Holidays can be a time of joy, family, and fun—but they can also throw a wrench into your child’s sleep routine. Whether it’s late-night celebrations, travel to visit relatives, or adjusting to time zone changes, holiday sleep disruptions are a challenge for many parents. But don’t worry—we’ve got you covered.

In this episode of The Sleep Edit, we cover practical strategies for navigating holiday sleep challenges for children of all ages. From tips for maintaining flexibility while traveling, to handling sugar-fueled energy spikes and keeping routines intact, this conversation is packed with actionable advice to help your family enjoy the season while staying (relatively) well-rested. They’ll even share some pro tips, like the ultimate New Year’s Eve bedtime trick you won’t want to miss.

Remember: holiday sleep doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to work for you and your family. So, give yourself some grace, enjoy the cookies, and focus on the quality of your time together.

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

Welcome to The Sleep Edit, the podcast that helps tired kids and parents sleep better. Each week, Dr. Craig Canapari and sleep consultant Arielle Greenleaf break down evidence-based strategies you can actually use.

Why are nap transitions so confusing—and why do they so often derail nights? In Part 2 of our napping series, Craig and Arielle dig into the real-world challenges families face when moving from 3→2 naps, 2→1 nap, and eventually dropping naps entirely. Using concrete examples, sleep-need math, and practical troubleshooting, this episode explains exactly what to look for and how to navigate every transition with less stress.

• How to know when it’s time to drop a nap

• The signs of a nap transition vs. a temporary “nap strike”

• Why total 24-hour sleep matters more than wake-window charts

• What typical daytime sleep looks like for infants and toddlers

• The sleep math behind transitions (high vs. low sleep-need kids)

• How daycare schedules can derail naps—and what parents can control

• Strategies for capping naps, shifting schedules, and preventing bedtime battles

• When early morning awakenings actually signal too much daytime sleep

Why do some toddlers nap like champs while others refuse entirely? In Part 1 of our Napping Spectacular, Craig and Arielle unpack what the science says about total sleep needs, how nap patterns change across infancy and early childhood, and the very real “art” of troubleshooting naps at home. We cover when to drop naps, how brain development (especially the hippocampus) affects nap transitions, what to do about short naps, and how to keep daytime sleep from stealing restorative overnight sleep. We also talk through safe approaches to contact naps and why it’s normal for newborns to have unpredictable naps and periods of crying.

Listener questions: [email protected]

Tips for Infants, Toddlers, and Teens In this episode of the Sleep Edit podcast, hosts Dr. Craig Canapari and Arielle Greenleaf provide evidence-based tips and strategies to help parents manage their children's sleep during the summer and back-to-school transitions. They discuss common issues such as later bedtimes, disrupted routines, increased screen time, and the impact of travel on sleep patterns.

The Structured Days hypothesis

Study of 9-15 year olds showed that later shift was associated with poorer dietary cohoices

Resources (slides and references) from Dr. Canapari’s talk on Covid-19 and sleep

The Forbidden Zone and what it means for putting your kid down

Vacation “sleep”: How to get shuteye when on the move

Dr. Canapari’s article on summer sleep and back to school

Camping as a way to reset sleep schedules

This episode of The Sleep Edit is all about you—our listeners. We’re tackling the most common (and frustrating) pediatric sleep challenges straight from your inbox:

Whether you’re a parent in the trenches or a sleep consultant supporting families, this episode is packed with actionable insights and real-world context.

00:00 — Welcome & Disclaimer

01:55 — How Long Should a One-Nap Schedule Last?

A parent asks how long to let a toddler nap after transitioning to one nap—without disrupting night sleep.

04:24 — Does Your Toddler Need a Later Bedtime?

Signs that bedtime might be too early and what research says about optimal timing.

07:15 — Arielle’s Take on 24-Hour Sleep

A fellow consultant asks Arielle how she explains this foundational concept.

10:32 — What Is 24-Hour Sleep Anyway?

A parent wants to understand how to think about total daily sleep needs.

12:59 — Easiest Way to Night Wean a Toddler

Strategies for toddlers waking twice a night for milk.

16:05 — Why Were 80s Babies “Better Sleepers”?

Craig answers a fun cultural question: Have parenting expectations changed—or is it selective memory?

21:18 — 4-Year-Old Suddenly Waking All Night (Tried Everything)

Becky shares a sleep regression story after months of solid sleep and multiple failed interventions.

26:45 — 2-Year-Old Needs Touch to Fall Asleep, Progressive Breaks Failing

Charlotte asks whether this method is right for her daughter after meltdowns.

32:17 — 7-Year-Old with Bedtime Anxiety & Nightmares

A parent shares a common dilemma: supporting an anxious child without becoming a permanent bedtime fixture.

39:12 — 5-Year-Old Calls Out But Stays in Bed

Carys from the UK wonders how to manage frequent call-outs from a child who does fall asleep independently.

44:06 — Toddler Wakes at 5 a.m.—Can We Shift Later?

Anjo asks how to extend a solid 7–5 schedule without creating new problems.

46:50 — Sibling Sleep Chaos: Two Kids, Two Problems

Pat shares a double trouble scenario: one kid waking for milk, another up too early and waking the house.

51:03 — Nap Refusal at Home, But Not Daycare

Morgan asks how to handle nap refusal at home after major life changes (new baby, new daycare).

55:10 — Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up

Arielle’s new website : Expect to Sleep Again

Arielle on Instagram: @expecttosleepagain

Research links:

Metanalysis showing that earlier bedtimes led to more sleep 

Small study of infants showing sleep extension with earlier bedtimes

Dr. Canapari’s articles:

Do Wake Windows Help Babies and Kids Nap Better?

How to Stop Night Feedings

Huggy puppy intervention for night time fears

Early morning awakenings: What to do about them

Bedtime pass for middle of the night awakening

Accommodations and anxiety

Progressive breaks sleep training method

Camping out method sleep training

In this episode of 'The Sleep Edit', we dig into the topic of sleep supplements for children, specifically focusing on melatonin and magnesium. Melatonin and magnesium (and "calm" and "sleep" gummies in general) have become very popular among tired parents, but what is the actual evidence for these supplements? Are they safe? What do parents need to know?

Holidays can be a time of joy, family, and fun—but they can also throw a wrench into your child’s sleep routine. Whether it’s late-night celebrations, travel to visit relatives, or adjusting to time zone changes, holiday sleep disruptions are a challenge for many parents. But don’t worry—we’ve got you covered.

In this episode of The Sleep Edit, Arielle Greenleaf and Dr. Craig Canapari discuss practical strategies for navigating holiday sleep challenges for children of all ages. From tips for maintaining flexibility while traveling, to handling sugar-fueled energy spikes and keeping routines intact, this conversation is packed with actionable advice to help your family enjoy the season while staying (relatively) well-rested. They’ll even share some pro tips, like the ultimate New Year’s Eve bedtime trick you won’t want to miss.

Remember: holiday sleep doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to work for you and your family. So, give yourself some grace, enjoy the cookies, and focus on the quality of your time together.

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

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.

[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.

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.

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).