And mums know better? Really? They are experts?

This should be a case by case decision made in consultation with a specialist mental health team. It would also depend on the impact any diagnosis is having on the child’s daily functioning and what has been trialed in way other less invasive options for support.

7 yrs. of age is questionable. 4 and 2 .. NO WAY!! Medications are proven to be risky in the teen years. They aren't even tested on kids this young and you don't want your kids or grandkids being the guinea pigs. It's better to be patient, learn all you can about non-medicinal methods of helping your child/children cope. Like playing with gadgets, listening to music through headphones or earbuds, drawing, play/talk/therapy, brain exercises, etc. Medications can have detrimental outcomes and you want your child to be themself and not some zombie of themselves. My son was put on a medication in Grade 9 and his pediatrician wanted to up the dose when I told her that he was already not himself, slow to react, slow in his speech, and lethargic. I don't know what kickbacks or favors she was given, but I told her outright that we are NOT doing that to him and we won't be back. Over the years he blossomed into a beautiful soul with no medication. He spends a lot of time in his room on his computer playing games, reading books, drawing. He is one of the kindest people I know. He has ADHD and is on the autism spectrum. And he's capable of so much more than he'd ever be on that medication. Tell your daughter/daughter-in-law my story and ask her to learn more about alternatives to medicating children who most likely won't thrive when they're constantly being sedated. Thank you:)

patience is a virtue

I went through the same thing with my child I tried medication and I didn't like how it made him feel so I stopped the medication and handled him myself I was just patient with him and he's fine

Sorry to hear that Heather, my idea of kids at this age, is seen as a problem to parents, Doctors are too quick to prescribe medication, but it's not the doctor that has to put up with the tantrums when the child refuse the tablets, some of them don't know how to swallow tablets, like when my son who was 5 at the time was told he had Asthma and had to use Ventolin Inhaler, he use to kick and scream, and finally, I did my block, and took him to the children's hospital, and they gave us a Nebulizer, and they explained to my son that he was going to be an Astron ought, and made a game out of it, and he was happy to use his medication, but you are in a different situation, some tablets can be crushed and hidden in a piece of food that they like, but kids can't be forced to swallow tablets, what if they choke on them, I know ADHD is hard to deal with, but surely they can give them or do something besides medication

against it

Too many children at young ages are put on these drugs. It should not be used until a much older age. It can cause serious problems in later years.

When I was a teenager I was on antidepressants It depends on the situation I don’t really like the sound of young children being on medication

I winder hiw we existed for so long without ADHD, I sometimes wonder if it is just another gimmick

Wow it’s a question to ponder

Maybe it's because the population is becoming dumber . Look at all the kids struggling at school these days.Edited 10-Mar-24 18:52pm

i say when a doctor t3ells u to dso it

My son is 23 and he was diagnosed with ADHD when he was around 7 or 8. They put him on Ritalin and he improved a bit but he wasn't himself anymore. Half the time he was like a zombie. I would rather he wasn't on it at all. It was the teachers that wanted him medicated. When he was 12 or 13 we stopped the meds because he didn't want to take them any more . He is himself and a totally original human being. I wish I had never listened to the teachers & the doctor because I think we could have found a better way to deal with it.

I don't think that teachers and schools are medical doctors and should not be suggesting medication for children to make them more docile. Kids are kids and if they are sometimes rambunctious and if the teachers don't like that, it is just too bad.

Most children (younger than 13) do not need medication, except in certain circumstances such as epilepsy. Parents need to step up & parent their children without the need for medication.

the docter knows

I don't like the idea of children being on any medication. Even when it's prescribed all medications have side effects. I am only on one medication, and that's because I have no thyroid, I need it to keep living and moving but it has side effects which aren't nice. The specialist many years ago wanted to put my eldest son on drugs because he had ADHD but I think there has always been people with ADHD and Autism. My mother, her brother and his children all have it I'm sure but they cope with life. My son didn't take drugs to deal with the problem, instead I kept him on a strong routine and discipline and it worked well and he has thanked me for not "drugging" him however, he has one of his children on medication, not, I don't believe because the child needs it but rules, regulations and supervision are simply too hard and the parents would rather be doing something else. Half these children's medical problems are really poor parenting problems, and much better to have a medical problem than admit your not doing your job properly.

Unless a Dr prescribes medication don't give any

unless it is a diagnosed condition no medication unless in pain and not as a first measure

Giving children fresh vegetables and fruit and telling them off when they do the wrong thing is far more beneficial that all the medication that children are given these days. It seems to be an easy out for the doctors.

There are a lot of kids supposedly have ADHD and far too many taking medication when they probably don't need to. Parents need to try a healthy diet first and foremost and not give their children any takeaway food which is full of chemicals and also fizzy drinks. Even most so called "fresh fruit juice" is reconstituted. There are lots of things to try before shoving medication down their throats.

Some parents are getting disability payments for their kids, when they aren't really disabled. It would appear that sickness pays in Australia these days. Some parents and GPs are actually commiting welfare fraud.

after full assessment by a full team of medical professionals,

Why are people so quick to want a label for children and to medicate them for not being "normal"? This is so sad. Talk about getting them onto the pharmaceutical merry go-round from such a young age. They don't stand a chance, do they. 😭

Only after getting the GP advise

I agree with Doug also

Go to a Specialist, free by referral from your GP

Ritalin given to a child with correctly diagnosed ADHD OR ADD OR any of these spectrum does not drug them to the eyeballs n make them drool on there or any ones else's clothes.In my day I have seen more drunk people at many gatherings drool n spewing from alcohol than from medications.Theses meds have been around since the late 1880s there not as new as many narrow minded people think..Go live with these children or 3 of them for 24/7 n you will be saying get the meds.N yes our children were disciplined n taught right from wrong they just struggle too understand it.

I don't believe most of these kids have real autism, as I've known a kid like that when I was growing up. She was mute and couldn't talk, just make odd sounds. Real autistics can't not talk or barely. They are even diagnosing adults now with this label and that's ridiculous. More like mentally unstable! Ritalin can stop a kid growing normally as it's got side affects. Doctors and parents are hiding behind the truth. It's like they don't recognise what normal is. I cannot believe that it's increasing so much. You cannot say that diet is the cause of everything. It's poor parenting.

Speak to the doc first - it might be diet related or they might just be excitable kids with no discipline?

The best thing for her to do is talk with her doctor& get his medical knowledge.

When I was a kid, the only medicine I got was Sulpher & Treakle to supposedly purify my blood.

I would see a real doctor first and see what they say. Today way too many people think a Pill will cure everything when it can not possibly do what is claimed by those idiots on Antisocial Media. If a young child needs meds they need them but things like Ritalin are not a cure all for babies let alone those only slightly older. I'm sure the school that the 7 year old goes to want her drugged to the eyeballs and drooling on their shirt/blouse because they get more money from the state and having her drugged up makes their life easier but that doesn't mean it is the right thing for the child.

No idea about it yet

Try something else before medication if at all possible.

I agree with Doug...

Personally I wouldn't give kids man made chemicals to sort out a natural chemical imbalance they already have thats been diagnosed. I think it would lead to problems later down the track being on drugs from an early age. 40 or 50 years ago you didn't here about adhd or autism until someone unleashed it on the world, now everything a kid does that we used to do as kids is labeled. Maybe they should look at the food that is consumed by the kids as to the causes of their labeled diagnosis.Edited 10-Mar-24 14:32pm

From a kid who started meds at 7 not for adhd but some other chronic illness. Explore all other options first. If it has to be meds ok but at least try other options. I ended up with kidney disease long term from taking epilepsy meds…. Just explore all options first

I think it’s a balance between being able to see what the greater benefit is for the child. If the 7 year old is struggling at school and it’s effecting relations and ability to conform with a ‘normal’ childhood then I would think that’s an appropriate reason to start medication. However for a 2 or 4 year old where it’s not so detrimental to their social interaction I would hold off, let them enjoy their company, find ways to manage and self sooth themselves.

I wouldn't give my children those sorts of drugs and that is way too early to be medicating them. When my children were growing up these drugs weren't really heard of and for that I am grateful for. Stop relying on drugs, why can't kids be kids any more? Let them eat dirt and play with the slugs in the garden. They just don't have any imagination any more. The houses that are being built with no back yards, no grass, no trees are just proof instead they have butler's pantries and media rooms and the list goes on and on. Then we wonder why? Why the children can't learn or enjoy life. Then we wonder why they become drug addicts later on. Just doesn't add up for me Sorry. Medications are supposed to be a short term thing aren't they? or do people just say oh I can't handle my child they need to be on drugs and then for how long the rest of their natural lives?

It seems to me that puberty is the time that many of these conditions manifest themselves. If you really think that the child is in trouble, and not just that you wish they would sit down and shut up, take them to a skilled and properly trained Professional in diagnosing children's mental health afflictions. Having care of a child that's "busy" is not a sign of trouble. Just pumping kids of any age full of drugs is a very, very, bad idea. Local health registries, Mental Health associations or perhaps the Children's Aid in your neighbourhood could help you find a professional children's specialist. Don't forget your family doctor. She/He could be an invaluable source of information and referrals.

yes please avoid

i think parents and doctors are too quick to give you drugs

My great-nephew was diagnosed with Autism @ 3 and he’s 6 years-old now. He has never had medication although I know every child is different. Try therapy before pills!

I'm not too sure about kids and medications, I mean when I was 12 I had a psych ask me literally 3 questions then put me on ZOLOFT which had only been tried partly in Sydney but not Melbourne which is where I'm from, so sometimes I think they really jump the gun with medications for kids and I don't think they're needed mist of the time.

From experience I would consider other options before starting on meditation, changing diet by taking out colours additives and preservatives, and the big one sugar! Left and right brain exercises, and keep them active so they can use up that energy. It was challenging for my son at school, however you’d be surprised how the system can support children’s learning styles if you’re a proactive parent. In my opinion meditation should be the last resort…

Im sure your daughter has consulted the necessary experts and thats what they recommend. Medication is taken to deal with symptoms that prevent the child from learning and acquiring the skills needed to have the best life. Dont diss it. You dont say how severely affected the children are, in fact its hard to really advise with so little information.

My mother could spot a "try on" from a mile away. I've got a headache in an effort to try to dodge doing something was usually met with the putting on of a plaster on my forehead.

I'm a diabetic. I take medication because my body can't process sugar like a non-diabetic. That's what medication is for, to help people who can't do things naturally. Provided there are no serious side effects and all the testing has been done, I see no reason to NOT give children medication. If it helps them with their learning and a professional doctor has given the OK, then go for it.

Think doctors do know..when my son was put on these ADD tablets he was a changed boy..we only started with half doses ..he was passive and could not concentrate to learn..as he got older he concentrated and learnt....He had lots of testing first though and not a light decision but it was for the best...Learning was tested....Though this was years ago and doctors did not just say the kids could have them....saw lots of experts first to be sure... Some child though are just overactive and some passive... he needed to concentrate to learn was not disruptive.Edited 10-Mar-24 11:28am

Doctors love giving drugs and big pharma likes medicating people.

Surely there needs to be some form of medical/mentality testing done before you go down this track.

Giving kids this crap is a crime. Should do more sports.

It all depends on the situation of the child is in based on mentally and physically.

I'm no expert but all three sound way too young

Ask the family GP for a referral to a specialist who performs extensive testing on children suspected of having ADHD or who may be on the spectrum. Medications are not necessary if it is simply a case of behavioural problems

Sounds like she cannot handle the stress of having three children so she thinks putting them on medication is the answer. HOW SAD. She needs to look at other help for solutions. Medication comes with a diagnosis. What do the Doctors say.

Mom needs help from a mental health professional.

Every new parent seems to be over the top! Makes me want to throw up thinking about it!

There is far, far too much of this Medicating of everyone but especially Children. How much of this is as a direct result of Parents no longer wanting to have anything to do with the rearing of their children? They all seem to want to hive them off on to some strangers to look after them whilst Mum and Dad chase after ever bigger incomes. How much of this ADHD and other issues are as a direct result of the Children Knowing they really are not wanted by their parents but who trot them out as sort of Trophy Kids as and when it suits them? With all this, probably mostly unnecessary, medication being forced down children's throats by their parents, with the willing collusion of Doctors and Drug Companies, will result in those children become drug addicts, incarcerated in mental health facilities etc. because their so-called parents have fried their brains? It seerms that every parent NEEDS to have their children diagnosed with some illness when all those children really need is a bit of Genuine Love and Attention from Mum and Dad.

That is something for the medical experts

Get a proper diagnosis and take time to consider which treatments the child really needs . Which issues are presenting as worse or causing the child more distress in life ? I have heard early intervention works best , but this isn't necessarily always medication, it could be OT therapies or the like especially for toddlers . Get a second and even third opinion when it comes to considering lifetime medicating.

Sometimes it's behavioural and not medical. Get them off the screens, outdoors and spend time with them. I've only known one child who was ADHD. His mum wasn't coping so we had him for a week during school holidays (he was our son's mate). He tried having one tantrum with me in which I promptly said are you 2 because you're acting like one (he was 8). He had zero meds while with us. Needless to say he was back at it when he got home.

As a special ed teacher, I have seen many cases of ADHD and kids on meds. Here is the problem: Meds alone are not going to help without a structured environment and procedures in place on how to deal with students who have ADHD. Have had students young and older with ADHD, both on and off meds. You have to be able to work with both scenarios. The field for ADHD has become quite an industry over the years. Not only for meds but for professionals who deal with this as well. Be sensible and think about the degree to which this is affecting your child and if they are school age, do they have teachers who are trained to deal with this.

ARE YOU REALLY WANTING TO KNOW THE ANSWER? SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE - DON'T SOLICIT IGNORANT COMMENTS FROM SOCIAL MEDIA!

Great conversation to have, I do think that in this case you may want to talk with your daughter to find out what the circumstances are and see if you can help or maybe gowith her to the dr to see what they have to say if that is possible to do.. Goodluck.

Ask the professionals.

It's really up to the GP.

I feel anything under 10 is too young. Their bodies aren't really capable of handling this medicine without some sort of side effects. Rethink for safety purposes.

Useless mums. They should go to parenting classes. There's probably nothing Wrong with those kids, just the mother who cannot cope with 3 little ones. I think she needs the medication. Lol

2 is way too young for these types of medicines 4 is pushing it, but my grandson started his autism medicines at 4 he saw a lot of doctors before getting those scripts and we were lucky to get a specialist who got the levels right straight away, these are doctors decisions not parental ones it took months of testing my little guy before being medicated and we were lucky they got it right we have been blessed that way because his character and qualities didn't change but his learning abilities did, at 3 he was nonverbal he is now 7 going to special school he writes his name has great conversations can do basic maths does some spelling and it's so much fun being part of his learning but wow it was a journey to get here, I am not sure I think most kids are not officially diagnosed until 5, younger if you get specialists involved ,as a grandparent i hated him getting these medicines but they did change his life for the better but i have also seen medicines destroy the spark in a child life because of a rush to diagnose ,i must say aswell his medications are winding down aswell and he is holding his own which is a terrific thing in my eyes hEdited 10-Mar-24 08:16am

Is it the child or the mother who is not coping? Have other methods of "treating" the child helped? Is the mother getting support from other professional experts? Who is prescribing the medication and are they experts with experience in the field of early childhood behavior?

For every medication you put into your body there is a side effect so it is something to be very careful with .

Less is best!! Long before medication was used for these afflictions parents and teachers etc learnt to deal with it. There are better ways than meds .After he had left school I was told by one of my sons ex teachers from his 10/11 year era that if at school 'now' he would have been medicated for his ADHD-I say don't medicate work for solutions-we did.

One would think this would be the doctors decision as to when this is needed. And hopefully you have a doctor that genuinely cares about he/she is doing.

My family all have inherited Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It is genetic, and it is very real! I wasn't diagnosed until I was in my 30's. I had a very hard time in school, and wished I had been on something! It is a chemical inbalance, not enough saratonin to connect brain waves. As soon as I was put on medication, I finally felt "normal", and could function! I will be on medication for all of my life, but would not be without it! Follow Doctor's recommendations! ;-D

I think you should discus it with your doctor there have found a new treatment for ADHD and autism it may be better for the kids or seek out a natural therapist that may be able to help and have the kids tested to see if they do have these Edited 10-Mar-24 08:48am

IMO and my observations, parents that have their children medicated too often and too early are generally the ones with the problem as they can't cope. What many people for decades have been trying to pass off as ADHD etc was called "being a child" when I was a child. Surely, doctors should not be willy nilly handing out medicine like it were candy just because the parent demands that the child must be ADHD etc (I know some do and sometimes it is because the parent is such a hypochondriac that the doctor just does it just to get rid of the parent). Munchausen by proxy.

This issue has really only been a problem for less than 30 years and we need to ask ourselves "why'? What is creating an entire generation of children who are all, supposedly, brain damaged and requiring strong medications that impact the children's personalities and can cause problems in other body systems unrelated to the brain. I know who is benefiting from this assault on children and that's Big Pharma who will always create a product to suit a need, or is it a need to suit a problem? I don't know how many are aware of this information but the USA has one of the worst perinatal and neonatal morbidity and mortality rates in the 1st world and every year more injections are added to the childhood immunisation register to the point where it surprises me that ANY children are in fact left "normal" by their 5th birthday at all. Dr Stephanie Senoff has done lots of investigations into the use of glyphosate and other similar chemical compounds and proven a link to childhood vaccines and the negative sequelae in infants and children's gut biome and health and her conclusions are dire for our children and grandchildren. She has a double Doctorate and lectures at MIT and has a glorious brain, but the rate things are going at the moment with brain damaged children, there won't BE any geniuses at all when they grow up. Statistics have shown that in 2025 1 out of 2 children will have brain damage of some kind whether Aspergers or Autism etc and 80% of them will be boys whose brains are far more sensitive to certain chemical compounds than girls, hence the skewed data. Every time something is introduced into a muscle or tissue it doesn't just have an impact at the site but systemically. Please don't follow a program just because a Doctor who went to a BIG Pharma lunch and listened to an employee talk about how great their products are told you to. There is much deception in ALL walks of life today but always follow the money for the answer. Just stop loading up our precious children with toxins! Heather, please do what you can to stop your daughter or DIL from doing this. Theres an American Nephrologist now living and practising in NZ who has written 2 exceedingly good books about the actual history of the vaccine industry and her name is Dr Suzanne Humphries. I believe that you can still buy her books online but if you have any problems google "Children's Health Defence" and this should lead you in the right direction. Best of luck.! Thanks for reading.

Should be up to the Dr and then see how the child is going. Our child stopped taking the meds because she was un abele to read the books she liked and all is well.

Every child needs to be assessed individually. A friend has a daughter 5 & was unable to deal with school or home until she had the right medication & now is a completely different child & happy.

Three youngsters can be quite a handful so hope she has had a proper diagnosis from from the Family Doctor who would be more familiar with the situation if she herself has been seeing the same one for a good period of time. What was se like as a child and are is their any similarity with the way her own behave?

Tupulua S, your comment is so despicable, would you like it if your mother was asked the same question?

This mother worries me, has she taken her children to the doctor have they all been diagnosed with ADHD. autism? Those children are far too young for such powerful medication. Diet is the best thing.

I don't know why would you put them on medication the younger ones if they haven't been diagnosed? I wouldn't

Keep medication away from the children. My question is Why have children in the first place, should had protected sex from the beginning

Always check with a doctor but see what other options are available too

You should ask your doctor first ,since ADHD medication can have some side effects that can make it worse for the child.

Ask the doctor it’s not up to you

To me, it's ALWAYS too soon! Let your children be children. We've become an overly medicated society. Grow up and be a real parent. Don't rely on others, or the computer to do your job.

If the medical profession says so go for it but don't self diagnose

so wrong with her thinking,i was raised with my dad being a hosp admin, and taught right how I see it.....

Sorry, just have a dog and a cat, so I am of no opinion.

I am a very NON medical/medicine person. I see these kids put on this, never happened in the past. My neighbors daughter had ADHD, I had to babysit her one day and the mom brought me her medication. I had a few questions and then I asked how long she had to take this? I was told, basically the rest of her life. Well, I am NO DR., but, I'd surely be asking some major questions. My daughter never took a thing as a child. Maybe a mild cough medicine, children's Tylenol, but hardly ever. Once she had Pink Eye and had eye drops. Just steer far, far away from any of this.

As an afterthought, I just remembered, Originally daughter took her children to the doctor and then got a referral to a pediatrician, who then diagnosed, the disorder, and then put them on medication. The grandchildren have had their medications changed from time to time, and that can make a difference as well. Another thing is that the child's school has to be involved (usually by assessment of their schoolwork, and if the child is disruptive at school) - All of these things are taken into account before they are given medication. Turns out one of my grandchildren has a duplicate chromosome which is the cause of the problem (along with other issues). YOU CANNOT SELF DIAGNOSE YOUR CHILD!!!!!

Every child is different. I have 6 grandchildren, and they are all on medication - for this as well as other disorders - the youngest is 5 at present but has been on medication for 2 years. It depends on how early the child is diagnosed and what medication they are put on, Not every medication will wok for every child, but we do notice the difference if they do not take their meds.

I'm wondering too....where does this end up: I'm suspecting that each case is unique and depends on the patient, genetics, doctor/s and immediate family involved. Also, intensive counselling is usually required before commencing any such protocol/treatment. It's almost sad that all her kids may be affected by the very same condition (red flag), but even while on meds, ADHD patients are still people too: they will need full attention for a very, very long time.

My personal feeling is children don't need medication for addiction or high functioning skittish. Coping skills taught would be a better alternative and I have an immediate family member with autism.

Depends how well she feeds her children. Less junk food and more nutritious meals. Even one on one with the children for 30 minutes may help them