Can we give melatonin to a 2 1/2 year old child who has difficulty falling asleep?

Question

My daughter takes a long time to fall asleep at night... she is tired but can't fall asleep quickly. For the afternoon nap, she falls asleep in 5-10 minutes maximum. She weighs 32 lbs. Thank you very much for the advice, I will try to implement it! For my melatonin, I saw that there was some in liquid (it would surely be easier for my daughter). Is 1 ml equivalent to 1 mg? Thank you!

Alexandre Chagnon · Accepted Answer

Hello, As there is not much data for melatonin in children of this age, it is best to try non-pharmacological techniques first to regulate his sleep. Here are some helpful tips and tricks: Avoid naps during the day while his sleep cycle regulates Eat dinner at least 2 hours before bedtime Avoid screen light (TV, phone, etc.) at least 1 hour before bedtime Promote regular bedtime and wake-up times Sleep the child in his or her own bed Promote a quiet, low-light environment 30 minutes before bedtime; maintain a comfortable temperature in the home. On the other hand, there is a study on melatonin that included children with autism ages 2 to 18. So we have at least one study that would support use in a 2 1/2 year old. So you could start with a 1 mg dose 30-60 min before bedtime if non-pharmacological measures don't work. Use for more than 4 weeks without consulting a physician is not recommended. So if the problem persists despite melatonin, I would say see a doctor. Ayoub Bouchama, pharmacy student Supervised by Alexandre Chagnon, pharmacist It depends on the concentration of your bottle. There are different formulations: oral liquid 5mg/ml: you will need to give 0.2ml oral liquid 3mg/ml: you will need to give 0.3ml oral liquid 3mg/5ml: you will need to give 1.7ml (favor this one if you don't have a dropper or 1ml syringe) Happy day! 🙂