Most cranky kids are usually just overtired and need one thing: Sleep; but not at the risk of their life. Synthetic melatonin, a sleep aid given orally, is the latest answer some parents are seeking when their child won’t go to sleep. A sleep aid should only be administered when prescribed by a medical professional. To assume that over the counter melatonin is a safe choice for your child would be a mistake. Low melatonin occurs when our body fails to produce naturally what we need for our sleep cycle.
“Melatonin’s main job in the body is to regulate night and day cycles or sleep-wake cycles. Darkness causes the body to produce more melatonin, which signals the body to prepare for sleep. Light decreases melatonin production and signals the body to prepare for being awake. Some people who have trouble sleeping have low levels of melatonin. It is thought that adding melatonin from supplements might help them sleep.” (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/940.html)
So why are our kids struggling to go to sleep? Perhaps it’s just as simple as a few things:
*Nutrition. Nothing helps the body more than natural nutrition. Preservatives in food contain residual effect products that have slow release reactions in our body. High fructose corn syrup (a common sweetener used in most packaged foods) and refined sugar should be avoided.
*Overstimulation. From computers to television, our kid’s brains are on overload.
*Light. Some children are afraid to go to sleep in the dark and insist on leaving a light on to go to sleep. Darkness helps stimulate the melatonin while light resists the production.
*Stress. Children are exposed now more than ever to a stressed-out, both economically and socially. Many families lives have been disrupted by the uncertainties that many now face, transfering that stress to their children behind closed doors.
So what can you “naturally” do to help your children get a good night’s sleep?
• Feed them healthy whole food.
• Stop late night snacking and if they absolutely must have something to eat, give them almonds, walnuts or some form of complex carbohydrates.
• Have more one on one time with them before they go to bed. Talk about their day, their feelings and what’s on their mind. Sometimes something as simple as allowing your child to “release” their thoughts while reassuring them that you’re there, and they’re safe, does wonders to help them cope with their surroundings.
• Create family time. Play a board game. Turn off the television, computers and music. Read a book together. Go for an evening walk. Schedule evening workouts together at home.
• Buy them a journal. Teach your kids to write down what they did that day, how they feel and what their hopes and dreams are for their future.
When we engage in our children’s lives, we teach them how to cope with life, manage stress and work through their problems, naturally. Many times, sleeplessness is a result of physical and psychological stress. Kids are not immune to the same emotions adult’s experience. Before you try a synthetic answer, reach for a natural remedy. The body naturally produces melatonin when surrounded with a natural, healthy environment. Synthetic melatonin can only provide temporary relief; however, it’s not solving the root of the problem. Unless your child has psychological disabilities and has been prescribed medication for treatment by a doctor, don't assume the over the counter drug is the answer.
Some of the side effects from synthetic melatonin have been reported to include: Headaches, nausea and irritability. Overuse of a synthetic product can produce unknown buildup in our body, which may later produce a resistance to its effectiveness. What we never know about a supplement is how it will affect everyone and/or how over time it will create other side effects.
Quick Tips for Wellness: Before you reach for a pill, reach for an answer that will provide natural results.
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