Daycare Shut Down After Infant Death

[Willow]

Melatonin is dangerous, especially at a young age. People under 25 taking melatonin on a regular basis will actually stop producing melatonin by their self. So they then have to take it to go to sleep. I would bring it up to the mom and have her talk to her doctor.

OT but......

Although use of melatonin for children hasn't been studied near enough, no credible studies have come to any of the conclusions you claim.

It has been safely used for decades and is non habit forming. Because of that it can safely be used for up to two years. It does not impede or restrict the body's ability to form natural melatonin and no credible study has ever concluded it is dangerous.

[TwinKristi]

Benadryl can be given to children under the age of 6 with a dr's recommendation. My children have had hives and allergic reaction and needed Benadryl. One is 7, almost 8, and has to have Benadryl & an Epi-PenJr with us at all times due to his bee sting allergy. If he was in childcare I would need to have those with him, just like at school and with the proper paperwork.

Also, the whole Tylenol/Motrin before and even after shots has been ended as a practice. They're finding the immunizations aren't as effective when the body's reaction is minimized and/or altered. If baby develops a **high** fever you can treat that, but they don't recommend just giving it as precaution anymore for discomfort or pain.

[LaLa1923]

Knocks them out.

Ok. But so does melatonin. Idk. The whole thing is just wrong.

[Willow]

Ok. But so does melatonin. Idk. The whole thing is just wrong.

Melatonin doesn't "knock" anyone out. Thats not the way it works.

If you take melatonin in the middle of the day while the sun is shining and you're doing yard work it'll have zero effect. It only works if/when the body is needing sleep and if/when the conditions are right for sleep (dark, your body is quiet and relaxed, you've been awake for a certain period of time etc.). It can help reset your circadian rhythm, but doesn't have the ability to "drug" your brain.

Even then it doesn't keep you asleep, whereas the active ingredient in Benadryl is actually (at times and certain dosages) a debilitating sedative.

While you can easily overdose on Benadryl's active ingredient, it's impossible to do so with melatonin (where the worst that would happen is you'd have a longer more active REM cycle that would simply result in a few vivid dreams at worst). Thats exactly why melatonin has been deemed so safe.

[Cradle2crayons]

I haven't followed this thread enough yet to know who you are talking to here, but I just went this round. Of course, we don't use it daily, but it is sometimes necessary.
One of my DCBs was stung by 20-25 wasps recently (at home, not here) and for a day or two after he came back, he had regular Benedryl. I have it here because the doc wants him to have an immediate dose for the remainder of the year if he is stung by even one insect.

I also have a little girl that will occasionally, for some unknown (yet) reason, suddenly develop hives. We keep some here to dose her immediately if needed. We have used it once in the last year.

Yep it's part of both of my own kids insect sting protocol. They get a dose of Benadryl, epi shot and good dose of Zyrtec four hours later and every 12 hours and also benedryl if absolutely necessary after that. They have so much of a reaction even steroids are part of their sting protocol. Scary stuff !! Especially with the boy.

[Cradle2crayons]

Benadryl can be given to children under the age of 6 with a dr's recommendation. My children have had hives and allergic reaction and needed Benadryl. One is 7, almost 8, and has to have Benadryl & an Epi-PenJr with us at all times due to his bee sting allergy. If he was in childcare I would need to have those with him, just like at school and with the proper paperwork.

Also, the whole Tylenol/Motrin before and even after shots has been ended as a practice. They're finding the immunizations aren't as effective when the body's reaction is minimized and/or altered. If baby develops a **high** fever you can treat that, but they don't recommend just giving it as precaution anymore for discomfort or pain.

FYI here in my state they most certainly do still recommend Tylenol BEFORE shots (2 hrs before) and ibuprofen for discomfort or fever afterwards. It's not just private physicians recommending it. It's the HEALTH DEPARTMENT also. Matter of fact, the FIRST thing they ask BEFORE giving the immunization a is to be sure you DID in fact give the Tylenol. If not, they offer it there.

[Cradle2crayons]

Melatonin is dangerous, especially at a young age. People under 25 taking melatonin on a regular basis will actually stop producing melatonin by their self. So they then have to take it to go to sleep. I would bring it up to the mom and have her talk to her doctor.

Babies in the NICU are given melatonin regularly. Also, dr recommend it for small children all the time. It's the least dangerous med out there.

[Scout]

I haven't followed this thread enough yet to know who you are talking to here, but I just went this round. Of course, we don't use it daily, but it is sometimes necessary.
One of my DCBs was stung by 20-25 wasps recently (at home, not here) and for a day or two after he came back, he had regular Benedryl. I have it here because the doc wants him to have an immediate dose for the remainder of the year if he is stung by even one insect.

I also have a little girl that will occasionally, for some unknown (yet) reason, suddenly develop hives. We keep some here to dose her immediately if needed. We have used it once in the last year.

I guess my edit didn't go thru! I edited to say that I didn't mean it directed at any of you, just in general. I understand having it on hand for stings and such, when my oldest ds was 1 ped said to have it on hand for when we gave him peanut butter(just in case even tho no other foods had a reaction) but, things I guess have changed in 5 years.

[JoseyJo]

My dd has taken melatonin by dr order since 13 yo for racing thoughts. I totally understand if the dr had prescribed it to him, but he didn't, she didn't even ask a dr, AND she is not giving it to him correctly.

I have talked to her about it, every time she mentions it. I have told her she shouldn't give him anything herbal, OT, RX without seeing a dr. I have also explained to her how it works and that it is not a "knock out" drug.

I really irks me! I have seen both of these children well-rested a few times and they are totally different kids. Makes me sad for them

[Blackcat31]

Babies in the NICU are given melatonin regularly. Also, dr recommend it for small children all the time. It's the least dangerous med out there.

It may be considered safe in most aspects but I wouldn't go that far as to say it's the least dangerous.

My DS suffered from insomnia and other sleep issues and my pediatrician would NOT recommend melatonin stating NO long term studies have been done and unless ALL other things fail. We found a solution with regular routine, soothing sounds and diet adjustments.

From Livestrong.com

According to the National Institutes of Health, melatonin appears to be an effective treatment for sleep disturbances in children with developmental and neurobehavioral disorders, such as autism, anxiety disorder, mental retardation, Asperger's syndrome and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Melatonin can help these children fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. Some parents also use melatonin as a treatment for insomnia in children with normal development, but no studies have evaluated this use.

Safety Considerations

The University of Maryland Medical Center states that melatonin can be a safe supplement for children when it used in low doses, under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. However, the NIH considers the product to be inappropriate for use in most toddlers. The benefits associated with melatonin are only worth the risks when a toddler's sleep disturbances are significantly disruptive to his health or development, and when drug-free treatment options have failed.

Possible Risks:

Melatonin can trigger several possible side effects in toddlers. The UMMC states that high doses, exceeding 1 to 5 milligrams, can cause seizures in children under 15 years of age. According to the NIH, melatonin can alter the production of reproductive hormones, particularly in adolescents. No large-scale, well-designed studies have investigated the effects of melatonin supplements on a toddler's developing endocrine system. The NIH reports a link between melatonin supplements and uncomfortable side effects such as headache, stomach cramps and mood disturbances.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/27...#ixzz2htjQXrTy

[Willow]

It may be considered safe in most aspects but I wouldn't go that far as to say it's the least dangerous.

My DS suffered from insomnia and other sleep issues and my pediatrician would NOT recommend melatonin stating NO long term studies have been done and unless ALL other things fail. We found a solution with regular routine, soothing sounds and diet adjustments.

From Livestrong.com

According to the National Institutes of Health, melatonin appears to be an effective treatment for sleep disturbances in children with developmental and neurobehavioral disorders, such as autism, anxiety disorder, mental retardation, Asperger's syndrome and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Melatonin can help these children fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. Some parents also use melatonin as a treatment for insomnia in children with normal development, but no studies have evaluated this use.

Safety Considerations

The University of Maryland Medical Center states that melatonin can be a safe supplement for children when it used in low doses, under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. However, the NIH considers the product to be inappropriate for use in most toddlers. The benefits associated with melatonin are only worth the risks when a toddler's sleep disturbances are significantly disruptive to his health or development, and when drug-free treatment options have failed.

Possible Risks:

Melatonin can trigger several possible side effects in toddlers. The UMMC states that high doses, exceeding 1 to 5 milligrams, can cause seizures in children under 15 years of age. According to the NIH, melatonin can alter the production of reproductive hormones, particularly in adolescents. No large-scale, well-designed studies have investigated the effects of melatonin supplements on a toddler's developing endocrine system. The NIH reports a link between melatonin supplements and uncomfortable side effects such as headache, stomach cramps and mood disturbances.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/27...#ixzz2htjQXrTy

Ita there are usually better more appropriate things to try for most people, children included.

But I'd be willing to bet the study the NIH was referencing was the one where the dosage was 50mg+. In that one, yes, people experienced upset tummies and headaches......but the same could be said for too many brussel sprouts you know?

Eat to much of anything it's going to cause you trouble, heck, drink too much WATER it can cause the same and even KILL you.


But with the recommended dose being .5-3mg people rarely (never?) experience such side effects. It's far lower than our own bodies produce so it wouldn't make sense.


Only in these studies where they've literally had people consume entire bottles of the pills, has there been an issue. Imho, thats not a study, just bunk researchers trying to peg a very safe supplement dangerous so pharmaceutical companies can get their grubbies in on "regulating" it more intensely (ie....be able to charge the general public more for it).

[Blackcat31]

Only in these studies where they've literally had people consume entire bottles of the pills, has there been an issue. Imho, thats not a study, just bunk researchers trying to peg a very safe supplement dangerous so pharmaceutical companies can get their grubbies in on "regulating" it more intensely (ie....be able to charge the general public more for it).

I agree ^^^^ big pharm has a lot of influence on what is and isn't deemed safe.

Consumers blindly follow and rarely do their own research.

But with the recommended dose being .5-3mg people rarely (never?) experience such side effects. It's far lower than our own bodies produce so it wouldn't make sense.

According to the NIH, a daily dose of 5 milligrams, immediately before bedtime, appears to be a safe and effective dose for toddlers with developmental disabilities. Children without neurobehavioral conditions may take any dose beteween 0.3 and 5 milligrams, according to the NIH. However, the UMMC advises a much lower dose, suggesting no more than 0.3 milligrams per day for children under the age of 15.


Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/27...#ixzz2htvJyukl

[Willow]

I agree ^^^^ big pharm has a lot of influence on what is and isn't deemed safe.

Consumers blindly follow and rarely do their own research.



According to the NIH, a daily dose of 5 milligrams, immediately before bedtime, appears to be a safe and effective dose for toddlers with developmental disabilities. Children without neurobehavioral conditions may take any dose beteween 0.3 and 5 milligrams, according to the NIH. However, the UMMC advises a much lower dose, suggesting no more than 0.3 milligrams per day for children under the age of 15.


Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/27...#ixzz2htvJyukl

I do think way too many parents shoot for the quick fix and most times the .3 isnt even necessary....so at least maybe some of those warnings, regardless of where or why they originated, will give parents reason to at least reconsider the even safer alternatives you mentioned like tweaking diet, exercise and routine.

[TwinKristi]

FYI here in my state they most certainly do still recommend Tylenol BEFORE shots (2 hrs before) and ibuprofen for discomfort or fever afterwards. It's not just private physicians recommending it. It's the HEALTH DEPARTMENT also. Matter of fact, the FIRST thing they ask BEFORE giving the immunization a is to be sure you DID in fact give the Tylenol. If not, they offer it there.

Well you may want to advise your DCPs to research and ask before doing this. The AAP & Medscape has several articles about this and recent studies are showing Tylenol weakens the immune response your body has after the shot which makes the shot less effective. They're trying to blame non-vac'ing parents for the increase in breakthrough infections and such but really they're finding the vaccines aren't as strong due to this method of prophylaxis Tyelnol. This isn't just our dr's office, but hospitals and health centers across the nation. Obviously it takes time for protocol to change and some old school docs are going to do what they've been doing but it's not recommended to do anymore by the AAP.