How Long 'Til Bedtime? | Sleep and Parenting Podcast

Latest Episodes:

113. How To Help Your Child Sleep When Traveling To Europe Dec 11, 2023

Show notes

So many sleep questions arise when parents think of traveling from the U.S. to Europe with young kids. What's the ideal time of day to fly? Do I let the kids sleep on the plane? What if they don't sleep well on the plane? How do we adjust to the new time zone? How do I manage sleep schedules so my kids are not overtired the whole trip? How do we fit in dinner at a restaurant and still make sure everyone gets the sleep they need? How to handle kids with different sleep needs on an international trip? The list goes on and on.

In today's episode, Allison is sharing what she learned about managing her daughters' sleep on her two trips to Europe. The first was a trip to Italy when her girls were 4 and 6 years old and the second was to France when they were 8 and 10 years old. From the moment you book the flight, she's got you covered with her own personal experience and the guidance she shares with her clients.

And if you want to hear more from Allison about her travels to France, check out her blog post about her family's recent trip to Paris. It includes packing tips with must-have items and her suggestions for things to do with kids in Paris.

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112. Gift Ideas for Everyone on Your List - Our Team Favorites Dec 04, 2023

Show notes

Allison and our new coaches, Sophie and Ellen, share gift ideas for the holiday season. They're sharing suggestions for both the children and adults in your life, plus some items you may want to treat yourself to, as well!

Allison mentions Episode 60. Sleep Products My Clients Loved in 2022

Details on the products mentioned in this episode:

Wine glasses:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1147123827/personalized-virginia-wine-glasses

https://www.etsy.com/listing/657176173/charlottesville-va-map-stemless-wine

Souper Cubes: https://amzn.to/3SF1G49

Ice roller: https://amzn.to/3SGvEo7

Kickee Pants: https://amzn.to/49rsZ7T

Light up letter: https://amzn.to/47c2MJ6

Light up sign: https://amzn.to/47odifH

CrunchLabs: https://crunchlabs.pxf.io/6eROrm

Slumberpod: https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=2394681&u=2489823&m=145410&urllink=&afftrack= and use discount code: SLEEPANDWELLNESSCOACH for 5% off

The Nugget: https://nuggetcomfort.com/products/the-nugget-koala

Joovy Ultralight Stand-On Double Stroller: https://amzn.to/3MHuMf5

Bilibo: https://amzn.to/40MxFBg

LOVEVERY: https://lovevery.com

Custom Birthday Book: https://store.nytimes.com/products/the-custom-birthday-book?variant=36729583816

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111. How My Daughter Found Out The Truth About Santa Nov 27, 2023

Show notes

Today, we're diving into a topic that many parents face - what happens when your child finds out the truth about Santa Claus. Allison is sharing how her daughter first posed questions about Santa, how she handled telling her the truth, and how they both dealt with the emotions.

Allison mentions Episode 105. What Your Child's Kindergarten Teacher Wishes You Knew with Meg Franco

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110. [REPLAY] Managing Holiday Travel and Family Expectations Nov 20, 2023

Show notes

The holiday travel season is upon us. You may be preparing to take your family on a long car ride or be flying somewhere. Your travels may be taking you to stay with family or to stay in a hotel. Some children will be sleeping in their own room during these travels and some of you will need to roomshare. And on top of everything else, many will be traveling to different time zones. So today, Allison is sharing tips to help you with all of these different travel scenarios along with her advice on managing family expectations.

Get 5% off a Slumberpod with Allison's affiliate code, SLEEPANDWELLNESSCOACH

Allison's favorite travel white noise machine

Allison mentions Episode 6. Managing Family Expectations

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109. The Role of Electrolytes in Reducing Pregnancy Fatigue with Elizabeth Newton Nov 13, 2023

Show notes

Allison is joined by Elizabeth Newton, a registered dietician and prenatal nutrition specialist, to discuss tips for batting fatigue during pregnancy. Elizabeth has a true passion for optimizing women's energy and vitality during pregnancy with whole foods and holistic wellness.

While fatigue during pregnancy is complex and can often stem from a combination of multiple factors, one of the first things Elizabeth recommends to pregnant women looking to increase their energy level is to optimize their electrolyte intake. Listen in to hear Elizabeth cover these topics and more:

the importance of electrolytes during pregnancy and lactation
which minerals are included under the electrolyte umbrella
why salt is often misunderstood and the role it can play to improve your health during pregnancy, particularly with conditions such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes
that all salt is not created equal and how to choose one that will help you meet your needs of trace minerals
how to evaluate electrolyte powders and choose one that's right for you
her own DIY electrolyte recipe

Learn more about Elizabeth on her website or on Instagram

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108. Q&A - Can A Toddler Clock Work For Children Under 2 Years Old? Nov 06, 2023

Show notes

Allison believes that toddler clocks (or toddler light systems) are the most valuable sleep tool you can use for a child over the age of 2 years old. She recommends every parent gift one to their child on their second birthday. In today's episode, however, she answers the question of whether toddler clocks can be helpful for children under 2.

Allison mentions Episode 9. The Truth About Night Lights and Fear of the Dark

Find out more about the Hatch Rest

Find out more about Allison's on-demand workshop: How To Quickly Recover From A Sleep Regression (15-30 Months)

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107. How Many Hours of Sleep Do Babies Need? Oct 30, 2023

Show notes

If you have a child who is 2 years old or younger, this episode is for you. Listen in to hear how much sleep Allison thinks is optimal for babies during their first two years. She is providing detailed advice for each developmental phase in the first two years. She explains the overall amount of sleep that is optimal for each phase, and breaks down how much should be allocated to naps and how much should be night sleep. Download her free guide to refer to as your baby grows and their sleep needs change.

Get your copy of Allison free guide: Infant and Toddler Sleep: Ideal Hours By Age

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106. The End of Daylight Saving Time and Your Child's Sleep Oct 23, 2023

Show notes

The dreaded fall time change is upon us again. In 2023, most of America will move their clocks back one hour on Sunday, November 5th. But there's no need for concern. Allison has guided her community through this transition for years with great results. Her plan makes it a very quick and mostly painless process. Today she shares how you can help your child smoothly transition to the new time. She also discusses where we currently stand as it relates to the proposed end to switching the clocks twice per year (the Sunshine Protection Act).

Click here for the free cheat sheet download Allison created for you

Allison mentions episode 46. The Key to Success with a Toddler Clock

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105. What Your Child's Kindergarten Teacher Wishes You Knew with Meg Franco Oct 16, 2023

Show notes

The transition to kindergarten is a big adjustment - both for children and their parents. If your family is going through this transition now, or if it's on the horizon for you, you'll surely learn a few things from Allison's conversation with Meg Franco, a Kindergarten teacher at Ivy Elementary in Charlottesville, VA.

Meg has been teaching kindergarten for 22 years and strives to instill in her students a love of school and learning. Throughout this episode, she offers a glimpse inside a kindergarten classroom with plenty of anecdotes and tips.

Allison and Meg touch on these topics:

The importance of letting your child be independent and learn to solve problems for themselves
Language to use when responding to a child who says they can't do things on their own
Specific tasks you can teach your child at home that will help them be more successful in kindergarten
Strategies for helping young children build and practice their fine motor skills
How you can help your child build their social emotional and interpersonal skills
Whether or not to encourage a child to say they are sorry and how to make an apology more effective for both parties
Modeling to a child that it's ok to make mistakes and avoiding perfectionism and the anxiety that often follows
Encouraging a spirit of lifelong learning
The value of keeping a strong line of communication with your child's teacher
Fostering a child's empathy and kindness
Subtle mindset shifts parents can consider to improve their communication with this age group
How to prepare a kindergartener to become a reader and a writer: what and how to read at home, ways to encourage letter recognition, learning to hold a pencil or crayon

Meg and Allison mention this book - Have You Filled A Bucket Today?

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104. What Your Child's Preschool Teacher Wishes You Knew with Elizabeth Lane Oct 09, 2023

Show notes

Whether you have a child already in preschool or one who will start preschool in the years to come, we know you'll learn something from this episode. Elizabeth Lane is a preschool teacher at St. Anne's-Belfield in Charlottesville, Virginia and she's discussing how best to prepare your child for success in preschool. Listen in to hear Allison and Elizabeth discuss these topics:

Building Independence: Discover the tools you can provide to help your child thrive in a school environment and become more self-reliant.
Home-Based Skills: Learn about the small but mighty skills you can nurture at home to ease your child's transition into preschool.
Tearful Goodbyes: Navigate the challenges of drop-off time and handle both your child's and your own emotions with grace and understanding.
Communication is Key: Explore effective language strategies to help your child cope if they struggle to say goodbye to a caregiver.
Reluctant Mornings: Get tips on motivating a hesitant child in those early morning hours.
Reading Readiness: Discover when your child is developmentally ready to embark on their reading journey and whether to focus on learning to read at home