Are natural or homeopathic baby sleep drops and teething tablets safe?
Not reliably. The FDA has approved no homeopathic product and has not reviewed them for safety or effectiveness. FDA testing of homeopathic teething tablets found belladonna levels that sometimes far exceeded the label, a risk the agency called unnecessary for children under 2. Herbal “sleep” products have weak evidence. Check with your child’s pediatrician before using any of them.
A note on scope: Dr. Sam is a Doctor of Pharmacy and a licensed pharmacist, not a physician. This page explains in general terms how a medicine, supplement or remedy relates to sleep; it does not replace your child’s pediatrician. Check with your child’s pediatrician before giving your child any medicine, supplement or remedy, and follow the product label.
The short answer
“Natural” and “homeopathic” are marketing and regulatory categories. They do not mean tested, gentle or safe for babies. Some of these products contain plant extracts that are poisonous in larger amounts, and manufacturing control has been a documented problem.
Parents usually look at drops and tablets because they want something gentler than medicine. The gentler route is fixing the sleep pattern itself. That is what Actually Sleeping does, with a plan written by Dr. Sam, a pharmacist who takes remedy questions seriously and sends medical ones to your pediatrician.
What the FDA says about homeopathic products
- No approvals. The FDA states that there are no FDA-approved products labeled as homeopathic, and that homeopathic products have not been reviewed by the FDA for safety and effectiveness.
- Risky ingredients. The FDA warns that homeopathic makers use sources that include known poisons or toxins, and that poor manufacturing controls can produce products that exceed their labeled strength. Some are marketed for infants and children.
- Teething tablets. FDA lab analysis of homeopathic teething tablets found belladonna alkaloids in amounts that varied from tablet to tablet and, in some, far exceeded the label. The FDA said this poses an unnecessary risk to infants and children under 2. The FDA also lists homeopathic teething tablets among teething products associated with serious risks.
- Cough and cold. The FDA advises against giving homeopathic cough and cold medicine to children younger than 4.
Herbal and supplement “sleep drops”
- Chamomile: NIH says there is no conclusive evidence from clinical trials on whether it helps sleep. People allergic to ragweed or related plants can react to it.
- Valerian: clinical trials have had inconsistent results, and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine’s 2017 guideline recommended against valerian for chronic insomnia in adults.
- Labels you cannot fully trust: the AAP notes that some sleep supplements have been found to contain other substances, such as CBD or serotonin. Read every ingredient. See is melatonin safe for babies.
- Supplements in general: NIH notes that many have not been tested in children, may contain contaminants, and sometimes do not match their labels.
Safer ways to ease teething
The FDA suggests gently rubbing your baby’s gums with a clean finger or offering a firm rubber teether (not liquid-filled, and not frozen), with supervision. It warns against benzocaine products for teething and against teething jewelry such as amber necklaces, which have been linked to strangulation and choking. For pain medicine, see does teething medicine help a baby sleep, and ask your pediatrician.
What to ask the pediatrician
- “Is this product safe at my baby’s age, and is there any reason to use it?”
- “Could my baby’s waking have a medical cause we should look at?”
- “Which pain reliever, if any, is appropriate for my baby’s age and weight?”
What a drop cannot do
Most babies who wake often are not short of anything a bottle can supply. They wake between sleep cycles and need whatever helped them fall asleep at bedtime. No drop or tablet teaches a baby to resettle, and no product knows your baby’s age, feeds, temperament or schedule.
A plan does. Actually Sleeping gives you one written for your baby, bootcamp-style coaching before the first night, daily 1:1 check-ins and naps coached until solid. It is not cry it out and not wait it out. The written guarantee: We guarantee that your baby will sleep 8–12 hours through the night within 14 days of consistent, correct implementation of your sleep plan. If not, you get a full refund. Parents describe it in the client video reviews.
Book the free consultation and skip the next bottle of drops.
Want this fixed for your baby?
Actually Sleeping is 1:1 coaching: a sleep plan written for your baby by Dr. Sam, bootcamp-style coaching before the first night, and daily check-ins until it is working. 700+ families coached, 129 video reviews, and a written guarantee: 8–12 hours through the night within 14 days, or a full refund.
Frequently asked
Are homeopathic teething tablets FDA approved?
No. The FDA states that no homeopathic products are FDA-approved and that they have not been reviewed for safety and effectiveness. FDA testing of teething tablets found belladonna levels that sometimes far exceeded the label.
Is chamomile tea okay for a toddler’s sleep?
Ask your pediatrician first. NIH says there is no conclusive clinical-trial evidence that chamomile helps sleep, and people allergic to ragweed or related plants can react to it. Never sweeten anything with honey for a baby under 12 months.
Are natural sleep drops safer than medicine?
Not necessarily. NIH notes that “natural” does not necessarily mean safe, that many supplements have not been tested in children, and that some contain contaminants or do not match their labels.
What should I use for teething at night instead?
The FDA suggests rubbing the gums with a clean finger or a firm rubber teether, not frozen. Ask your pediatrician whether a pain reliever is appropriate for your baby’s age and weight, and use the label directions.
References
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Homeopathic Products.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Some Homeopathic Products May Put You at Risk.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Laboratory Analysis of Homeopathic Teething Tablets.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Safely Soothing Teething Pain in Infants and Children.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Should You Give Kids Medicine for Coughs and Colds?
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Sleep Disorders and Complementary Health Approaches: Usefulness and Safety.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). 10 Things To Know About Dietary Supplements for Children and Teens.
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP). Melatonin for Kids: What Parents Should Know.
- CDC. Infant and Toddler Nutrition: Foods and Drinks to Avoid or Limit.