Melatonin is a natural hormone which is produced by the body in order to effectively govern and monitor the wake-sleep cycle, otherwise known as the 'biological clock'. While adults often complain about having trouble falling asleep, the occurrence of sleep problems in childhood is a common phenomenon which may be caused by pharmacological factors such as the consumption of stimulating medications, neurodevelopment delays or behavioral challenges such as autism spectrum disorders.

Melatonin is also available on the market as a supplement and parents that report sleep problems with their children often administer it upon a pediatrician's recommendation or on their own accord. While the supplement is known to be an effective method for managing sleep disorders such as insomnia, its prolonged usage in an unsupervised manner is concerning. This guide provides information on Melatonin dose for infants, in addition to the precautions that parents must adhere to before opting for this sleep aid.

How to Use Melatonin for Childhood Sleep Disorders?

According to research, the intake of Melatonin by children is safe. Conclusions from studies related to this subject have found no evidence of negative results caused by Melatonin consumption on a sample of children with insomnia and ADHD. However, it is important to abide by the clinical guidelines pertaining to dosage and timings which are explored below when administering a Melatonin supplement on your child. For better dosage suggestions, seeking the assistance of a doctor is highly recommended.

What is the Recommended Dosage of Melatonin?

The clinical recommendations presented in a chart of Melatonin dose published in the European Journal of Pediatric Neurology suggest starting out with low doses of the supplement which stand at 0.2 to 0.5 mg. Moreover, the doses must be increased by 0.2 to 0.5 mg on a weekly basis as per requirement until the expected results are observed. However, if no changes are noted within a week then the dose must be augmented by 1 mg every week until results surface. Once 1 mg proves to be effective, the dose should be lowered accordingly.

• Maximum Dosage: It is important to consider Melatonin dose by weight when considering the maximum limits. For a child that weighs less than 40 kg, the dose must not exceed 3 mg. Moreover, in the case of children that weigh more than 40 kg; the dose must stay within the limit of 5 mg.

• Minimum Effective Dosage: As noted by Dr. Craig Canapari, the minimum effective dosage of Melatonin stands at 0.05mg/kg of the child's weight.

• Timings for Dosage Administration: From a general perspective, timelines for treatment should not be below 1 month.

• Duration of Treatment: The supplement must be administered 3 to 4 hours prior to the child's bedtime.

Is there any variation in generally recommended doses of Melatonin?

Different sources may provide you varied Melatonin dose for infants. Generally speaking, the suggested doses for Melatonin are open to question, with Dr. Craig Canapari advising parents to start at 0.5 to 1 mg of the supplement and gradually elevating the dosage levels. Accordingly, MomJunction recommends a dosage of 0.5 mg if Melatonin is administered without the supervision of a doctor and a dosage between 0.5 and 0.6 otherwise. Livestrong suggests not exceeding 0.3 mg as a recommended dosage guideline.

It is important to exercise precaution before administering Melatonin on children to ensure that its consumption does not have any negative influences on their health and well-being.

Are Melatonin Supplements Safe?

As noted previously, oral intake of Melatonin in recommended doses is considered to be a safe option for combating sleep disorders in children. Nonetheless, the following side effects are associated with its consumption:

• Headache
• Bedwetting
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Nausea

In some children, the side effects of Melatonin can present themselves in terms of crankiness, mild anxiety, stomach discomfort, hypotension, confusion, depressed mood, and disorientation. However, the onset of these signs is less common.

If your child has been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease or is taking certain medications for a pre-existing health condition which may pose a problem when taken in combination with Melatonin supplements, it is important to seek the assistance of a medical professional to confirm whether this treatment should be adopted.

What Other Factors Should Be Kept in Mind before Administering Melatonin on Children?

The capacity of a child's body to absorb Melatonin varies on a case to case basis, which makes it important to seek a doctor's advice when using this supplement. Furthermore, the concentration of Melatonin in different supplements can vary anywhere from a range of -83% to +478%. Since the FDA classifies Melatonin as a food supplement the regulatory mechanisms which govern its production are less rigid, which may raise concerns with reference to label claims. This is precisely why it is important for manufacturers to implement stricter control on production standards in order to enhance patients' and clinicians' level of trust in the product and brand. Even though the treatment has proven to be effective and safe for successfully managing sleep disorders, parents must understand that it is not an alternative for good sleep hygiene.

Promoting Sleep Wellness with Melatonin 'The Right Way'

A chart of Melatonin dose for infants acts as a guiding principle for parents wishing to administer the supplement on their children without professional supervision. Nonetheless, it is always a good decision to consult with a doctor about the child's sleep problems in order to identify its causes and get the best treatment tools possible.

Would you like to know more about Melatonin usage for your child? Check out this informative video by Dr. Craig Canapari.