Last Updated on October 21, 2022
It is often difficult to discern whether a Sleepytime tea blend is safe to drink during pregnancy, especially since many of the available blends often contain various natural herbs.
Unfortunately, the main components of all of the Sleepytime tea varieties are chamomile and lemongrass, which are not deemed safe for pregnant women.
Additionally, a few other ingredients, such as Valerian root, can be potentially dangerous during pregnancy. So, if you are looking for a relaxing warm beverage before bed, opt for a pregnancy-safe herbal tea instead.
With many varieties, such as Sleepytime Extra, Sleepytime Detox, and more, let’s discuss the safety of these teas during pregnancy.
Covered in this Article:
Is Celestial Seasonings’ Sleepytime Tea Safe in Pregnancy?
Celestial Seasonings’ Sleepytime tea contains many herbs, a few of which are unsafe to consume during pregnancy. Let’s dive into some of the key players.
- Chamomile: Chamomile has not been heavily studied in pregnancy. However, some studies suggest that it can possibly cause menstruation and abortion (source: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology). It is categorized as having insufficient information available and therefore should be avoided (source: American Pregnancy Association).
- Spearmint: Spearmint is safe in average amounts during pregnancy (source: National Library of Medicine).
- Lemongrass: Lemongrass has been studied in pregnant rats. However, human evidence is lacking (source: Journal of Ethnopharmacology). Therefore, avoid consuming lemongrass during pregnancy.
- Tilia Flowers: There is insufficient evidence to support safety; therefore, consuming tea made from tilia flowers (commonly Linden tea) should be avoided.
- Blackberry Leaves: Blackberry leaves have been classified as “Use with Caution” during pregnancy due to their potential blood-sugar-lowering effects (source: Medeniyet Medical Journal).
- Hawthorn: Little is known about the safety of hawthorn consumption during pregnancy, and it should be avoided.
- Rosebuds: Rosebuds and pregnancy have not been extensively studied, and therefore, should also be avoided during pregnancy.
Therefore, primarily due to the chamomile and lemongrass, it is best to avoid consuming Celestial Seasonings’ Sleepytime Tea during pregnancy. Instead, choose a safe herbal tea as a caffeine-free nighttime beverage.
Is Sleepytime Extra Safe When Pregnant?
Celestial Seasonings’ Sleepytime Extra tea contains all ingredients listed above but also has Valerian root added. Valerian, also known as Valerian root, is a sleep-aid supplement commonly used in the United States (source: National Institutes of Health [NIH]).
It is important to note that the Celestial Seasonings’ Sleepytime Extra tea has a disclaimer that advises pregnant and nursing women to consult a health care professional before consuming.
However, Valerian is not recommended for pregnant or lactating women as there is no evidence of its safety for the fetus (source: NIH). Therefore, do not drink Sleepytime Extra tea or any tea containing Valerian root while pregnant.
If you’ve already had some of the tea and didn’t realize, it’s unlikely to have caused any harm, but it’s best to avoid it for the rest of your pregnancy.
Other Sleepytime Tea Varieties During Pregnancy
Similar to the Sleepytime Extra tea, many of the tea blends mentioned below contain a disclaimer advising the consumer to consult a health care professional if pregnant or nursing.
The following Celestial Seasonings’ Sleepytime tea blends contain chamomile, lemongrass, and other natural herbs that may be dangerous during pregnancy or simply do not have enough reliable information to support their safety.
These tea blends should be avoided during pregnancy:
- Sleepytime Decaf Lemon Jasmine: This product contains lemongrass and chamomile and should be avoided in pregnancy.
- Sleepytime Detox: Detox products can potentially cause a laxative effect, which is not recommended during pregnancy.
- Sleepytime Echinacea Immune Boost: This blend contains peppermint, which is safe in normal amounts during pregnancy (Source: BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine).
- Sleepytime Honey: Despite much concern from pregnant women, honey is recognized as safe during pregnancy. However, this tea still has chamomile, lemongrass, as well as other potentially harmful herbs and therefore should be avoided.
- Sleepytime Lavender: Lavender tea is safe in moderation during pregnancy, however, this lavender tea also contains chamomile and lemongrass and so it should not be consumed during pregnancy.
- Sleepytime Mint: Mint is safe in food amounts during pregnancy, however, this tea still contains chamomile, lemongrass, and more ingredients that should be avoided.
- Sleepytime Peach: Peach is considered safe for pregnant women. However, this tea blend also contains chamomile and lemongrass and should be avoided.
- Sleeptime Sinus Soother: The Sinus Soother contains stinging nettle and fennel, among other herbs. Fennel tea should be avoided during pregnancy, and stinging nettle should likely be avoided due to a lack of reliable information.
- Sleepytime Throat Tamer: This tea blend contains ginger, licorice root, and slippery elm. While ginger is safe, it is not recommended to consume licorice root during pregnancy. Additionally, slippery elm is classified as “Likely Safe” during pregnancy (source: American Pregnancy Association). Therefore, this tea should be avoided during pregnancy.
Since it is not recommended to consume Sleepytime tea during pregnancy, try a safe herbal tea such as ginger tea or peppermint tea. Also, a general recommendation is to reduce caffeine intake later in the day to make it easier to sleep at night.
I hope you found this article helpful in breaking down the herbs in Sleepytime teas and their safety during pregnancy.
| This article has been reviewed and approved for publication in line with our editorial policy. |