Melatonin for kids: How to safely get your child to sleep
Every parent knows what it’s like to have a sleepless night because their child just won’t sleep. Sometimes, kids just have a hard time falling asleep.
That leads many parents to seek solutions to help their child fall asleep. One increasingly popular thing to do is give kids a sleep aid.
There are several options, but parents often choose melatonin supplements. That’s because melatonin is a natural part of our bodies. Melatonin is a hormone released by our brains when it’s time to sleep.
The appeal of melatonin is that it’s a natural supplement, but is it safe to give kids?
“It looks safe. Most of the time, kids are fine if they take melatonin. But, we don’t know the long-term consequences. So, I don’t recommend it,” said Dr. Zallek, “That being said, there are situations where melatonin has proven to be very helpful, particularly for children on the autism spectrum.”
You should always talk to your child’s pediatrician before giving your child any kind of medicine. Children under age 3 should only receive melatonin if it’s been OK’d by the pediatrician.
Melatonin dosage for kids
If your child’s pediatrician has given you the go ahead to occasionally supplement your child’s sleep with melatonin, be sure to follow all directions. Melatonin supplements come in the form of tablets, capsules, liquid and gummies.
Many children will respond to a low dosage, so start with the lowest dosage first.
It is very important not to give your child more than the recommended dosage for their age and weight.
Melatonin overdose
Because melatonin comes in the attractive-to-kids form of gummies, it is highly important to keep these out of reach of children at all times.
Melatonin side effects
Melatonin comes with some side effects:
- Bedwetting
- Headache
- Drowsiness
- Daytime sleepiness
- Agitation
- Mood changes
- Dizziness
- Grogginess, especially in the morning
