Michael Toce in the Division of Emergency Medicine, who specializes in toxicology and was a co-investigator on the CDC study. Judith Owens, co-director of the Sleep Center at Boston Children’s Hospital, and Dr.
It found an alarming six-fold increase in the past decade in the number of children and teens reported to poison control centers for melatonin ingestion. But is it really beneficial, and can your child take it safely? A recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) raises some concerns. Perhaps your pediatrician has recommended it. You’ve heard melatonin - an over-the-counter hormone supplement - can help with insomnia. Illustration: Sebastian Stankiewicz/Boston Children's Hospital)
Despite a recent alarm about accidental ingestions, melatonin is probably safe when used appropriately, at the correct dose for age, and in consultation with a health care provider.
