The Toddler Sleep Aide That (May) Actually Work(s)

We begin this recipe with a disclaimer: we cannot guarantee this toddler sleep tonic will work; you may not even be comfortable trying it out in the first place. But we can say with relative confidence that we’ve found it to be a calming sleep encourager—again, no guarantees it takes with your child—that you can adapt to a myriad of sleep-challenged situations: when your child is sick, when your child is wound up, when travel throws off your typical wake/sleep cycle, et al. Even better: it’s completely melatonin free.

That said, our version does leverage this “nighttime multivitamin,” which has some magnetism in it; it is completely optional, to say nothing of the very small dosage. Warm milk and a little cinnamon is plenty relaxing for many, so feel free to strip the recipe down to not include the chamomile tea; you can also build it up by adding a splash of tart cherry juice, which has some natural melatonin.

(Note: we typically make this tonic without measurements, which is how it’s described in the directions; approximate proportions, however, are provided in the Ingredients section for those looking for more specific guidance—just know these proportions will produce more liquid than your child will require or should have before bedtime. But you can always save the rest for another bedtime.)