Melatonin for kids?

My friend told me that she gives her son (5) a dose of 5mg of Melatonin every night before bed. She said it helps him sleep, that her pedi told her it was ok, and that its good for him. I read up on it, and it says it shouldn't be given to anyone under 18 because it can be habit forming.

What do you women think?
Would you give your kid that to help them sleep?

My daughter is a horrible sleeper, and my friend recommended I try giving my daughter 5mg of melatonin before bed at night. My husband said not to, and I agree with him if it's harmful.

My aunt gave it to my little cousin when he turned 4.

Eventually he started spitting it out when she turned her head.

I dont know any info on it but I do have a friend whose 3 year old son gets it before bed every night and her pedi prescribed it I think

my MIL is always giving my son and daughter that when they go to her house because she says it helps them sleep.

I don't like her giving it to them but hubby doesn't see the harm in it and he doesn't say anything to her.

We just got back from a trip to Florida with her and one night while we were there I commented on how he took a while to go to sleep the night before and she was like I brought some Melatonin with me do you want to give him some of that and I told her no he was fine.

NEVER EVER give melatonin to your kids! Although it's "safe and all natural" one of the MAJOR side effects in children is night terrors.

It was horrifying when we gave it to our son, he would be walking around the house screaming on the top of his lungs. We will never reccomend it for another child

My doctor said it was ok for my 2 year old

<blockquote><b>Quoting HangingWithTheCoopers:</b>“ NEVER EVER give melatonin to your kids! Although it's "safe and all natural" one of the MAJOR side effects ... [snip!] ... our son, he would be walking around the house screaming on the top of his lungs. We will never reccomend it for another child”</blockquote>




I heard night terrors are hereditary... I know-nothing about it though...

Quoting Denise ღ:“ <blockquote><b>Quoting HangingWithTheCoopers:</b>“ NEVER EVER give melatonin ... [snip!] ... it for another child”</blockquote> I heard night terrors are hereditary... I know-nothing about it though...”

if you google melatonin it says one of the side effects is night terrors and it's very common to cause that in children under 5. The day we took him off, they stopped

I personally take melatonin occassionally and I also take 5mg. It knocks me out, I couldnt imagine giving that to my daughter. Seems like WAY too much to me! But I am not a doctor. I will say that it does a GREAT job of resetting my sleep clock because after one night of taking it I am able to sleep great for at least a few weeks.

Quoting Denise ღ:“ My friend told me that she gives her son (5) a dose of 5mg of Melatonin every night before bed. She said ... [snip!] ... I try giving my daughter 5mg of melatonin before bed at night. My husband said not to, and I agree with him if it's harmful.”

It's fine, it causes no dependency and doesn't harm the child.

Work at a natural health food store. People buy it mostly for old people and kids 2+.

ETA: If you try it and it gives your kid night terrors... take them off of it. >.>
ETAETA: I just googled it, because I have NEVER heard of it giving kids night terrors, and according to google Melatonin CURES night terrors, not causes them. The reason some people get them is because of too little night terrors. The thing about supplements is they affect everyone differently, so it may cause different or atypical symptoms in each person. It's all about experimentation.

Quoting Saraneth [11]:“ It's fine, it causes no dependency and doesn't harm the child. Work at a natural health food store. ... [snip!] ... affect everyone differently, so it may cause different or atypical symptoms in each person. It's all about experimentation.”

eh....3 years ago when we put our son on it the first thing that came up on a drug sight was that melatonin caused a lot of kids under 5 to have night terrors.

Every medicine you give, herbal or not, effects everyone different and you'll never know unless you try it. However from out research and experimentation I will never reccomend or give a child it again.

Where I work though, we apparently give the kids at the Juvenile Detention Center up to 9 mg for sleep.

Quoting HangingWithTheCoopers:“ eh....3 years ago when we put our son on it the first thing that came up on a drug sight was that ... [snip!] ... a child it again. Where I work though, we apparently give the kids at the Juvenile Detention Center up to 9 mg for sleep.”

I don't blame you. I wouldn't if I had the experience either. I guess with some people it cures night terrors, with others it causes them. =/ Yay supplements.

call me terrible, but how do you give a two year old melatonin? crush it up and put it in somthing? my daughter sleeps terrible at night...especially because we live in a hotel right now...and i would like to give it a try with her...

Quoting AndiPandi687:“ call me terrible, but how do you give a two year old melatonin? crush it up and put it in somthing? my ... [snip!] ... sleeps terrible at night...especially because we live in a hotel right now...and i would like to give it a try with her...”

Start with a 1/4 dose, and yeah, crushing it or dissolving it in juice or something.

thanks. i've tried melatonin myself when i had issues slleping and it didn't do anything for me but i never thought about giving it to my daughter to i might try it and if it's helpful that great and if not then i'll deal with her screaming at night i suppose