In general, melatonin should not be given to healthy, typically developing children under age 3, as difficulties falling and staying asleep in these children are almost always behavioral in nature.

Try using these 10 tips to learn how to fight the battle… and win!

1. Set an individualized bedtime.
2. Set a wake-up time.
3. Create a consistent bedtime routine.
4. Turn off the screens at least 2 hours before bedtime.
5. Reduce stress before bedtime.
6. Create a sleep-inducing environment.
7. Keep it cool.
8. Help alleviate fears.

If your child has insomnia, here are things you can do:

1. Try to identify stressors.
2. Establish a regular bedtime routine that allows your child time to relax before the lights go out.
3. If insomnia continues, talk to your child’s doctor about ways to resolve the problem.

Most children who benefit from melatonin – even those with diagnoses of ADHD or Autism Spectrum Disorders – don’t need more than 3 to 6 mg of melatonin. Some children benefit from as little as 0.5 mg before bedtime. Younger children tend to be given 1 to 3 mg and older children/teens a little more.

Most short-term studies show that melatonin is safe with little to no side effects and may help kids fall asleep faster and sleep longer. However, its long-term use is not well studied in children. For this reason, it’s not advised to give your child melatonin unless instructed by your doctor.

Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Institutes of Health say that children should not take melatonin long-term, but neither organization defines what long-term means.

5 milligrams are enough. You should talk to your child’s doctor about their specific needs. Your doctor will want to rule out serious health problems before recommending melatonin. Your pediatrician can also help you decide what time to give your child melatonin.

How Much Melatonin Can I Give My Child? Melatonin usually comes in 3 mg or 5 mg tablets. Five milligrams is considered a relatively high dose for a young person — most children take a 3 mg or even a 1 mg dose.

Pediatricians frequently recommend melatonin for children with sleep problems, or parents might try it themselves.

Several studies have shown that melatonin affects more than sleep, including sexual development and reproduction. The hormone led to a delayed onset of puberty in several rodent and primate experiments.