The Rise of Melatonin in Children

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Melatonin is produced in your brain and it's the hormone of darkness. Many parents who are struggling with their child's sleep will tend to reach for melatonin. The problem is, because this is regulated by the FDA as a food supplement, there are very few guardrails in terms of product labeling. Craig: If you're using melatonin or any pharmaceutical, for that matter, for sleep, recognize that you should be using it as part of a package of behavioral interventions to improve your sleep.

Today Matt’s discussion with Dr. Craig Canapari continues, delving into the major changes in sleep that a child will go through from the ages of one to ten. This includes how regularity and appropriate sleep opportunities are important for getting good sleep, and potential medical issues that can arise from not getting enough sleep, such as snoring and restless leg disorder. They also discuss when during child development it can be wise to reduce napping and switch to monophasic (single nighttime) sleep bouts, and expectations around the transition from a crib to a bed, which often happens around ages 2-4 years.

Added to this is a conversation about how to deal with struggles with getting your child down for the night. One effective method is changing the *timing* of bedtime, often trying to make it a little earlier, which can result in more sleep for your child. Dr. Canapari also brings attention to the clear and significant sleep disparities that exist across socioeconomic lines in both adults and children. They emphasize the importance of paying attention to the red flags of behavioral issues, falling asleep easily, and hyperactivity which can indicate insufficient sleep.

Matt and Craig discuss the increasing use of melatonin as a sleep aid in children over the past decade and address safety concerns, highlighting that it can be an appropriate intervention if used with caution and in conjunction with a behavioral plan. Finally, Dr. Canapari reminds us that snoring in a child should not be ignored. It can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, which can be holding your child back.

Please note that Matt is not a medical doctor, and none of the content in this podcast should be considered medical advice in any way, shape, or form, nor prescriptive in any way.

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As always, if you have thoughts or feedback you’d like to share, please reach out to Matt on Instagram.

Links for Dr. Canapari:

Book: https://a.co/d/07SDrVn

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrCanapari

Web: sleek.bio/canapari

TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMemf3exT/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drcanapari/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/CraigCanapariMd/