In part two of our discussion on helping kids sleep through the night, pediatric sleep expert Dr. Craig Canapari and sleep consultant Arielle Greenleaf tackle night wakings and feedings. (You can find part 1 here, including a video of both episodes). They provide guidance on when night feeds may or may not be necessary, how to handle night nursing for comfort vs nutrition, and tips for transitioning toddlers away from nighttime calories.
Key Takeaways:
- Only a small percentage of sleep issues are caused by medical problems. Most kids need some type of sleep training or behavioral intervention.
- Check with your pediatrician before dropping night feeds - make sure your child is getting enough calories during the day first.
- Night nursing is about more than nutrition - it also provides comfort. Wean slowly if desired.
- Toddlers generally don't need extra calories at night. But there is little guidance given on transitioning from milk feeds to solids at this age.
Notable Quotes:
"I always like to say I am not, if a sleep consultant starts working with someone and says, without any digging, we're going to eliminate all feedings overnight really fast, we're just gonna take 'em all away, run for your life." - Arielle Greenleaf
"Honestly, a normally growing child over a year of age doesn't really need those calories at night. And if you find that you are meaning to give milk or anything else during the night you, I give you permission to cut it out and you may want to wean it slowly." - Dr. Craig Canapari
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- 00:02 Introduction and Disclaimer
- 01:18 Understanding Sleep Disorders in Children
- 02:03 Medical Problems and Behavioral Interventions
- 05:14 The Role of Bedtime and Nighttime Awakening
- 05:18 Feeding and Sleep Patterns
- 13:44 Adjustment Issues and Sleep Disruptions
- 18:02 Addressing Nighttime Fears
- 20:24 Imagining Bedtime Stories
- 20:41 Addressing Children's Fears
- 21:13 The Huggy Puppy Intervention
- 21:55 Dealing with Trauma and Sleep Difficulties
- 23:18 Environmental Causes of Nighttime Awakening
- 24:44 The Impact of Light and Shadows
- 25:14 The Creepy Doll Story
- 25:53 Technology and Sleep
- 26:40 Sensory Disorders and Sleep
- 27:54 Too Much Time in Bed Syndrome
- 36:14 The Importance of Independent Sleep
- 38:28 Closing Thoughts and Contact Information
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