Studies suggest that use of synthetic melatonin does not suppress the body’s natural production of the hormone. A bedtime dose is typically recommended for children who have difficulty falling asleep. It has both a “hypnotic” (sleepiness-inducing) effect when given in larger doses (3 or 5 mg) shortly before bedtime and a “chronobiotic” effect (shifting the body’s circadian rhythms so that sleep occurs earlier) when given in much smaller doses (½ mg) earlier in the evening. Synthetic melatonin mimics the effects of our own melatonin. In the morning and during the day, it’s largely shut off. Melatonin is normally released by the brain in the evening, stimulated by darkness. Our own melatonin helps regulate the circadian clocks that control not only our sleep/wake cycles but virtually every function of our bodies. The melatonin available over the counter at drug and health food stores is a synthetic form of a hormone our brains naturally produce to help us fall asleep. It is probably safe when used appropriately, at the correct dose for age, and in consultation with a health care provider. Their answer is: Melatonin may be beneficial for some children who have difficulty falling asleep, when the supplement is accompanied by a behavioral program to address the sleep problems. Michael Toce in the Division of Emergency Medicine, who specializes in toxicology and was a co-investigator on the CDC study. Judith Owens, co-director of the Sleep Center at Boston Children’s Hospital, and Dr. It found an alarming six-fold increase in the past decade in the number of children and teens reported to poison control centers for melatonin ingestion.

But is it really beneficial, and can your child take it safely? A recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) raises some concerns. Perhaps your pediatrician has recommended it. You’ve heard melatonin - an over-the-counter hormone supplement - can help with insomnia. Illustration: Sebastian Stankiewicz/Boston Children's Hospital) Despite a recent alarm about accidental ingestions, melatonin is probably safe when used appropriately, at the correct dose for age, and in consultation with a health care provider.

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