1 in 5 US kids given melatonin as sleep aid

American families are relying heavily on melatonin supplements as a sleep aid for their kids. New research published this month shows that 1 in 5 children under the age of 14 and 18% of children ages 5 to 9 are taking it regularly.

This insight comes after the American Academy of Sleep Medicine issued a health advisory last year, urging parents to speak with their child’s pediatrician before starting long-term melatonin use.

It also comes after evidence released in April by the Journal of the American Medical Association showed mislabeled melatonin levels in 25 gummy products. Some products were found to contain over 300% of the amount listed on the bottle. However, the Council for Responsible Nutrition dismissed the findings, saying supplement companies go to great lengths to ensure safety and accuracy of labels.

Melatonin, a hormone produced in the brain that regulates a person’s sleep cycle, is one of the most common supplements children consume in the U.S., according to Harvard Health.

Melatonin may be beneficial for some children who have difficulty falling asleep, but it is a shortterm solution that should be coupled with a behavioral plan to get a child better sleep, the Boston Children’s Hospital advises. That said, it is still considered safe when used appropriately and in consultation with a health care provider.

Boston Children’s Hospital advises parents with healthy, typically developing children under age 3 to avoid melatonin use as difficulties sleeping are “almost always behavioral in nature.” For children ages 3 to 5, a pediatrician should be consulted.