When parents think of sleep training, they are often just imagining extinction sleep training (commonly known as "cry it out" or CIO). Thus, they imagine lots of crying, tantrums, and battles when trying to change the status quo. The fact is, CIO doesn't work well for older kids anyway. That's why I love the Bedtime Pass. A simple yet effective tool for managing nighttime interruptions. Instead of battling wills, your child can use a "Bedtime Pass" for a trip out of their room or to call for...
4 months ago • 1 min read
It just got hot here in the Northeast, and the kids are at camp (one is a counselor, the other is a counselor in training) at our local day camp. There are a lot of things I like about camp for kids in the summer, especially if there is a bit outdoor component. The kids come home tired but happy. They have a lot of great stories of funny things that happen throughout the day (ESPECIALLY from my boy who is a counselor) They sleep terrifically well. Now, some kids have a less busy schedule...
5 months ago • 1 min read
Here's a question I get asked all the time: "My child is having a sleep regression! What do I do?" I'm ambivalent about the term "sleep regression" as it implies that regressions (worsening of sleep in a child who had previously been sleeping well) are a predictable phenomenon at certain ages. Although there are a few milestones that consistently seem to muck up sleep (I'm looking at you, Walking and Potty Training), overall I don't believe in the 10 month sleep regression. Or the 2.57 years...
6 months ago • 1 min read
So my brother just had his first child a few weeks ago, so Arielle and I wanted to cover newborn sleep in the latest episode of The Sleep Edit. This is a challenging topic-- as newborns are pretty disorganized in terms of feeding and sleeping in the first few weeks. Fortunately, sleep tends to improve fairly quickly. In this episode we cover: The natural evolution of sleep in the first three months of life The period of PURPLE crying Safe sleep How modern sleep technology can help or hurt...
7 months ago • 1 min read
Arielle and I were especially excited to record this episode where we tried to cover all of your most pressing questions about the sleep of your little ones. There were a lot of interesting questions from you-- my readers. We covered: Pacifiers Room sharing Jet lag Autism Melatonin Napping And a lot more. . . Whether you sent us a question or not, I think there's something for everyone in this episode. If you have future questions, we have a special mailbox here you can send your questions...
8 months ago • 1 min read
Hey there, As a parent, I know firsthand how challenging it can be when your child struggles with sleep. That's why Arielle and I are excited to share our latest podcast episode, where we dive deep into the topic of anxiety and sleep issues in children. In this episode, we're joined by pediatric psychologist Dr. Danielle Garay, who offers invaluable insights on nighttime fears, tantrums, and separation anxiety. We discuss the role of psychology in treating pediatric sleep difficulties and...
8 months ago • 1 min read
Daylight savings time begins on Sunday, March 10th. This was a bummer before I had kids, as it meant losing an hour of sleep. I would feel pretty cruddy for about a week afterwards. Then, my kids were early risers, so I liked it. Why? The beginning of DST shifts their apparent wake time a bit earlier. So a kid who was waking up at 5:30 AM was getting up at 6:30 AM literally overnight. (A "later" bedtime was the cost of this but I'm not a morning lark, so it was a fair trade-off). However, I...
9 months ago • 1 min read
Hey there, Navigating the tangled web of pediatric sleep advice can feel like an endless quest, especially when you're up against a barrage of myths and misinformation. That's precisely why Arielle and I decided to tackle some of the most pervasive sleep myths head-on in our latest episode of "The Sleep Edit," aptly titled "Sleep Myths." We dive deep into the misconceptions that might be sabotaging your child's sleep, from the misunderstood concept of wake windows to the contentious debate on...
9 months ago • 1 min read
Dear parents, This morning we released a new podcast episode digging into the complex topic of cry it out and sleep training controversies with my cohost, pediatric sleep consultant Arielle Greenleaf. As both a pediatrician and parent myself, I understand this is an emotional issue impacting families. I think you’ll find the conversation very balanced and informative as Arielle and I unpacked the research around cry it out methods together. We also discuss the importance of tailoring your...
9 months ago • 1 min read