Short Wave Podcast Summary: "Should Kids Be Taking Melatonin?"
Introduction
In the April 29, 2025 episode of NPR's Short Wave, hosts Emily Kwong and Regina Barber delve into the increasingly popular use of melatonin supplements among children. As sleep disturbances become more prevalent in both adults and kids due to factors like screen time and stress, parents are turning to melatonin as a potential solution. This episode explores the science behind melatonin, its usage trends, safety concerns, and expert insights.
The Rise of Melatonin for Kids
Emily Kwong opens the discussion by emphasizing the critical role of sleep in children’s development:
"For kids, sleep is crucial for physical, mental, and emotional development. But there are a lot of things keeping us awake. These screens, electronics, stress." [00:16]
She introduces Michael Scholsson, a contributing editor at Undark magazine, who has investigated the surge in melatonin use:
"It's like so many parents dream, which is like, is this the answer? Is there this one gummy or this one thing that can help me get through this part of the day that can be really, really hard for parents and families?" [01:05]
Historical Context and Marketing Strategies
Scholsson traces the popularity of melatonin back to the 1990s, coinciding with deregulation of supplements in the United States. This deregulation allowed for easier marketing and sales, contributing to melatonin becoming a "new hot thing."
"You could find these articles where people are like, whoa, melatonin is the new hot thing. What do we make of it?" [05:09]
Emily notes the attractive packaging of melatonin products:
"A lot of melatonin packaging is just very friendly looking. I mean, it's like these big bottles and the melatonin supplements come in sometimes very yummy flavors, sometimes they're gummies." [05:56]
Scholsson agrees, highlighting deliberate marketing toward parents:
"It's being marketed to parents in a very deliberate way, yes. And it's the bottles. It's a lot of the language around saying melatonin is safe and drug free and non habit forming." [06:13]
Understanding Melatonin: Hormone vs. Supplement
A critical point discussed is the nature of melatonin as a hormone rather than a vitamin, despite being marketed as a supplement.
"Melatonin falls into this really weird in between space where I think it's regulated as a supplement and a lot of people think about it as being harmless and natural. And it's also something that's a prescription drug in a lot of the world." [06:28]
Scholsson emphasizes that melatonin acts like a drug by influencing the body’s sleep cycles:
"It's a hormone you take in order to change something in your sort of create a change in your body. And in that sense it certainly, even if it is not legally a drug, it certainly is kind of being used like a drug and is acting like a drug." [06:38]
Research on Effectiveness and Safety
The hosts delve into scientific research surrounding melatonin's efficacy and safety for children. Scholsson points out the limited evidence:
"The evidence that exists definitely suggests that, yes, it can help kids fall asleep a little bit earlier, maybe not dramatically earlier, but something kind of on the order of around 20 minutes, maybe a little bit more on average." [07:48]
However, the impact on overall restfulness is still unclear:
"There's not really that much evidence either way showing that children are actually better rested when they have taken melatonin versus they have not." [08:00]
Side Effects and Long-Term Concerns
While melatonin is considered relatively safe in the short term, concerns about long-term use remain:
"In terms of short term side effects, they could definitely be there that are typically recorded in the scientific research tend to be pretty mild. But... it's possible that there are kind of immediate or short term side effects that people just haven't really done a good job of tracking." [09:20]
Long-term effects, especially with regular use over years, are largely unknown:
"In terms of the long term effects of children who are taking melatonin maybe four or five or six or seven times a week for years on end, that's a really big open question." [09:20]
Use in Specific Populations
Melatonin use is more accepted for children with neurodevelopmental conditions that significantly impact sleep, such as autism and ADHD:
"For children with some neurodevelopmental differences that can significantly affect their ability to sleep... it makes sense to perhaps use melatonin regularly in order to... be helpful." [10:48]
Conversely, its widespread use among neurotypical children without medical supervision is criticized:
"The way that melatonin is used often right now, which is used regularly, often for neurotypical children who are perhaps sometimes taking the hormone a few times a week or every night with very little sort of supervision or input from a medical professional, is something that very few people intend." [11:28]
Expert Recommendations and Alternatives
Experts generally advise caution and recommend exploring non-supplemental solutions before resorting to melatonin. Scholsson underscores the importance of informed decision-making:
"Parents have the right to know what debates among scientists look like and understand where there's uncertainty." [12:18]
Establishing good bedtime routines and minimizing screen time before bed are suggested as first-line strategies:
"Establishing good bedtime routines, doing things like avoiding screen time before bed, steps like that can be helpful." [12:18]
Conclusion
The episode concludes with an emphasis on the need for more comprehensive research and cautious use of melatonin in children. While it offers a potential respite for struggling families, the long-term implications remain uncertain.
"We don't see obvious signs of concern... there is a sense that there is Very little research, especially on long term effects of melatonin." [10:38]
Emily Kwong wraps up by acknowledging the complex balance parents must navigate to ensure healthy sleep for their children and themselves.
"We want kids to have a good night's sleep for sure. And we want parents to sleep too." [13:27]
Key Takeaways
- Melatonin Popularity: Increased use since the 1990s, especially among parents seeking solutions for children's sleep issues.
- Marketing Tactics: Attractive packaging and language emphasizing safety contribute to widespread adoption.
- Scientific Uncertainty: Limited evidence on long-term safety and effectiveness in neurotypical children calls for caution.
- Expert Advice: Prioritize behavioral interventions and consult healthcare professionals before using melatonin regularly.
- Need for Research: More comprehensive studies are essential to fully understand the implications of melatonin use in children.
This episode of Short Wave provides a nuanced exploration of melatonin’s role in pediatric sleep, highlighting both its potential benefits and the significant gaps in current knowledge.