The Top 5 Sleep Supplements, According to the People Who (Now) Sleep Like Babies

Where Did All the Lullabies Go?

According to the CDC, over a third of Americans regularly fall short of getting the seven or more hours of sleep per night that they need. In addition to causing irritability and a desire for a cup of joe in the morning, sleep deprivation can have a significant impact on one’s overall health. Nowadays, there are countless self-proclaimed “sleep aids” on the market, all promising to help you get that good night’s rest. But which ones actually work?

We put together our best guide for sleep supplements: learn what to look for, what questions to ask, and how to ultimately pick the best answer for you.

What to look for before picking a sleep supplement?

Anybody looking for a new sleep supplement knows how difficult it can be to decipher what each product actually claims to accomplish. Here are some key factors to look out for next time you go shopping:

• Science-backed Components

Scientifically backed components are always the first thing to look at in a sleep supplement’s ingredient list. The supplement should contain ingredients that have been proven to help people get a good night’s sleep and are dosed correctly.

• Effective Absorption

Make sure the supplement is gentle on the stomach because, if it works, you’ll probably be using it daily. Keep an eye out for clinically tested ingredients—the better the supplement’s bioavailability (the proportion of it that reaches the bloodstream) is, the better the results will be.

• Convenient Dosage

Even if it’s a pill, spray, or tincture, the supplement should be easy and enjoyable to take at night.

• Trusted Brand

Invest in a company that is transparent about ingredients, sourcing, and testing. Independent third-party testing (which ensures a product’s purity and potency) and/or the USDA-certified organic seal are great things to look out for. Eco-friendly shipping and packaging is also a big plus.

• Affordability

Single-ingredient sleep aids tend to be the most cost-effective. High-quality, clean ingredients (organic, higher bioavailability, botanical extracts) should be paired with premium nutrients or botanical extracts in more expensive formulas.

Here Are Our Top 5 Sleep Supplements:

1. Performance Lab Sleep

A top-rated sleep supplement, Performance Lap Sleep uses natural melatonin from the Montmorency Tart Cherry plant rather than the synthetic melatonin found in most sleep aids. The benefit of the natural melatonin is you’re much less likely to wake up groggy. This supplement helps you fall asleep faster, and also helps to regulate your natural sleep cycle.

2. Nature’s Bounty Melatonin

Nature’s Bounty has a melatonin tablet supplement that’s free of artificial colors and preservatives for those with allergies. It only contains 5mg of melatonin per serving, but has positive reviews and seems to be very effective. It’s also reasonably priced, coming in at under $6 a bottle.

3. Resurge

Sleep & HGH supplement Resurge helps you sleep better with a “metabolic regeneration matrix,” consisting of amino acids and herbal extracts. It contains melatonin, 5-HTP, and L-theanine which are all effective sleep aids. (It’s worth noting that Resurge also claims to help you lose weight while you sleep which, frankly, is somewhat concerning.)

4. Trulacta

Ready for this one? Trulacta’s one-of-a-kind supplement is made with biochemicals found in human breast milk (you read that right). I guess they took “sleeping like a baby” literally. All jokes aside, the nutrients in this supplement can help maintain a strong and healthy immune system, and aid the body in its natural sleep cycles when taken an hour before bed.

5. Luna Sleep Aid

Luna’s Sleep Aid is one of the best available with its natural formula, reasonable price, and overwhelmingly positive customer feedback. It’s currently Amazon’s top-selling sleep aid with more than 9,000 verified reviews. 3mg of melatonin, 75mg of valerian root, and 75mg of chamomile extract are included in each capsule to help aid sleep from various angles. (Plus, it’s only $18 per bottle.)

Keeping Up With Your Bedtime

While sleep aids certainly aren’t a guarantee to fix all your sleep problems, they can provide a much-needed boost in your pursuit of “sweet dreams.” But with so many options out there, it’s important to stay informed and know exactly what you’re putting in your body. Feel free to experiment with what works best for you!