Is it safe?

@LovingMyBabies (85127)

• Valdosta, Georgia

24 Dec 11

Okay thank you for your thoughts on this. She watches tv about an hour a day and she plays hard outside each day. She takes an hour nap during the day and she will not go to bed at night until like one in the morning! Im tired, why isnt she? She eats 3 meals and drinks milk mostly during the day.

peavey

@peavey (16936)

• United States

25 Dec 11

I think I read that if you take melatonin, your body slows down in producing it naturally, so this might cause trouble for your little one later on. I've taken it before and sometimes it helped and sometimes it didn't. Although it's "natural" it's not natural because in a pill form it isn't produced by our bodies. Some kids just don't need as much sleep as others (and as their mothers!). Have you tried to keep her awake all day instead of letting her nap?

1 person likes this

peavey

@peavey (16936)

• United States

26 Dec 11

I don't blame you. Have you tried things like chamomile tea? That's all natural and won't hurt her.

@LovingMyBabies (85127)

• Valdosta, Georgia

26 Dec 11

That is something I have not tried but I definitely will! Thanks. =)

@LovingMyBabies (85127)

• Valdosta, Georgia

26 Dec 11

Yeah, her doctor is the one who told me its safe to give it to her but I am not the type to believe whatever the doctor says. Which is why I was asking about experiences here and side effects... She does not take naps at all and she plays hard during the day. Today there was so much excitement, she was up early and had no nap and she is still wide awake when my older two children are exhausted! I have no idea what to do with her to get her to sleep. I dont feel comfortable giving it to her regardless of what her pediatrician said...

derek_a

@derek_a (10874)

•

25 Dec 11

I would take great care in giving anything to young children, as whilst they may be safe for adults, could have an adverse effect on children, especially younger ones. I would strongly recommend that you talke to a doctor or health professional who specializes in children. There are ways to help a child sleep better at night and I would imagine that this is something that needs investigating. Different diets can help, and looking into what she is eating late in the day, as there could be something in the food that keeps her awake.. Too much sugar can often be a problem, but when it comes to health, diet and lifestyle, we all have different needs.. I hope you find a solution soon..

_Derek

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derek_a

@derek_a (10874)

•

26 Dec 11

I wouldn't worry too much about the sweets situation, as I discovered way into my 20s that I sugar wasn't good for me and I had been eating a lot during my childhood. The less sugar well all eat, the better our health in later life would be. There is more information on Dr. Mercola's site. Just go to Mercola.com and type in sugar in the search bar and he has lot's of articles talking about the benefits of taking sugar out of your diet.

_Derek

@LovingMyBabies (85127)

• Valdosta, Georgia

26 Dec 11

The crazy thing is her pediatrician is the one who told me to give it to her. Others are saying its actually not safe to give to her so I will not be giving it to her. I dont trust doctors very much and now I remember why! My kids are not allowed to eat sweets except on holidays. And they cannot eat them after 6pm on holidays. So I just dont get it...

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barehugs

@barehugs (8973)

• Canada

25 Dec 11

There is something going on here that doesn't show. A baby under 3 should sleep at night! Something is keeping this child awake! Does she sleep all morning? If she does and she sleeps again in the afternoon, its no wonder she won't sleep at night. Regulate her sleeping time so that she can get into a healthy routine!

1 person likes this

@LovingMyBabies (85127)

• Valdosta, Georgia

26 Dec 11

No she does not sleep all morning or afternoon. She doesnt even take naps anymore in hopes that she will sleep at night. She does not sleep right. I have 3 children and both of my other kids sleep and have a routine. And it works, nothing works on my youngest... Her doctor said to give her melatonin but I dont want to give that to her just because the doctor said to. I dont trust just that since doctors make mistakes every day!

globaldoc

@globaldoc (858)

• Philippines

25 Dec 11

If I may suggest, I think it is not good to give her medication just to sleep. I think there has to be some adjustments that you have to make. Perhaps the color of the room is reddish? You have to change it to the blue shade, as red makes a person super hyper. Then, what are the usual daily activities? Perhaps there are too much activities, or too much fun and excitement. Also, milk would help. But most of all, see a doctor first before any medication.

1 person likes this

@LovingMyBabies (85127)

• Valdosta, Georgia

26 Dec 11

The room is not red at all, its actually a very baby green color. She plays outside with her sister and brother like most children and watches about an hour of tv a day. She no longer takes naps... I dont know whats wrong with her. Her pediatrician told me to give this to her but I dont trust doctors much and now I know why...Im so glad I did not listen to just what her doctor told me...

Charlene Sally C.

@PointlessQuestions (15397)

• United States

24 Dec 11

It's just a hormone and everyone has it in their brains... I think you should ask your pharmacist. I used to take melatonin and it worked to help me sleep. I had to make sure all the light was out in the room though, because melatonin really kicks in when it is dark. I won't sleep if I have the light of the TV on anymore.. so I have to turn it off. I don't take it anymore because of the Neurontin I take.. it makes me sleepy at night so I don't need the melatonin anymore.

1 person likes this

@LovingMyBabies (85127)

• Valdosta, Georgia

25 Dec 11

Thank you for your help! I have asked her doctor but I wanted other's opinions on here too. I don't like just going by what a doctor says. I wanted to find out some side effects and things like that which unless a doc took it, they wouldn't know for themselves...

2 people like this

Charlene Sally C.

@PointlessQuestions (15397)

• United States

25 Dec 11

I never had any side effects, and I don't know anyone who has.. since it is a natural hormone, I can't see how it would hurt her if she takes the recommended dosage. We lose melatonin as we age. Kids have a lot of it. I have bad insomnia.. I slept really good when I was on it.. I sleep good now with the neurontin so I don't need the hormone anymore.

1 person likes this

jaihobalodiji1

@jaihobalodiji1 (949)

• India

25 Dec 11

pointlessji, if you are all well at that age when melotin reuires most, that doesnot mean other will remains the same, but yes your idea of concern is right it does form in the body naturally, but anyone not having melotin inside their body then they have to take to become normal.but do consult.all the best.

1 person likes this

mr_pearl

@mr_pearl (5018)

• India

24 Dec 11

Hello... Please make sure that you consult with your family Doc before giving any medicine to your baby.. Babies are very delicate and their bodies respond differently than ours... So please make sure that whatever you give to your baby, is the right one... Take care...

baby

experts

medicine

mr_pearl

@mr_pearl (5018)

• India

24 Dec 11

Well.. Miss.. I am a single guy and am not very familiar with kids and their physiology... so I would not know.. But I love kids, anyhow.. And that is why the advice (on a subject that I don't know at all) popped out, it was purely out of my love for kids... :) for me, even 4 years old is a baby... LOL Thanks a lot... Merry Christmas to you and your babies... Hope they are doing well...

1 person likes this

@LovingMyBabies (85127)

• Valdosta, Georgia

24 Dec 11

I have 3 children so I am well aware to check with the doctor first before giving my children anything... The doctor said at her age its ok to give it to her but I NEVER rely solely on what doctors say and I wanted to hear other peoples experiences and their side effects before I would okay it in my book...

@LovingMyBabies (85127)

• Valdosta, Georgia

24 Dec 11

Oh and 2.5 to me is not a baby to me...

it is safe but i wo uld not give it to a small chi

Patsie Hatley

@Hatley (163781)

• Garden Grove, California

25 Dec 11

hi LovingMyBabies I really would try warm milk with a small turkey sandwich as both have natural melatonon im them. this works great for a lot of children and adults so it might work for your little one. My son when he was that age was a night owl too never even getting sleepy til almost midnight or after. Hot milk helped him as I was leery of so many sleep aids. to this day he loves to stay up late and sleep in late in the morning. I am also like that. Its hard for me here to just automatically fall asleep at ten pm as I am used to going to bed at 11 or 12 instead. When we had our own apt. I often stayed up mylotting until 2 a.m. and got up at 9 a, m. but here in Gold Crest I have a roomie hence ten p.m. bedtime as we are woke at 6am.try the hot milk first and see if it does not help as it will not have any side effects. good luck God Bless hugs from hatley

@LovingMyBabies (85127)

• Valdosta, Georgia

26 Dec 11

Hey Hatley darling, its been a while! The reason I was asking here is because her pediatrician told me it was safe but I never just go by what a doctor says when it comes to my children! Thats why I was trying to find out others experiences and side effects. Her doctor said it was completely safe but people here are saying the opposite so I am so glad I didnt just believe what the doctor told me. I will try the warm milk and turkey, thanks! God Bless =)

TheRealDawn

@dawnald (85135)

• Shingle Springs, California

24 Dec 11

You can get it in pharmacies, and even grocery stores. But I do not know if it's safe to give to a child. I would check with a doctor first. Maybe a naturopathic doctor if you have access to one.

@LovingMyBabies (85127)

• Valdosta, Georgia

24 Dec 11

I did check with her doctor first, thats always a given for me... But I was wondering about side effects and experiences personally. The doc said its fine but I just dont trust everything doctors say. So I wanted other peoples experiences before I gave it to her...

1 person likes this

aerous

@aerous (13434)

• Philippines

26 Dec 11

I think the better way will bring your little one to the Doctor, to ask what is good for your little one...

@LovingMyBabies (85127)

• Valdosta, Georgia

26 Dec 11

Her doctor is actually the one who told me to give her but I never just go by what they say. Their people and they make mistakes. Many people here have said what I was afraid of. It could have side effects later on in her life... I will not be doing what her pediatrician said!

MaryLynn321

@MaryLynn321 (2680)

• United States

25 Dec 11

I found this on the internet, maybe it will help you decide whether or not to give it to your 3 year old. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070224213624AAtXj84 Does your 3 year old run around and play. Maybe getting her outside and having her run around, take her to a park and really tire her out. Does she take naps? If she still takes naps, maybe skip the naps. I know of someone that there little one will not sleep in their own bed. They will fall asleep in the living room on the couch or floor or where ever she is. She also will crawl in bed with Mom and Dad. If someone lays down with her she will sleep. Good luck to you.

melatonin

MaryLynn321

@MaryLynn321 (2680)

• United States

25 Dec 11

You are very welcome. I figured I would just look something up online for you. I don't trust to many doctors now a days either. I just found out that my Aunt was over medicated on Heart Medicine and High Blood Pressure Meds. She does not have a heart problem at all. And they think eventually she will be off of the Blood pressure meds. So she was over medicated and having signs of slight strokes. She is off of that heart medicine and now is in and Assisted living home and is doing wonderful, better than in years. All because my cousin decided to take her to a different ER room. Needless to say she has a new doctor and home now. Hugs

1 person likes this

@LovingMyBabies (85127)

• Valdosta, Georgia

25 Dec 11

SEE! This is why I NEVER just go by what a "doctor" says. My pediatrician told us to give it to her also and some people are saying its NOT a good idea! How in the world am I supposed to trust doctors now a days??? Anyway, sorry about the rant but this is my child I am talking about here and her doctor told me it was fine for her, now I am reading it is NOT okay for her! Ugh. Oh my goodness, she LOVES being outside, it is a fight to get her to come in from outside most of the time. She only watches an hour of TV a day if that because she is so active. She has been fighting her nap lately so I put her in and she plays for an hour, I give up and let her back up. I am so lost as to what to do with her but I am TIRED! I actually tried to sleep with her last night but all she wanted to do was to talk to me and ask me to play a game with her... I give up! I pray this is a stage she will get past soon! =)

1 person likes this

@LovingMyBabies (85127)

• Valdosta, Georgia

25 Dec 11

Thank you for the article by the way! =)

1 person likes this

Graceekwenx

@Graceekwenx (3160)

• Philippines

25 Dec 11

I take melatonin pills whenever i am having difficulty to sleep and i do find them effective. I however told myself not to take it often though. Sorry i cant answer if melatonin pills is safe to kids.

1 person likes this

@LovingMyBabies (85127)

• Valdosta, Georgia

26 Dec 11

Her pediatrician told me its okay for her but people here told me its not. Thats why I asked here so I could find out side effects and such... I wont be giving it to my daughter... Thanks for responding! =)

alaskanray

@alaskanray (4636)

• United States

24 Dec 11

Personally I would not give melatonin to a child. While it is a natural substance, a child that small is hard to gauge the dosage for. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor. When I was a child, warm milk with a touch of nutmeg did the trick for me. I do take melatonin now as an adult but it always makes me feel groggy the next day so even as an adult I avoid it as much as possible. Best of luck!

@LovingMyBabies (85127)

• Valdosta, Georgia

25 Dec 11

The doctor said it was safe to give to my daughter but I have this funny thing where I cannot just go by that. I need others experiences as well as what her doctor says. I just feel they are human like the rest of us and can make mistakes so I was hoping people here would be able to tell me side effects and things like that which I did find out here! =)

2 people like this

alaskanray

@alaskanray (4636)

• United States

25 Dec 11

Well, like I said, it does make me feel groggy the next morning. Warm milk with a touch of nutmeg always works best for little ones.

1 person likes this

airkulet

@airkulet (2700)

• Philippines

25 Dec 11

I'd rather seek Pediatrician prescription rather asking someone here and decide on your own. Don't you dare put your daughters health in danger because you ask someone's help here.

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