Sleep and Potty Training and Melaltonin for Kids. . .

I had the same issue with my 4 year old daughter. She is autistic and has a really hard time winding herself down at night. We just started her on melatonin last week. It is working wonderful. We crush it and mix it up in about 1/2 glass of milk and give to her about 30 minutes before bedtime.
For the last 3 days she has actually put herself to bed. HOORAY! Prior to this week she would either get out of bed over and over or if she stayed in bed she would toss and turn and kick or hit the wall. She sleeps with her twin sister so it was really beginning to disturb her. The pediatrician is having her take 3mg. I bought it at Walgreen's. I also have trouble getting to sleep (worry about my daughter alot). Doctor told me to try 5mg. It works great and doesn't leave you with a hang over feeling in the morning like prescription meds. Hope this helps.

OH my goodness, I just had to respond. I cant really offer any great words of wisdom, but just to let you know that I feel your pain...literally!! I too have fibromyalgia, sleep horribly, am 8.5 months pregnant, and have a daughter that is a terrible sleeper too!! She has been this way for years though, and with school it has definitly been hard. I also notice that she complains of leg pains, sometimes pain in her arms, and can be pretty moody (she is 7 BTW). The worst is having to wake her up because (like her mother) she sleeps best in the early morning hours, and would love for her day to start at 9. We will be trying melatonin this school year, as well as some suggested diet changes. The big thing for both of us I have been told could be a gluten and/ or dairy sensitivity..so I am hoping to muster up the will to try to eliminate those things. But with 4 kids and a hubby that works and goes to school full time I am not sure how to give up things like pizza night!!! As far as the potty training thing goes, it sounds more like she is playing you than going potty. So..I would establish a routine, and going potty is the last thing she does. Cut back on drinks for about 2 hours before bedtime, and then you will know for sure that she does not really need to go. Then I would set a timer or something snd tell her that she cant get up to go potty before the time is up...after that you will allow her to try (maybe 20-30 min after you put her to bed) and then that is all for the night. If she really needs to go that often, she should just sleep in a pull up. But again, she sounds more like she is using that as an excuse. Be firm, and consistent, she has to know that you will not back down. Which of course is almost impossible to do when all you want is for her to go to sleep because you feel like you cant go a second longer!! But..you can do it, I am on my 4th and know that even the most in painful and exhausting days will end! Hang in there, unlike most I really can say that I understand, and would be more than happy to chat any time. Take care of yourself and good luck!! ~A.~

A lot of moms of kids with autism utilize melatonin as their kiddos are notorious for not sleeping either. you might explore some of the autism online yahoo/support groups for more detailed advise on how to use it and where and what brand to get.

Don't know if you would be interested but my whole family (Husband,myself,3 yr old and a 10 month old) use a product called Natural calm by natural vitality. It is a magnesium supplement that I started taking for myself because of stress, fibromyalsia and sleep issues. It works great for sleep problems and keeping you regular, two things that can be an issue with toddlers so I put my son on it too. It helped him a lot. Now we all take it and it works great for us.
Extra bonus for me is that it really seems to help me with my PMS problems also. :)
Best Regards,
C.