I've heard that too, about the caffeine having a reverse affect. My aunt, who's a nurse, suggested it to me, but...my aunt has some issues so I kind of blew her off. oops!

My son had reverse side effects to Benadryl, and that's how we knew for sure he had ADHD.

desertmom did you get the info on magnesium for mood disorder from the reader's digest article or from some where else. Also cru5h I'm not understanding about the benadryl. I know it's suppose to make a person sleepy but in my family it does nothing. How did you know for sure he had ADHD? Inquiring minds have lots of questions today.

I have two kids who are ADHD..and from what we know..NO FOODS set them off..sugar included!! I know there are many wonderful links on ADHD..you might just try googling "adhd food" or "adhd triggers". That might get you a closer and faster link to some info!

__________________
Shaking in my boots (well, if I was wearing them in the middle of summer!), but glad to be back!

No, momof4girls, that wasn't from the article. It's something I've just always known, but when I was getting treated for depression a few years back, that was one thing my psychiatrist told me to add. My regular family Dr. also recommended I use it when I had horrible PMS. But some of my reading on Aspergers and Autism have mentioned it, as has his developmental pediatrician at Melmed. The question is finding the right dosage, so she's having us start fairly low, since he's already taking a full spectrum multivitamin. Haven't gotten into it full force with him, yet, so I can't say if it would work. It didn't in my case, but I'm resistant to a lot of meds, anyway, and I may not have been taking enough. But I'm willing to try for him - it's not harmful, and it's under the doctor's supervision, which to me is key.

Thanks desertmom I did read the article from readers digest thank s for the link. I was wondering about the magnesium because DD #1 has bipolar. I'll have to see what kind of info I can find and ask the doctors about it.

Tadhg has ADD and Ive noticed diet played a big part in his hyperactivity.

Ive gone almost as totally organic as I can and that helped, some of the preservatives and additives in processed food reved him up.

No fizzy drinks ie coke and other high sugar drinks, that was a trigger

Junk food severely restricted worked for him if he has McDonalds he does find it hard to stay still .

but these are just his triggers children are different and its a matter of trial and error to get it right

Anne

If I put my son on the gluten dairy free diet he would starve. My ds only likes pasta, potatoes, rice , bread and cheese. He eats very little meat. Veggies I have to hide and fruit is limited to juices.
I once heard on Dr. Phil ( I think he is a quack ) that a kid won't starve them selves to death. Well guess what when a food taste or feels icky to my child he rather starve. He would go days.
I feel fournate though, I know some moms that their kids will only eat 2 or 3 foods. One in particular ate cheese pizza for a month. My ds went from being under weight from starving himself to a little over weight after I let the carbs back in. His ped said she rather see the latter.

I know that their are lots of diets out there for ADHD and autistic kids. You know what I think, it is the growth hormones and artifical sweetners and the dyes in foods. The rate that kids are being diagnosed with adhd is crazy. There has to be a link in the food we eat.
Good Luck to you, let us know what you find.

I broke down and tried it. [insert face of guilt] I made 2 shots of espresso, mixed it with like 9 oz. of milk, added ice and a little sugar plus a little chocolate syrup and blended it all. Not only did the boys love it, they went right to sleep afterward. No getting up out of bed. No hour-long one-sided conversation from my older one. They shared about 5 oz. of the mixture, by the way.

It's a bittersweet moment for me. On one hand I know how to get them to stop moving and getting out of bed and the older one to finally shut his yap, but on the other hand, I can't give it to them every night. *sigh*

Momof4girls - sorry, I didn't see you had asked me a question. The nurse said, "This will make him drowsy." 'Cause he'd been zooming all over the hospital room. Only it didn't. I'd never seen him more hyper than after he had Benadryl. He wouldn't shut up and was only contained by his car seat. I told that to the doctor when we went for a follow-up a few days later. She said, "Oh that's common for kids with ADHD," and waved me on. He has not been formerly diagnosed. But I know, without a doubt. The benadryl was confirmation. I know "the talk" is going to come from his teacher this year. Last year he was OK. Toward the end of the year the teacher was having daily problems. But this year, my son hasn't had a good week in school yet. He's great academically, but he can not stop talking or getting out of his seat.

Hey! It sounds yummy! And, don't feel guilty. Parenting is about trial and error. You tried something and it worked. Yes, you gave your kids coffee, but the key is that it worked! Don't feel bad for that! Besides, peaceful sleep is important too!