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Is synthetic melatonin a quick fix for restless children? Probably not.
In an interview withParents, Dr. Judith Owens, director of theSleep Center at Boston Children’s Hospital, advised on what to expect — and what to be cautious of — before adding the sleep aid to your kids’ nighttime routine.
Ahead of considering the risks, it’s importantto understand the sleep cycleand how melatonin will change it. Here’s Dr. Owens’ breakdown: Our brain naturally releases melatonin when it gets dark outside and stops producing it in the morning, as the sun rises.
Synthetic melatonin — which can be found in certain gummies, and which research shows is best for children who have ADHD, autism or other neurodevelopmental disorders — speeds up the process. According toParents, most children and adults feel tired 30 minutes after taking the drug.
Still, Dr. Owens warns parents to proceed with caution before administering a melatonin-containing gummy or other similar sleep aid to their child, because “melatonin is a drug and should be seen as that.”
“It shouldn’t be used as a substitutefor good sleep habits, likemaintaining a bedtime routine, especially if your child doesn’t have a diagnosed sleep problem,” she toldParents.
Child sleeping.Getty
Mom and child sleeping.Getty
According toParents, “researchers still don’t know the long-term side effects of taking any amount of melatonin — even on an “as-needed basis.”
But Dr. Owens can confirm that the labels on some melatonin brands are completely unreliable. In fact, a 2017 study published in theJournal of Clinical Sleep Medicinefound that some chewable tablets contained almost 9 milligrams of melatonin when they were supposed to contain just 1.5 milligrams.
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Another thing to keep in mind is the importance of timing.
Dr. Owens saysthat, although tempting, parents should refrain from giving their kids melatonin if they wake up in the middle of the night. It might be a temporary solution,but it will disrupt their sleep cyclefor several days to come.
Instead of immediately reaching for melatonin, try unplugging the electronics about an hour before bed, as research has shown that blue light from smartphones and other devices interrupts the sleep cycle.
source: people.com
