How Much Melatonin Is Safe For Kids? The Proper Dosage For Your Child

Quick Health Scoop

• Melatonin is a hormone that the body naturally produces.
• Melatonin helps regulate your circadian rhythm—your internal clock that regulates the sleep/wake cycle.^†
• Melatonin is a 100% drug-free occasional sleep supplement and can help you fall asleep faster and supports restful sleep.^†
• The proper melatonin dosage depends on your age and specific sleep difficulties.^†

When it's time to start your child’s bedtime routine, you might dim the lights, read a book, give a big hug and say goodnight—all cues that it’s time for your little one to fall asleep. But what if they occasionally struggle to fall asleep? You might be considering giving them melatonin, a 100% drug-free sleep aid. After all, plenty of adults turn to melatonin supplements to help their occasional sleeplessness. If you are considering this for your little one, you are likely wondering, is melatonin safe for kids? If so, what’s the right melatonin dosage for children with occasional sleep difficulties? Should they take the same melatonin sleep aid made for adults, or is there a children's melatonin?

What Exactly Is Melatonin?

Your body naturally produces melatonin, a hormone secreted by an area in the brain called the pineal gland, that plays a key role in regulating the body’s sleep/wake cycle.¹ The brain increases the production of melatonin levels when it's dark and decreases its melatonin production when it's light. That explains why being exposed to blue light in the evening (such as looking at a tablet, tv or smartphone) can inhibit the production of melatonin² It is best to limit exposure to blue light at least 30 minutes before bedtime.

Learn More: All Your Melatonin FAQs Answered

Is Melatonin Safe For Kids?

While plenty of studies shows that melatonin is safe for adults to take on a short-term basis, the safety of long-term use isn’t quite clear. And not much research has been done on whether it’s safe for children to take. However, recently, there has been some promising research showing that short-term use of melatonin is effective and well-tolerated in to ease the process of falling asleep for children and adolescents.³  The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that melatonin should only be used after talking with your child’s pediatrician and after using already established healthy sleep habits and routines that don’t include supplements.⁴

Learn More: What Foods Help You Sleep?

What Is the Proper Melatonin Dosage For Kids?

If you’re considering giving your child a sleep aid, you might be asking yourself, “How much melatonin can a child take?” You might also be confused about the right melatonin dosage for children. The best plan is to seek medical advice from your child’s pediatrician about using melatonin as an occasional sleep aid for your child. If you’ve gotten the green light, then talk with the pediatrician about the proper melatonin dose.^†

In fact, giving kids melatonin can be a challenge, as dosing and timing really depend on your child’s age and/or weight. For example, Boston Children’s Hospital recommends that, generally speaking, melatonin shouldn’t be given to typically developing children under age three, since sleep difficulties at this age are almost always behavioral in nature.⁵

A 2014 study recommends melatonin doses of one milligram for kids and teens. According to the study, children less than 88 pounds should take a maximum dosage of three milligrams, and children weighing more than 88 pounds should take a maximum dosage of five milligrams.⁶ The study also said that melatonin reduces the time it takes to fall asleep and increases total sleep time, but it doesn’t reduce night awakenings.

Melatonin Dosage by Weight for a Child

Your best bet? Speak to your child’s pediatrician first about your concerns regarding your child’s occasional sleep difficulties and using melatonin.^† If you get the thumbs up then start with the lowest dosage. The general advice is to take melatonin 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime. In doing so, many children will respond to a lower dose (0.5 mg or 1 mg), according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. And most children who do benefit from melatonin don't need any more than 3 to 6 mg.⁴

What Are Melatonin’s Side Effects On Kids?

Potential, though mild, side effects of melatonin use in children include agitation, headache, nausea, dizziness and  drowsiness.  While it is not known for sure and more research on the long term use of melatonin in children is needed, it’s important to remember that melatonin is a hormone, and, as such, there is a possibility that it may affect hormonal development, including puberty and menstrual cycles.²

The Bottom Line

Your healthy child needs good sleep. If instilling healthy sleep habits and routines is not enough, Melatonin might benefit your child in occasional sleeplessness especially when it’s used in combination with behavioral interventions and healthy sleep practices to support a normal circadian rhythm.^5†

Most importantly, talk with your child’s pediatrician before giving them a melatonin supplement to make sure it’s right for them, to understand the proper dosage, and to rule out any underlying health issues.

Continue to check back on the Nature Made blog for the latest science-backed articles to help you take ownership of your health.

† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

References

1. Mayo Clinic. “Melatonin.” March 30, 2018. Accessed on: May 5, 2022. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-melatonin/art-20363071
2. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. “Melatonin: What You Need to Know.” 2019. Accessed on: May 4, 2022 . https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/melatonin-what-you-need-to-know
3. National Science Sleep. “Could long-term administration of melatonin to prepubertal children affect timing of puberty? A clinician’s perspective.” January 31, 2019. Accessed on Mat 16, 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6362935/
4. American Academy of Pediatrics. “Melatonin and Children’s Sleep.” January 2, 2020. Accessed on: May 4, 2022. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/sleep/Pages/Melatonin-and-Childrens-Sleep.aspx
5. Boston Children’s Hospital. “Five things to know about melatonin for kids.” May 20, 2019. Accessed on:May 4, 2022. https://discoveries.childrenshospital.org/melatonin-for-children/
6. European Journal of Pediatric Neurology. “Current role of melatonin in pediatric neurology: clinical recommendations.” 2014. Accessed on:May 4, 2022. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25553845/ (Full text: https://iris.uniroma1.it/retrieve/handle/11573/764521/66750/Bruni_Current-role%20_2015.pdf)