Inside Health Is it safe to give kids melatonin?
Aug 19, 2025
In this engaging conversation, Paul Gringras, a leading expert in children's sleep medicine, discusses the increasing trend of melatonin use among children and the limited research on its long-term effects. He delves into the benefits and risks of this sleep aid, particularly for those with ADHD and autism. The dialogue also uncovers community support for families struggling with sleep issues and tackles the intriguing balance of AI in healthcare, questioning its impact on patient care. Plus, a surprising look into the myths surrounding placenta consumption highlights the need for informed choices.
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Founder’s Personal Sleep Struggle
- Vicki Beevers founded The Sleep Charity after her son never slept and she received no effective support.
- She was prescribed antidepressants while the core issue—child sleep—went unaddressed for years.
Long-Term Safety Data Is Limited
- Long-term safety data in children is limited to about three years in autistic children and showed no effect on puberty or growth.
- Rare harms might only appear after many years or in large populations, so caution is warranted.
Availability Drives Use Patterns
- The US is an outlier where melatonin is sold as a supplement and widely available over the counter.
- That accessibility contributes to more unsupervised use, including in very young infants.