What’s a good bedtime for a 4.5 yo? It’s Saturday. My child has been up since 6:30 this morning. It’s currently 10 pm and she’s still wide awake. I’m considering saying eff it and doing melatonin gummies because I can’t take it anymore. She never lets me sleep in or nap with me. I work and take college classes. Anyone give their kid melatonin to help them sleep? I’m going nuts over here.
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I gave my kid melatonin when he was 3.5 for about a year and then he no longer needed it. Do what you gotta do momma! It really helped us!
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My son takes melatonin under his peads supervision, it can help but can also leave the child tired. Not great if it affects their schooling.
Melatonin can be a help . As a parent of three and a preschool teacher I would Suggest a bed time routine. Leave all screens off after 6:00, bath, PJ’s, brush teeth, read books (I read 3 or 4 and read the same book last every day.)
You’ve got this.
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I’d also look at her diet during the day…is she drinking any caffeinated drinks, eating anything with chocolate etc.?
I have to give my 3.5 year old them during the day to make her take a nap
Melatonin gummies can actually harm sleep. She shouldn’t be napping during the day either. I’d be aiming for a routine that starts at 19:30 with lights out at 20:30. It might sound late but hopefully she’ll start doing 11 hours!
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Alot of doctors recommend melatonin, it’s very safe. My son is almost 4 and he lays down at 9-9:30 and watches cartoons until 10 then he takes a “night night gummy” and the tv goes off. (He’s usually asleep by 10:30.)
-In my experience if my kid has a tablet, tv, or games to play he will literally stay up all night whether he’s taken a melatonin or not. Screens and lights play a big role in not being able to fall asleep for kids and adults.
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Sounds like they are overtired. Kids that don’t get enough sleep often do this. Take her outside for lots of fresh air and exercise in the morning. Wear her out. Give her lunch then give her a short nap. Repeat until dinner. Feed dinner, give a bath then story time and bed at 7. Do this every day for a week until you establish a routine.
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Cut out juice and high sugar content items before adding supplements.
I dont believe in sleeping in when you have kids. You get up when they do.
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Mine takes it or he would do the same thing he did it for 2 years in the doctor finally said enough is enough and put him on it
Maybe try magnesium oil on there feet .
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My daughter is autistic and we give her 2mg melatonin at night. Shes 3.
It’s perfectly healthy per her many specialists, but I would speak to her pcp about it.
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7:30-8. Melatonin can help, even .5mg will work probably. Try to cut screens by 4 and go outside after dinner than a bedtime routine
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School nights - 730pm for my 5yr old (sun to thurs night) Fri and sat he falls asleep himself around 9pm
7 and 9yr old 830pm - Fri and Sunday any where between 9 & 12.
Dinner and bath done every night by 630pm
You are the mumma - make the routine and stick to it 
if you’ve been allowing 10pm etc - it’ll be a good month for the routine to stick. If I was in your shoes, I would lay with your child to enforce the bedtime at 7pm (be stern that it’s bedtime now because you e said so) - good luck mumma 
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8-11pm. Depending on your lifestyle.
Have you tried turning off all the lights and tvs? That gets mines every time.
Whenever she is tired… Mine never had bedtime. But it sounds like hers need to be 10pm or later since she isn’t tired.
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Magnesium bath would help with calming down with lavender… mine takes bath at 7 pm afterwards they lay down watch TV and 8 light off non school day it’s 9pm sleep but i keep everything else the same there a sleep at 8:30pm also their is a brightness on your tv if you have a flatscreen tune it down what we do for bed time
Guess I’m old fashioned always had kids in bed by 8pm sometimes earlier parents let kids tell them what time is good time changes over the years diet plays big part also
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Melatonin caused night terrors for my daughter. Only used for a few consecutive nights. Just depends.
I know melatonin works for some, but it gave my son awful night terrors. I myself don’t like to take it because it makes my dreams extremely vivid.
When my son was that age I think we did a bed time of 8:30 and he would sleep until 7/7:30. It took us awhile to find a routine that worked for him, but once we did, everyone felt much better.
My 7 year old goes to bed around 8 or 9pm depending on the night but at 4 years old he went to bed at 7pm, my 3 year old goes to bed at 7pm.
My pharmacist recommended melatonin and it is fantastic when used properly, you give them the melatonin 2 hours before bedtime, shutting down all screen time. Keep it to quiet activities, books, bath time, ect. You do this routine for a month and it will reset and balance their sleep schedule. After a month you stop the melatonin, you’ll see a lot of these comments talking about melatonin being harmful and it can become harmful when overused if not needed. However, if your child has a sleep disorder or a behavioural disability than that might be grounds for extended periods of melatonin. Talk to a doctor and a pharmacist and they can help you make the best choice for your kiddo
At that age my kid was in bed at 8:30. She may be wound up because she’s overtired. Even if she’s not tired that early… you need some you time.
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My 5 year old is in bed by 8/8:30 then you have your own time and peace.
My children went to bed around 8:30 or 9:00 at the latest. It didn’t matter whether they were tired or wired. Just have them brush their teeth and put on their pajamas, then put them to bed. I always read my girls a short story or sang to them for a little bit, but then I kissed them good night and left the room. You are in charge and you have to establish a routine for your child. If she’s been allowed to stay up as long as she wants, then she may fight you on this for a while. Don’t let that change your plan.
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I would try a solid routine. No tv or electronics couple hours before bed, add some diluted tart cherry juice to routine, just play, bathe, story, and bed. I learned the hard way that sticking to routines work best for everyone.
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Kids thrive off rountine.
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People really give their children things to make them sleep?…
I loved off 2 hours sleep a NIGHT when my eldest was a baby she didn’t sleep through till she settled on at school about 4 and a half year old, by that time I had a newborn too and I still had to live off 2 hours sleep because my newborn the wouldn’t sleep, she the stated sleeping through at about 2 year old she’s now 3 and a half and she’s the most laziest child I’ve ever come across… she all sleep from 8pm - (latest 11am) normally awake about 9:30/10.
No way would I ever give my children things to make them sleep though!
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Mine is in bed at 7 and wakes around 7:30/8. he is also 4 1/2 and does not nap during the day.
I would say take a look at diet/sugar intake and screen time. Also, is your child getting enough active play time? Make it a routine/expectation. Wind down with a book and don’t allow there to be an option.
730 is when I had my daughter lay down. She was usually out around 8pm. And I had to start melatonin around that age too. She’s 12 now and it didn’t cause any issues.
Melatonin did the opposite with my children but it works for most.
I have two children that doesn’t sleep much. Just hiring the word tired is like a trigger for them. They wake up early and go to bed at the same time as I do. It can be taxing for sure. I am in the same boat as you. I work 2 jobs and go to university and I can barely get anything accomplish. It is stressful.
I hope the Melatonin work for you.
I do when she really needs it. I do 1 mg. Just don’t do it everyday. Also at 9 mine are in bed tired or not.
My doctor went over melatonin with me. It’s not adding anything to your kid that isn’t already there. Human body naturally produces melatonin.
Short periods of time if I was to use it. Her advice was one week with and two without. Now at 6 I was told one week on one week off if we go that route. Long term use can cause a child body to stop producing it all together. My kiddo talks in her sleep when she has it and sometimes nightmares so it’s minimal use with us.
Wearing them out during the day was a big one. Hour or more at the park each day. Running, jumping, full body movements. Soccer once she turned 5 and the park every day helped a lot as well.
A calming routine. Warm bath, high protein dinner, read books in bed and then time to sleep. If a show or movie helps we did lay down at 730/8 timer on the tv till 9. I go NatGeo with documentary’s and the narrator usually put mine to sleep. Our routines are different due to the cosleeping that I did till she was 2.
My kids tried melatonin for bedtime but ended up waking up a few hours later wired for sound… Their neurologist has them on some medication that puts them to sleep and they usually stay asleep or don’t have a hard time going back to sleep. A 4 year old should be getting around 10-11 hours of sleep each day. Her little brain might be overtired and that could be why she’s not sleeping. Try to set up a routine where she settles down around 7 or 8 and read a book or let her take a bath or play in her bed quietly for a little while. The less kids sleep at night, the less their brains function properly and develop properly. The later the bedtime, usually the earlier they’ll wake up. I’ve had multiple different types of doctors tell me that including a neurologist children’s specialist. Set boundaries and stick to them. The child will eventually go along with what you set, as long as you’re consistent.
This brand would be safe. They’re only 1mg each. And bed by 8:30. So bath and teeth brushing done by 8. Then you can settle down and read a book. I would give the gummy right as she is getting in the bath.
Stop sugar in her diet.set time of 8 for bed .let her stay on her bed she will learn.dont let her come out of the room .they cry at first but be firm.make her play outside in the day.get her tired .
My son is 5 and is in bed by 8:30pm on weekdays and 9pm on weekends. Having a bedtime routine really helps him wind down. 7pm he takes a bath,by 7:30 we cuddle on the couch and watch his show until 8:15. Brush his teeth, go potty then its bed time. He usually wakes up around 7:15A.M. /7:30A.M.
Who is the one in charge here
Set up a routine and have her in bed by 8:30. Don’t wait for her to be tired. Give her the melatonin right before bedtime.
My daughters are all different ages 8mo 3.5 and 8
My babies go to sleep at 730 doesnt matter if your not tired you have to stay in bed at that pont. My oldest daughter bedtime is 8. Also doesn’t matter if she’s not tired she has to stay in bed lights out. If she wants to read or draw until she’s tired fine but there is no TV no tablet
My kids went to bed at 7 every night. Read her a story so she can start relaxing
I think every child is different. My son was never a sleeper still at 16 is not 
. Rarely napped either. My daughter on the other hand slept 12 hours or so… was never much for napping though.