I'm a pediatric sleep doctor, author, and in my day job I run the Yale Pediatric Sleep Center. I've been writing about pediatric sleep issues for tired parents since 2012. Join my newsletter to get the best information about sleep problems (and solutions) in children.
"Springing ahead" rules for teens (or anyone who struggles to get up in the morning)
|
Daylight savings time begins on Sunday, March 9th. 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, it is now painful again as I now two teenagers in my house. It's hard if if someone in your house (be it an older child, teenager, or ahem yourself) struggles to get up in the morning. If you know someone who is already struggling to get up in the morning, here's an article I wrote on avoiding trouble when "springing ahead". PS Sorry to be getting this out a bit late this week-- had some unexpected issues to deal with this week. |
Craig Canapari MD
I'm a pediatric sleep doctor, author, and in my day job I run the Yale Pediatric Sleep Center. I've been writing about pediatric sleep issues for tired parents since 2012. Join my newsletter to get the best information about sleep problems (and solutions) in children.
Hi everyone, Why do some toddlers nap like champs while others fight every rest? And how can parents tell when it’s time to drop a nap—or hang on to one a little longer? In this week’s episode of The Sleep Edit, Arielle and I kick off our Napping Spectacular (Part 1) by digging into the science of naps: How much total sleep kids really need at each age (AAP–AASM consensus) Why naps matter for mood, memory, and learning What brain development has to do with nap transitions When most children...
I hope you having a great summer, and perhaps have a cool vacation ahead of you. However, summer can be a tricky time for parents and kids in terms of sleep. Arielle and I just recorded a whole episode of The Sleep Edit podcast on Summer and Back to School Sleep issues. You can find the podcast here or in your local pod catcher Or, if you prefer video, here is the YouTube link for the podcast episode. I also want to share a few articles I wrote on this topic, with the first being the most...
Are magnesium sprays the next miracle sleep cure—or just marketing? You may have seen it on TikTok or in the parenting forums: magnesium sprays and lotions being hyped as the natural fix for kids who struggle with sleep. As a pediatric sleep doctor, I get asked about these products all the time. So I did what I do best—dug into the science. 📉 Spoiler alert: There’s no solid evidence that these products actually help kids sleep better. And they may not even be absorbed through the skin. In my...