After a long day of work, running errands, picking the kids up from school, dropping them off at soccer practice, picking them back up again, making dinner, then finally serving it to the family, a relaxing night of sleep doesn’t just feel well-deserved, but an absolute right!
A restless child is like a domino affect, it not only disrupts your child, their behavior and school work, but it also disrupts you.
If you think your child is alone in this circumstance, think again. About a quarter of healthy children experience insomnia, and that number triples for children with neurodevelopmental or psychiatric conditions. In reality, pediatric insomnia is quite common.
Lack of sleep can result in poor concentration, hyperactivity, irritability and anxiety--just to name a few.
So, what do you do to get your kids sleeping?
Is Melatonin for Children Safe?
There are pharmaceutical ways to help your child sleep, but if you’re like me, you want to avoid that at all costs. Luckily, melatonin has been prescribed by pediatricians for years to help promote healthy sleep cycles.
Melatonin is a naturally derived ingredient that's effective in helping kids to wind down and get ready for bed; unlike medication, you cannot overdose on it.
However, it is not intended to replace good sleep habits like bedtime routines, turning off screens or limiting sweets.
The Right Melatonin Dosage for Children
Pediatricians regularly recommend melatonin for children with sleep problems, however, the proper dosage is frequently misunderstood by many parents.
A quick Amazon search of "melatonin for kids" shows a number of products with dosages ranging up to 10mg per serving, the same amount recommended for adults.
While melatonin is safe, it is a hormone with effects throughout the body. That's why you should look for a sleep aid that's exclusively made for kids as their nutritional needs are different from adults.
If you want to end your child’s sleeplessness and try melatonin safely, check out these top Amazon recommendations: