How Long 'Til Bedtime? | Sleep and Parenting Podcast

Latest Episodes:

193. Men's Mental Health & Fatherhood with Dr. Dan Singley Jun 23, 2025

Show notes

This week on How Long 'Til Bedtime?, we're continuing our recognition of Men's Mental Health Month with an important and timely conversation about paternal postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety in fathers, and the overall mental health challenges new dads face.

Sleep and wellness coach Allison Egidi is joined by Dr. Daniel Singley, a San Diego-based clinical psychologist, board-certified in cognitive behavioral therapy, and the founder of the Center for Men's Excellence. With over 20 years of clinical experience, Dr. Singley specializes in reproductive psychology and supporting men through the transition to fatherhood.

Following last week's personal story with Christopher Rose, this episode offers a broader, expert-led perspective on why mental health for new fathers needs more attention—and what we can do about it.

In this episode, Dr. Singley shares:

Why men's mental health during the postpartum period is often overlooked
The most common symptoms of paternal postpartum depression and anxiety (and how they differ from maternal symptoms)
How invisibility during pregnancy and postpartum affects dads' emotional well-being
Risk factors that make some fathers more vulnerable to postnatal mental health struggles
Practical ways partners, friends, and professionals can support struggling dads
How workplace policies, paternity leave, and cultural shifts can better support mental health in fathers
Accessible resources for dads who may be hesitant to seek therapy

Key Takeaways:

Around 1 in 10 fathers experience postpartum depression, and even more experience postpartum anxiety—yet many remain undiagnosed and unsupported.
Symptoms of male postpartum depression may include anger, irritability, withdrawal, substance use, or even physical symptoms like headaches and chest pain.
When one parent is struggling, there's a 50% chance the other is too—proving the need for a whole-family approach to perinatal mental health care.

Resources Mentioned:

Center for Men's Excellence
Postpartum Support International – Offers support groups for fathers

Click here to watch or listen on YouTube

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192. Men Get Postpartum Depression Too: Christopher Rose's Story Jun 16, 2025

Show notes

Postpartum depression doesn't just affect mothers. In this powerful episode honoring Men's Mental Health Month, Allison Egidi talks with first-time father Christopher Rose about his struggle with paternal postpartum depression, anxiety, rage, and OCD after the birth of his daughter during the pandemic.

If you're a new dad, partner, or anyone supporting a family with a newborn, this candid conversation offers insight, support, and hope for healing.

In this episode, you'll hear:

What postpartum depression in dads can actually look like
Early signs and symptoms of postpartum depression in dads
The impact of breastfeeding challenges and lack of support
Why many fathers feel isolated and overlooked
How societal pressure affects men's mental health
Christopher's turning point and how he got help through Postpartum Support International (PSI)
Advice for new dads who feel overwhelmed, anxious, or emotionally unwell

Resources mentioned:

Postpartum Support International – including support groups for fathers and mothers
Peanut App — connecting parents for support and friendship

Key takeaways:

1 in 10 dads experiences postpartum depression
Dads' mental health matters — it's vital for the whole family
Support is out there, and recovery is possible

Click here to watch or listen on YouTube

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191. Your Top 3 International Travel Sleep Challenges — Solved! Jun 09, 2025

Show notes

Planning a trip abroad with your little one? Wondering how to navigate time changes, late dinners, and sleep on long flights? You're not alone—and this episode is here to help.

After taking her own daughters to Europe three times (and guiding dozens of families through international sleep transitions), Allison is sharing real-life strategies for helping your child sleep well during international travel — so your trip is filled with memories, not meltdowns.

In this episode, she covers the three biggest international travel sleep challenges she hears from families — and how to handle each with confidence.

✨ You'll learn:

The best time of day to book your flight (and how to handle sleep on board ✈️)
How to help your child adjust quickly to a new time zone — even if that first night is rough
What to do when dinner is at 7pm but bedtime used to be at 7pm 😬

Whether you're heading across the pond or just dreaming of it, this episode is packed with practical tips that will help your whole family sleep better — and travel happier.

📦 Download Allison's free checklist: What to Pack for International Sleep Success Grab the checklist to see exactly what Allison packs (and recommends for clients) to make sleep smoother on the plane and at bedtime once you arrive.

🔁 Hear more of Allison's travel tips in these related resources:

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Sharing it with a fellow parent who's prepping for summer travel
Leaving a quick rating or review — it really helps other parents find us!

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190. Your Top 3 Summer Travel Sleep Problems — Solved! Jun 02, 2025

Show notes

If you're planning a summer getaway with your little one, this episode is your go-to guide for handling sleep challenges while traveling. From shifting nap schedules to hotel room sharing to resetting after vacation — we're covering it all with simple, realistic strategies that will help keep sleep on track without sacrificing the fun.

✈️ What You'll Learn in This Episode:

How to balance naps and bedtimes while still enjoying your vacation
Tips for managing sleep in shared spaces (like hotels or relatives' homes)
What to do if your child's sleep falls apart — and how to quickly reset once you're home

🧳 Mentioned in This Episode:

Clean Towels – Disposable, sturdy face towels perfect for travel (shop here)
SlumberPod – A portable blackout sleep solution for room sharing and travel → Use discount code sleepandwellnesscoach at checkout (shop here)
30-Minute Sleep Travel Consultations – One-on-one support for planning your child's sleep while away → Book your session

🔁 Hear more of Allison's travel tips in this related episode:

🎧 Episode 35 – Summer Travel Sleep Tips

❤️ Love the Show?

If today's episode was helpful, please consider:

Sharing it with a fellow parent who's prepping for summer travel
Leaving a quick rating or review — it really helps other parents find us!

Click here to watch or listen on YouTube

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189. [ENCORE] Where Did I Go with Ellen Jones and Holly Kennedy May 26, 2025

Show notes

In honor of Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month, we're revisiting one of our most popular episodes exploring the emotional and mental shifts that come with new motherhood.

In this encore conversation, Allison Egidi is joined by Ellen Jones and Holly Kennedy, maternal wellness coaches and co-founders of Mother Tree Wellness, to talk candidly about their own experiences with postpartum depression and anxiety—and how they turned those struggles into a mission to support other moms.

Inside this episode, you'll learn:

How postpartum anxiety and depression can show up—even when you're "doing all the right things"
The personality traits that may increase vulnerability to postpartum mental health challenges
The real meaning of "losing yourself" in motherhood—and how to start finding your way back
How partners can be better prepared to offer support
The difference between therapy and maternal wellness coaching
What to say (and not say) to new moms who might be struggling

✨ Whether you're a new mom, an expecting parent, or someone supporting a loved one through this transition, this episode is packed with validation, wisdom, and hope.

💡 Resources & Links Mentioned:

Learn more about Mother Tree Wellness at their website or on Instagram
More help is available from Postpartum Support International: postpartum.net

May is Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month. Each of the ten episodes we have dedicated to this important subject offers a slightly different perspective. Listen in and help spread the word by forwarding an episode or two to a new mom in your life.

Episodes:

29. My Postpartum Anxiety Story

30. How to Keep Reaching for the Light with Britt Davis

31. Sleep Makes Such a Difference with Caroline Vasquez

32. Where Did I Go with Ellen Jones and Holly Kennedy

82. The Postpartum Journey from the Perspective of Three Husbands with Mike Vasquez, Alex Grant and Todd Kennedy

84. Planning for Your Mental Health Postpartum with Kayce Hodos

135. Maternal Mental Health From The Perspective of an OB/GYN with Dr. Nicole Rankins

136. Maternal Mental Health From The Perspective of a Pediatrician with Dr. Stephanie Grice

137. How Postpartum Support International Supports Parents with President and CEO Wendy Davis

138. Maternal Mental Health: What I Want Every Parent To Know

Click here to watch or listen on YouTube

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188. Day/Night Confusion in Newborns: How to Help Your Baby Sleep Better May 19, 2025

Show notes

Is your newborn wide awake at night, but sleeps peacefully all afternoon? You're likely dealing with day/night confusion, a completely normal—but totally exhausting—part of early parenthood.

In this episode, pediatric sleep and wellness coach Allison Egidi breaks down:

What day/night confusion really is and why it happens
The simple environmental changes that help your baby reset their internal clock
How to use light and dark to gently guide your newborn's circadian rhythm
How long it can take to "fix" day/night confusion
When and how to start capping naps
What "progress" actually looks like during this phase (hint: small wins matter!)

You'll also learn why this is a temporary developmental phase, and how consistent day/night signaling can help it resolve sooner—often by 6 weeks of age.

If you're in the thick of it, Allison's guidance will help you feel reassured and empowered as you support your baby's sleep development from the start.

✨ If you found this episode helpful, don't forget to subscribe and leave a review. It helps other tired parents find the show!

Links Mentioned:

Need more support with newborn sleep? Join Allison's Have Baby, Need Sleep program for step-by-step guidance, expert modules, and live weekly Q&As. Learn more here!

Episodes:

29. My Postpartum Anxiety Story

30. How to Keep Reaching for the Light with Britt Davis

31. Sleep Makes Such a Difference with Caroline Vasquez

32. Where Did I Go with Ellen Jones and Holly Kennedy

82. The Postpartum Journey from the Perspective of Three Husbands with Mike Vasquez, Alex Grant and Todd Kennedy

84. Planning for Your Mental Health Postpartum with Kayce Hodos

135. Maternal Mental Health From The Perspective of an OB/GYN with Dr. Nicole Rankins

136. Maternal Mental Health From The Perspective of a Pediatrician with Dr. Stephanie Grice

137. How Postpartum Support International Supports Parents with President and CEO Wendy Davis

138. Maternal Mental Health: What I Want Every Parent To Know

Click here to watch or listen on YouTube

Want to hear more from Allison? Provide your email address here to receive Allison's weekly email about the podcast and other fun topics.

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187. Teen Sleep & Anxiety: What a 12th Grader Wants Parents to Know with Lizzie Pisani May 12, 2025

Show notes

Allison Egidi welcomes a unique and inspiring guest—12th grader Lizzie Pisani—who shares powerful insights from her year-long capstone project on the relationship between teen sleep, anxiety, and screen use.

After struggling with her own sleep during the COVID-19 pandemic, Lizzie became curious about how disrupted sleep impacts mental health in teens. Her passion for the topic led her to dive deep into research, survey her peers, and interview professionals—all culminating in a project aimed at helping teens and parents better understand the connection between sleep and emotional well-being.

In this episode, you'll learn:

What inspired Lizzie to research teen sleep and anxiety
The clear correlation she found between poor sleep and higher levels of anxiety in her high school community
How screen time and inconsistent sleep routines exacerbate mental health challenges in adolescents
Simple, actionable strategies that teens (and their parents!) can implement to improve sleep hygiene
Surprising stats about how many teens aren't getting enough rest—and the real consequences
Lizzie's compelling ideas for how schools can support student well-being through sleep education
Personal reflections from Lizzie on the challenges and rewards of applying her own sleep tips

Whether you're raising a teen or preparing for the teen years ahead, Lizzie's thoughtful perspective and practical advice are not to be missed.

🎧 Tune in to hear how empowering teens with knowledge about sleep can make a lasting impact—on grades, mood, safety, and overall health.

Click here to watch or listen on YouTube

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186. Should Feeding Be Part of Your Baby's Bedtime Routine? May 05, 2025

Show notes

You've probably heard that feeding your baby to sleep can create a sleep crutch—but what about keeping a feeding in the bedtime routine without letting your baby fall asleep during it? In this episode, I'm breaking down why a bedtime feeding can be a helpful part of your evening wind-down, how to include it without reinforcing a sleep association, and simple tweaks that support independent sleep while keeping that sweet feeding moment.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why feeding before bed doesn't have to be a "bad habit"
The key shift that makes a bedtime feed work with your sleep goals
What to do after the feeding to help your baby fall asleep on their own
How this small change can lead to longer stretches of sleep overnight

If you've been wondering whether to keep or change the bedtime feeding, this episode is for you.

Resources & Links:

DM me your bedtime routine @sleepandwellnesscoach
Want to work together 1:1? Learn more at sleepandwellnesscoach.com

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185. How To Help Your Child Sleep Without Extra Tuck-Ins Apr 28, 2025

Show notes

Is your child calling you back in night after night (or worse—multiple times a night) just to be re-tucked? You're not alone—and you don't have to stay stuck on the tuck-in merry-go-round. In this episode, Allison walks you through a simple, empowering strategy to help your child learn to pull their blanket back on independently—even as young as age two.

You'll learn:

Why your child may have developed the habit of calling you back in at bedtime (and how it becomes part of their routine).
The key approach to help your child learn how to pull their blanket back on themselves.
How to use calm encouragement to help your child gain independence at bedtime, even if they resist at first.
How Allison used this method with her own child at age 2, and how quickly it worked to stop the bedtime interruptions.

If bedtime has become a nightly struggle, check out Allison's Your Preschool Sleep Champion program—designed specifically for kids 2.5 to 6 who resist bedtime or wake during the night or too early. You'll learn exactly how to reduce drama, build confidence, and get your evenings and nights back.

Click here to watch or listen on YouTube

Want to hear more from Allison? Provide your email address here to receive Allison's weekly email about the podcast and other fun topics.

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184. The Problem with Car Naps Apr 21, 2025

Show notes

Ever had a perfectly good nap day derailed by a five-minute car ride? You're not alone.

In this short and actionable episode, Allison breaks down the real reason why even a micro-nap in the car can totally throw off your baby or toddler's nap schedule. Whether it's a one-minute snooze on the way home from daycare or a quick doze during errands, these tiny naps pack a surprisingly big punch.

You'll learn:

Why short car naps mess with your child's natural sleep pressure
What to do in the moment if your child dozes off in the car
Tips for handling that tricky 5 p.m. post-daycare nap
How to quickly get your baby's sleep rhythm back on track

If car naps have been sabotaging your little one's sleep, this episode will help you understand why—and what to do about it.

Mentioned in this episode: 👉 Need help stabilizing your baby's naps? Book a free 15-minute Get Acquainted Call: www.sleepandwellnesscoach.com/packages

Click here to watch or listen on YouTube

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