Melatonin is a natural sleep aid you can buy without a doctor's prescription. While generally considered safe for adult use, the research on melatonin use by children is limited. Melatonin can improve sleep cycles in some children. However, melatonin use and dosage in children should be carefully monitored by a pediatrician.
How Does Melatonin Work?
The melatonin that occurs naturally in our bodies helps to determine when we sleep, how long we sleep and when we wake up. While everyone's bodies make the hormone melatonin, some of us may have higher levels than others. Melatonin levels can vary based on how much time you spend in the light and may be thrown off by schedule changes such as jet lag or staying up at night. Taking supplemental melatonin around bedtime may coax you to sleep in light of these other factors. Melatonin supplements are manufactured versions of the original hormone and can be purchased over the counter without a prescription.
Can Kids Use Melatonin?
Like adults, kids may experience sleep cycle disruptions. These may be short term, caused by sudden schedule changes or a move to another time zone. However, some children have insomnia or sleep disturbances due to disorders such as ADHD or autism. Limited studies regarding the effects of melatonin in children show promise for improving sleep patterns in some children. Kids should not use melatonin unless advised to do so by a pediatrician, however, as its effects are not entirely understood. Some children with seizure disorders may be at greater risk of an event when taking melatonin. In addition, those with certain chronic conditions, such as diabetes and liver disorders, should not use the supplement, as it may potentially be harmful.
Dosage Recommendations
There is no formally established "safe" dose of melatonin for children. Even major medical establishments do not agree on how much melatonin kids should use. For instance, MayoClinic.com states that no dose is safe, and the University of Maryland Medical Center advises kids under 15 stick to 0.3 mg or less. Medline Plus offers the most generous dosage at 5 mg for kids near bedtime. However, even more than this may be fine for some children. Several prominent studies reviewed in a 2009 "Pediatrics in Review" article reported safety with dosages of up to 7.5 mg. Based on the wide discrepancies in recommendations, it's no wonder many parents are confused about how much melatonin their children should have. Your pediatrician will offer the best recommendation based on your child's particular needs.
Duration of Melatonin Use
In addition to the discrepancies regarding how much melatonin a child should take, the literature also varies when it comes to the duration of supplement use. Many childhood sleep disturbances are long-standing; however, much of the research focuses on the short-term use of melatonin only. A 2009 study in "Pediatrics in Review" reports that use for more than four weeks is not recommended, as there is not enough evidence to establish the safety of long-term melatonin use by children. This may come as a shock to parents whose children have medical disorders that may impact their sleep cycles for years.
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