Perth GP Andrew Leech says demands of modern life contributing to child sleep crisis and overuse of melatonin

A Perth GP says the demands of modern family life — with packed schedules of after-school activities, homework and screen time — are contributing to a child sleep crisis that is prompting more parents to turn to melatonin. Andrew Leech from the Garden Medical Centre estimates up to one third of primary school aged patients at his clinic are taking the sleep medication regularly. He said while prescribed melatonin played a vital role for neurodiverse children, some parents were giving unregulated melatonin gummies to their children without a formal diagnosis, “simply in the hope of improving sleep”. “Modern family life has changed how we approach bedtime. Evenings are often packed with activities, homework, and screen time, leaving little opportunity for children to wind down with a calm routine,” Dr Leech said. “When bedtime becomes rushed or stressful, sleep suffers and it’s no surprise that many parents turn to solutions like melatonin to make things easier.” His comments come after global online retailer iHerb announced it was suspending sales of its unregulated melatonin products, including gummies, into Australia. The announcement, which has caused an outcry among thousands of customers, came after The West Australian revealed a 166 per cent increase in calls to the WA Poisons Information Centre relating to the supplement. Almost 90 per cent of calls were related to children. The centre’s poisons specialist Yumi Tan said in many cases children had gained access to the supplements, which tasted “like lollies”, without their parents’ knowledge. iHerb said in an email to customers it made the decision in order to “align with Australian prescription regulations.” “This change has been implemented to ensure compliance with local legal and safety standards,” the company said. Many of those impacted by the change are Australian parents of neurodiverse children who were advised by doctors to buy the gummies online, rather than through a prescription. Dr Leech said it was understandable parents sought out this option given gummies on sites such as iHerb were four times cheaper than prescribed melatonin in Australia. “Looking ahead, there may be moves toward requiring a GP letter for melatonin access, or perhaps we’ll see Australian-made melatonin (Circadin) included on the PBS, making it more affordable for families,” he said. “There’s no doubt that melatonin can be a useful tool for some children, but it shouldn’t be seen as a cure-all for sleep problems. Sometimes the root cause lies elsewhere.” A spokeswoman from the Therapeutic Goods Administration encouraged parents to speak with their doctor about the use of melatonin in children. “Melatonin is only approved for use in children as a prescription medicine in limited circumstances. Melatonin (gummies or otherwise) are not approved for use in Australia for children for any other use, noting the TGA has not evaluated the safety or efficacy for broader use in this age group.” “The TGA urges consumers to exercise extreme caution before importing unapproved medicines into Australia for personal or family members use. “Prescription medicines purchased online may contain undisclosed harmful ingredients or may be counterfeit or fake.” WA-based sleep consultant Tara Mitchell has worked with families to reduce melatonin intake and said her approach involved kind but firm boundaries, less screen time, connection between parents and children in the lead up to bedtime and time spent outdoors. “The pace of life is a huge factor. Parents are worn down, everyone’s exhausted, children are moving their bodies less and screens are a big factor,” she said. In response to customer complaints, iHerb said it understood many were disappointed with the decision. “While melatonin is no longer available, the good news is there are plenty of other gentle, natural options that can help,” the company said. “We have a variety of sleep support formulas and supplements designed to promote relaxation and help you achieve healthy rest.”