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A and A

melatonin do we don't we

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Hi there we have a ds aged 3 who has been diagnosed with asd last october, he sometimes takes a while to go to sleep and we frequently have disturbed nights with him and it takes him about an hour sometimes longer to go back to sleep, we have had chats with the specialist health visitor and she has said that when we see the paediatrician in 2 weeks time to discuss the use of melatonin with him as he is happy to prescribe this. we would like advice from parents who have used this and how effective is it and what are the doses used.

A and A

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It is a parental decision but for us melatonin really did help j fall to sleep, he is at present refusing all meds, but when he does take it he is asleep within fifteen mins due to him taking the liquid melatonin, kidnap. for us it has been a life saver in crisis situations, it defo works, but it can for some cause nightmares and feeling tired the next day due to having a better nights sleep, or finally dreaming.

 

I would recommend it if a child has difficulties falling asleep but it is not a seditive, it doesnt knock them out and keep them asleep, if J woke up around 1am I am allowed to give him another dose, but if its 4- 5am I cant as he would be very tired later.

 

I think a trail is common in many parents, J has holidays on the meds too so a build up doesnt build up.

 

Due to J refusing it at the moment we are also addressing the causes of why J cant sleep, so this is usually anxiety, worry, hyperactive, so were using relaxation cds, music, he has a councillor and other therapies, he also has physiotherapy for tension that builds up, at home he has a sensory room and he can chill out in there, if you dont have the space this could be just a chill out zone in your room in a corner or a section of it, basically somewhere they can just chill out.

 

If your area has a sensory room available also in a childrens centre I recommend this too, some hire them out, or you can book an hour or so.

 

Anyway I would recommend a trial and see how your child reacts to it as it is an individual experience.

 

Melatonin is not a drug, its a natural occuring hormone and its naturally released in our bodies, some people produce less.

 

JsMUMXXX

 

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I would say yes. There is a very good reason why I am here at this time of night and it is because I have run out of menatonin and my son is still up!

 

My son started taking it when he was almost 9 and the results were amazing. It does take an hour or 2 to work but it has stopped him from sleepwalking and stopped his terrible night terrors so any sleep he gets is quality sleep rather than disturbed, restless, short lived sleep.

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