Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2025
Human Primary Trophoblast Cell Culture Model to Study the Protective Effects of Melatonin Against Hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced Disruption
Published on: July 30, 2016
Factors contributing to U.S. parents' decisions to administer melatonin to children
Lauren E Hartstein1, Michelle M Garrison2, Daniel Lewin3
1Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA.
Insights
Parents often give children melatonin for sleep issues, but many start without medical advice. Discontinuation occurs due to side effects or perceived ineffectiveness, highlighting a need for better guidance on pediatric melatonin use.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric sleep medicine
- Pharmacology
- Parental health decision-making
Background:
- Pediatric melatonin use is rising in the U.S.
- Limited data exists on melatonin's efficacy and long-term safety in children.
- Understanding parental motivations for melatonin use is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate factors influencing parents' decisions to administer melatonin to their children.
- To identify reasons for initiating and discontinuing melatonin use in pediatric populations.
- To explore the role of healthcare providers in pediatric melatonin prescribing.
Main Methods:
- Online questionnaire administered to parents of children aged 1.0-13.9 years.
- Data collected on children's sleep patterns, melatonin use, and parental decision-making factors.
- Thematic coding used for open-ended responses regarding melatonin initiation and cessation.
Main Results:
- Common reasons for melatonin use include difficulty falling asleep (49.3%) and bedtime resistance (51.1%).
- Parents discontinued melatonin due to perceived lack of need (32.0%), side effects (9.3%), or safety concerns (13.3%).
- Many parents initiated melatonin use independently (50.0%) or based on non-professional recommendations (27.4%).
Conclusions:
- Parental decisions regarding pediatric melatonin are influenced by observed effects and personal judgment.
- A significant portion of parents initiate melatonin without consulting healthcare professionals.
- Further research and clear guidelines are needed to support informed parental decisions on children's sleep health.
Objective:
Pediatric melatonin use is increasingly prevalent in the U.S. despite limited research on its efficacy and long-term safety. The current study investigated factors contributing to parents' decisions whether to give children melatonin.
Methods:
Parents of children 1.0-13.9 years completed an online questionnaire on children's health, sleep, and melatonin use. Parents who reported giving melatonin to their child were asked open-ended follow-up questions on why their child takes melatonin and why they stopped (if applicable). Responses were assigned to categories through thematic coding.
Results:
Data were analyzed on 212 children who either consumed melatonin in the past 30 days (n = 131) or took melatonin previously (n = 81). Among children who recently took melatonin, 51.1 % exhibited bedtime resistance and 46.2 % had trouble falling asleep. Parents most commonly gave children melatonin to: help them fall asleep (49.3 %), wind down before bedtime (22.7 %), facilitate changes in their sleep routine (17.5 %), and/or change their circadian rhythm (11.4 %). Parents stopped giving melatonin because their child did not need it anymore (32.0 %), experienced negative side effects (9.3 %), and/or concerns about health and safety (13.3 %). Finally, parents initiated melatonin use on their own (50.0 %), were encouraged by a friend or family member (27.4 %), and/or followed the recommendation of a health provider (48.1 %).
Conclusions:
Parents administered melatonin to children for a number of reasons and discontinued melatonin based on their own observations of a variety of effects. Parents frequently initiated use without the recommendation of a medical professional. Further research on indications and efficacy of melatonin and wider dissemination of guidelines are needed to help parents make informed decisions regarding children's sleep health.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Management of Insomnia
01:21Factors Affecting Drug Response: Overview
01:15Chronopharmacokinetics: Circadian Rhythms and Influence on Drug Response
The time of drug administration is an important factor to consider, as it can influence the toxic dose of a drug. For example, a study conducted by Prins et al. in 1997 examined the effects of the timing of...
01:17Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
01:19Factors Affecting Drug Biotransformation: Biological
Species differences: Variations in enzyme systems across species can cause disparities in drug metabolism. For instance, humans may metabolize certain drugs faster than rodents, altering therapeutic effects.
Strain differences: Genetic variations within a species can result in differing enzyme activity, impacting drug response and toxicity. For example, some mouse strains may...
01:23Sedatives and Hypnotics: Overview
Sedative-hypnotics are categorized into barbiturates, benzodiazepines (BZDs), and non-benzodiazepines or Z-drugs. These drugs work by suppressing central nervous system activity, and this suppression is dose-dependent. Older sedative medications, like barbiturates, follow a linear curve in...