Sleep Troubles? Kids Turn to Melatonin, But Watch out for the Nightmares!

Study Reveals Soaring Melatonin Usage Among Children in the U.S.

Study finds that melatonin use is increasing among kids in the U.S.

Sleepless nights are becoming all too common for children and tweens these days. Their desperate search for a good night’s sleep has led to a surprising solution—melatonin. But beware, a recent study warns that this “magic pill” may do more harm than good to their young minds and bodies.

According to the Nov. 13 issue of the journal JAMA Pediatrics, a whopping 1 in 5 school-aged children are now gobbling up melatonin, often with the encouragement of their well-meaning parents. It seems that sleep-deprived kids and restless parents alike are desperate for a solution.

But here’s the catch—in the United States, melatonin is considered a dietary supplement and is available over the counter. That means it’s not as heavily regulated as medications, leaving the safety and effectiveness of melatonin in a murky gray area. It’s like the wild west of sleep aids!

“We hope this paper raises awareness for parents and clinicians and sounds the alarm for the scientific community,” said lead study author Lauren Hartstein, a postdoctoral fellow in the Sleep and Development Lab at the University of Colorado Boulder. It’s time to shed some light on the melatonin trend and the potential risks it poses to our little ones.

Now, before we go any further, let’s take a closer look at melatonin. This hormone is naturally produced by the pineal gland to regulate our body’s sleep-wake cycle. It’s like the conductor of our internal symphony that tells us when it’s time to catch some Z’s. In many countries, melatonin is considered a prescription-only drug. But in the U.S., it’s available in child-friendly gummies that look and taste like candy. Talk about a tempting treat!

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So just how many kids are snacking on these sleep-inducing gummies? Brace yourselves, because the numbers are shocking. Researchers surveyed about 1,000 parents in the first half of 2023 and found that nearly 19% of children ages 5 to 9 had taken melatonin in the past month. And get this—even preschoolers between the ages of 1 and 4 were jumping on the melatonin train, with nearly 6% using it regularly. Who knew toddlers needed a sleep aid?

But wait, it gets even juicier. The longer the child has been using melatonin, the higher the dosage. Preschoolers were chomping on gummies containing 0.25 milligrams (mg) to 2 mg, while preteens were indulging in up to 10 mg. It’s like a melatonin party in their little bodies! The problem is, these gummies don’t always contain accurate amounts of melatonin. It’s like playing a game of Russian roulette with your child’s sleep.

To make matters worse, some of these melatonin supplements have been found to contain other substances, like serotonin. It’s a surprise party for your child’s brain! “Parents may not actually know what they are giving to their children when administering these supplements,” warns Hartstein. You might be unknowingly slipping a serotonin supplement to your little one instead of melatonin. Yikes!

Now, here’s the real kicker—excessive melatonin use in developing children could potentially mess with their hormones and even kickstart puberty. We don’t want our little ones growing up too fast, do we? And let’s not forget the risk of overdosing on these candy-like gummies. Reports to poison control centers have skyrocketed, with a whopping 530% increase from 2012 to 2021. It’s like a melatonin epidemic!

With all this alarming information, it’s important to remember that melatonin isn’t all bad. When used under the supervision of a health expert, it can be a short-term aid for children with autism or severe sleep problems. But it should never be the go-to solution. As co-researcher Julie Boergers puts it, “Although it’s typically well-tolerated, whenever we’re using any kind of medication or supplement in a young, developing body, we want to exercise caution.” It’s all about balance, folks.

Addressing the underlying sleep issues is key. Instead of relying solely on melatonin, it’s important to dig deeper and figure out what’s causing the sleep troubles in the first place. As Hartstein wisely points out, “If this many kids are taking melatonin, that suggests there are a lot of underlying sleep issues out there that need to be addressed.” It’s time to uncover the root of the problem and give our children the sleep they truly deserve.

So, parents, let’s keep our wits about us when it comes to melatonin. It may seem like a quick fix, but we need to make sure we’re not trading a restless night for unintended consequences. After all, a good night’s sleep should be a dream come true, not a trip down the rabbit hole.

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Source: University of Colorado Boulder, news release, Nov. 13, 2023