Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Institutes of Health say that children should not take melatonin long-term, but neither organization defines what long-term means. Some children naturally fall asleep later than parents might like, but that doesn't mean they need melatonin.
Melatonin guidelines for kids
Don't incorporate melatonin into your child's bedtime routine permanently; only use it on a limited basis (or based on the direction of your physician).
Currently, there is little research on the long-term effects of melatonin use in children. Some experts question if melatonin, because it is a hormone, can affect other hormonal development in adolescents. Further research must be conducted to more clearly understand the long-term side effects of melatonin on children.
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.
While its short-term use is considered safe, there are some concerns that long-term use might delay children's sexual maturation, possibly by disrupting the decline in nocturnal melatonin levels that occur at the onset of puberty.
Will My Child Become Dependent? Unlike other sleep medications, melatonin hasn't been shown to cause withdrawal or other symptoms of dependency. “Any time we take a form of what our body already produces, our body will decrease the production,” Dr. Kuhn said.
Taking too much serotonin by combining medications such as antidepressants, migraine medications and melatonin can lead to a serious drug reaction. Mild symptoms include shivering and diarrhea, while a more severe reaction can lead to muscle rigidity, fever, seizures and even death if not treated.
Melatonin is safe and causes no important behavioral changes. A few children who take it complain of daytime tiredness and sleepiness. Melatonin does not cause increased aggression, inattention, or hyperactivity. Since it is not a strong hypnotic, there is no risk of dependence or addiction.
Magnesium. Magnesium is a mineral that is essential to the body. Alongside other benefits, magnesium can aid sleep and promote feelings of calm. You can find magnesium supplements in many child-friendly forms, like flavored beverage mixes and gummies.
“In theory, melatonin could affect that.” A 2021 study of melatonin in children with autism found no negative impact on hormonal development over the course of two years. In a longer-term study of young adults who took melatonin for an average of about seven years, some participants reported delayed puberty.
However, in the UK, Melatonin is not authorised to be sold without a prescription. This means that it's illegal to sell it in health food shops as Melatonin supplements, like Melatonin gummies. Any sale of Melatonin without a doctor's prescription is illegal in the UK because it's a prescription-only medicine.
Conclusion. In children with ADHD with sleep problems after receiving MPH treatment, melatonin may be an effective and safe treatment, irrespective of gender, age and comorbidities.
Melatonin stimulates growth hormone secretion through pathways other than the growth hormone-releasing hormone. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf).
Chamomile. Chamomile has mild sedative effects because it binds to benzodiazepine receptors in the brain, which may be why it tends to be effective as a mild tranquilizer and natural sleeping remedy. Chamomile can be prepared as a herbal tea, or its oil can be used in aromatherapy.
Avoid eating or snacking two or three hours before bedtime.
Digestion, especially of foods containing caffeine or sugar, can keep your child up. If he insists on snacking, give him warm milk, saltines, or a little turkey, which has the natural sleep-inducing chemical tryptophan.
Magnesium. Magnesium is a naturally occurring mineral and an essential nutrient. Magnesium has a calming effect on the nervous system and may help to promote restful sleep. A good dosage for most children ages 2 to 8 year old is 100 mg of magnesium at bedtime.
Recent studies have implicated abnormalities in melatonin physiology and the circadian rhythm in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). These physiological abnormalities include lower nighttime melatonin or melatonin metabolite concentrations in ASD compared to controls.
In general, when used properly, melatonin seems to have relatively few side effects in children, most of them minor, such as headaches, increased bedwetting, nightmares, dizziness, mood changes, and morning grogginess, all of which disappear with discontinuation.
Less common side effects can include abdominal pain, mild anxiety, irritability, confusion and feelings of depression. It is not known how common or severe these side effects might be in children. Another concern about using melatonin for children is that its effects on the body go beyond sleep.
In Ireland, Melatonin is classified as a medicine and because not enough independent testing has been done on it to satisfy the Irish Medicines Boards - the statutory independent body which licenses such things - it has not been authorised for sale here.
Both Dr. Peters-Mathews and Dr. Malow said they believe melatonin is generally safe to take every night, but large studies are needed to determine whether it's effective and safe for all forms of insomnia and particularly for long-term use.
Melatonin is possibly safe when taken long-term. It's been used safely for up to 2 years. But it can cause some side effects including headache, sleepiness, dizziness, and nausea. Don't drive or use machinery for 4-5 hours after taking melatonin.
Magnesium supplements are perhaps one of the most popular melatonin alternatives; for good reason. Magnesium is an essential trace mineral found in various amounts in many foods. As a dietary mineral, its key role is in enzyme reactions.
As many as 25 percent of children and adolescents have problems falling (and staying) asleep. While melatonin can help some children fall asleep, it doesn't typically help a child who wakes up frequently in the middle of the night.