The Sleep Edit

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?

Timestamps

• 00:00 Introduction and Disclaimer 
• 01:09 Welcome Back to the Sleep Edit 
• 01:21 Melatonin and Magnesium: The Two Big Ms 
• 04:24 Understanding Melatonin 
• 06:14 Melatonin's Effects and Usage 
• 09:45 Melatonin for Children: Considerations and Concerns 
• 21:16 Dosing and Safety of Melatonin 
• 28:15 Melatonin Concerns and Parental Thoughts 
• 29:37 Safety and Alternatives to Melatonin 
• 31:28 Introduction to Magnesium for Sleep 
• 34:49 Magnesium's Role and Benefits 36:39 Challenges in Diagnosing Magnesium Deficiency 
• 38:49 Magnesium Supplementation Studies 
• 39:54 Magnesium for Children: Evidence and Recommendations 
• 47:25 Magnesium Lotions and Creams: Fact or Fiction? 
• 53:33 Final Thoughts and Practical Advice 55:44 Conclusion and Additional Resources

Links

•  Related Videos:
•  10 Things Parents Should Know About Melatonin
•  Melatonin: The Effect of Timing
• Youtube link if you want to see the graphics
•  Related Articles by Dr. Canapari:
•  Melatonin for Children: A Guide for Parents
• A simple melatonin dosing calculator for selecting the correct dose for your child. 
•  Melatonin Overdoses Are on the Rise: What Parents Should Know
•  Magnesium for Kids’ Sleep: Does It Really Work?
• The evidence against magnesium sprays and lotions
•  Scientific Studies & Resources:
•  Pickering et al. (2020) – Magnesium Status and Stress: The Vicious Circle Concept Revisited → https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12123672
•  Workinger et al. (2018) – Challenges in the Diagnosis of Magnesium Status → https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10091202
•  NIH Magnesium Fact Sheet for Health Professionals

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.

Links

• Dr. Canapari's guide to Vacation "Sleep"
• Canapari's guide "Holiday Travel Sleep Guide: Real Parents, Real Questions, Real Solutions"
• Arielle's guide: "How to enjoy your holidays and protect your child's sleep" 
• Studies on sugar consumption and sleep 
  • Study of 287 children ages 8-12 showing no association between sugar and sleep or behavioral change
  • Study of 2600 children aged 6-12 showing that more sugar consumption was associated with decreased sleep duration
  • Metanalysis of studies of young children 0-5 showing worse diet and higher sugar intake were associated with lower sleep quality

Timestamps

• 00:00 Introduction and Disclaimer
• 01:13 Navigating Holiday Sleep Challenges
• 03:18 Travel Tips for Parents
• 06:04 Managing Sleep in Different Environments
• 13:30 Handling Naps and Bedtime During Holidays
• 22:19 Dealing with Food and Sugar
• 28:50 Final Tips and Holiday Wishes
• 30:53 Conclusion and Resources

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.

Links

• Daylight savings time: Avoiding problems when Falling Back
• Early morning awakenings: What to do about them
• How to stop night feedings
• How to stop cosleeping

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.

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:

• Dr. Harris’ website
• Dr. Harris' on Instagram
• The Women's Guide to Overcoming Insomnia: Get a Good Night's Sleep Without Relying on Medication (affilate link)
• Room sharing recommendation in 2024
• Directory of providers at the Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine
• University of Pennsylvania CBT-i Provider Directory
• Orthosomnia

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

• Dr. Sujay Kansagra at Duke Health
• Sujay’s Instagram profile 
• Sujay’s time zone video
• “I am the research”
• His excellent sleep book
• The rest of his links
• Night terrors, sleep walking, and sleep talking in children by Dr. Canapari
• Restless leg syndrome in children by Dr. Canapari

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...

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:

• Sleep and Wakefulness by Nathaniel Kleitman
• Why room sharing is important for safe sleep
• AAP Safe Sleep Guidelines
• Period of purple crying
• How many wet diapers per day
• Happiest Baby on the Block
• Bringing up Bebe- and Le Pause
• Wirecutter article on the SNOO

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...

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:

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

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 [email protected]. 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...

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

• How to stop cosleeping including an evidence based plan for children with separation anxiety
• Huggy puppy treatment for night time fears
• How to help an anxious child sleep better
• Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD: A Scientifically Proven Program for Parents By Eli Lebowitz PhD
• Treating Childhood and Adolescent Anxiety: A Guide for Caregivers by Eli Lebowitz PhD and Haim Omer PhD
• Psychology Today - find a therapist, screening for your insurance type and specialty of provider
• https://www.spacetreatment.net/space-providers - Find SPACE treatment providers (excellent parent training for treating anxiety in children
• The Sleep Edit CIO episode
• Video of this episode on Youtube
• Books on dealing with fears of the dark:
• Uncle Lightfoot Flip That Switch: Overcoming Fear of the Dark
• Orion and the Dark
• The Rabbit, the Dark and the Cookie Tin.

(Note that we use Amazon Affiliate links to support the podcast). 

Have questions? Drop us a line!

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. 

"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

(Note that we use Amazon Affiliate links to support the podcast).