Question on Melontonin
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Question on Melontonin
| Wed, 07-25-2007 - 10:55am |
Okay I don't know if Vic is simply hitting those teen years and doesn't want to get out of bed before noon or if he's staying up too late in his room. Either way, this is not my sweet stick to a schedule boy anymore. He's crabby and grumpy and about 10 other meloncholy dwarfs rolled into one. I've been debating about starting melontonin to help regulate his sleep, thinking that he's prolly stressing over starting middle school in two weeks. If we can get him back on a decent sleep schedule, mayb he'll be a happier kid again. Any ideas? Should I just go ahead and take him into the doc? Sigh. Preteens suck :)
Alexis

Try the melatonin. Probably the least invasive thing to start with. Oh and get yourself a nice bottle of wine, puberty is a dang long haul.
renee
I second both of Renee's suggestions...
-Paula
visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
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Edited 2/19/2008 1:37 pm ET by littleroses
Renee--- Can I just get a bigger bottle of whiskey? It tastes better with my Cokes. :) He's still awake at midnight because he HAD to finish this new book in a series he's reading. I'm trying to talk him into e-mailing Mike but he's still overloaded. Might be a bit.
Alexis
Alexis, I started Melantonin for Chris a few months back and it was a GOD SEND! I consider my 11 yr old as the child that NEVER slept thur the night.
He now goes to sleep, voluntarily! It has done wonders for my own sleep.
My other son it doesn't work as well, but he takes clonodine and that works for him with the sleeping issue.
Try it. I hesitated for awhile, but when I finally tried it, I was amazed.
Oh and Whiskey will work... can you make me a Whiskey Sour while your at it? lol
Lainie
No Worries, I can't get Mike to check his email. He wouldn't know if Victor had emailed him anywhoo. Darn kids, lol.
Mike is like that when he gets a new book in a series. He loves to read series. he is trying the 7th HP book but it is a little too hard for him. He keeps plugging away though, then switching to something easier.
He LOVES anything by Garth Nix. I bet Victor would like him too. Mike has the last book in the "Keys to the Kingdom" series that he is dying to read. we just reserved it when it is available from the library today (it is just out).
I bet Victor would like Garth Nix "Seventh Tower" series too. I read that with Mike. Perfect for about 4th grade level or so with a great story too it. Very fantasy/sci-fi.
Renee
My son is 23 and was recently diagnosed with a sleep disorder. The doctor said it probably started in puberty. Throughout high school he was required by us to go to bed early enough to get 8 hours of sleep but had a great deal of trouble falling asleep and always woke up sleepy. (Most autistics have sleeping problems but not all take this form. Matt sleeps better under covers pulled up over his head. He used to sleep under a bed tent or on the floor in a tent. A sheet hung around the bed can help also.) You may not need the melatonin.
For a chronic sleep/wake problem:
Change the cycle of his sleep and wake time by going to sleep 2 hours after he would normally go to bed the first night. Sleep 8.25 hours. Shift the next night's sleep time 2-4 hours further ahead and again sleep 8.25 hours. Continue doing this until his waking time is better suited to his current schedule, shifting the next sleep time closer to the last one as it approaches his target wake time. This is called chronotherapy. This takes about 10 days and is best to do when someone can be awake with him (during vacation).
Light exposure causes people to have a problem falling asleep. Any light--not just sunlight. (Something to do with the blue, violet, and untraviolet spectrum) Can wear Blue Blocker sun glasses at night to reduce any light exposure of TV. Eliminate all light at night for sleeping including clock's. Conversely, get exposure to light on waking up for at least 2 hours. This triggers your need to go to sleep 16 hours later. Stay out of sleep area except for sleeping. Melatonin can be taken (3mg regular pills) about 1 hour before bed. This is not a sleeping pill. Check with you doctor about using it. Finally, a strict sleep/wake schedule needs to be kept thereafter, even on the weekend. This has worked great for Matt. He doesn't need the melatonin.