Tempted to try Melatonin for 3 year old

[Anonymous]

My three year old is just going through a transitional time making his sleep not so great (dropped nap recently, moved to big boy bed, stopped needing a pull up at night but still sometimes needs to go at night or has accidents). And above all, he still uses his paci to sleep.

The paci issue is that he physically can’t fall asleep without it. He will be exhausted, but just plays in bed or calls out because he doesn’t realize he can just fall asleep. It’s that big of an association for him.

So I’m wondering if a couple of nights of melatonin will get us over the hump, where he’s just exhausted enough he’ll fall asleep and then not need it anymore.

BUT I was always in the camp of being super anti melatonin because it disrupts their natural hormones. The last thing I’d want is a few nights of great sleep followed by more nights of restlessness or withdrawal (not as dramatic as that but you get what I mean).

I’m going to run this idea by my pediatrician, but was wondering if anyone could offer their experiences with melatonin at this age?

[Anonymous]

Our pediatrician said it is pretty benign and encouraged us to use it with son with ADHD whose medication makes it difficult to fall asleep. She said if you use the melatonin for a little while and he can't fall asleep when you stop it, it isn't because of the melatonin, it is because he couldn't fall asleep before either. Which is a good point. So try not to associate everything with the melatonin. Psychiatrist said there isn't research on long term use so try to make it short term. So we try not to use it all the time. But it is incredibly helpful with our kid who has a lot of struggles and REALLY needs the sleep.

We've used it a couple times with our 3 year old when returning from travel with time changes, only used it for 1-2 nights and there were no issues.

It could work, I think I remember you posting about the paci issue. I would personally just keep the paci but if he is still refusing it then I think it is reasonable to consider trying for a couple nights to get him back in a routine. But I'm not a dr of course.

[Anonymous]

Our pediatrician also said it’s fine to use for specific periods (eg travel, when my son was in a cast and had trouble getting to sleep, resetting a bedtime that had become a battle)…but obviously not something you want to use all the time. Of my 3 kids, it helps two and the third becomes very emotional with it and bedtime becomes even more drawn out and worse for all

[Anonymous]

I use melatonin sparingly with the kids, and personally wouldn't think twice about trying it for 2-3 nights.

However, I also don't think you should short-change your child and his ability to learn how to fall asleep without his pacifier.

[Anonymous]

I mean, if the kid only has the paci for 30 minutes or so per day that’s really not bad and I’d just wait to phase it out naturally.

[Anonymous]

It's fine for a few nights. The benefits outweigh the risks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's fine for a few nights. The benefits outweigh the risks.

What are the risks?

[Anonymous]

Our 5 yo has some SN, but is not on any medication for it. We do speak to a psychiatrist to monitor her anxiety, and recently asked about melatonin. She said it's fine, that human beings evolved when there wasn't electricity and lights and now that we live in a world with that and screens, our melatonin levels.are off.

I wish we had used it more when DD was 3. She was not sleeping well due to transitioning out of the crib and it really affected her anxiety and behavior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our 5 yo has some SN, but is not on any medication for it. We do speak to a psychiatrist to monitor her anxiety, and recently asked about melatonin. She said it's fine, that human beings evolved when there wasn't electricity and lights and now that we live in a world with that and screens, our melatonin levels.are off.

I wish we had used it more when DD was 3. She was not sleeping well due to transitioning out of the crib and it really affected her anxiety and behavior.

You could make some adjustments to electricity and lighting FYI. No screens, blue light apps on cell phones, red spectrum light/candles after a certain time at night.

Our son is sensitive to visual stimulation, so we use a booklight red spectrum to read at night and especially in the winter use battery-operated candles after 630/7. We limit overhead lighting all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our 5 yo has some SN, but is not on any medication for it. We do speak to a psychiatrist to monitor her anxiety, and recently asked about melatonin. She said it's fine, that human beings evolved when there wasn't electricity and lights and now that we live in a world with that and screens, our melatonin levels.are off.

I wish we had used it more when DD was 3. She was not sleeping well due to transitioning out of the crib and it really affected her anxiety and behavior.

You could make some adjustments to electricity and lighting FYI. No screens, blue light apps on cell phones, red spectrum light/candles after a certain time at night.

Our son is sensitive to visual stimulation, so we use a booklight red spectrum to read at night and especially in the winter use battery-operated candles after 630/7. We limit overhead lighting all the time.

Thanks

[Anonymous]

I would definitely try it. Helps a lot for both my kids - one with ADHD and the other who just has trouble turning off to go to bed.

[Anonymous]

I would use it in this situation.

They sell 1mg gummies that I used to cut in half for my kids. That was still plenty. I've used when traveling when it can be hard to settle down or if we have a time change...

[Anonymous]

I would address the paci situation first and remove it as a sleep aid.

I suspect he is waking up in a panic multiple times a night to find it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's fine for a few nights. The benefits outweigh the risks.

What are the risks?

NP here. Our child psychiatrist has said there are near 0 risks. Our kid needs it a lot more than typical kids, and I'm NOT suggesting anyone give it to their kid willy nilly, but it's fine to help a kid get some needed rest. And it sounds like it will help give him better sleep routine/hygiene.

[Anonymous]

I’ve used it for my 3 kids to get over various humps such as being out of routine due to travel. I would not think twice about using it to overcome dropping nap and paci.

1 of my kids has ADHD and mild Autism so needs 1 mg every night. All his doctors say this is fine and common with ND kids. It’s a tool to help your kids and a fairly benign one. Back in the day parents used whiskey and such, this is so much safer.