Melatonin weaning plan

Melatonin is a natural hormone produced by our bodies. It is regulated by light and dark so that when it goes dark at night our melatonin levels increase which helps us get to sleep.

Melatonin is part of our body’s 24 hour natural rhythm and can be low if we have a sleep pattern with irregular sleep and wake up times. Melatonin supplements boost the body’s natural response to help us feel sleepy before bedtime if our natural levels are low. Supplements are sometimes used along with a sleep programme to help a child to establish a regular pattern. They are given for up to 12 weeks.

When the programme is successful in achieving a good bedtime routine, the body’s natural production of melatonin is enough and the supplement melatonin can be stopped because it is no longer needed. There is no harm at all in just stopping the melatonin at any point, but if this is difficult, then the melatonin can be weaned.

The weaning plan

1. When a good sleep time has been reached for 7 nights in a row, then reduce the dose of melatonin by half. For example, reduce 2mg (1 tablet) to 1mg (half a tablet).
2. If on a higher dose, reduce by half again for 7 nights. Keep reducing until taking 1mg (half a tablet).
3. Once the dose has been reduced to 1mg, then take for a further 7 nights, then stop.
4. Swap the melatonin for melatonin-containing sleepy foods.