alternativea to melatonin anyone??

[Chundle]

God I need some help. Dd2 is 2.9 never ever slept at night. Tried sleep counsellors the works. She's been on 3mg melatonin quick release since November it started off ok got her off to sleep quicker and less night wakings (she used to wake 12 times a night). We've only just managed to get her into her own bed properly as she flirted between us and her bed so we could at least get some sleep. However bow instead of just waking and crying she's getting up turning her light on and playing in her room! I woke last night at 3.30am to find all her toys strewn round her room and her playing happily!!

What worries me is that she's not far off scaling her babygate on her bedroom door and she stacks her books so she can climb on things. I've left a message for her pead to ring me back but any ideas I can put to him greatly appreciated . She's still awake now at 9.20pm!

is it kidnaps melatonin? as this is the only one that works for my dd

I've no idea they dispense 3 months worth into a brown hospital bottle and stick a label on it so I've no way of knowing :( its probably a cheap one knowing my PCT

ask doctor for kidnaps melatonin, it is a lot better as it's a different formula,

Ok great thanks

You can get slow release mel. It's a capsule but we open it and put it in yoghurt. Not ideal but capsules impossible and it works better than the liquid as in longer. You can also get taller gates!

I have to admit to removing the bulb from DS' main light (he does have a dim nightlight). The big light just enabled him to get really wide awake (and loud) when he woke up in the night. We also took most toys out of his room and tried to make it more muted and calming. We left books in though.

Can't say he sleeps particularly well now but it is better and usually quieter. I don't find melatonin makes much difference when he's woken after a block of sleep tbh.

I think when he reaches the point of climbing over the gate, we will bite the bullet and do lots of returning to room training.

Thanks for all the advice guys will see if we can try capsules from paed and will def take light out good idea!

Don't know if this is accurate, but we were told by our paed that melatonin is great for children who have difficulty falling asleep but can stay asleep once they get there; but it's less suitable if they tend to wake repeatedly during the night. So slow-release sounds like a good idea for your DD? It works a treat for my DS (15 now) - 2mg tablet. Lifesaver, in fact! But he rarely wakes during the night and if he does, melatonin or not, he still can't get back to sleep. Good luck. No one knows the exhaustion unless they've been there so I feel for you!

Thanks willow just resigned to the fact that we will get no sleep til she's a moody teenager and won't leave her bed all day ;)

I don't know if it would suit your dd but we use an anthistamine called vallergan at a sedating dose for dd who has severe eczema and wakes a lot with scratching. It is on prescription only but there are other antihistamines which make some kids sleepy which you can buy over the counter such as clorphenamine maleate (Piriton). You may need to try several variations as very much an individual response.