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Original poster

Melatonin gummies for my 3yo

49 replies

Janch13 · 20/12/2022 08:50

My 3yo was an excellent sleeper until they hit 3. Now they wake several times during the night and will only settle when we bring them into our bed, where me & DH then sleep really poorly. I’m pregnant and getting bigger and bigger, plus with a newborn in with us I really want preschooler back in their own bedroom.

We’ve tried various things (reward charts etc) without much success. I’ve been reading about melatonin gummies. Does anyone have any experience of using these and do you think they’re ethical??

If I do get some, I’ll try micro-dosing initially (cutting a gummie in half/quarter) to use the minimum amount while still doing the job.

Not sure they’d even suit our needs - reviews seem to suggest they speed up bedtime but we need child to sleep through again.

Thanks for sharing any insight

OP posts:
EJRB · 20/12/2022 12:29

No I don’t think they’re ethical what so ever. 1) because of the long list of side effects that can come with it and 2) there are studies which show that even by giving them to pre pubescent children short term, it can delay puberty and lead to other health issues

realistically, it boils down to parents wanting to give children a sleep inducing hormone to fit in with their own needs. There is nothing ethical about that. You’re expecting a baby which is a huge change for any toddler, in the most polite way possible do all you can to naturally get him confident sleeping in his own bed rather than drug him

GetOffTheRoof · 20/12/2022 12:38

It's a prescription only medication.

Do not buy prescription only medicines online, you've no idea what's in them.

I can't believe @mnhq continue to allow so many threads where people are seeking advice on buying medication illegally, especially for their children!! I report it every time and nothing improves.

Itstarts · 20/12/2022 12:41

Melatonin is a natural sleep hormone responsible for helping you feel tired at fall asleep at night time. It DOES NOT keep you asleep all night.

Kids wake up. If you're expecting then that's probably why your 3yo wants to be in bed with you. Insecurity about what's going to happen when baby arrives. Melatonin won't help in your situation, and Melatonin should be prescribed not bought off the Internet anyway.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

3 year olds Babies & sleep Children's sleep Families
ChristmasCakeAndStilton · 20/12/2022 12:45

Melatonin won't help keep your child asleep. It won't stop them waking. You can't buy them in the UK. I'd forget medication as a way of keeping your child in bed.

Squirrellane · 20/12/2022 12:46

We tried some melatonin when DC went through a no sleeping phase at 2 years old and it coincided with the sleep issues resolving, but I'm not sure if the melatonin fixed it, IYSWIM.

In this case, the issue might not be fixed by melatonin because DC needs to get used to sleeping in their own bed again.

Pearls1234 · 20/12/2022 12:48

For me, yes. I bought them legally and regulated in the US where they are available as a supplement. You cannot buy them here so would have to be very certain of the source when ordering online, be careful.

For a 3yo, though, I wouldn’t. Too many associated risks - especially if ordering from an unknown store.

Ihavekids · 20/12/2022 12:48

We use them. They can help your child fall asleep more quickly but won't stop the night waking. In fact I think ours wake more often when we use them.

NotMeNoNo · 20/12/2022 12:49

Please don't do this. I can't imagine it would ever be prescribed for a 3yo. We only got a prescripton for older DC after referral to a sleep clinic and even then it's a bit useless (have tried it myself!).

Sleep issues coming and going are a normal part of development and parenting. You need to work on bedtime routine, comforting environment and maybe a bit of separation anxiety.

SalviaOfficinalis · 20/12/2022 12:51

My insight is that I wouldn’t buy drugs online and give them to my child. You don’t know what’s in them. And even if they are genuine, they’re prescription only for reason.

I know sleep deprivation is horrible but this isn’t the answer.

Would they sleep on a mattres in your room as a compromise? Or can your or DH sleep on a mattress in their room? Not perfect I know but you might all get some more sleep.

UnbeatenMum · 20/12/2022 12:54

I don't think melatonin is right for your situation tbh. I give it to my Autistic 11yo who really struggles to fall asleep (we've had a 3am before and one night when she thinks she was awake all night). I wouldn't give it to my NT 3yo who wakes in the night though. I would suggest DH sleeps with the 3yo and you sleep alone, or one of you lies down with him in his room to resettle him and then goes back to bed. My 3yo has a double so it's more comfortable for one of us to lie down with him but a mattress on the floor would also work.

eddiemairswife · 20/12/2022 13:05

When I was expecting my third, my oldest was 3 and I would wake up some nights to find him standing on my side of the bed. I would put him in between us and we would all sleep well. The last time he did it was the night after the baby was born. I used to wonder if he had some vague memory of me having his brother when I was in hospital for 10 days, and was reassuring himself that I was still there.

Cakeandslippers · 20/12/2022 13:09

I won't repeat PPs but I agree it's not a great idea. My almost 4yo has always woken a lot in the night, with the odd phase of sleeping through, she's gradually improved and is getting a lot better in the last couple of months - she's 4 in a couple of weeks. I also have an even worse sleeping 2yo. Since I got pregnant we have always just split so I deal with the youngest and DH deals with the older one - can you do this?

YomAsalYomBasal · 20/12/2022 13:10

Yeah don't do that.
Instead concentrate on the fact that your 3yo is probably sensing change and wants reassurance. This too shall pass.

Original poster
Janch13 · 20/12/2022 15:33

@GetOffTheRoof Thanks for your reply. I’m here for advice, not a bashing and reporting threads will just prevent people like me getting good and logical responses.

OP posts:
Original poster
Janch13 · 20/12/2022 15:35

@EJRB thanks for your reply. A lot of your logic is what my gut is telling me, hence me asking if it would really be ethical :/

I’m just a sleep deprived mama, I’m sure you can understand.

OP posts:
StrikeRobyn · 20/12/2022 15:37

@EJRB - Can you direct me to that research please? I have a child who is prescribed melatonin and I haven’t been advised of this by her consultant or GP

frenchnoodle · 20/12/2022 15:41

I’m just a sleep deprived mama, I’m sure you can understand.

I'm sure many people have thought about drugging their kids with prescription medication bought online.... right?

One of the side effects is night terrors, I wouldn't want to give a child that young Melatonin.

Original poster
Janch13 · 20/12/2022 15:42

Thanks for all the responses. It doesn’t sound like it’s something that would work for our situation or that I’d even be really confident in doing (buying online etc).

Will just have to find another way….

I’m thinking of putting a double bed in toddlers room so DH can sleep in there with them when they night wake. This would probably suit DH better than being woken every few hours by a newborn anyway, plus he snores so it solves another issue for me!

Does anyone think this is a phase that might just pass naturally?? Or are we going to have to go back to weeks of awful sleep trying to resettle 3yo? We did this before and it only worked a couple of nights, most of the time one of us had to sit rocking them back to sleep for hours and hours then inevitable screaming when trying to leave the room. This was in the midst of my 1st trimester exhaustion which is why we didn’t get very far and 3yo was back in with us more often than not.

OP posts:
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 20/12/2022 15:42

Melatonin is a natural sleep hormone responsible for helping you feel tired at fall asleep at night time. It DOES NOT keep you asleep all night

It does if it’s slow release. I get it on prescription.

NameIsBryceQuinlan · 20/12/2022 15:45

So sorry OP I know it's so hard but I wouldn't get these unless prescribed by a GP and they only prescribe liquid melatonin (we get it for our autistic non sleeper)

Really hope things improve for you 💐

Original poster
Janch13 · 20/12/2022 15:45

@frenchnoodle I’ll try to ignore the judgemental tone in your response (I didn’t know it was prescription only as it’s available on a number of online supplement websites with lots of reviews.)

Interesting about the night terrors as I would have thought a “natural sleep hormone” would reduce these! Thanks for flagging that

OP posts:
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 20/12/2022 15:46

Yeah, it gives you really vivid scary dreams.

NameIsBryceQuinlan · 20/12/2022 15:52

Many of us with autistic children use melatonin - it isn't drugging our children. It used to take my son 4 or 5 hours to get to sleep and he couldn't get up in the morning for nursery. It's been a godsend. It's all managed by a paediatrician on prescription.

Natsku · 20/12/2022 16:17

Janch13 · 20/12/2022 15:45

@frenchnoodle I’ll try to ignore the judgemental tone in your response (I didn’t know it was prescription only as it’s available on a number of online supplement websites with lots of reviews.)

Interesting about the night terrors as I would have thought a “natural sleep hormone” would reduce these! Thanks for flagging that

It doesn't give everyone intense dreams but it is pretty common with it. My friend got such bad nightmares he couldn't take it anymore whereas my daughter doesn't have that issue at all (she was prescribed it at 5 years old) although its not prescription only in my country and I imagine quite a few parents in your position would give it a go here without worrying about it but its unlikely to help with night wakings (but it did help with DD, she had both falling asleep issues and night wakings and it helped with both. Or perhaps falling asleep easier decreased the night wakings, I dunno)

Mamoun · 20/12/2022 19:09

Melatonin doesn't prevent night waking. It helps falling asleep.