Login or Register

Natural Source of Melatonin for Children

May 6, 2011 | By Ivy Morris
Natural Source of Melatonin for Children
Photo Credit pretty young child sleeping image by les sanders from Fotolia.com

A hormone found naturally in the body, melatonin helps regulate the body's internal clock, telling you to sleep when it's dark outside and wake when it's light. You cannot get melatonin through food or any natural source. Laboratories create melatonin in supplement form to help with sleep. Most children should not use melatonin, but melatonin can help certain children with sleep disturbances. Talk to your pediatrician before giving your child melatonin, as its safety for children needs further study.

Sources and Doses of Melatonin

You can buy over-the-counter melatonin in pill form for your child in either immediate-release or sustained -release form. Melatonin also comes in forms dissolved in the cheek or under the tongue, but these are not generally for home use. Only your doctor can prescribe a dosage for your child, based on your child's age, weight and sleep needs. In studies, doctors have prescribed 5 mg at 6:00 p.m. daily for children with insomnia due to delayed sleep onset, and 5 mg at 8:00 p.m. daily for children with developmental disorders.

Melatonin and Autism

In general, children with autism have low levels of melatonin in the body, according to a study by Daniel A. Rossignol and Richard E. Frye published in the April 2011 issue of "Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology." The study found that when autistic children took melatonin, they slept on average, 73 minutes longer and fell asleep 66 minutes more quickly than without melatonin. The children had better daytime behavior the next day after taking melatonin at night. The study reported minimal side effects from the melatonin.

Melatonin and Sleep Disorders

Melatonin can help children with sleep disorders, such as delayed sleep phase syndrome, which keeps children from falling asleep at the desired time at night. Melatonin can also help with delayed sleep onset caused by other conditions, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In some studies, children age 6 months to 14 years old fell asleep more quickly at night after taking 2 to 5 mg of melatonin.

Warnings

Discuss your child's health conditions and any medications or supplement she takes with your doctor. Melatonin may raise your child's blood sugar if she has diabetes, or it may interfere with your child's development during adolescence. The Food and Drug Administration does not regulate melatonin. Because of this, manufacturers may add unsafe ingredients to melatonin supplements. If your child has trouble falling asleep at night, safer options than melatonin include limiting caffeine intake and practicing good sleep hygiene by making the bedroom just for sleep, and not for play or television watching. Under a doctor's guidance, your child might try a bright light therapy lamp, which may help her wake more easily in the morning and fall asleep more quickly when it's dark.

References

Article reviewed by Paula Martinac Last updated on: May 6, 2011

Must see: Photo Galleries

Member Comments