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The Sleep Edit

The Sleep Edit

Craig Canapari MD & Arielle Greenleaf

Kids & Family
Health & Fitness

Frequency: 1 episode/43d. Total Eps: 21

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Join Dr. Craig Canapari and Arielle Greenleaf as they explore the intricacies of children's sleep issues with clarity and a touch of levity. They'll unpack the science behind sleep and offer evidence-based strategies to improve nighttime routines. As the director of Yale's Pediatric Sleep Center and an accomplished author, Dr. Canapari brings a wealth of knowledge, while Arielle's expertise as a Pediatric Sleep Consultant provides practical insights for parents seeking tranquility at bedtime. Together, they're your guides to better sleep for your little ones—and for you.
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Debunking Bad Online Sleep Advice

Episode 19

dimanche 31 mai 2026 • Duration 53:18

Your child's cortisol is not a problem you need to manage — and most of the scary sleep advice that says otherwise is built on a misreading of the science. Craig and Arielle take on the claims that spread fastest online and hold up worst: the "overtired baby floods with cortisol" story, rigid wake windows, the 3-6-9 rule and the Wonder Weeks, magnesium lotions, melatonin as a quick fix, and the "biologically correct" 7 p.m. bedtime. It's an episode about why simple, absolute rules go viral while real answers — nuanced, and dependent on your actual child — do not. They close on the hardest question a tired parent faces: in an unregulated field full of confident strangers, how do you tell a trustworthy sleep expert from a good marketer?


Key Takeaways

  • The "overtired child floods with cortisol and can't sleep" claim gets the science backwards. Poor sleep can nudge cortisol up, but cortisol is a marker of inadequate sleep, not its cause — and it is not something parents need to manage at home.
  • The Middlemiss (2012) study used to argue that sleep training is harmful had no control group and studied infants in an unfamiliar inpatient setting, nothing like sleep training at home. Better-controlled work, including Gradisar's randomized trial, found infant cortisol did not rise after sleep training. A few hard nights are brief, harmless stress — not the chronic toxic stress that genuinely affects development.
  • Wake windows describe something real — sleep drive builds the longer a child is awake — but the rigid, age-based formulas online are not research-based. Watch the child in front of you and their 24-hour sleep totals, not a chart. "Average" sleep needs span wide ranges and were never meant as individual targets.
  • Magnesium lotions have no evidence they do anything; melatonin is a hormone, not a routine fix for healthy children, and should follow behavioral changes and a conversation with your pediatrician. Melatonin is now the most common substance U.S. children accidentally ingest — store it like medication.
  • For most children before puberty, a bedtime roughly between 7:30 and 8:30 works well; an artificially early bedtime mostly manufactures bedtime battles. And the pediatrician is the first stop for sleep questions — "evidence-based" has become a marketing phrase, so ask any consultant how they actually make decisions.


Links

Studies & research

Further reading on cortisol, sleep training, attachment, and online misinformation:

Craig's articles

Resources & past episodes mentioned


Get in touch & next steps

Episode 18: Your Questions, Answered

Episode 18

mercredi 22 avril 2026 • Duration 57:44

We opened the mailbag. Craig and Arielle grouped dozens of listener questions by theme and worked through them — covering infant sleep and the SNOO, night wakings that seem to defy logic, 4 AM toddler wake-ups, bedtime resistance, a 5-year-old with "bad dreams" that aren't actually scary, daycare nap chaos, and a rapid-fire round on floor beds, crib-to-bed transitions, and whether you have to sleep train at all. Some of it is practical, some is reassuring, and a few answers hinge on the difference between a behavior problem and a medical one.

Key Takeaways

  • Safe sleep comes first. In the first six months especially: flat, firm surface; room-share without bed-share; no soft bedding. If an infant genuinely can't tolerate lying flat, that's a pediatrician conversation, not a sleep-training one.
  • When night wakings look random on the "same" schedule, average total sleep over seven days. Clock-time schedules can hide big variation in actual sleep amounts — and total sleep is what the child's body is optimizing against.
  • A pattern of 4–5 hours of solid sleep followed by wakings every 2–3 hours almost always points to a sleep-onset association. If your child falls asleep with you present, they tend to need you present to transition between each subsequent sleep cycle.
  • The right order for night weaning, room transition, and sleep training: get the baby into their own sleep space first, then address feeding, then sleep train. Don't layer sleep training on an unresolved feeding problem, and don't put an infant on a floor bed.
  • A toddler whose sleep is consistently wrecked by mild congestion deserves a look for obstructive sleep apnea — especially if they snore when well. Benadryl only "works" because it sedates; it doesn't dry up viral secretions, and OTC cough/cold products aren't recommended under 6.
  • You don't have to sleep train. If your child and household are sleeping well enough, there's nothing to fix. Sleep training is a tool for when someone in the house is suffering — not a milestone to hit.

Links

Studies, articles & posts

People & books mentioned

Get in touch & next steps

Episode 10: Mailbag Episode

Episode 10

dimanche 27 octobre 2024 • Duration 58:53

In this mailbag episode, Dr. Canapari and Arielle respond to listener questions covering infant sleep, early waking, transitioning from co-sleeping, travel disruptions, nighttime fears, sleep disorders, and more. From “first daylight savings” tips to strategies for toddlers with anxiety, each answer offers practical insights for a wide range of pediatric sleep challenges.

Links

Chapters:

[00:01:09] Intro

[00:01:14] Infant Sleep Patterns and Challenges

• [00:01:33] Lauren: When do babies start dreaming?

• [00:03:00] Susan: Tips for differentiating between waking to feed and needing sleep in a 5-month-old?

• [00:06:26] Andrea: How to sleep train at night when daycare sleep is limited?

• [00:08:07] Chelsea: Avoiding early wakings for a sleep-trained 6.5-month-old.

• [00:10:25] Kaitlin: Daylight savings time tips for a 7-month-old.

• [00:14:37] Kayleigh: Breaking the cycle of middle-of-the-night babbling and crying in a 9-month-old.

• [00:18:07] Francia: How to sleep train an 8-month-old.

[00:19:30] Early Morning Waking and Sleep Regressions

• [00:19:30] Brittany: How to handle nighttime wakings to maintain sleep progress.

• [00:21:34] Chelsea: Troubleshooting early morning wakings for a sleep-trained 6.5-month-old.

• [00:22:02] Hunter: Strategies for a 6- and 4-year-old who wake very early.

• [00:23:00] Pauline: Addressing early waking for kids with ASD who take melatonin.

[00:28:00] Co-Sleeping and Sleep Transitions

• [00:28:00] Holly: Transitioning a 2-year-old from co-sleeping to independent sleeping.

• [00:31:57] Ashley: Transitioning from co-sleeping with a 3-year-old for better parent comfort.

• [00:34:34] Katy: Encouraging a 3-year-old to stay in her own bed at night.

• [00:35:00] Kimberly: Addressing frequent night wakings and crying in a 3-year-old.

• [00:40:00] Holly: How to get a 3-year-old to stop using a parent as part of their sleep routine.

[00:42:20] Travel and Disruptions in Routine

• [00:42:20] Abby: Helping a 10-month-old sleep better while traveling.

[00:44:10] Nighttime Anxiety and Sleep Fears

• [00:44:10] Andrea: Supporting a 4-year-old who is afraid to sleep alone.

• [00:45:39] Stephanie: Determining when it’s necessary to help a 2-year-old fall back asleep.

• [00:46:59] Lesley: Strategies for helping a 7-year-old grandchild stay asleep until morning.

• [00:48:39] Dr. Ula: Assisting a 19-month-old who needs comfort to sleep through the night.

[00:51:00] Sleep Disorders and Medical Concerns

• [00:51:00] Sarah: Can REM Sleep Behavior Disorder lead to complex sleep actions like opening doors?

• [00:52:53] Wenjing: Tips for transitioning a 7-month-old with reflux to crib sleep.

[00:55:00] Sleep Training Questions

• [00:55:00] Amelia, Juan, and Baby Tonio: Ending bedtime crying after sleep training.

Episode 9: Insomnia in Grown-Ups, with Dr. Shelby Harris

Episode 12

mercredi 28 août 2024 • Duration 40:19

In this episode of the Sleep Edit podcast, we welcome Dr. Shelby Harris, a leading expert in behavioral sleep medicine. Often, parents are struggling even after their kid's sleep problems are addressed. We talk about the common sleep challenges faced by parents focusing on the impact of stress, hormonal changes, and modern technology on sleep quality. Dr. Harris provides insights into the diagnosis and treatment of insomnia, emphasizing cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTI) and its effectiveness over medication for long-term improvement. The conversation also explores the practicalities of sleep hygiene, sleep restriction, and the influence of consumer sleep tracking technologies. 

Links:

Episode 8: Things That Go Bump in the Night with Dr. Sujay Kansagra

Episode 8

lundi 8 juillet 2024 • Duration 56:22

In this episode of the Sleep Edit, Craig and Arielle are thrilled to welcome Dr. Sujay Kansagra of Duke University to discuss the weird and wonderful world of parasomnias, restless leg syndrome, and restless sleep disorder in children. Parasomnias include NREM parasomnias (sleep walking, hypnic jerks, night terrors) and REM parasomnias (sleep paralysis and nightmares).

  • 00:00 Introduction and Disclaimer 
  • 01:09 Parenting Anecdotes and Guest Introduction 
  • 02:22 Journey into Medical Social Media 
  • 05:21 The Importance of Engaging Content 
  • 10:50 Understanding Parasomnias 
  • 15:25 Non-REM vs REM Parasomnias 
  • 24:26 Night Terrors and Sleepwalking 
  • 28:17 Fever Dreams and Sleep Disruptions 
  • 28:58 Genetic Predispositions and Sleep Studies 
  • 29:21 Scheduled Awakenings and Melatonin 
  • 30:23 Nightmares vs. Night Terrors 
  • 31:39 Sleepwalking Safety Tips 
  • 37:43 Understanding Restless Leg Syndrome 
  • 48:58 Restless Sleep Disorder 
  • 53:38 Final Thoughts and Parenting Advice

Links


Transcript
Audio Sleep Edit 8 Sujay Kansagra
[00:00:00] Arielle Greenleaf:
[00:00:00] Welcome to the Sleep Edit, a podcast devoted to helping tired kids and parents sleep better. We focus on actionable evidence-based sleep advice, so everyone in your home can sleep through the night. Now, a quick disclaimer, this podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional healthcare services, including the giving of medical advice.
[00:00:27] Craig Canapari MD: No doctor patient relationship is formed. The use of this information and the materials linked to this podcast and any associated video content are at the user’s own risk. The content on the show is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical help for any medical condition they have
[00:00:53] or that their children may have, they should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions. Nothing [00:01:00] stated here reflects the views of our employers or the employees of our guests. Enjoy the show.
[00:01:09] Okay. I am just doing the very important
[00:01:11] work of giving my 13-year-old more screen time on the Xbox, so he at least is not screaming during this.
[00:01:18] Arielle Greenleaf: Oh yeah.
[00:01:19] Sujay Kansagra: as I say, not as I do in the world of parenting.
[00:01:22] Craig Canapari MD: So listen, let’s
[00:01:23] get started from the top. welcome back to the sleep edit. I am Dr. Craig Canapari
[00:01:28] Arielle Greenleaf: I’m Arielle Greenleaf.
[00:01:30] Craig Canapari MD: it is my great pleasure to welcome my friend Dr. Sujay Kansagra on today.
[00:01:35] He’s a pediatric sleep doctor and neurologist. He attended Duke for medical school, went to UNC for residency and fellowship, and made, a triumphant return to Duke afterwards.
[00:01:44] Sujay Kansagra: Lost some friends during the transition, but yes.
[00:01:47] Craig Canapari MD: I gotta tell you, man,
[00:01:49] as a lifelong UConn basketball fan, I’ve got wild beef with Duke.
[00:01:53] Sujay Kansagra: Yes. I can understand that. Listen, people ask me now, who do I support? ’cause UNC is where I started as an undergrad, and so the [00:02:00] basketball allegiance still lies there. But for medicine, I’d cheer for Duke.
[00:02:03] Craig Canapari MD: I still remember UConn losing to Duke in 1990 the first time they made the tournament.
[00:02:09] Sujay Kansagra: I remember UConn beating Duke in the finals. This was probably 1999, 2000. we were very excited at UNC for your win.
[00:02:17] Craig Canapari MD: Oh yeah. And let me tell you that every time I’ve won a basketball pool, it’s because UNC has won..
[00:02:21] Sujay Kansagra: Yes.
[00:02:22] Craig Canapari MD: I just wanna talk a little bit about your online presence, because when did you start med school advice? ’cause that’s how you first came on my radar.
[00:02:31] Sujay Kansagra: This is like the original back when, the day we called it Twitter.
[00:02:35] I was still a resident. I was a child neurology resident and we were talking earlier, this was really the wild west of social media. Folks in medicine were just getting
[00:02:44] their foot in the door and learning to navigate the social media
[00:02:47] channels. And back then my goal was just to give, just advice because I grew up having an older
[00:02:52] sister that went to medicine that helped guide me and I’m like a lot of people that don’t understand, what it takes to consider medicine, what a life in medicine [00:03:00] is.
[00:03:00] So I started blogging in 2012 and I felt like at that point it was already too late, right? Because there were already like people out there who have been doing it since the early two thousands. I think Howard Luks was on from like the 1999 or something. when your pediatric sleep book came out and it’s great guys. You all should buy it. My Child Won’t Sleep. A quick guide to the sleep deprived parent. I’d been blogging for two or three years and I’m like, man, this guy wrote a book. I better up my game here.
[00:03:27] Yeah. Who is this guy yeah, I mean that book, it’s funny ’cause I was doing a lot of the research behind it when I was a new father and I was also reading all the books that are out there just to get some background information what is Weissbluth saying what is Ferber saying? We knew the techniques, but what do you have in these 400 pages? And, part of me, when it came to the techniques I was screaming at the book just
[00:03:48] tell me the technique. I already knew the technique, but I’m like, where is it? These are sleep deprived
[00:03:52] parents, I’m like, just where’s your technique?
[00:03:55] And that was the impetus behind the book. Just give it to them straight. Give it a step by step approach. And [00:04:00] it’s probably too slimmed down because unfortunately I glossed over a lot of the other issues like parasomnias and restless leg and sleep apnea. It’s just
[00:04:07] behavioral insomnia approaches. Cognitive behavioral therapy approaches for older kids.
[00:04:11] Delayed circadian rhythm stuff for older children as well. Just the core things that you can modify without needing a physician sometimes,
[00:04:19] Arielle Greenleaf: I think That’s really valuable in just in what I do. Parents are just, there’s so...

Episode 7: Newborn Sleep Insights

Episode 7

lundi 6 mai 2024 • Duration 01:01:12

Today, Craig and Arielle unpack the often mystifying world of newborn sleep—those crucial first three months. The inspiration for this episode was Craig’s new niece, who was 2 weeks old at the time of recording. Whether you’re navigating the unpredictable waters of infant sleep or just curious about what’s normal, this episode promises to arm you with the insights you need to feel a bit more in control—or at least to understand that sometimes, chaos is just part of the parenting package.

  • [00:00:00] Introduction and disclaimer
  • [00:01:09] Welcoming listeners back and introducing the episode’s focus on newborn sleep
  • [00:02:12] Discussion on the erratic nature of newborn sleep
  • [00:03:22] Personal story about sleep expectations with a newborn
  • [00:08:21] Explanation of active sleep in newborns and advice for parents
  • [00:10:41] Impact of external factors like maternity and paternity leave on sleep
  • [00:14:26] Transition to detailed discussion on sleep cues and signs of tiredness in newborns
  • [00:21:08] Exploring the science of sleep cycles and the development of circadian rhythms
  • [00:26:35] Discussion on the “witching hour” and strategies to cope with it
  • [00:32:23] Month-by-month sleep development and expectations
  • [00:37:38] Review of sleep tools and technologies affecting newborn sleep
  • [00:42:35] Closing remarks and where to find more resources

Notable Quotes:

  • Craig Canapari MD: “Things will get better with time, even if you’re really struggling. It’s funny, my older son was one of those babies that we took him home from the hospital. My wife had a c-section the first night. And he slept six hours overnight.”
  • Arielle Greenleaf: “I think one of the biggest things I wish I had known back in the day was I didn’t know really about active sleep. And so I think when she was coming, she’s going through that, what did you call it?”
  • Arielle Greenleaf: “I always tell newborn parents, don’t rush. They will tell you if they need you. They will, they have lungs and they can scream.”
  • Craig Canapari MD: “A newborn, that could be anywhere from 13 to 14 hours per or 20 hours within a 24 hour period. So if you have a baby who’s natural sleep needs at that point is 20 hours a day, you are gonna feel like a parenting genius.”

Links and Resources:

Connect with Us! Send us an email about questions, feedback, or ideas for future topics. 


Transcript
Ep 7 newborn sleep audio
[00:00:00]
[00:00:00] Speaker: Welcome to the Sleep Edit, a podcast devoted to helping tired kids and parents sleep better. We focus on actionable evidence-based sleep advice, so everyone in your home can sleep through the night. Now, a quick disclaimer, this podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional healthcare services, including the giving of medical advice.
[00:00:27] No doctor patient relationship is formed. The use of this information and the materials linked to this podcast and any associated video content are at the user’s own risk. The content on the show is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical help for any medical condition they have.
[00:00:52] Or that their children may have, they should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions. Nothing stated here [00:01:00] reflects the views of our employers or the employees of our guests. Enjoy the show.
[00:01:09] Craig Canapari MD: Well, welcome back to the sleep edit. I am Dr. Craig Canapari.
[00:01:12] Arielle Greenleaf (2): And I’m Arielle Greenleaf.
[00:01:14] Craig Canapari MD: We are going to talk today about a challenging topic for a lot of parents, which is specifically newborn sleep In the first three months this is very top of mind for me because my brother and his wife just had their first baby
[00:01:28] Arielle Greenleaf (2): Oh, congratulations.
[00:01:30] Craig Canapari MD: I’m an uncle now five times over, which is pretty
[00:01:33] Speaker 9: Yeah.
[00:01:33] Craig Canapari MD: I know I’m an expert uncle at this point. Top uncle uncles.com.
[00:01:40] Arielle Greenleaf (2): That’s great. I think you’d be a great uncle.
[00:01:44] Craig Canapari MD: I am a great uncle, honestly, I give good gifts, like the sorts of gifts that the parents don’t really want to give for their
[00:01:51] Arielle Greenleaf: right.
[00:01:52] Craig Canapari MD: Like Nerf guns and stuff like that. Do we do cool stuff when I get some testimonials on here from my nieces and [00:02:00] nephews?
[00:02:00] Arielle Greenleaf (2): We’re gonna talk about newborn sleep, specifically sleep in the first three months of life for infants. A challenging and confusing time for parents who are frequently sleep deprived and have a lot of support,
[00:02:12] Arielle Greenleaf: Yeah. And I think, the number one thing that I like to share with newborn parents is just that newborn sleep is erratic. And it’s, it can be frustrating because you may see programs or google schedules or methods of, scheduling your newborn and it’s just not biologically like it’s normal for a baby, a newborn sleep to be erratic.
[00:02:42] Some people have unicorn babies and they bring them home from the hospital and they sleep through the night right away. And others, like my own they are waking every one to three hours, day and night to feed and. That’s normal. So I think it’s really important for us to [00:03:00] set expectations when it comes to newborn sleep in that it is slowly, actually, it quickly matures.
[00:03:06] A lot happens over the first three months when it comes to a lot of things, but certainly with sleep.
[00:03:13] Craig Canapari MD: Yeah, I think that, things will get better with time, even if you’re really struggling. It’s funny, my older son was one of those babies that we took him home from the hospital.
[00:03:22] My wife had a c-section the first night. And he slept six hours overnight. And I woke up in the morning and I was worried that he was dead, and I ran to his room and he was okay. But I think that there’s a massive range of what is normal sleep in a 24 hour period.
[00:03:38] So for a newborn, that could be anywhere from 13 to 14 hours per or 20 hours within a 24 hour period. So if you have a baby who’s natural, Sleep needs at that point is 20 hours...

Ask us anything #1 (Ep 6)

Episode 6

lundi 1 avril 2024 • Duration 01:01:38

In our first mailbag episode, Arielle and I take a deep dive into your most pressing sleep-related questions, from the perfect setup for your toddler’s room to managing sleep challenges in children with autism. We took YOUR questions from email and Instagram. 

Timestamps:

  • [00:02:00] “What should the light setup be in a toddler’s room?”
  • [00:03:23] “Can you immediately stop using a pacifier when sleep training?”
  • [00:05:39] “How to introduce room sharing?”
  • [00:08:31] “Tips for jet lag when flying overseas with kids?”
  • [00:11:30] “How much movement during sleep is typical in an elementary schooler?”
  • [00:15:05] “Is it okay to use melatonin for sleep issues in kids?”
  • [00:22:44] “How to manage bedtime for children with autism?”
  • [00:28:47] “Dealing with night nursing and weaning issues.”
  • [00:36:00] “How do we break the cycle of bottle feeding and rocking to sleep for a 2-year-old?”
  • [00:39:00] “Will removing a nighttime sleep crutch result in split nights?”
  • [00:51:27] “Should weekend naps match daycare schedule for a 6-month-old?”
  • [00:53:10] “Recommendations for a 3-year-old inconsistent in taking naps.”
  • [00:55:00] “How to handle a baby’s strong preference for one parent at bedtime.”
  • [00:57:16] “Helping a 6-year-old with congenital heart disease to sleep better.”

Notable Quotes from the Episode:

  • “It should be dark enough in your kid’s room that you can’t read a book by the light.” – Dr. Craig Canapari
  • “The sooner you can eliminate the pacifier, the better.” – Arielle Greenleaf
  • “Kids adjust more quickly to new time zones than adults do.” – Dr. Craig Canapari
  • “Melatonin is not a magic bullet. It’s part of a broader strategy.” – Dr. Craig Canapari
  • “Natural light is very helpful for adjusting to new time zones.” – Arielle Greenleaf
  • “Being a little bit careful with screens before bedtime can help with jet lag.” – Dr. Craig Canapari
  • “Restless leg syndrome in kids is typically associated with both sensory and sleep issues.” – Dr. Craig Canapari
  • “Swap your child’s fear of not having the pacifier with germophobia and you’re all set.” – Dr. Craig Canapari, humorously suggesting a strategy for weaning off pacifiers.

Links

Got sleep questions? Drop us a line for a future episode

Transcript

[00:00:00] Craig Canapari MD: Welcome to the Sleep Edit, a podcast devoted to helping tired kids and parents sleep better. We focus on actionable evidence-based sleep advice, so everyone in your home can sleep through the night. Now, a quick disclaimer, this podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional healthcare services, including the giving of medical advice.
[00:00:27] No doctor patient relationship is formed. The use of this information and the materials linked to this podcast and any associated video content are at the user’s own risk. The content on the show is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical help for any medical condition they have.
[00:00:52] Or that their children may have, they should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions. Nothing stated here [00:01:00] reflects the views of our employers or the employees of our guests. Enjoy the show.
[00:01:09] Okay, welcome back to the sleep edit. This is going to be our first, I don’t know if it’s ask us anything.
[00:01:16] Mailbag episode. I am Dr. Craig Canapari.
[00:01:20] Arielle Greenleaf: I’m Ariel Greenleaf, certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant.
[00:01:24]
[00:01:25] Arielle Greenleaf: Oh
[00:01:25] Craig Canapari MD: we asked you these few questions and my son said these
[00:01:29] Arielle Greenleaf: Yeah.
[00:01:30] Craig Canapari MD: which I think is actually incorrect.
[00:01:32] Arielle Greenleaf: deese nutz, yeah.
[00:01:34] Craig Canapari MD: But
[00:01:34] Arielle Greenleaf: he has a lot to learn.
[00:01:36] Craig Canapari MD: it was the only one like that I got. We solicited questions on Instagram via email.
[00:01:42] We also have a email for the show people can send questions to for future episodes, the Sleep Edit show@gmail.com. Let’s get into it. Let’s go through these Instagram ones first. They’re short and
[00:01:57] Arielle Greenleaf: All right.
[00:01:59] Craig Canapari MD: [00:02:00] Okay. What should the light set up be in a toddler’s room?
[00:02:04] Arielle Greenleaf: The light set up.
[00:02:06] Craig Canapari MD: You know what, I get this a lot actually. And what I would say to parents is, pitch black is the best but a lot of toddlers and younger kids like nightlights my kind of rule of thumb is first of all, it should be dark enough in your kid’s room that you can’t read while you’re sitting in the room.
[00:02:23] Read a book. And second of all, if your child insists on having a light, make it so the light is not shining directly in their eyes, you can sometimes put a lamp behind a piece of furniture, et cetera. The less the better.
[00:02:35] Arielle Greenleaf: Yeah, I think sometimes people come to me and Their problem is, oh he has to sleep with the light on And obviously that’s just not conducive to healthy sleep.
[00:02:47] Craig Canapari MD: Yeah. And there’s lots of different things you can do. I think in the last episode with Dr. Gray, we talked a lot about resources for fear of the dark. Can be very useful.
[00:02:57] Arielle Greenleaf: Yes, absolutely. I [00:03:00] think It’s best to say as dark as possible until your child says something about it. And they may never say something about it, but it may become a thing around the toddler years. But certainly an infant is not afraid of the dark.
[00:03:15] Craig Canapari MD: Yeah. So Ariel...

Tackling Anxiety and Sleep Issues in Children: A Psychologist's Perspective

Episode 5

lundi 18 mars 2024 • Duration 01:01:30

In this episode, Dr. Canapari and Arielle welcome their first guest, pediatric psychologist Dr. Danielle Garay from the Yale Pediatric Sleep Program to discuss the role of psychology in treating children's sleep difficulties, focusing on anxiety, nighttime fears, tantrums, and separation anxiety. 

Important Sections:

  • [00:03:09] The role of a psychologist in the care of children with sleep difficulties
  • [00:07:47] Discussion on temperament and its relevance to sleep difficulties
  • [00:10:12] Advice for dealing with nighttime fears in children
  • [00:17:56] Managing nighttime tantrums in toddlers and preschoolers
  • [00:39:49] Explanation of separation anxiety and its manifestation at night
  • [00:44:58] Understanding accommodations and their role in managing anxiety
  • [00:52:55] Using reward structures and incentives for behavior change in children

Highlighted Quotes:

"It is such a powerful intervention to be able to help people with their sleep." - Dr. Danielle Garay

"Tantrum has such a negative connotation, and it's not like a child is choosing to have a tantrum, and I feel like sometimes parents see it as the child choosing to have that tantrum and cause chaos at bedtime. And it's really just not the case." - Arielle Greenleaf

"True boundaries should require the other person to do nothing. It's you setting the boundary for yourself." - Dr. Danielle Garay

"Small changes in parental behavior can lead to significant improvements in a child's sleep." – Dr. Craig Canapari

Links

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Busting Sleep Myths: From Wake Windows to Sleepy Teens (Ep. 4)

Episode 4

lundi 4 mars 2024 • Duration 48:14

Today, we’re cutting through the noise to bring clarity to some common pediatric sleep myths that frequently confuse tired parents. Dr. Canapari and Arielle are tackling:

  • Wake windows
  • Sleep regressions
  • Nap strikes
  • Whether you should or should not wake a sleeping baby
  • Teenage sleep myths

Notable Quotes:

  • “Children are as unique in their sleep needs as they are in their personalities. It’s our job to guide, not dictate, their path to better sleep.” – Dr. Craig Canapari
  • “The concept of wake windows has become a maze for parents. Let’s simplify and tailor sleep strategies to fit the child, not the other way around.” – Ariel Greenleaf
  • “Initiating a bedtime routine early is key, but adjusting strategies as your child grows is equally important.” – Dr. Craig Canapari on establishing and evolving sleep routines.
  • “Addressing sleep is not just about tonight’s rest; it’s about setting a foundation for healthy sleep habits that last a lifetime.” – Arielle Greenleaf

Time Stamps:

  • 00:00 Introduction and Discussion on Naps
  • 00:15 Debunking Sleep Myths and Discussing Wake Windows
  • 08:44 Understanding Sleep Regressions
  • 17:17 The Controversy of Nap Strikes
  • 23:05 The Impact of Napping on Nighttime Sleep
  • 23:39 The Role of Daycare in Children’s Sleep Patterns
  • 25:35 Debunking Sleep Myths: Late Bedtimes and Desired Wake Times
  • 38:22 The Controversy of Sleep Training
  • 42:38 The Struggle of Teenagers with Early School Start Times
  • 45:33 Closing Thoughts and Future Advocacy

Show notes

Questions or feedback? Email us here. We are collecting questions for future Q&A shows!

Video of show

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Transcript
4 sleep myths audio only
[00:00:00] Craig Canapari MD: Welcome to the Sleep Edit, a podcast devoted to helping tired kids and parents sleep better. We focus on actionable evidence-based sleep advice, so everyone in your home can sleep through the night. Now, a quick disclaimer, this podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional healthcare services, including the giving of medical advice.
[00:00:27] No doctor patient relationship is formed. The use of this information and the materials linked to this podcast and any associated video content are at the user’s own risk. The content on the show is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical help for any medical condition they have.
[00:00:52] Or that their children may have, they should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions. Nothing stated here [00:01:00] reflects the views of our employers or the employees of our guests. Enjoy the show.
[00:01:09] Arielle Greenleaf: Welcome back to the Sleep Edit our podcast where we talk about all things sleep in children. I am Dr. Craig Canapari. I’m a pediatric sleep doctor,
[00:01:19]
[00:01:19] and I’m Ariel Greenleaf, certified pediatric sleep consultant.
[00:01:23] Craig Canapari MD: Okay, So we thought it would be fun today to talk about, sleep myths, sleep pet peeves things that I think are in common circulation in the world of pediatric sleep and the information that parents get that we don’t think are either particularly useful or accurate.
[00:01:41] Ariel, I think on our list here, you put one of the things we’ve talked about at length wake windows
[00:01:47] Arielle Greenleaf: Yes
[00:01:47] Craig Canapari MD: wake windows are not a thing that are discussed in pediatric sleep doctor school, and we’ll get into the reasons for that. I had not even heard about these before a few years ago.
[00:01:56] And then I started researching and I saw that this was all over [00:02:00] the internet. And I don’t know if you want to take a pass at explaining what weak windows are Exactly.
[00:02:05] Arielle Greenleaf: Yeah.
[00:02:06] Wake windows are essentially age-based windows of time during which your child should be awake before they go back to sleep. So time between sleep periods during the day. Basically, it’s a system to determine when your baby or child is ready to go to sleep for a nap.
[00:02:27] Craig Canapari MD: Yeah, and it was interesting I think the idea behind wake windows is not a bad one, right? For lots of different reasons, parents struggle, especially in infants about the timing of naps. So any system that purports to tell you the ideal formula for when your child should nap seems like a great idea, but I would say the problem is. there’s really not a lot of evidence that these things are particularly predictable.
[00:02:57] Arielle Greenleaf: Sure, and I’m glad to [00:03:00] hear that on your end. It’s basically the same as what I experience, at least with the people that come to me even though there may not be a science, there’s no scientific background to it or there’s no medical background to it for easier babies or go with the flow babies, these formulas can work.
[00:03:18] But those aren’t the people that I’m seeing. Those aren’t the people that come to me and say, I’ve looked these up, I’ve tried them, it’s not working. Is my baby broken? Am I doing something wrong? And that’s where I have a problem with the idea of wake windows. the majority of the people who come to me and are struggling have found these wake windows by Googling or looking on social media and it’s just not working for them.
[00:03:41] And they feel like something’s wrong. And that’s where I start to get frustrated because it is wake windows are literally everywhere. You look as a parent, and you say, how do I get my baby to nap? Just use these wake windows And it can be very confusing and frustrating when it doesn’t work.
[00:03:58] Craig Canapari MD: Yeah. And I think [00:04:00] this is my main problem with it, right? There are parents will say, oh, wake windows really help me with my baby’s naps. I think the problem is i...

To CIO and Beyond! Making good decisions about extinction sleep training

Episode 3

mercredi 7 février 2024 • Duration 52:18

In this episode, we talk about the controversial method of 'Cry It Out' (CIO) or Extinction Sleep Training. This approach, often misunderstood and feared, can be a quick and efficient method to improve a child's sleep. We go deep on the criteria for its successful implementation, discussing age-appropriateness, parental consistency, and prioritizing safety and health. We also cover that the method is not suitable for all children or families, and alternative methods like bedtime fading and pick up/put down are also considered. Finally, we cover importance of sleep training for both children and parents to improve the overall family dynamic. (Full transcript and a video are available here). 

Here are the three key take-aways from the episode:

Be open to trying different sleep training methods - What works well for one child's temperament may not work for another. Give a new method 3-5 nights before deciding if it's effective.

"Gentle" is not always better - Sitting in the room while ignoring crying (camping out) can actually prolong upset in some young babies. More separation may help them learn to self-soothe faster.

Cry it out is generally safe when done responsively - Research shows no long term emotional harm. But if excessive crying persists beyond expectations, reevaluate and adjust. Be responsive to your baby's needs.

  • 00:00 Introduction to the Sleep Edit
  • 00:03 Discussing Cry It Out (CIO) Method
  • 00:09 Introducing Arielle Greenleaf
  • 01:08 The Controversy Around Sleep Training
  • 02:56 Understanding Different Sleep Training Techniques
  • 03:43 The Importance of Sleep for Children and Parents
  • 04:02 Defining Sleep Training Terms
  • 09:21 The Impact of Parenting Styles on Sleep Training
  • 09:27 The Role of Attachment Theory in Sleep Training
  • 17:03 The Effectiveness of Extinction Sleep Training
  • 24:46 Sleep Training in the Era of Room Sharing
  • 28:14 The Power of Parental Presence
  • 29:12 Understanding the Importance of Age-Appropriate Schedules
  • 29:56 The Role of Routine in Sleep Training
  • 30:58 The Challenges of Nap Time
  • 31:40 Who is Extinction Sleep Training For?
  • 33:35 The Importance of Consistency in Sleep Training
  • 36:54 The First Year of Life: Sleep Expectations and Realities
  • 39:22 The Pitfalls of Sleep Training Methods
  • 42:59 The Role of Feeding in Sleep Training
  • 45:56 Alternatives to Extinction Sleep Training

Links:

Questions or feedback? Email us here. We are collecting questions for future Q&A shows!

Assistant producer: Theodore Canapari

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