Melatonin is a natural hormone that is secreted by the pineal gland, which is a small endocrine glan...

1. Melatonin for Children
Melatonin is a natural hormone that is secreted by the pineal gland, which is a small endocrine
gland located in the brain. Melatonin helps to regulate the body's circadian rhythm. The secretion of
this hormone is a signal for the body to prepare for sleep. Its secretion is regulated by the exposure
to light. It peaks during nighttime and drops during the day. Though synthetic melatonin is believed
to be quite effective in treating sleep disturbances such as delayed sleep onset syndrome, jet lag,
etc., there's a need to address the issue of health risks. As is the case with any hormone-containing
supplement, indiscriminate use of melatonin pills should be avoided. Though melatonin supplements
are prescribed for children who have been diagnosed with disorders like Attention-deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), cerebral palsy, and autism, further studies are required to confirm
the effectiveness of melatonin as a sleep aid for children.
Sleep Disorders in Children
Insomnia, which refers to the difficulty in falling or staying asleep, could also affect children.
Delayed sleep-phase syndrome (DSPS) and behavioral insomnia of childhood are both sleep-related
conditions that could affect children. DSPS is a circadian rhythm sleep disorder wherein the onset of
sleep is later than the desired bedtime. Sleep latency, which is the time between laying down and
the onset of sleep, is longer than normal.
In case of behavioral insomnia of childhood, the affected child doesn't go to bed until parents tell
him/her to do so. At times, he/she may link certain parental activities with sleep. The child may stay
awake if his/her expectations regarding the sleep environment are not met. This type of insomnia is
called sleep-onset insomnia. Limit-setting insomnia is another type of behavioral insomnia wherein
the parents or guardians are unable to enforce proper sleep behavior. Affected children refuse to
abide by the bedtime limit set by the parents. This form of behavioral insomnia may be observed in
children affected by ADHD. Since autistic children and children who have been diagnosed with
ADHD have difficulty in falling asleep, melatonin supplements may be prescribed for them.
Is Melatonin Safe for Children?
Though several research studies have been conducted on the effects of melatonin, only a few of them
have analyzed the effects of this synthetic hormone on children. Most of the studies have been

2. conducted on the short-term use of melatonin. Research needs to be done to analyze the long-term
effects of this synthetic hormone on the body. Most of the clinical trials have focused on the effects
of the use of melatonin in children who have been affected by behavioral and developmental
disorders such as ADHD and autism spectrum disorder.
Though giving small doses of melatonin may help ease out the nighttime difficulty of putting children
affected by the aforementioned conditions to sleep, most sleep specialists refrain from prescribing
these pills for children who are younger than 10 years. Large doses are avoided. More often than
not, the dosage is in the range of 0.3 mg to 5 mg. The dosage should not be increased unless the
doctor tells you to do so.
Side Effects of Melatonin
The reason why health practitioners do not support the use of melatonin for children is due to the
lack of adequate research. Most of the trials that have been conducted involved small number of
subjects, and studied the effects of the short-term use of this synthetic hormone. Moreover, the
studies have also revealed some side effects associated with the use of melatonin in children. It has
been observed that if melatonin is given to children affected by DSPS from a young age, they may
experience vivid dreams or nightmares, drowsiness and fatigue, especially if high dosages of
melatonin are given.
Side effects of melatonin are usually associated with large doses, and have also been observed in
children affected by developmental disabilities or neurological problems. Some of the melatonin side
effects in children include headaches, dizziness, lethargy and sleepiness during the day, irritability,
mood swings, and stomach cramps. There's also a need to watch out for adverse drug interactions.
Whether melatonin should be given to children still remains a question to be answered. Though in
some cases, children with developmental disorders may have to be given melatonin, parents should
first try to establish proper sleeping patterns with the help of natural ways. Although the side effects
caused by melatonin are rare, research needs to be conducted to ascertain the effects of long-term
use of these pills. Doctors are of the opinion that a child's brain produces significant amounts of
melatonin. Since the effects of extra melatonin on a child's development are relatively unknown,
sleep specialists have cautioned against using it. If your child's sleep-wake cycle is affected, and
he/she often experiences sleep disturbances, do consult a pediatrician immediately.