FoggyRock General Forum

I am one of the lucky ones who doesn't have the sleeping issues, but I have heard wonderful things about the melatonin. It is natural and safe, it would not hurt to give it a try. They say to give it 30 min. before bedtime, if they wake in the middle of the night not to give it then.  I have chatted with at least twenty parents who have used it with great success. Good luck.

My son use to wake in the middle of the night. I just fed him a small protien snack minutes before he went to bed. So far its work like a charm. But, thank you for asking your question. I will keep Melatonin in my supplies.

We have always suffered with multiple sleep issues and our primary care physician and then Benjamin's psychiatrist recommended Benadryl at bedtime.  We have used it and it has been amazing in helping us with bedtime and sleeping through most of the night.  HOWEVER, our daughter recently had an evaluation and the doctors on her team strongly recommended NOT using Benadryl for sleep and recommended Melatonin.  They suggested 3mg (which is the dosage amount on the bottle I bought at Rite Aid) 30 minutes before bed. ( I spoke with our pharmacist who knows our family well and he supported the team's recommendation and also said he has read great results for use with children who are autistic)  We've been using it for her and Benjamin now and it works well for Collette but is not as effective for Benjamin.  But...I am intrigued by the post that recommended the time-release melatonin...I'd like to try this to see if it'll help him make it through the night.  --lisadianne

Melitonin is wonderful!  It is natural so it isn't harmful.  I have used it for both of my children for years.  Kirkman industries has it available online.  We use the 1mg chewable tab.  It helps anyone who has trouble going to sleep and staying asleep.
Experiencing sleep deprivation is horrible for these kids and only adds to their sensory problems.  The Melitonin helps calm them down.  My son's schedule at night helps him calm down as well.  He takes a nice hot bath, then he chooses a book to read or be read to.  He takes the Melitonin 10 min. before he gets into bed and within just a few minutes he dozes off.  When he was younger, we played very soft lulliby music and that helped as well.  Everything must be very quiet and low key.  We don't have sleep issues any more! I hope this helps.

Hi my son Garrett has been on Melatonin for 2-3 years now it is the best thing in the world believe me. I have done alot of research on it. I found out that autistic peoples bodies do not make melatonin like ours do. That is why Melatonin is a great thing for them. Garrett would go all night until 7 or 8 in the morning, until he would just fall over asleep. I know what your feeling exausted is only a small part of it.

If you are concerned about it talk to your pediatrician or a herbal specialist. Even someone who deals in vitamins would probably know. If it helps speak to all the above.

Your son needs rest and you need rest so that you can be what you need to be for him. I swear it was the best thing in the world for us. I had to do something. I don't like giving him med's either but sometimes you have no other choice. In Garrett's position we had no other choice.

But thank God we are able to give Garrett more control with Chinese herbal medicine and vitamin therapy along with Chiropractic treatment and Bio-Feedback. Natural stuff but anyways Good Luck I will be praying for you!