Top 10 Best Natural Sleep Aids For Children Reviewed in 2021
No kid likes to go to bed, but sometimes it's more than simple defiance that is keeping your child from falling asleep. A child who has not had enough sleep becomes restless and will cry for no apparent reason.
Parents know that children without sleep are a disaster in the making and they want to have a way to make sure that they get the proper amount of sleep.
How much sleep does your child need? Teenagers need to sleep for at least 8 hours, school-going children for at least 11 hours and pre-schoolers for at least 12 hours. Toddlers need to be asleep for more than half the day requiring 11 to 14 hours while infants need to sleep even longer for 12 to 15 hours.
However, finding sleep aids to help your child fall asleep and stay asleep safely, is something that many parents struggle with.
The right sleep remedy can make a world of difference for your child. This is especially true for children with ADHD and other neurodivergent conditions, who find it especially difficult to settle down at night. Natural sleep aids can give your child that extra little bump of sleepiness they need to get to sleep in a reasonable time frame.
What to Look for in Natural Kids Sleeping Supplements
Not all natural supplements are created equal, however, and there are certain factors to take into account before purchasing one for your child. You'll want to make sure that the sleep aid you purchase comes from a reputable manufacturer so that you can feel confident that it contains the ingredients on the label, and only those ingredients.
It's also important to verify that all ingredients contained in a sleep aid are safe for children, and to verify that the specific dosage of those ingredients are safe your child at their individual age and weight. Some natural supplements are safe for adults but shouldn't be given to children due to lower body weight, or need to be given in a lower dosage.
There's also the consideration about whether your child will take the supplement at all! Kids are notoriously picky when it comes to medicine, and sleep aids are no exception. Younger children have difficulty swallowing pills and tablets, so a sleep aid for them will need to come in some other form.
The sleep aid you choose will need to come in a flavor or formulation your child will swallow, such as a sweet syrup or a gummy. Older kids might be more willing to swallow a pill and get it over with, rather than putting up with the lingering taste of the syrup.
Read on to see our picks for the best natural sleep aids for kids available today. Our selections are based on verified customer experiences, as well as intensive product research and analysis.
PRODUCT | DETAILS | RATING |
|---|---|---|
Nested Naturals Luna Kid's | ||
Zarbee's Naturals | ||
Tired Teddies | ||
Vicks PURE Zzzs Kidz | ||
Genexa Sleepology |
OUR #1 RATED - LUNA Kids Sleep Aid Tablets
The LUNA Kids Sleeping Tablets for Children 4+ and Sensitive Adults are from the Nested Naturals brand. Free of Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and any untested ingredients, they are made from naturally sourced botanicals and contain no sugar.
The three herbs that are used to make them are Valerian Root, Chamomile, and Lemon Balm. However, that doesn’t mean that they taste bad. They have a tropical berry flavor that is lightly sweetened with natural sweeteners like Stevia leaf extract and Xylitol.
All you need to do is give it to your child 20 to 30 minutes before they head to bed. The tablets are chewable and will dissolve in their mouth. It will not only help your child fall asleep quicker, but it will also promote a deeper, more restful sleep. This means that your child will not wake up feeling groggy.
PROS
CONS
RUNNER UP - Zarbee's Naturals
The key ingredient in this sleep aid is melatonin. Zarbee's Naturals Children's Sleep Supplement contains no dyes or artificial flavorings in them. You will be able to get them as chewable tablets with a grape flavor or as berry gummies. They are great for children that are three years or older.
Your child is not supposed to take them every night, but if there is one night where they are struggling to fall asleep, then these tablets will come in handy. The Zarbee's Naturals company was founded by an amazing pediatrician, Dr. Zak Zarbock, who just wanted to offer children products that are free of unwanted chemicals instead of what was available to him.
If your child needs to use them every night, you should contact your healthcare provider to figure out what are the underlying issues which are bringing about the sleeplessness.
PROS
CONS
Best Value - Tired Teddies
The Tired Teddies Natural Sleep Aid for Kids comes in a chewable, tasty tablet form. Unlike some of the other chewable products, this one is flavored to taste like bubblegum.
It is made with melatonin as well as a unique Teddy MD Proprietary Blend. This blend consists of chamomile, lettuce leaves, and lemon balm. The other ingredients are natural flavors, dextrose with maltodextrin, magnesium stearate, malic acid, citric acid, and sucralose.
It only contains 0.3mg of melatonin, which is the amount that a lot of research has shown to be the most effective. Just give one to your child 10 to 60 minutes before their bedtime or anytime throughout the night. Make sure that you do not exceed three tablets during a 24-hour window. The tablets come in a BPA free Plastic bottle.
PROS
CONS
Best Gummies - Vicks PURE Zzzs Kidz
Vicks is a well-known brand that has been around for a long time. Their PURE Zzzs Kidz Melatonin Sleep Aid Gummies for Kids and Children are naturally flavored to taste like berries and are designed to support the child's natural circadian rhythm. They are non-habit forming and are free of artificial flavors, gluten, lactose or gelatin.
There are quite a few ingredients that make up these gummies including melatonin and a combination of natural essential oils like from the lavender and chamomile plants. Each gummy contains only 0.5mg of melatonin in order to support the child return to their natural sleep pattern.
If your child has a long history of sleep difficulties, consult your doctor before trying these. You should not use these for more than 14 consecutive days because they will lose their effectiveness.
To get the best results, administer the gummies 30 minutes before bedtime and allow for at least six hours of sleep, but more sleep is ideal. Only use them when they are needed and make sure you store them in a cool, dry place.
PROS
CONS
Best Melatonin-Free - Genexa Sleepology children's sleep aid without melatonin
This melatonin-free formulation comes in chewable tablets. It is an organic solution to restless sleep or sleeplessness in children aged 3 years or more. It has no harmful additives like artificial dyes, preservatives, flavors or sweeteners. Absent are also parabens or common allergens.
The Genexa Sleepology Children's Sleep Aid Without Melatonin tablets are safe to use and were conceived by a Licensed Physician with help from scientists and medical experts.
They have no known drug interactions and is certified GMO-free. This homeopathic sleep remedy will help your child relax and fall asleep without causing any harm to them.
Children love nice-tasting things. The vanilla and lavender taste on these tablets is very popular with kids so they should not be let down.
PROS
CONS
4. Zahler Chapter One Certified Kosher Melatonin Gummies
https://www.amazon.com/Chapter-Melatonin-Supplement-Certified-Flavored/dp/B07MTM9KMV/
These tasty gummies are free of the most common allergens like gluten, egg, peanuts, soy, peanuts, and dairy. It is a very sweet gummy, there is nothing sour about it. Your child won’t even realize that it is a sleeping aid because it tastes so delicious. They won’t cause you to just pass out, but they will just encourage you to go to sleep. There are added sugars in these gummies, so if you try to avoid those for your children, this sleeping aid is not for you. They are manufactured and packaged in the United States in a state of the art GMP certified facility. Your whole family will be able to take them if needed because of the buildable doses.
Pros:
* Great tasting.
* Buildable doses.
* Free of common allergens.
Cons:
* Added sugars.
* Can cause headaches.
5. JoySpring SleepBerry Liquid Melatonin for Kids
https://www.amazon.com/Best-Liquid-Melatonin-Kids-Absorption/dp/B07CGC7NM2
This liquid sleeping aid is made up of just four ingredients. These ingredients are elderberry, vitamin D3, theanine, and the most important ingredient is melatonin. It is vegetarian and contains no added sugars. If you are interested in using these for your child, all you need to do is give them one to two droppers about 15 to 30 minutes before you want them to go to bed. They can take up to four drops in a 24-hour time frame, but no more than that. It is a non-habit forming product, so you can give it to them every night or just every once and a while. You will begin to notice a difference after only a few uses.
Pros:
* Noticeable difference in just a few days.
* Great customer service.
* Minimal ingredients.
Cons:
* May cause bad dreams.
* Quality control isn’t very good.
7. Little Sleepy Head Lavender Spray for Kids
https://www.amazon.com/Little-Sleepy-Head-Essential-Aromatherapy/dp/B07L9XV2FV/
Lavender is a well-known way to assist with sleep. It has a few different calming and soothing properties that help to improve sleep quality. You just have to spray is on your child’s pillows before they head to bed and it will dry quickly. It not only improves sleep and promotes calmness, but it can also reduce stress and anxiety. That means fewer tantrums for your child. This sleeping spray can be used for children or adults. It is hand-crafted in the United States by a family-owned company that cares about their customers and the products they are putting out. So, if you are not happy with your spray, you can easily return it.
Pros:
* Has a lot of other benefits.
* Absorbs into fabric easily.
* Smells like real lavender.
Cons:
* Does not come with a spray nozzle.
* Some people find the smell overpowering.
8. Havasu Nutrition Melatonin Chewable for Kids
https://www.amazon.com/Havasu-Nutrition-Melatonin-Chamomile-Chewables/dp/B07W9B1L14/
There are only six ingredients that make up these sleeping aids. All of these ingredients are made from the highest quality products available. It is proudly made and all of the products are manufactured in the United States of America. All of their products have undergone stringent testing and the company prides themself on their quality control. So, you will know that you are getting a quality product for your child. It will allow your child to fall asleep quicker but also promote better sleep. This will keep your kid from waking up the next morning and feeling grumpy and groggy. It has an extremely gentle formula which makes it perfect for children that are two years old or older.
Pros:
* Amazing quality control.
* The low doses make it very effective.
* Can be swallowed or chewed.
Cons:
* Pretty new to the market.
* May cause weird dreams.
9. Wink Naturals Kid's Liquid Sleep Drops
https://www.amazon.com/Wink-Naturals-Drug-Free-Melatonin-Formulated/dp/B074WHLX8T/
These liquid sleeping drops have a great flavor and are doctor recommended. There are minimal ingredients just melatonin, water, glycerine, and natural flavorings. It is non-habit forming and is friendly to the taste buds. It will begin to absorb onto the tongue immediately or you can add it to your child’s drink about 30 minutes ahead of bedtime. The dropper is specifically designed for child-size doses, so it takes all of the guesswork out of it for you. The serving size is much smaller than other melatonin products, but this allows for it to work more effectively. These drops come in a compact container so it is ideal for traveling. However, you can use it whenever your child is having trouble falling asleep.
Pros:
* Good flavor.
* Perfect for children and nursing mothers.
* Great for traveling.
Cons:
* A bit expensive.
* Doesn’t work any better than the chewable ones.
10. Creekside Natural Therapeutics Children's Sleep Aid
https://www.amazon.com/Creekside-Natural-Therapeutics-Childrens-Sleep/dp/B00IJF9BZI/
This sleep aid is made of completely natural ingredients and is free of common allergens like; soy, dairy, wheat, gluten, nuts, eggs, or fish. The active ingredients are .5mg of melatonin and 2mg of chamomile. There is xylitol, mannitol, magnesium, vegetable stearate, natural orange flavor, monk fruit extract, silica, and citric acid to make it have a better taste. It has been created by pediatricians who have made sure it is quick to dissolve. You do not need to worry about your child taking it every day because it is non-habit forming. So, your kid can take it every night or just on the nights when they are having trouble falling asleep. Although if they are under two years of age, this tablet isn’t suitable for them.
Pros:
* Common allergen-free.
* Non-habit forming.
* Minimal ingredients.
Cons:
* Can cause grogginess the following day.
* Doesn’t work great for every kid.
There are a lot of different great sleep aids to help your child. It just depends on what you are looking for. Some may contain added sugar, but they will taste better. While others might only have four ingredients but not taste very good.
Zarbee's Naturals Children's Sleep with Melatonin Supplement is a great choice if you don’t mind the added sugar. It helps your child fall asleep much quicker, but they aren’t going to wake up the next day feeling groggy or grouchy.
However, the design of this bottle is not the best so make sure you keep it out of reach of your children.
Things to help a child sleep
He is an Engineer, designer and jogging enthusiast. His team of product testers and reviewers are as passionate as he is about sleep improvement and are on a collective mission to reveal to you only the best sleep solutions and products.
