A consistent sleep time routine was the first step for our kiddo. We also added melatonin. Start with a small dose first -1.5 mg and move up to 3 mg if needed. It's safer than most prescriptions. That did well until age 10 and anxiety became our new experience. Now Trazadone helps with both and we don't need the melatonin.

Very helpful, thank you, I will definitely look into it!

We see a sleep specialist who prescribes doxepin. Made all the difference for us. Started when she was 3years old, still needs it at 8years. We also do 1.5 mg melatonin before bed and 3mg before us parents go to bed at 11 (melatonin only works before midnight- otherwise it can mess up the circadian rhythm). Just offering another solution if the other meds don't work out. Best of luck to you

Scary!!! Thank you so much for the info!!

My kids have used Clonidine, one still does. Unfortunately for some of them they ended up with hallucinations, which worked itself out but did enough damage to them mentally it made going to bed worse. Their Dr. said that hallucinations were normal and we're often about bugs or spiders crawling on them, which is what my kids saw. It terrified them so much that they would freak out whenever they saw bugs or spiders, it was really sad. They take Trazadone now and that works, and their fears of bugs are subsiding. Good luck!