Would you? should i? do you??

[lisad123isgoingcrazy]

DD2 doesnt sleep well, getting to sleep inst the issue but the waking between 3-5am is :( one of the ladies at the ASD group I belong to suggested I try melotoni (sp??) and told me she gets it off the internet.

I dont know much about it other than its something thats naturally mad ein the body.
TIA

I would consider it if DS's sleep was any worse. He takes ages to drop off but thankfully sleeps until morning.

But i wouldn't get it off the internet. I would ask GP or paed for it.

it is my god, but get it from a doctor, not the iternet

I could ask CDAC pead in Nov, would that be the right person?
I take it it works then??

DS2 has it, was a godsend.

Depends on the one you would need. I think, going off what you said, it would be the slow release one which DS2 is on, which neds to be swallowed whole. You need it to keep your DD asleep not to get her to sleep right?

Don't get off internet though if you can avoid, ask the paed in November.

It works well for some children, not so well for others i heard.

There are different types, quick or slow release depending on if the child has trouble falling asleep or whether he keeps waking up.

My DH's cousin use Melatonin for her DS and it works a treat most nights she says.

Any paed i expect could prescribe it.

dd has cp and insomnia due to meds she is on, and yes it works, she now sleeps

I hadn't heard of that, and DS2 wakes up routinely in the middle of the night and stays awake for ages. (yawn) But trying to get him to swallow a pill ? no thanks! I'd rather lose sleep than my sanity.

Hope your able to sort this one. I do agree that it's probably best to get it by prescription rather than the internet.

triggles you can get it in liquid form. My ds1 has his mixed in with his fruit juice.

Lisad, I agree with the others. Yes to melatonin, no to internet.

The stuff you get from the paed is synthetic, so no risk to the child. Some stuff from the internet is bovine, so can carry virus, etc.

Log the sleep pattern, then ask the paed. GPs are unlikely to prescribe the initial prescription (although some will) because it is unlicenced, but most are happy to repeat the prescription once the paed has written to them.

thanks loads will be sure to ask in Nov, I just want to sleep. I wouldnt mind if she slept during the day but doesnt and is awake till bedtime at 6.30-7pm

I'm considering asking for it for my 13 year old DD1 (AS) who is awake until 1.00am most nights. My feeling is that it might help her to settle into a better pattern 0 not sure about her taking it long term but we'll see.

My other daughter is 7 and is awake til about 11 and then wakes in the middle of most nights. She doesn't get out of bed or disturb us but I'm wondering if she'd be better at school without lack of sleep adding to all the sensory and AS type issues she has there.

I've never been comfortable with medicating my children but maybe this would help them. I don't know. Like you, Lisa, I'd like to sleep (before 1.00am)and I'd like to know that DD2 is staying asleep and not lying in bed stressing.

There are two types of melatonin, liquid and tablet form. The liquid one helps send the child off to sleep and the tablet one is slow release and keeps them asleep.

The tablet form isn't licensed for children, as it is usually only used for the elderly.

We got DS2's pad to write to our GP to request they prescrivbed it on his behalf as we were havin to o every 6 weeks to the hopspital to get it. GP was fine once the paed requested it.

cansu - I didn't know that - thanks - will definitely keep it in mind!

thanks for heads up leonie, thats terrible, did you find out who told them?

My son has melatonin liquid (called kidnaps)...it helps him to go to sleep but he still wakes during the night as it isnt slow release.
We wouldnt be able to get him to take a tablet for the slow release one.
I would only get it off a doctor though.

Dd is 10 and was prescribed the liquid form by the community paed. Used to be awake until around 1am but is usually sleeping within 30 mins after medicine. Weekends and school holidays are Melatonin free though on Paeds advice. I wouldn't advise buying it online though.

I use guided meditations for children to help with sleep issues too and the results have been interesting. I know it won't suit every child but dd really enjoys listening to them in bed and I've found on the nights with no Melatonin, she's usually asleep before the cd finishes. I'm doing a course on how to teach children meditation just now too.