Why are parents using melatonin to help their kids sleep?
What you should know about melatonin for sleep problems in children – International Pediatric Sleep Association
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Telegraph
31 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Melatonin: The wonder pill for sleep you still can't get hold of
The desperation that comes with a bout of poor sleep is like nothing else. Brain fog, extreme fatigue and constant irritability are all traits of the regularly underslept. In the long term, so are obesity, high blood pressure and low mood – and we're increasingly aware of it. Scarcely more than a third of us say that the amount of sleep we get each night is 'good', a recent survey from Nuffield Health suggests. Enter melatonin, the seemingly natural supplement with the promise to cure this very modern ailment. Melatonin is the hormone that our own brains produce to send us off to sleep each night. Your body naturally produces less melatonin as you age, with the process beginning around the age of 40 and escalates dramatically after 70. In its synthetic form, filled into little white capsules or mixed into gummies, melatonin is available in supermarkets and on Amazon in the United States. It's also prescribed in Britain to people aged over 55 who have insomnia, and to children with ADHD or autism who struggle to sleep. Plenty more of us take melatonin occasionally for jet lag, even though you can't buy it over the counter in this country. 'When I see someone in clinic who is taking melatonin, the majority of the time, they've obtained it in this way rather than having been prescribed it,' says Dr Alanna Hare, a consultant in sleep and ventilation at Royal Brompton Hospital. There is a thriving middle-class black market for melatonin, which is legal to bring over from other countries or buy from online pharmacies, provided you don't sell it on. Dr Hare has 'no doubt' that the desperate parents of children awaiting diagnoses for ADHD or autism find melatonin for them in this way too. Dr Cassie Coleman, a consultant paediatrician with a specialism in neurodiversity and child mental health, agrees. 'It's very common for parents to present at my clinic and tell me, with a huge amount of guilt, that they've accessed melatonin and are giving it to their children who either have ADHD or autism or are awaiting a diagnosis,' she says. 'Many parents are given some melatonin by their friends who also have neurodivergent children, after expressing just how exhausted they feel. Having a child who struggles to sleep can really upend family life, and it's often a massive source of anxiety and frustration for the child themselves too.' When it comes to the effects of melatonin for families, 'the word 'life changing' is common,' says Dr Coleman. Melatonin supplements are considered 'very safe' to take, physically speaking, says sleep expert Dr Sophie Bostock. But while many people swear by it to help them drift off at night, research suggests that unless you have a specific sleep disorder, melatonin pills or chews are little more than placebo. So what's the truth about this highly sought-after sleep aid? What is melatonin? Melatonin is one of many hormones produced in your brain, with hormones being chemical messengers that signal different parts of your body to carry out different hormones. Specifically, melatonin is produced by the pineal gland, a tiny pinecone-shaped node (hence the name) that sits right in the middle of your brain. Other parts of the body like the eyes, skin and gut also produce some melatonin, but far less than is made by your pineal gland.
The Sun
14 hours ago
- The Sun
Popular baby toy sold at Boots for £10 is urgently recalled over ‘health risk' after mould found in boxes
A POPULAR children's toy sold in Boots has been urgently recalled over fears it could pose a health risk to youngsters. The issue affects a batch of See and Sound Giant Flashcards made by Orchard Toys and sold nationwide, including in Boots stores across the UK. 3 The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) issued the warning after confirming the batch poses a potential health risk. The product is sold for around £10 and is aimed at babies and toddler s as a fun way to learn animal names and sounds. The recall only applies to a specific batch — code SPHK/001622/132/16.01.25 — which can be found printed on the side of the packaging. No other batch numbers are affected. Parents and carers are being urged to check their toy boxes immediately. Anyone who owns the flashcards should stop using them, take a photo of the batch code, and dispose of the item safely. Those affected are entitled to a refund or digital credit voucher by contacting Orchard Toys directly. You can phone 01953 423422 or visit their website here. Aldi urgently recalls £3.29 freezer essential over dangerous disease that affects 1 in 100 of Brits The OPSS said the risk is classed as low, but could be harmful to children or adults with weakened immune systems, lung conditions or mould allergies. "The product presents a health risk as there may be mould present in the base of the product box. "Mould may pose a health risk to individuals with compromised immune systems, damaged lungs or allergies," the recall notice warned. The flashcards come in a colourful rectangular box and feature cartoon animal characters. They are part of a popular line of educational toys aimed at young children. Orchard Toys confirmed the affected product does not meet the requirement of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011, a set of rules designed to ensure childnren's toys are safe to use. The toy was manufactured int he UK and is not counterfeit. Product recalls like this are issued when items pose a risk to health, even if the danger is only present in some batches or under certain conditions. This comes just days after another recall involving toys sold online, including a remote-control car imported from China that contained unsafe chemical levels and posed a serious health risk. If you have any concerns about a product you've bough for your child, you can check the official government product recalls and alerts page. Safety experts advise parents to regularly inspect children's toys for damage, strange smells, or any signs of mould, especially if they've been stored in damp areas. Your product recall rights Chief consumer reporter James Flanders reveals all you need to know. Product recalls are an important means of protecting consumers from dangerous goods. As a general rule, if a recall involves a branded product, the manufacturer would usually have lead responsibility for the recall action. But it's often left up to supermarkets to notify customers when products could put them at risk. If you are concerned about the safety of a product you own, always check the manufacturer's website to see if a safety notice has been issued. When it comes to appliances, rather than just food items, the onus is usually on you - the customer - to register the appliance with the manufacturer as if you don't there is no way of contacting you to tell you about a fault. If you become aware that an item you own has been recalled or has any safety noticed issued against it, make sure you follow the instructions given to you by the manufacturer. They should usually provide you with more information and a contact number on its safety notice. In some cases, the manufacturer might ask you to return the item for a full refund or arrange for the faulty product to be collected. You should not be charged for any recall work - such as a repair, replacement or collection of the recalled item 3
The Guardian
21 hours ago
- The Guardian
The fight to keep measles out of nurseries raises issues of freedom and responsibility
Frances Ryan describes nursery staff donning aprons and gloves, in an effort to prevent the spread of measles (Look at the rise of measles in England and ask yourself: have we learned a single thing from Covid?, 23 July). This raises important issues. We are unaware of evidence that this would be effective. As measles is spread by coughing, sneezing, singing etc, should masks be worn? Two-thirds of cases of measles this year have been in children aged 10 years or younger. Should we be asking the children in the nursery to wear PPE as well? What will be the effect on young children of being cared for by people in aprons and gloves, and possibly masks – surely not good for their emotional development? More importantly, as Frances describes, we refer to the 'personal choice' of parents not to have their child vaccinated with the safe and effective MMR vaccine. This 'personal choice' should not extend to putting other children at risk. In a nursery there will be unimmunised children – not through a parent's decision, but because the child is not eligible. Some of the children will be too young to be vaccinated with MMR and occasionally there will be a child whose immune system does not work properly. If either of these groups of children develops measles, they are more likely to have serious complications, including brain damage and death. As they cannot be vaccinated, the only way to protect them is to ensure that their contacts are immunised. With freedom comes responsibilities. Perhaps when measles is around, children who are not immunised should be excluded from nursery. What all too often happens is that the child who cannot be immunised is excluded. Is that right?Dr David Elliman and Prof Helen BedfordUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
