April 02, 2024

Ask us anything #1 (Ep 6)

1 hour 1 minute

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

Sleep edit episode with Dr. Garay

Room sharing links: Dr Canapari article in the NYT ; Dr Canapari article on his website

Melatonin for Children: A Guide for Parents

Melatonin overdoses are on the rise: why parents should worry

Solving Sleep Problems in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Guide for Frazzled Families

How to stop night feeds

AAP Safe Sleep Guideline 2022

Want to stop cosleeping? Here’s how

List of sleep training methods

Early morning awakenings: what to do about them

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

...more

View all episodes

By Craig Canapari, MD and Arielle Greenleaf

1616 ratings