Child Melatonin Use Rising Without Efficacy Data: Study

Researchers are calling for more studies on the effects of melatonin on young and neurotypical children, following spikes in use among those two groups.

A new study warns that as melatonin becomes an increasingly popular sleep aid for children under the age of 6, little is known about its safety profile for that age group.

According to findings published in the journal JAMA Network Open on January 2, melatonin prescriptions for children under the age of 6 have increased in some cases by up to 500%, despite a lack of scientific data on potential side effects.

Melatonin Dangers

Melatonin is a natural hormone made by the body that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and signals sleepiness. It is widely available as over the counter (OTC) dietary supplements and via prescription from doctors.

Prescription and OTC melatonin are often given to adults and teens to treat insomnia, delayed sleep problems and anxiety. However, prior studies have warned of various health effects melatonin may pose. Research published in November 2025 indicated adults taking melatonin longer than one year had a 90% increased risk of suffering heart failure.

Some studies have suggested that melatonin use may also pose serious health risks for children. Research published in 2015 linked pediatric melatonin use to an increased risk of cardiovascular, immune and metabolic problems. More recently, a 2024 study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that more than 11,000 children were treated in emergency rooms for accidental melatonin ingestion. According to the CDC, melatonin poisonings among young children and infants have risen by more than 400% since 2009.

In the new study, researchers from the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City conducted a review of 19 studies published between 2000 and 2025. Led by Dr. Chelsea L. Kracht, the team reviewed melatonin use and prescribing practices among children under 6 years old.

The data indicates melatonin prescribing practices increased over the past two decades, as well as extended use of melatonin and overdoses in young children. In some studies, melatonin prescribing increased by up to 500%. Other studies concluded that 50% of young children under the age of 6 had prescriptions for melatonin that were being refilled regularly.

Three studies concluded melatonin poisonings and ER visits from unsupervised ingestions doubled from 2018 to 2022. According to the CDC study, the number of poison center calls for melatonin exposure among children skyrocketed by 530% from 2012 to 2021. The number of related ER visits for melatonin ingestion among infants and children has also increased by 420% since 2009.

However, five international trials indicated young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) fell asleep faster after using melatonin. The researchers noted that none of the studies examined how effective melatonin was on neurotypical children.

Overall, researchers concluded that young children who were prescribed melatonin experienced improved sleep, shorter time to fall asleep, and their total sleep time also increased by one hour. However, melatonin practices in young children and use beyond clinical recommendations was often seen.

Melatonin Overdose

Melatonin is the leading cause of unsupervised medication exposure and overdose in ERs for young children, and the research team determined their study’s findings highlight a need to identify strategies to prevent and reduce melatonin use in that age group, as well as improve parent and doctor adherence to safe melatonin use.

The researchers noted that while most studies have documented the use of melatonin in children older than 7 years old with neurological conditions like ASD, few have examined use among young children. As a result, they called for more research into young children and neurotypical children, two groups that have been increasingly given melatonin in recent years.

Additionally, the team noted that parents can help with other behavioral sleep practices, like reducing nighttime screen use and follow-ups for neurological conditions, to help improve sleep habits without melatonin use.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine encourages parents to seek medical advice before giving melatonin to children.

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