I am plnning a trip to France with a 5 and 8 year old and would like to use melatonin to help combat jet lag. Anyone have success with this?

We just used the product No Jeg Lag on our trip to Italy from the West Coast. Our kids are 9 and 12. They had no side effects and the product seemed to work great as none of us seemed to have any jet lag. This was our first trip to Europe, however, so we don't know what we would have felt like with out it.

I'd call a doctor and ask. It's worth being absolutely certain.

melatonin, as i understand it, needs to be taken a very specific way to have any true effect.

Don't know about kids, but it gives me the "runs."

My kids cope with the 5-7 hour time difference btween Europe and either the East Coast or the midwest when we travel. We take this trip 3-4 times a year. I've never given them any medications to cope. I know that this is a personal parental decision, but why take the chance??

My doctor told me never to take melatonin. He said it has different effects upon different people. I would never chance it with kids.

In fact that is the only supplement or herb he ever said never on.

In all seriousness, wouldn't a turkey sandwich or a warm glass of milk have the same affect? That's what I have read, anyway.

OK - maybe I'm off base here --- but to ask on an anonymous internet message board if you should give a drug to your small children seems VERY irresponsible. Ask their pediatrician . . . . .

I don't believe children should be introduced to any drug unless a matter of health.

Here is something I found from a Doctor who specializes in this sort of thing...hope it helps.
Personally, children are not that affected by jet lag, they tend to sleep when they need it, regardless.


"Melatonin, is a natural substance made by the pineal gland in the human brain, and is generally thought to be related to the circadian rhythm, or sleep-wake system or cycle.
The circadian rhythm is what controls our sleep needs and time perception/awareness - in other words, it is the body's internal clock.




The only studies looking at melatonin administration and sleep problems were done on a limited number of children, all of whom had some kind of neurologic, developmental, or brain problem with severe sleep disorders.
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Melatonin is not considered a controlled medication, there have been no studies looking at the safety of melatonin use in children. We know, however, that overuse of melatonin may result in seizures.

Given that there are no studies on the effectiveness of melatonin, and importantly, on its safety in children, I would not recommend melatonin use for children. "

Thanks for all the feedback, and yes, of course I was going to ask their pediatrician before using it! I was looking for people's experience with it, not if the recommend it. I too don't like to use drugs, especially on my kids!

I tried it on myself and ended up having terrible nightmares--quite vivid. Never again.

Do they have age recommendation on a bottle like there is on Tylenol?