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
|
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.
Are magnesium sprays the next miracle sleep cure—or just marketing? You may have seen it on TikTok or in the parenting forums: magnesium sprays and lotions being hyped as the natural fix for kids who struggle with sleep. As a pediatric sleep doctor, I get asked about these products all the time. So I did what I do best—dug into the science. 📉 Spoiler alert: There’s no solid evidence that these products actually help kids sleep better. And they may not even be absorbed through the skin. In my...
Daylight savings time begins on Sunday, March 9th. This was a bummer before I had kids, as it meant losing an hour of sleep. I would feel pretty cruddy for about a week afterwards. Then, my kids were early risers, so I liked it. Why? The beginning of DST shifts their apparent wake time a bit earlier. So a kid who was waking up at 5:30 AM was getting up at 6:30 AM literally overnight. (A "later" bedtime was the cost of this but I'm not a morning lark, so it was a fair trade-off). However, it...
Arielle and I are back with our first Sleep Edit podcast episode of 2025, diving into the thorny topics of melatonin and magnesium for kids’ sleep. 🎧 Listen here Lately, it feels like sleep gummies, supplements, lotions, and other quick fixes are everywhere, marketed to exhausted parents looking for answers. In the U.S., even melatonin—a hormone—is regulated as a dietary supplement, not a medication. The truth? Melatonin has good evidence for kids with certain conditions (like autism and...