Is It Safe to Give Melatonin to Children?
When you become a parent, you quickly realize the importance of sleep, mostly because your kids (and by extension, you) just don’t get enough of it. Between the struggle to get your kids to fall asleep before bed and the regular nocturnal awakenings, sleep quickly becomes what you crave more than anything. When all else fails, parents often turn to melatonin to help their children fall asleep a little faster and sleep a little longer. If you’re planning to try it too, here’s what you need to know.
What does melatonin do?
Melatonin is a hormone that regulates the sleep cycle . At night, when it’s dark, your body produces more melatonin, which helps you sleep. When you are exposed to light, such as during the daytime, it blocks the production of melatonin.
You can buy supplements containing synthetically produced melatonin, which are often sold over the counter at your local pharmacy. Taking a melatonin supplement may help with jet lag or some sleep disorders.
Is it safe to give melatonin to children?
There are many studies that have shown that melatonin is probably safe for children . However, as Beth Oller , a family doctor in Plainville, Kansas, cautions, there are many questions about how well it works, how long, and at what dose they should be used.
“I recommend always using the lowest dose that is effective for the shortest amount of time,” Oller said. “If you can reset your child’s sleep cycle, you may not need to use any medication in the long run, which would certainly be the goal.”
What to do before trying melatonin
Before trying melatonin, it’s important to try other measures, such as having a regular sleep schedule, making sure the bedroom is dark, cool, and quiet, and avoiding the use of electronic devices before bed.
If you’re trying to establish a good sleep pattern and it’s still not working, “I would recommend parents check with their pediatrician,” said Sandra McKay , a pediatrician at UTHealth’s McGovern School of Medicine. “Sleep disruption can be a symptom of underlying health problems, including things like obstructive sleep apnea or something more rare like narcolepsy.”
Even with a good bedtime routine, there is still a good chance your child may need extra help getting to sleep. If you decide to try melatonin, be aware that the rules are much less stringent than for over-the-counter or prescription drugs. This means that some dosages and formulations may differ depending on the manufacturer.
How much melatonin is too much?
According to a recent CDC study , melatonin overdoses in children are on the rise. Between 2012 and 2021, 260,435 melatonin ingestions by children were reported to the National Poison Data System of the American Association of Poison Control Centers, representing an increase of 530%. For children under the age of 5, these numbers have risen even more sharply, from 0.6% of cases in 2012 to 4.9% of cases in 2021. This includes five hospitalizations and two deaths.
When it comes to proper dosage for children, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends starting with 0.5-1.0 milligrams 30-90 minutes before bedtime. Dosages should not exceed more than 3-6 milligrams.
Signs of an overdose include excessive sleepiness, headaches, restlessness, indigestion, diarrhea, or nausea. More serious complications are rare and often require large amounts of melatonin. Usually, this ingestion happens unintentionally, such as if your child mistakes melatonin gummies for candy, so it’s important to keep any supplements out of reach.
As reported by the CDC , there is significant variability in the amount of melatonin found in different batches of the same supplement, with the highest variability found in chewable tablets often given to children.
That’s why it’s important to talk to your doctor about giving melatonin to your kids, as they can recommend a reliable brand as well as suggest the right dosage.