The Sleep Edit

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, we cover 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 actionab...

Duration: 00:31:58

Welcome to The Sleep Edit, the podcast that helps tired kids and parents sleep better. Each week, Dr. Craig Canapari and sleep consultant Arielle Greenleaf break down evidence-based strategies you can actually use.

Why are nap transitions so confusing—and why do they so often derail nights? In Part 2 of our napping series, Craig and Arielle dig into the real-world challenges families face when moving from 3→2 naps, 2→1 nap, and eventually dropping naps entirely. Using concrete examples, sleep-need math, and practical troubleshooting, this episode explains exactly what to look for and how to navigate every transition with less stress...

Duration: 00:41:23

Why do some toddlers nap like champs while others refuse entirely? In Part 1 of our Napping Spectacular, Craig and Arielle unpack what the science says about total sleep needs, how nap patterns change across infancy and early childhood, and the very real “art” of troubleshooting naps at home. We cover when to drop naps, how brain development (especially the hippocampus) affects nap transitions, what to do about short naps, and how to keep daytime sleep from stealing restorative overnight sleep. We also talk through safe approaches to contact naps and why it’s normal for newborns to have unpredictable naps a...

Duration: 00:47:06

Tips for Infants, Toddlers, and Teens In this episode of the Sleep Edit podcast, hosts Dr. Craig Canapari and Arielle Greenleaf provide evidence-based tips and strategies to help parents manage their children's sleep during the summer and back-to-school transitions. They discuss common issues such as later bedtimes, disrupted routines, increased screen time, and the impact of travel on sleep patterns.

00:00 Introduction and Disclaimer 01:09 Meet the Hosts 01:24 Summer Sleep Challenges 03:55 Pandemic Sleep Patterns 05:08 Structured Days Hypothesis 07:57 Managing Heat and Sleep 09:58 Travel and Sleep Tips for Infants and Toddlers 16:06 Vacation Sleep Realities 19:47 School-Age Sleep Strategies 20:50 Replicating Schedules for Special Needs...

Duration: 00:39:25

This episode of The Sleep Edit is all about you—our listeners. We’re tackling the most common (and frustrating) pediatric sleep challenges straight from your inbox:

What to do when your toddler suddenly won’t nap How to handle a preschooler who wakes five times a night When to push bedtime later—and when not to Strategies for night weaning, managing anxiety, and fixing early morning wake-ups Plus: Why our parents swear we were “better sleepers” back in the ’80s and ’90s

Whether you’re a parent in the trenches or a sleep consultant supporting families, this episode is packe...

Duration: 01:02:20

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...

Duration: 00:56:49

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...

Duration: 00:31:58

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...

Duration: 00:58:53

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...

Duration: 00:40:19

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...

Duration: 00:56:21