess]

He has always struggled to sleep, he's 14 yrs old now. I think its because I used to rock him to sleep when he was little as we were in a bedsit (I learnt my lesson and DD1 and DD2 are brilliant sleepers). In the holidays we let him stay up late but a few days before he goes back to school I insist on him going to bed early. His usual bedtime is 11pm (if he goes to bed any earlier, he can't sleep). We get him to have a Horlicks etc before bed and recently we've been giving him Kalms Sleep, just for a few nights at the beginning of term to get his body back into a routine.

So, the night before last, we had the conversation about taking some and he said he took one but it didn't do anything. I read the label (of the Kalms) and the dose is 3 or 4 (can be taken by children over the age of 12). So, last night, I got 3 out for him to take and left them on the kitchen side. He came upstairs shortly after and said that he put them back and took "three of the other ones instead". I said WHAT OTHER ONES!!?? Only to discover that we also have Nytols in the cupboard (DH is an insomniac). Turns out he took one of them yesterday, not the Kalms. Anyway, I've read the package and the ADULT dose is 1 to 2 and it also says 'not to be taken by children under the age of 16' HELP!!!!

I was inclined to let him sleep it off but DH managed to get him up this morning and he's leaving for school soon.

Thing is, I know that boys at this age are growing so fast that their brains can slow down - will this make it worse? What sort of a mother am I, letting him take them - big nightmare!!!!!!!!!!

Were they herbal Nytols or the ones with anti-histamine in?

Also, as a one off slight overdose, he will be fine, don't worry ( if it's the antihistamine ones ). If it's the herbal ones, worry even less.

Ermmm, not sure on the Nytols but I bought the Kalms for him as they are herbal. I see what you're saying herbietea and I do agree but to be honest, we have tried that course of action for about a year but ended up with him just not being able to sleep. Thing is, he's really grumpy when he's tired too . Getting the Kalms really was a last resort.

We unplug the internet at around 9.30ish and make him a warm drink and try and get him to settle down. He's never been one for reading - I've bought all sorts of books but he isn't interested in the least - very different to DD1 who loves to read. I think a combination of the two works well, but he took the wrong tablets through a mis-understanding.

i wouldnt worry to much, if he is up and about then he will be fine

the doctor can prescribe a natural drug for him the reason i know this is because i have a autistic daughter who had awful problems sleeping

we havent gone down the route as she sleeps a lot better

the drug is melatonin might be worth a visit to docs?

hope he is ok but he will be dont worry love

Am sure he will be fine.

Have you tried getting him up earlier in the morning? Hard with a teenager I know but I find it the easiest way to get DS's sleep patterns back to school times after a holiday. My DS is only 7 though so it's a bit different. Although he will happily stay up till 10pm.

I would turn the internet off a bit earlier too - 9pm. If he doesn't like reading would he listen to audio-books?

Thanks for the reassurance

Yes, we're definitely re-thinking the time the internet should be turned off. FAB idea about audio books, don't know why I didn't think of that before!

I get up at 6.30 and start waking him so he's out of bed before 7am - he used to wake up at 6am but since we've hit the teenage years its all changed lol! I have been known to spray him with water to get him up

LOL - I threaten DS with that!

I saw an interesting programme on Teenagers the other year. It explained how the hormones have kicked in telling them they are adults and not needing bed until 11pm - hence Teens staying up & insisting they cannot sleep, and the fact they are growing and NEED loads of sleep - hence the cannot get them up in the morning

It explained sooo much about how Teens cannot really help this! (And how they become clumsy as limbs grow & brain not adjusted yet etc) and made me more relaxed about insisting DD tucked dowm earlier, and letting her sleep in at weekends.

However, I still think 11pm IS too late at 14 and that routines do help.

Good luck!