The Growing Trend of Melatonin Use in Australian Children: A Closer Look
The use of melatonin supplements for children, particularly in the form of palatable gummies, is a topic generating increasing discussion among parents and health professionals alike. While widely available over-the-counter in some countries, including the United States, melatonin is a prescription-only medication in the UK, and its availability and regulation in Australia also warrant careful consideration. For many parents, these sweet-tasting supplements are seen as a simple solution to common childhood sleep disturbances, from restless nights to managing the challenges of long-haul travel.
Kim Daniels, a mother from London, shared her experience of administering 1mg melatonin gummies to her six-year-old. “I can’t imagine it lasts more than a couple of hours,” she commented, highlighting the perceived short duration of the supplement’s effect. Originally from the US, where melatonin is readily available as a dietary supplement and often marketed with child-friendly packaging and shapes, Daniels was initially more comfortable using it with her children than her British friends. However, she notes a growing trend, with many of her friends now seeking her out to purchase it for them during her trips back to America.
Daniels views melatonin as an invaluable tool for managing jet lag, particularly when her daughter travels back to the US a couple of times a year. “Giving her daughter a 1mg gummy for a few nights, either side of their trips, helps her to get to sleep. And then once she is asleep, she stays asleep, which is a great thing,” she explained. She also admits to using it on other occasions throughout the year when her daughter struggles to fall asleep, referring to it as her “night-time vitamin.” The success she’s experienced has led her to act as an informal procurement agent for friends, joking, “I’m not a drug mule,” but acknowledging that her US trips often involve bringing back larger quantities to share. She describes it as “a tool and sometimes it’s a really, really useful one.”
Understanding Melatonin and its Role in Sleep
Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone produced by the pineal gland in the brain. Its primary function is to regulate the body’s circadian rhythm, the internal biological clock that dictates our sleep-wake cycles. Melatonin levels typically rise in the evening, signalling to the body that it’s time to wind down and prepare for sleep.
In the UK, where melatonin is a prescription-only medication, it is generally prescribed for short-term management of insomnia. However, its use in children often extends to those with neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD or autism, where sleep difficulties are prevalent. Studies suggest that a significant percentage of children with these conditions struggle with sleep. Melatonin may be prescribed to address naturally lower levels of the hormone or to counteract delayed sleep phases, where the body’s natural melatonin production kicks in later than usual. Data from the NHS in the UK indicates a substantial increase in melatonin prescriptions for children, rising by 245 per cent since 2015.
Safety Concerns and Limited Research
Despite its growing popularity, the scientific research into the safety and long-term effects of synthetic melatonin in children remains significantly limited. Dr. Neil Stanley, a renowned sleep consultant and former director of sleep research at the University of Surrey, expressed concerns regarding the available data. He pointed to a 2024 study by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which analysed 110 melatonin supplements marketed for children. This study revealed alarming discrepancies, with some products containing doses up to 667 per cent higher than what was stated on the label.
This lack of stringent regulation and potential for inaccurate dosing has led to melatonin being the most commonly overdosed substance among infants and young children presenting at US emergency departments. Between 2009 and 2020, there was a 420 per cent surge in such visits. Furthermore, since 2015, seven infant melatonin-related deaths have been investigated, including that of a two-month-old baby.
Dr. Stanley suggests that the increasing prevalence of melatonin use stems from a perception of it being an “easy way out,” allowing parents to avoid addressing the underlying causes of their child’s sleep issues. “Give the child a gummy and hope that the situation resolves itself,” he stated. He emphasised the absence of long-term data on its effects in children, while acknowledging known side effects such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, and night sweats. A 2023 review published in The Lancet echoed these concerns, concluding that the “major gap of knowledge on safety calls for caution against complacent use of melatonin in children and adolescents.”
Parental Perceptions vs. Expert Advice
Many parents, like Becca Emery, who has been giving her seven-year-old son melatonin gummies since he was four during visits to family in the US, perceive the UK’s strict regulations as being “behind the curve” rather than indicative of a genuine danger. “We’re very strict on it in the UK, but they’re more lenient in other countries. So in my reasoning, I think: it can’t be that awful,” she reasoned, noting that her stepfather takes a tablet nightly.
However, Dr. Stanley strongly advises against this line of reasoning. He draws a parallel to the availability of handguns in the US, stating, “Saying you can go to America and you can buy melatonin over the counter so it must be safe” is a flawed argument, as it simply reflects differing legal frameworks, not inherent safety. In the UK, the illegal sale or distribution of melatonin has even led to police investigations for mothers who have publicly discussed using gummies for their children.
Navigating the Risks: Overdose and Accidental Ingestion
The alarming rates of accidental overdose in the US raise concerns among UK parents about the potential for their children to access and consume these “sleep sweeties” in excessive amounts. Daniels acknowledged this risk, saying, “Kids are kids: if they see something that looks like a sweetie, they’re going to eat it. And I think that is a real risk, but our daughter knows that it would make her sick if you had more than one of these.”
Both Daniels and Emery express confidence in their ability to mitigate this risk through open communication with their children, the use of childproof packaging, and storing the gummies out of reach. They compare keeping melatonin gummies in the bathroom to having common medications like Calpol or Piriton readily available, noting that the use of Calpol (containing paracetamol) as a sleep aid by friends often goes unquestioned.
Emery describes the gummies as a “real game-changer” for her son, although she harbours concerns about potential long-term effects on his natural melatonin production. Not all experiences have been positive; one friend found that the gummies induced nightmares in her son and immediately discontinued their use. Despite potential risks, for families like Daniels’s, the relief and improved sleep provided by melatonin make it a worthwhile intervention.
