Safe, Natural Sleep Aids for Children with Insomnia
Insomnia is an extremely common disorder in children, most often affecting children with autism, attention deficit disorder, and emotional disturbances. Stress and simple habits can also play a major role in childhood insomnia.
Many parents are concerned about the implications that prescription or over-the-counter sleep aids may have on their children’s development. As an herbalist, I’ve had numerous parents come to me for advice after finding that pharmaceutical sleep aids caused their children to be groggy, slow-thinking, depressed, or even hyperactive.
Fortunately, there are several sleep aids believed to be safe and effective for treating insomnia in children. While these are generally considered safe and have been backed by clinical studies, always talk to your child’s doctor before adding any new supplement or medication to your child’s treatment plan.
Valerian
A root containing a number of sedative volatile oils, valerian is one of the best-known and most effective treatments for insomnia in both adults and children. Unlike pharmaceutical drugs, valerian actually increases the amount of time spent in REM sleep, leading most insomniacs to feel more rested and refreshed after sleep.
Valerian’s safety in children has been vouched for by at least two peer-reviewed studies. One study of nearly 1000 children showed that valerian worked to eliminate insomnia in children 6-12, with no adverse side effects. Another study of five learning-impaired children showed a remarkable improvement in sleep patterns after the children were given valerian.
For children, valerian can be given safely as a tea or extract. Valerian tea is naturally bitter, so some parents may choose to ice and sweeten it, or mix it with hot chocolate, to make it easier for the child to drink. Alcohol-free extracts produced by the company Herbs for Kids are also an easy, effective method for administering the herb. However, valerian remains unstudied in children under three and should be avoided by infants and toddlers.
Chamomile
Incoming search terms for the article:
- natural sleep aids for babies
- natural sleep aids for babies
- rocking sleep aids for children
- sleep aids children 3 yrs old
- natural sleep remedies for children
Similar articles
- Guide to 5 Popular Natural Sleep Aids for Children
You’ve done all that sleep habits stuff to make your child go to sleep or stay asleep. Nothing worked. Now you’re desperate enough to try some natural sleep aids for children but you don’t know where to begin. There are more natural sleep aids in the stores than there are prescription sleeping pills. Here’s a
... - Causes, Treatment
Sleep Aids And Stimulants (cont.) Melatonin Melatonin (for example, Melatonex) is the only hormone available OTC for insomnia. Melatonin is a hormone that is produced by the pineal gland. Melatonin helps regulate the body’s clock or sleep-wake cycle. The secretion of melatonin is increased by darkness and decreased by light. The exact
... - Natural Sleep Aids and Remedies
Natural Sleep Aids and Remedies If you’re searching for a natural sleep aid to put an end to your insomnia, here’s something to keep in mind. Some sleep aids and herbal remedies may help induce sleepiness. But natural products and dietary supplements are not regulated by the FDA for quality, dosing, and formulation. That makes
... - Herbal Sleep Aids and Herbs for Insomnia
Herbal Sleep Aids and Herbs for Insomnia Natural sleep aids, or herbal sleep aids, are quickly becoming a popular choice for treating insomnia naturally. In more recent years, studies have shown that some herbs and certain combinations of natural herbs can act as natural sleep aids, and can eliminate the need for taking synthetic medication,
... - Sleep Aids
Sleep Aids More than 40% of people who suffer from insomnia take sleep aids to help themselves to sleep. People who suffer from sleep disorders often turn first to sleep aids whether they are prescribed or bought over-the-counter. Little known to insomnia sufferers, sleep medication does not cure insomnia and
...