The brain produces melatonin after sunset to stimulate and regulate your child's sleep cycle. An article published in the April 2009 issue of the "Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine" shows that melatonin helped children with autism and fragile X syndrome sleep longer, fall asleep faster and experience fewer night awakenings. Consult your doctor prior to medicating your child with melatonin.
Recommended Dosage
A safe dose of melatonin for your child varies. Your doctor can give you the best advice on a proper dose. MedlinePlus, a service provided by the National Library of Medicine, states that children with insomnia typically take between 0.3 and 5 mg of melatonin at bedtime. Children with delayed sleep onset may benefit from taking 5 mg of melatonin at 6 p.m. daily, and children with developmental disorders such as cerebral palsy, intellectual disability or autism, may benefit from 5 mg of melatonin at 8 p.m. daily. However, most children should not take melatonin due to potential safety risks. Only give your child melatonin under the supervision of a doctor.
Side Effects
Scientific research continues to investigate the effectiveness and safety of melatonin in children. Commonly reported side effects include short-term depression, headaches, dizziness, daytime sleepiness, irritability and stomach cramps. If you see any of these side effects in your child, stop giving melatonin immediately and contact your child's doctor. Your child may also experience confusion, sleepwalking, disorientation, nightmares or vivid dreams while taking melatonin.
Contraindications
Sleep disorders often occur because of chronic health conditions that may worsen with the use of melatonin. Melatonin affects the hormone levels of your child and may interfere with his adolescent development, according to MedlinePlus. Due to its interactions with hormones, the use of melatonin in children suffering from any form of hormonal imbalance, such as those associated with diabetes or depression, is contraindicated. Children with seizure disorders may experience increased seizure while taking melatonin. Ensure the safety of your child by consulting your doctor before starting melatonin treatment on him.
Alternatives
Children with sleep disturbances need to be evaluated and treated by a pediatrician to rule out hormonal, metabolic or psychological causes. Before turning to a dietary supplement, such as melatonin, to help your child sleep, try encouraging better sleep through the use of dietary or lifestyle changes. Some strategies that may help your child sleep better include journaling or drawing before bedtime, sleeping in a dark or lit with a dim night-light, adjusting the room temperature for comfort, making pets sleep in their own peaceful place, stopping the consumption of caffeine by 3 p.m., avoiding nighttime exercise and practicing techniques to relax the mind, such as closing your eyes and counting backward from 100 to one.
References
- "Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine"; The Efficacy of Melatonin for Sleep Problems in Children with Autism, Fragile X Syndrome, or Autism and Fragile X Syndrome; Juthamas Wirojanan, M.D.; April 2009
- MedlinePlus; Melatonin; December 2010
- MayoClinic.com; Melatonin: Dosing; Mayo Clinic staff; April 2011
- KidsHealth; What to Do if You Can't Sleep; Mary L. Gavin, M.D.; November 2008
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