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A recent study shows 20% of parents are giving their kids melatonin to help them fall asleep. Just 5 years ago, that number was less than 2% and doctors say the spike in usage is concerning.
Dr. Saloni Rao with Kaiser San Marcos Pediatrics says melatonin is not a long-term solution for children with sleep issues.
“Lots of children have sleep issues and it's looked at as a quick fix," she said.
She also said parents should first talk with their pediatrician to get to the root cause of the issue.
“Is your child having any mental health concerns? Are they anxious, depressed? Are they troubled at school? Are they under a lot of stress?”
Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced by the brain that helps with the timing of our body's internal clock, but that doesn't mean more is better.
FULL STORY: https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/spike-in-melatonin-use-by-children-has-doctors-concerned/509-e80c1ff8-735a-4f95-9023-bf426ca1f326