Quick answer

NCCIH says few studies of melatonin in children exist and little is known about long-term effects, including on puberty. Reports to US poison control centers about people 19 and under rose from 8,337 in 2012 to 52,563 in 2021. Talk to your doctor before giving melatonin to a child or teen.¹

Key facts

NCCIH says there are few studies of melatonin in children, and uncertainties about the amount, timing, long-term effects and whether benefits outweigh risks.¹
Because melatonin is a hormone, it might affect puberty, menstrual cycles and prolactin, but NCCIH says this is not known for sure.¹
US poison control reports about melatonin in people 19 and under rose from 8,337 in 2012 to 52,563 in 2021, mostly children 5 and under who took it by accident.¹
A 2023 study found 22 of 25 melatonin gummy products inaccurately labeled, with 74 to 347 percent of the labeled amount.¹
A 2026 systematic review found no efficacy data for young children with typical development, and rising prescribing, long use and overdoses.²

What does NCCIH say about melatonin for children and teens?

NCCIH is open about how little is known. It says there are not many studies of melatonin in children, and that uncertainties remain about what amount to use, when to give it, the effects of long use, and whether the benefits outweigh the possible risks. It advises parents to speak with a health care provider before giving it. It also describes short-term use at normal amounts as appearing safe for most children, which is a statement about short-term use only.¹

Because melatonin is a hormone, supplements might affect hormonal development in children, including puberty, menstrual cycles and production of the hormone prolactin. NCCIH says this is not known for sure.¹

Side effects reported in children have usually been mild: drowsiness, more bedwetting or urination in the evening, headache, dizziness and agitation.¹

What do the poison control figures show?

The sharpest finding concerns accidents. NCCIH reports a CDC estimate of about 11,000 emergency department visits from 2019 to 2022 for children aged 5 and under who swallowed melatonin without supervision, and notes that many cases involved flavored products such as gummies.¹

Reports to US poison control centers about melatonin in people aged 19 and under rose from 8,337 in 2012 to 52,563 in 2021. Most calls were about children 5 and under who took it by accident at home, and most of those exposed had no symptoms, but 4,097 were hospitalized over the 10 years and 287 needed intensive care.¹

NCCIH adds that most of the hospitalizations involved teenagers who took overdoses on purpose, and that the largest increase in hospitalizations was in children 5 and under. Over-the-counter melatonin can put children and teens at risk of accidental or intentional overdose, it says, so storage matters. Anyone who thinks a child or teen has taken too much should contact poison control or a doctor right away.¹

Can the label be trusted?

NCCIH reports two studies that tested products sold in the United States. In both, the amount of melatonin often differed from the label, and in one, more than a quarter of the products also contained serotonin. That matters most for children, who weigh less than adults.¹

In a 2023 study, 22 of 25 melatonin gummy products were inaccurately labeled. One had no detectable melatonin, and the rest held 74 to 347 percent of the amount on the label.^1,3

What have systematic reviews of children found?

A 2026 systematic review of 19 articles on young children found rising prescribing, long use and overdoses in registry and poison data. Its trials included 167 young children with neurologic conditions, followed for about 13 weeks on average, and reported few adverse events. It found no efficacy data for children with typical development.²

A 2019 systematic review of 37 randomized trials found mostly mild adverse events with melatonin, such as daytime sleepiness and headache, and said there were not enough robust data to judge concerns in groups at possible risk, which it listed as pre-adolescent children and people with epilepsy or asthma.⁴

Who should ask a doctor first?

A parent considering melatonin for a child or teen should ask the pediatrician first, and should say how long the sleep problem has lasted.
A teen who takes any other medicine, or has epilepsy, should ask a doctor or pharmacist, because NCCIH advises medical supervision for people with epilepsy and those on blood thinners.¹
A household with young children should ask a pharmacist about safe storage, because most poison control calls were about children 5 and under who got into a supply at home.¹
A parent who worries that a teen may have taken melatonin on purpose to cause harm should seek urgent medical help.

Questions people ask

Is melatonin bad for teens?

NCCIH reports mostly mild side effects in children, such as drowsiness, headache and dizziness, but also rising poison control reports and hospitalizations, many in teens who took overdoses on purpose. Ask your doctor.¹

Is melatonin good for teens?

This page covers safety. NCCIH says few studies exist in children, with many uncertainties about amount, timing and long-term effects, so a parent should work with a health care provider.¹

Is melatonin OK for teens?

NCCIH describes short-term use at normal amounts as appearing safe for most children, while saying long-term effects, including on puberty, are not known. Ask your doctor first.¹

Is melatonin dangerous for teens?

The main danger the sources describe is overdose, accidental in young children and often deliberate in teens, along with gummy labels that may be wrong. Mild side effects are more common.^1,4

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Sources

This page is information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.