1. I say get them tired by doing things outside with them get them tired by
    Carol Danielson Carol Danielson United States says:
    September 12, 2015 at 1:18 PM

    I say get them tired by doing things outside with them get them tired by actually playing with them and get over the pill for a quick fix ,

    America wants everything fixed with a pill

    Reply
    • What if they are overtired? Or take medicines that cause insomnia?
      Hermione Blair Hermione Blair New Zealand says:
      September 14, 2015 at 7:14 PM

      My daughter is on anti-epileptic medicine which has insomnia as a side effect. She takes melatonin which helps her get off to sleep, otherwise she could still be lying there awake at 11pm.  Fatigue is a seizure trigger.  Don't make assumptions.

      Reply
    • "Get them tired" isn't always an option
      Jenn Shuey Jenn Shuey United States says:
      September 14, 2015 at 11:40 PM

      It's not always possible to "get them tired" to fix a sleep problem with every child. My 5 year old has a sleep disorder and has been diagnosed with extreme hyperactivity along with other issues. We are a very active family who spends a lot of time outdoors each day together. We knew there was a problem when we purposely spent hours each day trying to "wear her out"playing with her, swimming, running, hiking as a family, and it didn't change the outcome one bit. At 5 yrs old it takes 3-4 hours to fall asleep (no matter what time she lies down) and still wakes every 45 min to an hour all night EVERY night without the help of melatonin. An average night's sleep is 5-6 hours max when you factor in how many times she wakes and how long she stays awake.

      I'm that mom who refuses to give my kids any pill unless it's absolutely needed. The only thing that has helped her fall asleep and stay asleep is Melatonin. I don't condone using it every night on a child, but if it taking it for a couple weeks at a time helps my daughter "reset" into a normal sleep cycle I'm all for it. There are side effects of the long term lack of sleep as well.

      Reply
      • Kelly Church on Researchers warn doctors, parents not to give melatonin drug to control sleep problems in children
        Kelly Church Kelly Church United States says:
        September 16, 2015 at 10:50 AM

        Thank you for telling your daughter's story. People who don't know what it is like to have a daycare provider tell you your kid has gone at 100 mph all day, didn't nap and you get them home and after dinner you run her ragged for a couple more hours, only to be falling asleep in their bed while trying to get them to sleep. While they are still up trying to shut their brains off.

        Then after a couple of days of this I end up having to call out of work (again- if this keeps up I'll end up being a stay at home mom by force) because she is so wound up and so tired that she can't function. I had plans last night and had to fork over $60 and then not attend because she is going through another round now and last night when I had a commitment to my own mother I had to cancel because my daughter was 'falling apart at the seams"

        Reply
    • CaC CaC on Researchers warn doctors, parents not to give melatonin drug to control sleep problems in children
      CaC CaC CaC CaC United States says:
      September 15, 2015 at 5:41 PM

      My 13 year old plays soccer at a high level and trains several days a week. On her days off, she helps a friend at a horse farm. The kid gets plenty of exercise and fresh air. Oh, and she has insomnia. She's also pretty smart and can't turn her brain off. So yeah, you're wrong.

      Reply
    • We Didn't Always Sleep 8 Hours Straight....
      Andrew Maurer Andrew Maurer United States says:
      September 16, 2015 at 5:24 PM

      First and foremost, I am a firm believer in letting a kid run themselves empty to fall asleep.  When my kids get grounded they lose everything but the right to go outside and play.  Now with that said, you should all read this article about sleeping the night away.  It is NOT clickbait, it's from the BBC and if you do a google search you'll find more information on it.

      http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-16964783

      Nothing is wrong with our kids, it's our society...

      Reply
    • We don't all have perfect lives like you
      KE EL KE EL United States says:
      September 17, 2015 at 1:39 AM

      People have legitimate sleep disturbances or social issues that impact their ability to produce natural melatonin or sleep patterns. If your life is working great in the area of sleep then enjoy, your egotistical comment progressed this discussion in no form. How did you have time to write this anyways if you are so busy "getting them tired"? It infuriates me when people damage the reputation of legitimate medications because they have a blanket opinion of medications. Hope you never take aspirin, or get any shots, or drink coffee (which is a drug), or use cold medicine.... you should "get more well" instead of taking a quick fix medicine.

      Reply
    • Meredith Adams Bysarovich on Researchers warn doctors, parents not to give melatonin drug to control sleep problems in children
      Meredith Adams Bysarovich Meredith Adams Bysarovich United States says:
      February 9, 2016 at 9:25 PM

      I'll bring my 11 year old over who is hyper active and requires little sleep.  He can still be awake at 2 am and then up again, ready to go at 6 am. Mom not so much.  We use mild medication with complete doctor assistance and would not if mom and dad didn't have jobs to get up and go to and have to function.

      Reply
    • I agree with you.
      Venus Hamilton Venus Hamilton United States says:
      February 17, 2017 at 4:30 AM

      I totally agree. My daughter uses it for my 2 yr old granddaughter and it really gets my goat. I think it is just promoting future drug use.

      Reply
The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of News Medical.
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