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.
Melatonin, magnesium, and kids’ sleep—what’s the real deal?
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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. 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 ADHD), but that doesn’t mean most children need it. And magnesium? As I mentioned last week, there’s very little evidence that it helps kids sleep—but in some situations, it might be worth a try. 👀 Prefer video? I added helpful graphics to the YouTube version. I’d love for you to check it out and subscribe as I build up content there. If you find this useful, please share—it helps keep The Sleep Edit going! Cheers, Craig Canapari MD |
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.
SUBJECT LINE: Quick update from last week: I sent you a quick note about holiday travel sleep survival and asked for your biggest worries. You responded—and wow, did you respond. Many of you shared your specific situations. Room-sharing chaos. Jet lag fears. The dreaded “driving home at bedtime” scenario. Disney trip panic. I read every single question and took representative examples and turned it into a comprehensive blog post. Your questions became the guide. Read the complete Holiday...
Here’s the truth about holiday travel and sleep: most of what you’re worrying about doesn’t matter. I get it. You’ve worked hard on your child’s sleep schedule. Maybe you just finished sleep training. Maybe you finally got consistent bedtimes working. And now you’re about to spend 3 days at Grandma’s house sharing a queen sized bed with a dog, a toddler, and a 14 month old who demands to exit the Pack N Play at 3am. You’re expecting disaster. But here’s what I’ve learned after 15 years of...
Hi everyone, Nap transitions are one of the most confusing parts of early childhood sleep. One week your baby is taking three predictable naps… and the next week everything is chaos. Naps get shorter, bedtimes get later, and suddenly you’re Googling “is my child dropping a nap??” at 3 AM. This week on The Sleep Edit, Arielle and I break down the messy reality of nap transitions — from 3→2 naps, 2→1 nap, and eventually the big one: dropping naps entirely. Using real cases, practical sleep...