If your child has sleep-onset insomnia, they should take melatonin 30 minutes before bedtime. Melatonin works best if kids take it at the right time. But the doses shouldn’t exceed 10 mg per night.īefore giving melatonin to your child, it’s a good idea to discuss dose with your child’s healthcare provider. Teens may need up to 5 mg of melatonin nightly.Įxperts also point out that some children on the autism spectrum may benefit from slightly higher doses of melatonin. Older children and preteens may need 2 mg to 3 mg of melatonin nightly. Young children may need about 1 mg to 2 mg of melatonin nightly. Kids with delayed sleep phase disorder usually need very low doses: 0.2 mg to 0.5 mg of melatonin at night.įor sleep-onset insomnia, the best dose will vary by your child’s age: In general, experts recommend starting with the lowest dose possible and increasing it once a week as needed. These include things like pain from reflux, itchy skin from eczema, or coughing from asthma. Other medical conditions: Some other medical conditions may interfere with sleep. Restless leg syndrome: If your child is experiencing restless legs syndrome, they can have disrupted sleep. Some common reasons kids have trouble sleeping include:Īnxiety or depression: Many kids who worry or feel down have trouble getting to sleep at night. It’s important to figure out the cause of the issue and address it directly. Lots of things can lead to trouble sleeping. If your child is having trouble sleeping, but they don’t have one of these conditions, don’t jump to melatonin. Studies show that melatonin can help these kids sleep better. The same is true for kids who have ADHD, especially if they take stimulant medication. Neurodivergence: Kids who are on the autism spectrum can have trouble getting to sleep at night. It affects their ability to function at work, school, and in social settings. This makes them go to bed later and wake up later. Sleep-onset insomnia: This type of insomnia, which is more common in younger children, means children have trouble falling asleep (but they can stay asleep).ĭelayed sleep phase disorder: More common among teens and adults, this is a circadian rhythm disorder where someone’s sleep patterns are off by at least 2 hours. You also shouldn’t give your teen melatonin to help them fall asleep earlier in the evening.īut if your child has one of these conditions, melatonin can help: That means you shouldn’t give your kid melatonin just to promote a good night’s rest. Sleep experts agree that children shouldn’t take melatonin if they don’t have a sleep condition. Sleep conditions in kids that melatonin can treat So giving children melatonin for sleep is an “ off-label” use. It’s also important to keep in mind that the FDA has not approved melatonin for children. If they have a sleep condition that melatonin can treat (details below) So how do you use melatonin correctly? It means only giving your child melatonin: Most of the children recovered completely. That “used correctly” part is very important because a study published in June 2022 showed that accidental overdoses of melatonin in kids increased by 530% between 20. Studies show that melatonin is safe for kids and teens when used correctly. Let’s take a look at when melatonin can really help children sleep better and how to use it safely. It’s natural to wonder if melatonin is a good idea in those situations. Or maybe your teen stays up late and has trouble getting up for school. The brain naturally releases melatonin when the sun sets so people can get into “sleep mode.” Melatonin is a popular supplement because it’s a more natural sleep aid than some other options.īut is it really safe to give to kids to help them sleep? Perhaps your child is one of the many who struggles to get to sleep. Melatonin is a hormone that helps people sleep. You may have come across melatonin supplements and heard they’re a great way to make sure your child gets a good night’s rest. Sleep is important for children’s growth, health, and mental well-being.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |