Study Links Children’s Melatonin Use to Reduced REM Sleep and Developmental Risks

In a new study of 684 children, researchers used overnight polysomnography to assess how melatonin supplementation influences sleep architecture. The data showed that kids taking melatonin experienced a reduction in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep compared with peers who did not use the supplement. Because REM sleep is linked to memory formation, learning capacity, and emotional development, experts caution that long-term use may have developmental consequences.

The study also noted that melatonin doses delivered to children can range from 74% to nearly 3.5 times the labeled amount, reflecting the lack of FDA oversight for supplements. Dr. Daniel Bigman, a child-adolescent psychiatrist at Northwell’s Zucker Hillside Hospital and Cohen Children’s Medical Center, advises reserving melatonin for children with confirmed circadian-rhythm disorders and using the lowest effective dose timed several hours before bedtime. He emphasizes that proper sleep hygiene—consistent bedtime routines, screen limits, a dark quiet room, and healthy lifestyle habits—should be the first line of treatment.