Jump to content

  • Set Your Location
  • Sign in or Enroll
Set Your LocationSet Your Location
  • Sign in or Enroll
    • Open I want to choose my medical group or hospital
    • Clear my location
Change Location
Sutter Health
  • Video Visits
  • Find Doctors
  • Find Locations
  • Treatments & Services
    • Video Visits
    • Find Doctors
    • Find Locations
    • Treatments & Services
    • COVID-19 Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Symptom Checker
    • Get Care Today
    • Health & Wellness
    • Classes & Events
    • Research & Clinical Trials
    • For Patients
    • About Sutter Health
    • Giving
    • Volunteering
    • Careers
    • News
    • For Medical Professionals
    • Other Business Services
Close Search
  • Home
  • Ask an Expert
  • Melatonin for Kids?
Content

Ask An Expert

Melatonin for Kids?

Dorothy M. Coleman-Riese

Dorothy M. Coleman-Riese, M.D.

Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation

Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital

Question:

My sister-in-law's pediatrician recommended melatonin to help her three-year-old go to sleep at night. She says it works well. But how safe can this type of thing be for toddlers?

Answer:

The short answer to your question is that for healthy kids, melatonin is probably safe and effective in small doses, under the direction of a physician, for two to four weeks. Outside of these conditions, things get more complicated.

Good quality sleep is essential for our health and well-being, so it is not a surprise that tired parents would like help in getting their kids to sleep better. Melatonin is a hormone produced by the brain following the patterns of darkness and light. Darkness stimulates its production, causing sleepiness, and light inhibits it, causing wakefulness. Melatonin has been used for decades in adults for sleep problems due to jet lag and insomnia.

Melatonin is the only hormone that is available in the US without a prescription. Curiously, the FDA has labeled melatonin as a "dietary supplement" even though it has nothing to do with nutrition. Because it is not categorized as a medication, melatonin manufacturers do not have to meet the standards of safety and efficacy as do other medications. Because there is no standardization of manufacturing, there can be variations in the absorption from brand to brand. Since melatonin is now being marketed for use in children, there is concern that parents may have the unfounded belief that this synthetically manufactured hormone is a "natural dietary supplement" which has been proven safe to use for kids as a long-term sleep aid — which of course, is not true.

There have been a handful of studies over the last twenty years on melatonin in children. Most of the studies were done in children with neurodevelopmental disorders like autism or ADHD, in whom disordered sleep is a serious problem. The studies show that melatonin does shorten the period of falling asleep by 15-25 minutes. The studies were less than four weeks in duration and there are not sufficient data to say whether using melatonin in children for periods longer than four weeks is safe or effective.

Minor side effects of melatonin can include headache, nightmares, decreased appetite, and drowsiness the next day. It may also interact with medications used to treat medical conditions, and with other hormones that affect fertility and sexual development. For these reasons, its long-term use in pre-pubertal children should only be on the advice of a physician.

Here are a few tips for establishing good sleep habits in kids:
  • Have a consistent bedtime routine with a stable bedtime and waking time, with age-appropriate expectations for number of hours of sleep
  • Look for cues of the natural evening melatonin surge in your child (yawning, and rubbing of eyes) and set her bedtime accordingly. Studies have shown that if a child's bedtime is set before the melatonin surge, then it will take longer for your child to fall asleep.
  • Don't inhibit the natural production of melatonin by too much light in the evening. Consider turning down the lights about an hour before bedtime
  • Avoid electronic use for at least an hour before bedtime. iPads and similar tablets emit blue light that inhibits melatonin production.
  • Morning sunlight is important for wakefulness in the morning, so pull back any light-blocking drapes in the morning before your child wakes up
  • Avoid the stimulation of exercise, big meals, and television for at least an hour before bedtime
  • If your child is still having problems falling asleep, then see your doctor.

  • Related Questions

    Question
    • Saw Palmetto for Prostate Cancer?
      Is there any benefit to taking supplements such as Saw Palmetto to help reduce or prevent prostate cancer? I have read conflicting articles. I am 70 years old and have been on active surveillance for prostate cancer since early 2010.
    • Heart Disease and Vitamin D Deficiency
      I read recently that a vitamin D deficiency may be linked to increased heart disease. Should I be tested for this deficiency, and if I'm low, would a supplement take care of this increased risk?
    • Can Vitamin D Help Reduce Back Pain?
      I have been dealing with chronic pain from a back injury for a number of years. I read recently that vitamin D can help reduce pain. Is this true, and if so should I start taking a supplement?
    • Causes of Insomnia
      Since my 20s I've had insomnia. Now in my 40s, the insomnia has been unremitting. When I do sleep, I often wake up drenched. OTC sleep aids and herbal remedies don't help. I exercise and eat a healthy diet. What else should I consider?
    • Natural Ways to Lower Cholesterol
      I'm looking for a natural way to lower my cholesterol. Besides watching what I eat and exercising, is there anything else, like dietary supplements, that would work?

    Back to Children's Health

    The Sutter Health Network of Care
    Expertise to fit your needs
    Primary Care

    Check-ups, screenings and sick visits for adults and children.

    Specialty Care

    Expertise and advanced technologies in all areas of medicine.

    Emergency Care

    For serious accidents, injuries and conditions that require immediate medical care.

    Urgent Care

    After-hours, weekend and holiday services.

    Walk-In Care

    Convenient walk-in care clinics for your non-urgent health needs.

    • Contact Us
    • Find Doctors
    • Find Locations
    • Request Medical Records
    • Make a Gift
    Sign in to My Health Online

    Billing and Insurance

    • Pay a Bill
    • Accepted Health Plans
    • Estimate Costs
    • Medicare Advantage

    About Sutter

    • About Our Network
    • Community Benefit
    • Annual Report
    • News

    Our Team

    • For Employees
    • For Medical Professionals
    • For Vendors
    • For Volunteers

    Careers

    • Jobs at Sutter
    • Physician Jobs
    • Graduate Medical Education

    Copyright © 2023 Sutter Health. All rights reserved. Sutter Health is a registered trademark of Sutter Health ®, Reg. U.S. Patent & Trademark office.

    • ADA Accessibility
    • Privacy
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
    • LinkedIn Opens new window
    • YouTube Opens new window
    • Facebook Opens new window
    • Twitter Opens new window
    • Instagram Opens new window
    • Glassdoor Opens new window

    Cookie Policy

    We use cookies to give you the best possible user experience. By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences

    Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences