Is It Safe For Kids To Take Melatonin

Kids Sleep And Melatonin

We call our 2-year-old the sleep bandit. Every night we get our kids through the bath, in pajamas, and finally, after multiple stories and lots of kisses and snuggles, we close the last bedroom door. About 5 minutes later we hear her little feet and we start the game of putting her back to bed, many, many times. She just wont sleep. Out of desperation we tried giving her a little melatonin it worked.

Other Sleep Tips For Parents

While melatonin can be a helpful tool for getting your kids the sleep they need, there are other ways that parents can try to encourage healthy sleep habits.

• Older children and teens should avoid naps during the day.
• Set regular bedtimes and wake-up times to help regulate your child’s body clock.
• Avoid screen time at least an hour before bedtime. The blue light from tablets or monitors can make it harder to fall asleep.
• Have dinner at least 2 hours before bedtime and avoid food and drinks with caffeine.
• Make sure bedrooms are quiet and dark.
• Set your thermostat to a comfortable temperature. Bedrooms shouldn’t be kept too warm.
• Have a soothing bedtime routine to help children wind down before sleep.

If your child has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, call your pediatrician for advice and ask if melatonin supplements might help.

Melatonin Is Not Meant For Kids

In her sleep consulting practice, McGinn has met babies who have been on melatonin from as young as four months of age. But, of the more than 500 melatonin-containing products licensed for sale in Canada, only two are licensed for teenagers , and there arent any approved for kids under 12.

Cummings, who does recommend melatonin to some of his pediatric patients as a treatment for managing insomnia, says the average kid under five would not have developed the type of sleep disorder where melatonin could be useful, and therefore they wouldnt need it.

Also Check: How Many Milligrams Of Melatonin Can You Take At Night

Is Melatonin Safe For Kids With Chronic Insomnia

If your child regularly has difficulty falling asleep within 30 minutes of an age-appropriate bedtime, they may suffer from insomnia. If this goes on for at least four nights per week for a year or more, they may suffer from chronic insomnia. An age-appropriate bedtime for your child is found using this formula: 8:30 p.m. + 15 minutes x .

A recent study has shown melatonin to be effective for chronic insomnia in children. The study also found that administering the dose between six and seven pm was most effective.

Is It Ok To Give Melatonin To A Child

According to Levinson, it is OK to give melatonin to a child. As a supplement, melatonin can be used to help kids go to sleep if it is taken earlier in the evening than when it naturally begins to be released, he explains.

However, its not necessarily the missing puzzle piece in why a child isnt sleeping. Having a regular bedtime routine and good sleep hygiene is critical in assisting children to sleep well, Levinson notes. Without it, melatonin may not be effective.

DeBlasio, who doesnt recommend giving melatonin to a child under the age of 3, agrees that good sleep practices are the key to good sleep. Good sleep hygiene having a consistent bedtime and routine, not having tablets or a TV in the room, etc. is the most important aspect in getting kids to sleep. Melatonin should never be used in place of these practices.

Its also worth noting that, while melatonin is considered safe for kids when used as directed, its sold as a dietary supplement with no required prescription, so its not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration .

Read Also: How Long Do Melatonin Gummies Take To Work

Melatonin Not Recommended For Children Or Teens As Sleep Aid

Dear Mayo Clinic:

Is it okay to give my teenage daughter melatonin to help her sleep better? I have read that it’s a safe alternative to sleep medicines.

Answer:

Although melatonin has been shown to be useful for treating sleep problems in adults, it has not been carefully studied in children. Due to the lack of scientific evidence, and because of some potentially harmful side effects, melatonin is not recommended as a sleep aid for children and teens. Making lifestyle changes that can enhance healthy sleep is a better alternative for most people your daughter’s age.

Melatonin is a hormone produced by your brain’s pineal gland. Melatonin appears to be linked to the body’s sleep/wake cycle, or circadian rhythm. The release of melatonin is stimulated by darkness and suppressed by light. The levels of melatonin in your blood are highest just before you go to sleep.

Some research suggests that, in adults, melatonin supplements might be helpful in treating jet lag or reducing the time it takes to fall asleep. The most common side effects from taking melatonin are daytime sleepiness, dizziness and headaches. Less common side effects can include abdominal pain, mild anxiety, irritability, confusion and feelings of depression. It is not known how common or severe these side effects might be in children.

Brent Bauer, M.D., General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome And Melatonin

Delayed sleep phase syndrome is a disorder common among teens. It happens when commitments to school shift their natural sleep period significantly later. As a result, they cant sleep before 2 a.m. or even later. Melatonin doses three hours earlier, along with better sleep practices and limited light exposure, are very effective in managing this.

You May Like: Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Cover Testosterone Therapy

Melatonin Could Help Kids With Adhd And Autism

Kids with attention disorders and autism commonly develop sleep problems that can be helped with melatonin. Additionally, medication used to treat ADHD can lead to difficulty falling asleep. That was the case for Jackie Botman,* whose son has ADHD. The eight-year-olds medication was keeping him up until 9:30 or laterhe was wired and couldnt settle down. He was resistant to calming down and having quiet time. He became chronically tired, says Botman, who lives in Toronto. Now her son takes a 5 mg dose of melatonin when hes brushing his teeth, then gets into bed and falls asleep in a reasonable amount of time.

Although Cummings agrees that melatonin can help kids with ADHD or autism, he says the downside is that theres a high relapse rate: Once you take your kid off melatonin, they are almost guaranteed to go back to having difficulty sleeping. It sets up a situation where those kids, to function well in life and in school, may need to use the melatonin on a longer-term basis, says Cummings.

Some Top Melatonin Products For Kids

Please note that the following claims are only based on research. These products have not been tried by anyone at Medical News Today, including the writer.

Before giving melatonin to a child, it is often necessary to consult a doctor, as other therapies and interventions are better supported by studies and could be safer and more successful.

Natrol Kids Melatonin Gummies

• are suitable for children aged 4 or over

Zarbeeâs Childrenâs Sleep Liquid with Melatonin

According to the productâs website, Zarbeeâs Childrenâs Sleep Liquid with Melatonin:

• contains 1 mg of melatonin per serving
• should be taken 30â60 minutes before bedtime
• is drug-free
• is suitable for children aged 3 or over
• has a natural berry flavor
• is free from dyes, artificial flavors, and gluten

You May Like: Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Cover Testosterone Replacement Therapy

How Does It Work

Besides helping to set the circadian clock, Melatonin also helps reduce the body temperature, which is another signal to the brain that it is time for sleep. Contrary to popular belief, it does not cause drowsiness. Melatonin has been used successfully for a number of children with sleep problems associated with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, epilepsy and migraine headaches.

So Are Melatonin Gummies Safe

Technically, melatonin gummies are considered safe for kids, but that doesnt mean all doctors are on board with them. Melatonin is a hormone, and it might interact with other hormones in small, developing bodies. The truth is that there havent been many studies on melatonin use in children, so many of the questionslike the long-term effectsremain unanswered.

Melatonin supplements also arent regulated by the Food and Drug Administration in the U.S., Dr. Prince says. Melatonin might possibly interact with any other medication your child is on, and there are many variabilities in the ingredients and formulations of these over-the-counter products, so you dont always know how much of what you might be taking. Melatonin can also cause side effects like headache, dizziness, increased urination at night and nausea.

You May Like: Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Cover Testosterone

What Exactly Is Melatonin

Your body naturally produces melatonin, a hormone secreted by the pineal gland in the brain, playing a key role in regulating the bodys sleep/wake cycle.1 The brain increases the production of melatonin when it’s dark and decreases its production when it’s light. That explains why being exposed to blue light in the evening can inhibit the production of melatonin2 It is best to limit exposure to blue light at least 30 minutes before bedtime.

Learn More: All Your Melatonin FAQs Answered

Will A Melatonin Supplement Interact With Other Drugs Or Supplements

If you are taking any other medications or dietary supplements, it is best to check with your treating health professional or pharmacist about possible interactions. In particular, if you are taking other sedatives or anti-anxiety medications, you should take melatonin with caution because the combination might amplify the effects.

You May Like: Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Cover Testosterone Therapy

Which Melatonin Supplements Are The Safest

The safest way to supplement with melatonin is to do so under the guidance of a health professional with specialized knowledge in supplements and their safety.

Be sure to use only professional grade supplements with a Good Manufacturing Practices stamp so that you know youre taking what the label says youre taking. Heres a sleep blend that contains melatonin plus other ingredients that work together to support a refreshing nights sleep.

Is Melatonin Safe For Kids With Autism

Is melatonin safe for kids with autism? In children with autism, sleep issues are common. They often take a long time to fall asleep, sleep less during the night and wake up early. Children with autism have low levels of melatonin to begin with. Melatonin helps them sleep more and fall asleep faster. Doctors recommend giving melatonin thirty to 60 minutes before bedtime.

One promising study monitoring melatonin use in children with autism reported improved communication, along with less social withdrawal, stereotyped behaviors, and anxiety. The study also found that melatonin was safe for short-term use.

However, parents should use melatonin as part of a behavioral management plan, not instead of one. Many pediatricians only try melatonin after behavioral intervention has failed.

Don’t Miss: How Much Do Estrogen Patches Cost

Can Melatonin Help Kids Fall Asleep

If your child is struggling to fall asleep at night or get sufficient sleep, melatonin supplements are a possible short-term strategy for helping them achieve quality sleep. Research on the use of melatonin in children is limited. However, studies of select groups of children provide promising evidence of melatonins effectiveness in initiating sleep.

Melatonin For Kids: Dosage Products And Safety

For most kids, some research indicates that melatonin is healthy. Scientists are also skeptical about the consequences of long-term usage, however.

To promote sleep and regulate the internal body clock, the body naturally produces melatonin at night.

To help with sleep issues, some individuals take a synthetic form. Synthetic melatonin is classified by the United States as a dietary supplement, rather than a drug.

We discuss the latest studies on the safety of melatonin and the most appropriate dosages for children in this article. We also mention some of the gummy and liquid melatonin products for children that are best tested.

Also Check: What Causes Breakthrough Bleeding When On Bioidentical Hormones

Melatonin For Older Adults

The amount of melatonin your body produces decreases with age. Because of this, melatonin supplements may be helpful for older adults who are having trouble falling asleep.

Researchers are still looking into the optimal melatonin dosage for older adults. One 2016 review of sleep aids for older adults suggests a dosage of 1 to 2 mg of immediate-release melatonin 1 hour before bedtime.

Melatonin Dosage By Weight For A Child

Your best bet? Speak to your childs pediatrician first about your concerns regarding your childs sleep issues and using melatonin. If you get the thumbs up then start with the lowest dosage. The general advice is to take melatonin 30 to 90 minutes before bedtime. In doing so, many children will respond to a lower dose , according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. And most children who do benefit from melatonin don’t need any more than 3 to 6 mg.4

Recommended Reading: Can Having Your Tubes Tied Cause Hormonal Imbalance

How Much Melatonin Can A Child Take

When using melatonin for kids, its best to start small, and if need be, work up to a higher dose. I usually advise people to start at low doses of 0.5 milligrams or 1 milligrams and give it about 90 minutes before bedtime, DeBlasio says. For some children, these low doses may be all that is needed. Other kids will require higher doses. However, most children dont need more than 3 to 6 milligrams. He adds, It is important to involve your pediatrician in decisions about melatonin dosing.

Levinson says that the general recommended dosage utilized in studies of children is between 0.5-6 milligrams nightly. Again, though, melatonin isnt regulated by the FDA, which can make dosage tricky. Research has shown that the stated amount of melatonin in a supplement can be off by over 400%, and other compounds, such as serotonin, can be included, Levinson says. The dosage variability can even be very high when the same brand is purchased on separate occasions. Families should always check with their childs pediatrician before giving melatonin to their child.

Are There Any People Who Should Avoid Taking Melatonin

Theres limited research into the safety of using melatonin supplements during pregnancy. Also, while melatonin is a normal component of breast milk, theres little research into the effects of taking melatonin supplements while breastfeeding.

Because of this, its best to avoid taking melatonin if youre:

• pregnant

Its a good idea to schedule an appointment with your doctor or healthcare provider if you notice that you:

• frequently have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep at night
• often feel drowsy or tired during the day
• have trouble performing your daily activities

Your doctor will work with you to discuss your sleep routine and lifestyle habits. They may also ask you to keep a sleep diary to track the amount of sleep youre getting over a period of time.

Its also possible that your doctor will perform a physical exam and order blood tests. These can help them rule out a medical condition that may be causing your sleep issues.

Read Also: Can I Give My Cat Melatonin

How Does Melatonin Work In The Body

Your body releases melatonin as darkness sets in. It peaks overnight, and slows its production as the body senses light. As you can imagine, late-night screen use and bright electric lights can mess with melatonin release and in turn, our sleep-wake cycles. If our melatonin release is interrupted, its not just our sleep that can suffer, but our reproductive hormones and inflammation levels can go off-kilter, too.

Alternatives For Sleep Disturbances

For most children, behavioral interventions can effectively treat insomnia. Before starting melatonin, consult your physician about sleep training. Melatonin cannot replace good sleeping techniques. Limit light exposure, cut out all screen time for at least an hour before bedtime and keep a regular sleep schedule.

Recommended Reading: Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Cover Testosterone Therapy

How Does Melatonin Trigger Sleep

Melatonin levels are not stagnant. They rise in the evening, alerting the body that its time to get ready for sleep. A few hours before waking, levels will decrease, alerting the body to prepare for waking. In the evening, if melatonin levels dont rise, kids can have difficulty going to bed, making this a problematic time of day for them and their parents.

Melatonin Wont Solve Every Sleep Problem

Melatonin is a hormone naturally released by our brains to help us fall asleep. Melatonin supplements can be helpful when that release doesnt happen at the desired timejet lag is an obvious example.

Carl Cummings, a paediatrician in Montreal who wrote a paper for the Canadian Paediatric Society entitled Melatonin for the management of sleep disorders in children and adolescents, explains that melatonin could be helpful in kids who have chronic insomnia because of a problem with sleep initiation, which means the child is going to bed at an appropriate time, but it is taking longer than 30 minutes for him to fall asleep. Often, this issue can be solved with good bedtime routines and parents consistently setting appropriate limits around sleep. But in some cases, these strategies wont work, which is where melatonin comes in.

What makes melatonin so compelling is that it will help most kids fall asleep. The problem is, it wont help a kid who is procrastinating bedtime learn good sleep habits it wont stop your daughter from waking up with nightmares it wont fix your babys colic and it probably wont stop your kid from hopping out of bed ready to start the day at 4:30 a.m. If you want a real solution to those common kids sleep problems, youll have to look further than a pill.

Also Check: How Much Is Estrogen Shots