Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced in the body that regulates the body clock. The amount of melatonin in the body fluctuates throughout the day, but the highest levels are found when a person is sleeping. Because of this, melatonin supplements are often recommended for children and others who have sleep disorders of trouble sleeping. According to the University of Michigan Health System, melatonin is safe and effective and can be especially useful in children who have sleep problems because of special needs.
Step 1
Schedule an appointment with your child's doctor before administering melatonin supplements. Never give melatonin supplements to a child without consulting with his doctor first regarding safety issues and dosage.
Step 2
Choose a melatonin supplement from a safe and reputable health foods store. Your child's doctor may be able to recommend a product you can safely use.
Step 3
Read the label on the melatonin supplement to ensure you are familiar with how to use it safely and properly.
Step 4
Give the melatonin supplement to your child as directed on the package label. Continue to use the supplement as instructed.
Step 5
Monitor your child's sleep habits and patterns over the first few days of using melatonin. Possible side effects include sleepwalking, vivid dreams and nightmares, according to MedlinePlus. If your child experiences sleep disturbances such as these while taking melatonin report it to his doctor.
Tips and Warnings
- In addition to sleep disturbances, other known side effects of melatonin include headaches, irritability, fatigue and dizziness, according to MedlinePlus. In addition, there are concerns it could increase a person's bleeding risk and should not be used in children with bleeding disorders.
- Melatonin doses between 1 and 5mg may cause seizures in children, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
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