Is Melatonin safe for kids?

I know this should go on parenting, but lately this is the only board with any traffic.

DD (9 years old) has been having horrible sleep lately. I know it's due to her whole routine and schedule being turned upside down.

She can't fall asleep at night. She will go to bed and still be lying there awake an hour later.
She will come out of her room and if I'm still up watching TV, I'll let her lay on the couch and fall asleep there- which isn't ideal because then I have to drag her to bed later.
If I'm already in bed, she will come in our room and just sleep on the floor.

She stresses out about not being able to fall asleep, which only makes it worse.

I tried to making her go to bed earlier, taking away electronics a few hours before bed, tried waking her up earlier, having her do more exercise/outdoor activities to tire her out, nothing seems to be helping.

I feel like at this point it's almost psychological- like she worries about not being able to sleep and that in turn keeps her awake.

I used to take Melatonin nightly and it helped- but I'm not sure it's a great idea for kids. I know they make kid safe brands- has anyone tried it?
I just want to have her get back into a normal sleep routine.

Is Melatonin safe for kids?

It seems that the stress of what’s going on, def have disrupted her sleep. I’d give melatonin but it wouldn’t be my first choice. I’d give it to her sporadically and not every night so the body doesn’t stop producing its own melatonin. Some of the things I’d try before giving melatonin are diffusing lavender and chamomile EOs, spray a myst of these EOs on her pillow, have her drink some hot milk before bed (cow, goat, sheep), use magnesium lotion/spray (it seems that magnesium it’s better absorbed by the body when put on skin instead of digested).

Message edited 4/29/2020 7:46:39 AM.

Is Melatonin safe for kids?

Not sure if this would be a good idea or not, but if you think it's mostly psychological at this point, could you give her some kind of "placebo" - something that she thinks is to help her sleep? At least to start off with and see if it helps (even something like a warm cup of milk - isn't that supposed to be something to help with sleep?)

Re: Is Melatonin safe for kids?

Is Melatonin safe for kids?

My 11 year old niece takes a Melatonin gummy several nights a week to help with sleep. It works.

Is Melatonin safe for kids?

I've read that it isn't good but, I have many friends who give it to their children and it doesn't seem to have side effects.

Re: Is Melatonin safe for kids?

I think in general it isn't good for anyone to take on a regular basis because I guess your body won't produce its own anymore and then you're stuck taking it.
I'm thinking of maybe trying it for a day or so and cycling on/off

I'll try the placebo thing first though...LOL

Maybe give her a gummy bear- she knows I take CBD gummy bears to sleep... maybe I'll get a Haribo gummy bear and say I found a kid's version.
LOL

Is Melatonin safe for kids?

DD (10) has been struggling with sleeping too. I spoke with her therapist, who said to give melatonin (DH & I have both take it sporadically). I give her 1/2 and not every night. I gave it for 3 nights and she was better. the therapist said it's not just physical activity- kids are missing the emotional/mental stimulation from interacting with other kids and it's hard to turn their brains off without that now.

Re: Is Melatonin safe for kids?

Re: Is Melatonin safe for kids?

Yes my son's developmental pediatrician said we could try it. She suggested the Natrol brand.

Re: Is Melatonin safe for kids?

Is Melatonin safe for kids?

I would just check with the pediatrician about the dosage...

Is Melatonin safe for kids?

My 8yo has never been great about falling asleep and this lack of routine has made it much worse. She's rarely asleep before 10 these days. What does help is letting her read until she's ready to fall asleep. She has a little rechargeable book light. Before quarantine she knew to turn it off by 9 but now I gave up giving her a time limit. Also, if she gets anxious or whatever she knows she can grab it and read a funny book to help herself relax. We're running out of books but she has a few favorite graphic novels she never gets tired of thankfully.

Re: Is Melatonin safe for kids?

Re: Is Melatonin safe for kids?