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.
Nap Struggles, Science, and Sanity (Part 1)
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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:
If you’ve ever wondered whether your child’s naps are too short, too long, or simply chaotic, this episode will help you see the big picture of 24-hour sleep—and give you a few concrete strategies to improve daytime rest. Honestly, I wish I had known this information when my kids were little. My oldest didn't nap for more than 30 minutes at a time until he was nine months old. 🎧 Listen to the episode: 👉 Listen on my website. Here you can find links to all the major podcast platforms (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Overcast, etc. 🎥 Watch on YouTube (with scientific graphics): 👉 Watch on YouTube. This is good for visual learners and in this episode we actually pull in some graphics from the scientific literature. This is Part 1—next time we’ll be tackling real-world nap cases, from the 3-to-2 transition to what happens when naps disappear entirely. Sleep well, Craig PS if you find this useful, please share with your friends! It really helps |
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.
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...
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...