Many children have difficulty sleeping at night, especially those with chronic neurological disorders. Parents are often wary when it comes to sleep-inducing medications for their children; however, the natural supplement melatonin may be more appealing. While it may help some children get the sleep they need, melatonin is not without side effects. Consult your child's doctor before trying to prevent, treat or cure any sleep problem with melatonin.
What Is Melatonin?
Melatonin is a natural sleep aid that can usually be purchased over the counter. Melatonin supplements are the synthetic version of the hormone that we produce naturally in our bodies. Melatonin plays a role in our sleep routines, and its levels in the body at any given time can determine both how quickly we fall asleep and how long we remain sleeping. Its production is stimulated by light: we have more melatonin in our bodies when it is dark, which encourages us to sleep at night, and less melatonin during the day. The supplements are generally considered safe for most people and can even be used by children when supervised by a pediatrician.
Children and Melatonin
According to a 2009 study in "Pediatrics in Review," between 15 and 25 percent of children have some degree of sleep disturbance. These sleep problems range from difficulty falling asleep to sleeping for short periods of time only. The authors noted that in children with primary sleep disorders, or insomnia without any medical cause, melatonin supplements shortened the time taken to fall asleep by over 16 minutes. Whether or not it helped the children stay asleep was not revealed, nor was its effectiveness in the long term.
Secondary Insomnia in Kids
Using melatonin supplements to treat childhood sleep disorders is not a new concept. In fact, synthetic melatonin has also been studied for its effects on children with chronic conditions that cause secondary insomnia, including ADHD and many developmental disabilities. MedlinePlus indicates that melatonin was likely effective at helping children with autism and cerebral palsy fall asleep faster. There is also good evidence that it can increase the duration of sleep for children with these and other disorders, including visual impairments, epilepsy and psychiatric disorders. Melatonin use for similar purposes in the ADHD population had similar positive results.
Safety
While the reviewed studies show promise, they are limited. Melatonin's safety when used by children has not been researched thoroughly, making it somewhat of a gray area. In addition, it can interact with some medications that children with sleep problems may take. These include sedatives and immunosuppressant medications. The authors of the "Pediatrics in Review" study report that melatonin should not be used by children unless it is under the direct guidance of their pediatricians. In addition, it should not be used by any kids with diabetes, seizure disorders or migraine headaches, as it could potentially be harmful. If you think your child may benefit from melatonin use, talk to his pediatrician first.
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