Melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate the sleep/wake cycle, may be the road to a restful night's sleep for children with a variety of sleep disorders. Studies on the use of melatonin are limited, however the hormone does show promise for some children. Like any supplement, however, both the benefits and the risks of its use must be weighed.
Supplemental Melatonin
Melatonin occurs naturally in the body; however, a synthetic version is available for over-the-counter use. A hormone, melatonin is considered to be a natural treatment option for sleep disorders for both adults and children. However, because its use in children has not been studied as thoroughly, there is some grey area when it comes to safety. In fact, many studies have not investigated the use of melatonin in children for longer than four weeks at a time. In addition, MayoClinic.com reports that there is no determined "safe" dose for children. While Medline Plus reports that most kids should not take this supplement, they also report that low amounts of melatonin are considered safe for children who have sleep disorders.
Children and Melatonin: The Research
The research on melatonin's use by children is far from complete; however, the initial results are promising, especially for those with secondary sleep problems caused by other medical conditions. Kids with developmental disorders such as cerebral palsy and autism may benefit from low doses of melatonin, per Medline Plus. In addition, some studies have reviewed the use of melatonin for improving the sleep patterns of kids with ADHD with positive results. Finally, children who suffer from what is termed "delayed sleep onset," or difficulty falling asleep within a reasonable amount of time, may also benefit from taking melatonin shortly before bedtime.
Safe Dosages
The recommended dosage for melatonin in children varies based on who you ask. Several research studies were reviewed by the authors Samseer and Vohra in a 2009 article that appeared in "Pediatrics in Review," and the recommended melatonin dosages ranged from 0.5 to 7.5 mg. This wide range was based on seven different studies, most of which focused on children with secondary sleep disturbances. The University of Maryland Medical Center, however, is a little more conservative when it comes to dosage guidelines: They recommend no more than 0.3 mg for children ages 15 and under, as the research for higher doses is not extensive. Your best bet is to talk to your child's pediatrician for his recommendations and monitor your child for any unusual side effects while taking melatonin.
Precautions for Children
Even though melatonin is found naturally in our bodies, supplemental melatonin can cause some side effects. Part of the reason UMMC recommends such a low dose for young children is that doses ranging between 1 and 5 mg per day caused some children to have seizures. Samseer and Dr. Vohra's literature review, however, revealed that children with high seizure risks when taking melatonin are generally those who have pre-existing seizure disorders. In fact, these kids should not be using melatonin at all. In addition, melatonin does have the potential to enhance the effects of sedative medications and may interact with immunosuppressants.
