Who knew getting your kids on a consistent sleep schedule would be so difficult? From time changes to travel plans, there seem to be sleep disturbances around every corner. If your little one is having a hard time getting to sleep at their usual time, you may find yourself wondering if melatonin can help ease the transition and get everyone back on track.

Not all experts agree on whether or not melatonin is safe for kids. So it’s important to understand how the natural supplement works and to talk to your pediatrician or family medical provider before giving your child any supplement or over-the-counter medications to help them sleep.

What Is Melatonin?

Melatonin is a popular over-the-counter sleep aid. It’s considered a natural supplement because melatonin is produced by your body as part of your sleep-wake cycle, known as the circadian rhythm.

Your pineal gland releases melatonin, a hormone, into your bloodstream around dusk. The hormone acts as a messenger, announcing to your brain and body: “Night is coming! Prepare for sleep!”

As night progresses, the amount of melatonin your pineal gland produces decreases. When dawn hits—and daylight shines on your closed eyelids—your pineal gland hits the brakes and ceases melatonin production completely. The “sleep signals” stop and your body starts the process of waking.

In his book, Why We Sleep, sleep expert and Professor of Neuroscience Matthew Walker, Ph.D., says that melatonin’s role is to influence the timing of sleep, but it does not play a role in generating sleep. 

Walker compares the hormone to a timing official at a 100-meter race; it gathers together all of the brain regions and processes responsible for sleep and then sends them all off toward the finish line at the right time.