Children's Insomnia & Melatonin

Melatonin is a popular sleep aid, likely because it is considered a natural product. Our bodies naturally produce melatonin, though our levels may vary based on both the time of day and our age. While children generally have high levels of nighttime melatonin in their systems, some may still have difficulty falling asleep. Melatonin use may help.

What is Melatonin?

Melatonin is a hormone produced by the glands in our bodies. Everyone has melatonin running through them. Melatonin is thought to play a role in the body's internal clock: the one that tells us when to wake and when to sleep. How much melatonin we make depends on what is going on in our daily routines, which can vary from day to day. For instance, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports that bright lights at night and extreme disruptions to the sleep cycle, such as a sudden change in time zones, can affect melatonin levels. While children are thought to have the highest levels of nighttime melatonin, some may still need extra help getting to sleep.

Safety in Kids

There have been few studies relating to the use of melatonin in children, so many health publications are hesitant to offer a specific "safe" dosage for children. A 2009 literature review conducted in the journal "Pediatrics in Review" reported researched doses ranging from 0.5 to 7.5mg of melatonin in children from infancy to 18 years of age. Their results showed that melatonin is "generally safe" for children, at least for short-term use. However, as of 2011 its effects beyond four weeks have not been studied thoroughly enough to advise longer-term melatonin use by kids.

Use

Melatonin has been fairly successful in treating kids with a variety of sleep disorders. It is helpful for both primary insomnia and in secondary insomnia, which are sleep disturbances caused by other factors such as medications or neurological conditions. Per MedlinePlus, melatonin is effective at treating insomnia in children with autism as well as cerebral palsy and other related developmental disabilities. There is also some evidence that melatonin may help children diagnosed with ADHD sleep more soundly at night, allowing them to fall asleep faster and stay asleep for longer.

Guidelines and Precautions

Both MayoClinic.com and MedlinePlus caution that you should not offer your child melatonin without first consulting his pediatrician. Melatonin is generally considered safe within the researched dosages, but it can cause problems for some children. In rare cases, melatonin may cause headaches, a rash or even worsening sleep patterns. It also has the potential to increase seizure activity for kids with seizure disorders. For this reason, the authors of the "Pediatrics in Review" article recommend caution when used by children with seizure disorders, as well as other neurological disorders including migraines and depression. If you think melatonin may help your child, talk to his pediatrician for specific guidelines.