Why Over 268,000 Parents Have Switched from Melatonin to This All-Natural Sleeping Aid
By Amy Foster | June 27, 2025
Estimated 5-7 Minute Read
Did you know that over-the-counter melatonin is banned in over 30 countries?
In the US, melatonin is considered a dietary supplement and can be bought as easily as Vitamin C in places like Walmart, Target, or even Amazon.
However, in many other countries like the UK, European Union, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, melatonin is considered a drug and cannot be bought without a doctor's prescription.
And here's why...
Melatonin isn't a harmless "sleep vitamin".
It is actually a hormone.
And just like how you would require a doctor's prescription for hormones like testosterone, estrogen (in birth control pills), or insulin, many healthcare professionals believe it makes sense to require one for melatonin too.
The Hidden Drawbacks of Melatonin
Melatonin is often seen as natural and safe, which is why more and more parents today are giving their kids melatonin to help them sleep.
However, many pediatricians do not recommend giving melatonin to young children for the following reasons:
1. Melatonin May Delay Puberty
Animal studies have shown that high levels of melatonin can delay the onset of puberty.
While this hasn't been definitively proven in humans yet, experts worry that supplementing a hormone daily during a child’s developmental years (0–5) could delay puberty or interfere with other hormonal cycles.
Source: National Institutes of Health (NIH), Van Geijlswijk et al., 2010; PMC5263069
2. Morning Grogginess & "Melatonin Hangover"
Children metabolize melatonin more slowly than adults. In other words, their bodies takes longer to “clear out” melatonin from their system.
As a result, melatonin can stay active in a child's body far into the next morning, causing them to wake up feeling groggy and irritable.
3. Increases Nightmares & Night Terrors
Melatonin can increase the intensity and duration of REM sleep (dream sleep), resulting in longer, more vivid dreams.
Many parents report more frequent nightmares or night terrors after giving their kids melatonin.
Source: Sleep Medicine Reviews, 2015
4. Disrupts Natural Circadian Rhythm
A child’s body naturally produces only about 0.1mg of melatonin per night. However, most gummies deliver a 3mg dose.
That is 30 times what their body biologically requires!
Regularly flooding a child’s system with this much hormone can confuse the body’s internal clock and disrupt its ability to maintain a natural sleep-wake cycle.
5. Not Recommended for Young Children
Pediatric sleep experts and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine warn against melatonin use in:
Children under 5
Long-term nightly use
Kids with undiagnosed sleep issues
American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 2020
6. Long-Term Safety Is Unknown
There are currently no long-term studies on daily melatonin use in children, and researchers do not know what are the potential consequences of giving a hormone supplement to a young child for months or years at a time.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has explicitly stated that the long-term effects of melatonin supplementation on young children "remain unknown."
NIH review (PMC5263069)
7. Label Inaccuracy & Contamination Risks
A 2023 study analyzed 25 melatonin gummies sold in the US and found that 88% of them contained dosages different from what was listed on the label.
One brand contained over 300% of the stated dose, and another contained no melatonin at all, but contained CBD instead!
Because supplements tend to be more loosely regulated, parents can never be sure how much melatonin their child is actually getting.
And here’s the surprising part…
Melatonin isn't even that effective for improving sleep!
Studies show that melatonin only increases total sleep time by 8.25 minutes.
That's less than a 2% improvement in sleep!
Most people don’t realize that the main function of melatonin is to tell your body when to sleep.
It can help to change the timing of your sleep, but isn't very effective in improving the quality or duration of your sleep.
Now if you’re trying to change the timing of your child’s sleep and get them to sleep a little earlier, a low dose of melatonin for a few days can be helpful to "shift" their bedtime earlier.
However, melatonin will not help them:
Sleep for longer stretches
Experience fewer night time wakings
Get deeper, more restorative sleep
Wake up feeling rested and refreshed
If your child struggles with....
Restlessness
Frequent night wakings
Trouble winding down
Hard time falling asleep
Melatonin isn’t the solution.
What you need instead is Magnesium.
Benefits of Magnesium
Research has shown that magnesium:
Reduces time taken to fall asleep
Minimizes night time wakings
Improves sleep duration and quality
Lowers cortisol levels
Non-habit forming and safe for long-term use
In addition to improving sleep, magnesium also offers a wide range of health benefits for young children.
Studies have shown that giving a child magnesium can help improve their:
🧠
Mood
🧠
Behavior
🧠
Emotional regulation
🧠
Focus and attention
🧠
Stress response
Source: NIH; Study on magnesium and sleep quality, Abbasi et al., 2012
Finding The Right Magnesium Supplement
Now before you rush to order a magnesium supplement from Amazon, or your nearby health store, here’s what you should know:
Not all magnesium is equal.
Most store-bought magnesium supplements tend to use cheaper, synthetic forms of magnesium such as magnesium oxide, which only has an absorption rate of around 4%.
This means that up to 96% of the magnesium does not get absorbed or used by our body!
It’s no wonder why so many parents do not notice any difference in their child's sleep or mood, even after taking these magnesium supplements for months…
For your child to truly experience the full benefits from magnesium, you need a natural and highly bioavailable form of magnesium.
You need Junior’s Bedtime Lotion.
What is Junior's Bedtime Lotion
Junior’s Bedtime Lotion is a 100% natural lotion that is rich in deep sea magnesium.
Deep sea magnesium is a unique and rare form of magnesium that is sourced from mineral-rich waters more than 1,500 meters below sea level.
It is one of the purest forms of magnesium available, and can be absorbed directly through the skin when applied as an oil or lotion!
Each teaspoon of Junior's Bedtime Lotion contains 150mg of pure deep sea magnesium, which helps babies and toddlers:
Relax before bed
Fall asleep more quickly
Experience fewer night time wakings
Sleep for longer stretches
Wake up feeling well-rested and happy
Made with All-Natural Ingredients That Promote Better Sleep
Deep Sea Magnesium (from the Zechstein Sea)
Deep Sea Magnesium is sourced from over 1,500 meters below sea level from the ancient Zechstein seabed in the Netherlands. It is considered one of the purest forms of magnesium and is:
Highly bioavailable
100% natural
Gentle for toddlers
Shown to support sleep, calmness, and relaxation
Lavender Essential Oil
Inhaling lavender's aroma triggers relaxation and calms the brain and nervous system. The oil also lowers stress and anxiety, creating a peaceful state conducive to sleep.
Chamomile Essential Oil
Chamomile has been used for centuries to soothe anxiety and restlessness. It contains apigenin, a compound that promotes relaxation and helps calm the mind and body for better sleep.
Over 265,000+ Parents Have Tried & Loved The Junior's Bedtime Lotion!
Read More Reviews
Try Junior's Bedtime Lotion Completely Risk Free for 3 Months!
Here's how it works:
01
Order a jar and get it delivered to your doorstep within 5-7 days.
02
Give the lotion a try! Apply a grape-sized amount of lotion onto your child's feet and calves before bed each night.
03
Apply the lotion consistently, and notice how your child's sleep improves after 2-3 weeks!
If you find that the lotion has not improve your child's sleep, or if you aren't 100% happy with the lotion for any reason at all, just send us an email at contact@8sheep.com with your order number and we will get you a full refund within 24 hours. No questions asked!
Click on the link below to try a jar completely risk-free today!
Try Junior's Bedtime Lotion
Update: Word is starting to get out, and the Junior’s Bedtime Lotion is selling out fast!
These lotions are made in small batches by a small, mom-owned business in Indiana, so supplies are limited.
And due to the difficulty in sourcing deep sea magnesium, once a batch of lotions are sold out, it can take up to 4-6 weeks for a new batch to be made.
I highly recommend clicking the link below to secure your order as soon as possible if there are still any jars in stock.
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