Sleep regressions– a temporary worsening of your child’s sleep– are a common experience for parents. They are also a common reason I hear from worried parents whose children have finally started sleep well after hard work with myself and our team in the Sleep Clinic. Fortunately, they are pretty easy to address (and often you…
Ahh, autumn. Halloween costumes, fall foliage, carving Jack-O-Lanterns and enjoying the crisp bite of a fresh apple. Those of use who live in New England often cite this season as the finest of the year, prior to the long nights and cold days of winter. There is one part of it that I don’t look…
A recent study shows that melatonin overdoses have risen a whopping 530% in the last ten years, with a more rapid rise since the COVID-19 pandemic began. As a parent and a sleep physician, this is concerning to me. Parent who give their children melatonin need to be aware of the risks. Here’s what parents…
“Cry it out” (CIO) sleep training is one of the most commonly used and recommended sleep training methods. It’s the best studied in the medical literature.It’s also the sleep training method that most pediatricians have used for their own children— precisely because it is so effective and quick. CIO sleep training has many names and…
This weekend I met my friend Samuel at the park. A native of Brittany, he’s describing my children as “the mysterious French man”, but like me, he is a suburban dad here in Connecticut. This reminded me of an article I read several years ago about the book Bringing Up Bebe, about parenting insights gleaned by…
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…
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: Highlighted Quotes: “It is such a powerful intervention to be able…
Pretty soon, the clocks go forward as we “spring ahead” on Sunday, March 95h th at 2 AM. We set our clocks ahead an hour as we re-enter Daylight Saving Time. If you do not have children (and are not working overnight), this is a bit of a bummer and you lose an hour of sleep. If…
In part two of our discussion on helping kids sleep through the night, pediatric sleep expert Dr. Craig Canapari and sleep consultant Arielle Greenleaf tackle night wakings and feedings. (You can find part 1 here, including a video of both episodes). They provide guidance on when night feeds may or may not be necessary, how…
Pediatricians frequently recommend melatonin for children with sleep problems, or parents might try it themselves. However, the proper use of melatonin is frequently misunderstood. Here is a guide for parents and pediatricians to decide if a child should try it, and to understand how it should be used. A common thread I find in children…
If your child is struggling with sleep (either problems fall asleep, or staying asleep) they may benefit from sleep training. Cry-it-out (also known as CIO or extinction sleep training) is the most famous flavor of sleep training. It definitely works (and entails less crying than parents think) it’s not for everyone. “Camping out” sleep training,…
Sadly, I’m not on vacation right now. I hope you are. Dealing with jet lag, figuring out sleeping arrangements, and working around everyone’s schedule can be challenging. I thought that I would share my best sleep travel tips for kids and parents to get more sleep while traveling. Right now I’m about 50 yards from the beach on Long Island, and…
Summer vacation means freedom for most kids. However, sleep schedules tend to fall by the wayside during the summer months. Many parents worry about teen summer sleep. Learn how you can help your child and teen develop healthy sleep habits during the summer months. Sleep schedule changes in the summer months Younger children (think from…
Room sharing but not bed sharing is recommend in the first six months of life for safe sleep and avoiding accidental death in infants. However, for some parents, this may result in unsafe sleep practices. Here’s what you need to know. In June of 2022, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) updated their safe sleep…
Toddler night wakings are especially painful as they can cry longer than infants, and are harder to reassure than older children. One of the most common causes of night wakings in infants, toddlers, and even older children is inappropriate sleep onset associations. This is a disorder which will respond to behavioral management (or sleep training)….
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