I'm a pediatric sleep doctor, author, and in my day job I run the Yale Pediatric Sleep Center. I've been writing about pediatric sleep issues for tired parents since 2012. Join my newsletter to get the best information about sleep problems (and solutions) in children.
I Investigated Magnesium for Kids’ Sleep… Here’s What I Found
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A few years ago, almost every parent in my Sleep Clinic had already tried melatonin for their child’s sleep struggles. Now, there’s a new kid on the block—magnesium supplements. I get it. Magnesium sounds great—it’s a mineral, not a hormone, and it’s easy to find in gummies, powders, and drinks. But does it actually help kids sleep?I dug into the science, and (spoiler alert) the answer isn’t as clear-cut as you might think. Here’s what I found: ✔️ Magnesium plays a big role in sleep and relaxation ✔️ Magnesium deficiency is surprisingly common ✔️ Some studies show it helps adults sleep better ❌ But the evidence in kids? Pretty weak. Before you start adding magnesium to your kiddo’s bedtime routine, let’s talk about what actually works. I break it all down in my latest post: If you’ve tried magnesium for your child’s sleep, I’d love to hear about your experience! Just hit reply and let me know. And, if you find this helpful, please share on social media. Wishing you restful nights, Dr. Craig P.S. If you’ve ever wondered how much magnesium kids actually need (or if they need it at all), I cover that too. Click here to read. PPS: I've actually found magnesium glycinate to be helpful for my own sleep. LMK if you want me to do a post on my own sleep "stack": supplements, tools, etc. |
Craig Canapari MD
I'm a pediatric sleep doctor, author, and in my day job I run the Yale Pediatric Sleep Center. I've been writing about pediatric sleep issues for tired parents since 2012. Join my newsletter to get the best information about sleep problems (and solutions) in children.
Honestly, I can't remember what holidays were like before I was a dad. I vaguely remember them being less stressful, but maybe less meaningful as well. It's really fun experiencing the magic of the holidays through your children's eyes. HOWEVER, if you have a little one, all of the travel, family time, and holiday excitement, can be stressful. REALLY stressful. And, if your kid's sleep is disrupted, it can result in tantrums, chaos, and conflict. In the latest episode of The Sleep Edit...
When parents think sleep training, the often think about extinction or CIO sleep training. Although CIO sleep training works well for infants and younger toddlers, I prefer gentler methods for older toddlers and preschoolers, especially if they are anxious. The “Excuse Me Drill” and “Taking a break” are two simple, gentle techniques which work well for children two and up who need their parents to fall asleep. These are two of my favorite techniques, and in my book It’s Never Too Late To...
When parents think of sleep training, they are often just imagining extinction sleep training (commonly known as "cry it out" or CIO). Thus, they imagine lots of crying, tantrums, and battles when trying to change the status quo. The fact is, CIO doesn't work well for older kids anyway. That's why I love the Bedtime Pass. A simple yet effective tool for managing nighttime interruptions. Instead of battling wills, your child can use a "Bedtime Pass" for a trip out of their room or to call for...