Melatonin may look like a harmless solution when a child struggles to sleep, but its availability does not make it risk-free. Before reaching for a gummy, parents should understand the safety concerns and why their child is having trouble sleeping in the first place.

Eight weeks in London with two young kids, an eight-hour time difference, unfamiliar bedrooms, and very early sunrises offered a real-world test of what actually matters for children’s sleep while traveling. The biggest takeaway? Familiar routines and plenty of practice sleeping away from home mattered far more than recreating the perfect sleep environment.

Dr. Shantha Gowda shares how both of her babies developed healthy, predictable sleep, but on very different timelines. This personal and evidence-based reflection helps parents understand why baby sleep is shaped by feeding, temperament, development, and sleep science—not one-size-fits-all rules.