Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Melatonin has become a popular sleep aid for children, but is it safe? In this episode of Little Lessons, UC Davis Children's Hospital pediatrician and mom Dr. Lena van der List explains how melatonin works, which children may benefit from it, potential side effects, and important safety considerations parents should know before giving melatonin to their child.
Dr. van der List also shares practical sleep hygiene strategies that may improve sleep without medication, including consistent bedtimes, limiting screen time before bed, exercise, sunlight exposure and healthy bedtime routines. Learn when melatonin may be appropriate, why accidental overdoses have increased in recent years, and what parents should discuss with their child's physician before use.
Watch more episodes of Little Lessons with Dr. Lena van der List: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLM7qvIv8N9Rs-woHEQx69oSImJQHHnqLC
Learn more about melatonin in this episode of the Kids Considered Podcast: youtu.be/EKoiaFkLla0
This video includes an audio description track. To hear the narration of on‑screen text, turn on "English Descriptive" in the player’s settings menu.
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At UC Davis Children’s Hospital, we put your child at the center of everything that we do. It’s personalized care, uniquely sized for your child. You’ll see it in our child-friendly designs throughout the hospital, our farm-to-fork approach to dining, our playrooms and teen rooms and our team that feels like family. UC Davis Children’s Hospital is Sacramento’s only nationally ranked, comprehensive hospital for children, serving infants, children, adolescents and young adults with primary, subspecialty and critical care.
UC Davis Children’s Hospital: https://children.ucdavis.edu
Children’s Surgery Center: https://health.ucdavis.edu/children/services/childrens-surgery-center/
Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy: https://health.ucdavis.edu/children/services/child-life/
Fetal Care and Treatment Center: https://health.ucdavis.edu/children/services/fetal-care-treatment-center/
See the latest news from UC Davis Health: https://health.ucdavis.edu/newsroom
Kids Considered podcast: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLM7qvIv8N9Rtl7F3ziKi_A-dm0eKSvQBt
Facebook: facebook.com/UCDavisChildrensHospital
Instagram: instagram.com/ucdavischildren
Twitter/X: twitter.com/UCDavisChildren
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0:00 Intro
0:31 What is melatonin?
0:49 Why do kids have trouble sleeping?
1:29 What to know before using
2:17 What are the side effects of melatonin?
2:43 Doses: How much melatonin?
3:07 Sleep hygiene explained
3:59 Where to learn more
The information in this video was accurate as of the upload date, 7/21/26. For information purposes only. Consult your local medical authority for advice.
#melatonin #kidssleep #parentingtips #LittleLessons #ucdavis
Melatonin has become a popular sleep aid for children, but is it safe? In this episode of Little Lessons, UC Davis Children's Hospital pediatrician and mom Dr. Lena van der List explains how melatonin works, which children may benefit from it, potential side effects, and important safety considerations parents should know before giving melatonin to their child.
Dr. van der List also shares practical sleep hygiene strategies that may improve sleep without medication, including consistent bedtimes, limiting screen time before bed, exercise, sunlight exposure and healthy bedtime routines. Learn when melatonin may be appropriate, why accidental overdoses have increased in recent years, and what parents should discuss with their child's physician before use.
Watch more episodes of Little Lessons with Dr. Lena van der List: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLM7qvIv8N9Rs-woHEQx69oSImJQHHnqLC
Learn more about melatonin in this episode of the Kids Considered Podcast: youtu.be/EKoiaFkLla0
This video includes an audio description track. To hear the narration of on‑screen text, turn on "English Descriptive" in the player’s settings menu.
——
At UC Davis Children’s Hospital, we put your child at the center of everything that we do. It’s personalized care, uniquely sized for your child. You’ll see it in our child-friendly designs throughout the hospital, our farm-to-fork approach to dining, our playrooms and teen rooms and our team that feels like family. UC Davis Children’s Hospital is Sacramento’s only nationally ranked, comprehensive hospital for children, serving infants, children, adolescents and young adults with primary, subspecialty and critical care.
UC Davis Children’s Hospital: https://children.ucdavis.edu
Children’s Surgery Center: https://health.ucdavis.edu/children/services/childrens-surgery-center/
Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy: https://health.ucdavis.edu/children/services/child-life/
Fetal Care and Treatment Center: https://health.ucdavis.edu/children/services/fetal-care-treatment-center/
See the latest news from UC Davis Health: https://health.ucdavis.edu/newsroom
Kids Considered podcast: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLM7qvIv8N9Rtl7F3ziKi_A-dm0eKSvQBt
Facebook: facebook.com/UCDavisChildrensHospital
Instagram: instagram.com/ucdavischildren
Twitter/X: twitter.com/UCDavisChildren
——
0:00 Intro
0:31 What is melatonin?
0:49 Why do kids have trouble sleeping?
1:29 What to know before using
2:17 What are the side effects of melatonin?
2:43 Doses: How much melatonin?
3:07 Sleep hygiene explained
3:59 Where to learn more
The information in this video was accurate as of the upload date, 7/21/26. For information purposes only. Consult your local medical authority for advice.
#melatonin #kidssleep #parentingtips #LittleLessons #ucdavis
