Norton Children’s addresses the rise in melatonin use among kids
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - Doctors are worried that more parents are turning to an over-the-counter sleep aid for kids.
A recent study found nearly one in five school-age children take melatonin daily. Doctors warn this shouldn’t be a parent’s first choice to get their kids to go to sleep.
Melatonin is sold as a dietary supplement and isn’t regulated by the same standard as medication. Researchers have found dosage amounts of over-the-counter melatonin can vary. In some cases, they can contain a higher dose than what’s listed on the label.
In 2020, the Centers for Disease Control said melatonin became the most frequently ingested substance among children reported to poison control.
Norton Children’s sleep medicine doctors recommend parents should first try to adjust behaviors at home to promote good sleep.
“Around 30 to 45 minutes before going to bed, parents should turn off all their kids’ devices,” Dr. Egambaram Senthilvel, Norton Children’s Sleep Medicine, said. “A simple thing like taking a shower, brushing teeth, changing to PJs, reading a store are the kinds of things that should be strongly implemented.”
If those changes don’t help, parents are encouraged to speak with their child’s pediatrician before turning to melatonin.
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