The Sleep Edit

Latest Episodes:

You're Not Doing It Wrong: Breastfeeding and Sleep, with Dr. Lauren Hughes Sep 07, 2026

Show notes

Can you keep breastfeeding and still work toward better sleep? Craig and Arielle talk with pediatrician and lactation consultant Dr. Lauren Hughes about newborn feeding, bottles, milk supply, and the difference between sleep training and night weaning. They also get into the advice that leaves parents feeling trapped: stretch every feed, never offer a bottle, assume every night waking means hunger.

Key Takeaways

Sleep training and night weaning are two separate decisions. Lauren sleep trained her twins at eight months and did not night wean them until eighteen — a baby can learn to fall asleep without help and still get every overnight feed they need.
Six hours counts as sleeping through the night. It may not be the six hours you wanted — 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. qualifies — and reframing the target is sometimes the entire intervention.
Milk storage capacity runs from roughly two to twelve ounces per breast and has nothing to do with breast size, which is why dropping a night feed is a non-event for one parent and tanks supply for another. How long you can go before engorgement is roughly your own ceiling, since engorgement is what tells the body to make less.
"Normal" is far wider than parents are told: in the newborn weeks three hours is a maximum, not a minimum — babies can eat sooner, and three hours is when you wake them. Breastfed babies average about 24 ounces in 24 hours, range 19 to 32.
It isn't nipple confusion, it's flow preference — babies take the path of least resistance, so a fast bottle beats the work of the breast, and paced feeding is the fix. Offering a bottle once a week from about a month old heads off the refusal that surfaces the week daycare starts.
The research on feeding method and sleep genuinely conflicts, and neither host picks a side. Under six months exclusively breastfed babies wake more often, though most studies find no difference in total sleep; after six months most find breastfed infants sleeping less — and much of the older literature simply asked parents, whereas Rudzik's actigraphy study found no difference in measured sleep even as formula-feeding mothers reported more.

Links

Studies, articles & posts

Infant sleep reports versus actigraphy by feeding method — Rudzik, Robinson-Smith & Ball, 2018
Milk feeding, complementary foods, and infant sleep: a systematic review — Fu et al., 2021
Sleep-related infant deaths: updated recommendations — American Academy of Pediatrics, 2022
How to keep your sleeping baby safe — AAP parent guide
Bedsharing and breastfeeding: Protocol #6, 2019 revision — Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, published 2020; a different professional position from the AAP

People & books mentioned

Dr. Lauren Hughes — pediatrician and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
Dr. Hughes' newsletter
Bloom Pediatrics and Lactation — practice founded by Dr. Hughes

Get in touch & next steps

Craig's free sleep training starter kit
Arielle's free 24-hour sleep guide
Full medical disclaimer
Submit Listener Feedback and Questions Here

(00:00) - Intro
(00:23) - Meet Dr. Lauren Hughes
(01:47) - Why a pediatrician became a lactation consultant
(06:20) - When breastfeeding is harder than expected
(06:58) - Crying, sleep training, and parents' goals
(12:23) - What normal newborn feeding looks like
(16:18) - The pressure to follow a strict feeding schedule
(20:25) - Finding a rhythm with older infants
(24:03) - How partners can support breastfeeding
(25:58) - Taking shifts overnight
(27:46) - Pacifiers, bottles, and flow preference
(30:44) - Bottle refusal and going back to work
(31:41) - Whether formula-fed babies really sleep longer
(35:05) - What dropping a night feed does to supply
(38:48) - Under six months versus over six months
(40:18) - How many ounces a baby actually needs
(44:22) - Can breastfeeding and sleep training coexist
(46:37) - Six hours counts as sleeping through the night
(48:23) - Room-sharing, bedsharing, and the AAP
(50:43) - Why parents hide bedsharing from their pediatrician
(55:14) - What the AAP actually recommends
(56:31) - Rapid-fire feeding and sleep myths
(57:59) - Lauren's sleep hack and confession
(59:02) - You're not doing it wrong
(59:43) - Where to find Dr. Lauren Hughes

Bonus Episode: Summer and Back To School Sleep Challenges Jun 29, 2026

Show notes

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.

Chapters

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 Children
21:47 Bedtime Recommendations for Different Age Groups
23:07 Managing Screen Time During Summer
24:01 The Benefits of Summer Camps and Jobs
24:49 Camping as a Sleep Reset Tool
26:41 Traveling to Adjust Sleep Schedules
27:25 General Summer Sleep Tips for Parents
32:23 Adjusting Teen Sleep Schedules Before School Starts
37:38 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Links

Get in touch & next steps

Craig's sleep training starter kit
Arielle's free 24-hour sleep guide
Full medical disclaimer
Submit Listener Feedback and Questions Here

(00:00) - Intro
(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 children
(21:47) - Bedtime recommendations for different age groups
(23:07) - Managing screen time during summer
(24:01) - The benefits of summer camps and jobs
(24:49) - Camping as a sleep reset tool
(26:41) - Traveling to adjust sleep schedules
(27:25) - General summer sleep tips for parents
(32:23) - Adjusting teen sleep schedules before school starts
(37:38) - Final thoughts and contact information

Debunking Bad Online Sleep Advice May 31, 2026

Show notes

Your child's cortisol is not a problem you need to manage — and most of the scary sleep advice that says otherwise is built on a misreading of the science. Craig and Arielle take on the claims that spread fastest online and hold up worst: the "overtired baby floods with cortisol" story, rigid wake windows, the 3-6-9 rule and the Wonder Weeks, magnesium lotions, melatonin as a quick fix, and the "biologically correct" 7 p.m. bedtime. It's an episode about why simple, absolute rules go viral while real answers — nuanced, and dependent on your actual child — do not. They close on the hardest question a tired parent faces: in an unregulated field full of confident strangers, how do you tell a trustworthy sleep expert from a good marketer?

Key Takeaways

The "overtired child floods with cortisol and can't sleep" claim gets the science backwards. Poor sleep can nudge cortisol up, but cortisol is a marker of inadequate sleep, not its cause — and it is not something parents need to manage at home.
The Middlemiss (2012) study used to argue that sleep training is harmful had no control group and studied infants in an unfamiliar inpatient setting, nothing like sleep training at home. Better-controlled work, including Gradisar's randomized trial, found infant cortisol did not rise after sleep training. A few hard nights are brief, harmless stress — not the chronic toxic stress that genuinely affects development.
Wake windows describe something real — sleep drive builds the longer a child is awake — but the rigid, age-based formulas online are not research-based. Watch the child in front of you and their 24-hour sleep totals, not a chart. "Average" sleep needs span wide ranges and were never meant as individual targets.
Magnesium lotions have no evidence they do anything; melatonin is a hormone, not a routine fix for healthy children, and should follow behavioral changes and a conversation with your pediatrician. Melatonin is now the most common substance U.S. children accidentally ingest — store it like medication.
For most children before puberty, a bedtime roughly between 7:30 and 8:30 works well; an artificially early bedtime mostly manufactures bedtime battles. And the pediatrician is the first stop for sleep questions — "evidence-based" has become a marketing phrase, so ask any consultant how they actually make decisions.

Links

Studies & research

Middlemiss et al. (2012), Early Human Development — the cortisol/extinction study commonly cited against sleep training. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2011.08.010
Gradisar et al. (2016), Pediatrics — randomized controlled trial; infant cortisol did not rise after graduated extinction or bedtime fading. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2015-1486
Tuladhar et al. (2021), Journal of Sleep Research — infant diurnal cortisol and sleep. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsr.13357
Earlier bedtimes and child sleep — systematic review of 45 studies, JAMA Pediatrics. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2795862
Pediatric Melatonin Ingestions, United States, 2012–2021 — CDC MMWR. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7122a1.htm
Iglowstein I, Jenni OG, Molinari L, Largo RH. Sleep duration from infancy to adolescence: reference values and generational trends. Pediatrics. 2003 Feb;111(2):302-7. doi: 10.1542/peds.111.2.302. PMID: 12563055.

Further reading on cortisol, sleep training, attachment, and online misinformation:

Bilgin & Wolke (2020), Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry — "cry it out" and attachment/behavioral development at 18 months. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13223
Davis & Kramer (2021), Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry — commentary on Bilgin & Wolke (2020). https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13390
Spangler & Grossmann (1993), Child Development — biobehavioral organization in securely and insecurely attached infants. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.1993.tb02962.x
Ramos et al. (2025), Scientific Reports — mother-infant cortisol levels and maternal childhood adversity. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-28548-8
Immeli, Douglas & Kolho (2026), Acta Paediatrica — misinformation and the medicalisation of infant health care in the social media era. https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.70468
"Guided by Routine and Nurturance: How Parent Characteristics Shape Online Infant Health Information Seeking" — PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41622498/

Craig's articles

Should My Child Take Melatonin? A Guide for Parents — https://drcraigcanapari.com/should-my-child-take-melatonin-a-guide-for-parents/
Melatonin Overdoses Are on the Rise: Why Parents Should Worry — https://drcraigcanapari.com/melatonin-overdoses-are-on-the-rise-why-parents-should-worry/
Should You Give Your Child L-Theanine for Sleep? — https://drcraigcanapari.com/should-you-give-your-child-l-theanine-for-sleep/

Resources & past episodes mentioned

The Sleep Edit, Episode 12: Melatonin and Magnesium, Oh My — https://sleepedit.show/episodes/episode-12-melatonin-and-magnesium-oh-my
BBC News — undercover investigation into dangerous baby sleep advice (2026) — https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce84e1vn1l2o
Huckleberry — sleep-tracking app; provides 7-, 14-, 30-, and 90-day sleep averages

Get in touch & next steps

Craig's free sleep training starter kit: https://drcraigcanapari.com/sleep-training-starter-kit/
Arielle's free 24-hour sleep guide: https://expect-to-sleep.kit.com/24hrsleep
Full medical disclaimer: https://sleepedit.show/disclaimer
Submit Listener Feedback and Questions Here

(00:00) - Intro
(00:27) - What counts as bad online sleep advice
(00:56) - Why simple advice beats nuance online
(03:24) - Cortisol and overtiredness: what cortisol actually is
(05:43) - Sleep training and the Middlemiss cortisol study
(11:52) - Is "overtired" even a medical term?
(14:42) - Overtired is a nuisance, not a danger
(16:24) - When wake-window fear takes over
(19:01) - Cortisol is a symptom, not a cause
(20:23) - Why you can stop tracking your child's cortisol
(23:53) - Abs...

Episode 18: Your Questions, Answered Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

We opened the mailbag. Craig and Arielle grouped dozens of listener questions by theme and worked through them — covering infant sleep and the SNOO, night wakings that seem to defy logic, 4 AM toddler wake-ups, bedtime resistance, a 5-year-old with "bad dreams" that aren't actually scary, daycare nap chaos, and a rapid-fire round on floor beds, crib-to-bed transitions, and whether you have to sleep train at all. Some of it is practical, some is reassuring, and a few answers hinge on the difference between a behavior problem and a medical one.

Key Takeaways

Safe sleep comes first. In the first six months especially: flat, firm surface; room-share without bed-share; no soft bedding. If an infant genuinely can't tolerate lying flat, that's a pediatrician conversation, not a sleep-training one.
When night wakings look random on the "same" schedule, average total sleep over seven days. Clock-time schedules can hide big variation in actual sleep amounts — and total sleep is what the child's body is optimizing against.
A pattern of 4–5 hours of solid sleep followed by wakings every 2–3 hours almost always points to a sleep-onset association. If your child falls asleep with you present, they tend to need you present to transition between each subsequent sleep cycle.
The right order for night weaning, room transition, and sleep training: get the baby into their own sleep space first, then address feeding, then sleep train. Don't layer sleep training on an unresolved feeding problem, and don't put an infant on a floor bed.
A toddler whose sleep is consistently wrecked by mild congestion deserves a look for obstructive sleep apnea — especially if they snore when well. Benadryl only "works" because it sedates; it doesn't dry up viral secretions, and OTC cough/cold products aren't recommended under 6.
You don't have to sleep train. If your child and household are sleeping well enough, there's nothing to fix. Sleep training is a tool for when someone in the house is suffering — not a milestone to hit.

Links

Studies, articles & posts

Is Room Sharing in Infancy Necessary for Safe Sleep in 2024? – Dr. Canapari
Co-Sleeping in Infancy: Bed-Sharing Is Not Safe – Dr. Canapari
Sleep-onset associations: toddler night wakings and how to fix them – Dr. Canapari
Why does my toddler wake up at night? – Dr. Canapari
Toddler early morning awakenings: what to do about them – Dr. Canapari
Is your toddler screaming at bedtime? A concrete plan for bedtime resistance – Dr. Canapari
Napping problems in toddlers and preschoolers – Dr. Canapari
What to do about nap strikes – Dr. Canapari
The bedtime pass: a great technique for older kids – Dr. Canapari
Huggy Puppy: my favorite treatment for nighttime fears – Dr. Canapari
How to stop co-sleeping so you and your child can sleep better – Dr. Canapari
Sleep training in a coughing child – Dr. Canapari
Obstructive sleep apnea in children – Dr. Canapari
AAP safe sleep recommendations (2022 update) — room sharing without bed sharing, flat firm surface, no soft bedding, ideally through the first 6–12 months
Study showing benefits of outdoor play for sleep in Japanese Toddlers Murata E, Yoshizaki A, Fujisawa TX, Tachibana M, Taniike M, Mohri I. What daily factors affect the sleep habits of Japanese toddlers? J Clin Sleep Med. 2023 Jun 1;19(6):1089-1101. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.10508. PMID: 36789883; PMCID: PMC10235708.

People & books mentioned

Become Your Child's Sleep Coach: The Bedtime Doctor's 5-Step Guide, Ages 3-10 – Lynelle Schneeberg PsyD
The Happiest Baby on the Block – Harvey Karp MD

Get in touch & next steps

Arielle's free 24-hour sleep guide: https://expect-to-sleep.kit.com/24hrsleep
Submit Listener Feedback and Questions Here

(00:00) - Intro
(01:23) - Safe sleep and the 5-month-old who "can't" lie flat
(05:10) - Julie — SNOO weaning and feeding-to-sleep
(08:27) - Kira — 4-month-old bassinet refusal
(10:41) - Hannah — can you skip the schedule and just follow sleep cues?
(13:15) - Michaela — one good night, three bad, same schedule
(15:55) - BD — 4–5 hours of sleep, then wakings every 2–3 hours
(17:56) - Megan — 8-month-old nursing to soothe, no solids
(21:31) - Simona — night weaning, room transition, sleep training — what order?
(24:26) - Tyler — 2.5-year-old tantruming at 4–5 AM
(26:54) - Arman — 7-month-old, dream feeds, 4–5 AM wakings
(29:16) - Kay — 30-month-old who naps easily but fights bedtime
(33:28) - Jason — 5-year-old's "bad dreams" that don't scare him
(35:24) - Betty — daycare 30-minute naps and the 8:30 PM bedtime
(38:43) - Anna — co-sleeping a 9-month-old with frequent illness
(41:47) - Lauren — snow globe as a "calm toy" at bedtime
(43:41) - Karen — toddler sleep with a cold, nasal sprays, and ENT
(45:45) - Sonia's rapid fire begins
(46:18) - Crib-to-bed transition and floor beds
(47:31) - Pros and cons of not sleep training
(48:34) - SNOO vs. a traditional bassinet
(51:15) - The 2-year-old who won't stay in his own bed
(54:43) - Outdoor naps at Patagonia HQ daycare
(56:10) - Wrap-up

Episode 17: Our Sleep Stacks and Routines in 2026 Feb 18, 2026

Show notes

Episode 17 – Show Notes

Our Sleep Routines in 2026 | The Sleep Edit

Craig and Arielle take a turn in the hot seat this week — sharing their own sleep habits, gear, and personal struggles. From frigid bedrooms and weighted blankets to trazodone, magnesium, and light therapy glasses, this episode is part confessional, part practical guide.

They also dig into CBT-I for insomnia, the phenomenon of orthosomnia (when sleep tracking makes your sleep worse), what melatonin actually does at a low dose, and how to think about supplements when the evidence is thin but the risk is low.

Timestamps

4:23 — Our personal sleep histories
6:36 — Restless leg syndrome & childhood sleep anxiety
8:50 — Psychophysiologic insomnia & CBT-I explained
11:00 — Bedtime boxes & stimulus control for kids
12:50 — Sleep tracking: Oura Ring vs. Apple Watch
16:20 — Orthosomnia — when tracking makes sleep worse
18:32 — How your tracker score affects how you feel the next day
19:00 — Sleep environment: cold rooms, darkness, white noise
22:52 — Sleep masks, weighted blankets (Bearaby), and pillows
27:00 — Light-up alarm clocks (Philips, Hatch)
29:00 — AYO light therapy glasses & circadian entrainment
32:00 — Nighttime routines: DND, showers, reading
34:40 — Why a hot shower helps you sleep (the science)
36:00 — Craig's meditation practice & pre-bed habits
39:20 — Arielle's history with insomnia & trazodone
41:10 — What sleep medications actually do (and don't do)
44:17 — Magnesium glycinate — the evidence
47:35 — L-theanine — even less evidence, still worth trying?
48:11 — Melatonin: Craig's 1mg dose & the heart failure study
52:00 — How we're actually sleeping in 2026

Key Takeaways

Both hosts have struggled with sleep throughout their lives — and that's part of why they do this work.
Sleep anxiety in children (and adults) responds well to CBT-I; the behavioral components are often more important than the cognitive ones.
Sleep trackers are best used to observe trends, not to optimize nightly metrics. Fixating on scores can cause orthosomnia — anxiety that worsens the very sleep it's supposed to measure.
A cold bedroom (ideally 60–67°F), darkness, and quiet are the most evidence-based environmental changes you can make.
A warm shower or bath before bed works by triggering a drop in core body temperature — the direction of change matters, not just the temperature itself.
Magnesium glycinate and L-theanine have limited but plausible supporting data; more importantly, they're safe at typical doses. Use third-party tested brands.
Melatonin is a hormone — more is not better. Craig uses 1mg. A 2024 conference abstract linking long-term melatonin use to heart failure has significant methodological limitations, was not peer-reviewed, and is not cause for alarm at low doses in otherwise healthy adults.
Trazodone is a reasonable long-term option for some people with chronic insomnia. It's not habit-forming, increases slow-wave sleep, and has a stable side-effect profile — but it's still a tool, not a substitute for good sleep habits. Note: AYO glasses recommend a 20-minute morning session (not 10 minutes as mentioned in the episode).

Links

Craig's gear & supplements

AYO Light Therapy Glasses
Bearaby Weighted Blanket
Oura Ring
Magnesium Glycinate 500mg
Nature's Trove L-Theanine
Melatonin 1mg
ConsumerLab.com — third-party supplement testing (subscription ~$60/yr)

Craig's posts & calculators

Clinicians & resources mentioned

Dr. Shelby Harris – CBT-I specialist
Dr. Lynelle Schneeberg – Become Your Child's Sleep Coach: The Bedtime Doctor's 5-Step Guide, Ages 3–10
- Book on Amazon
Orthosomnia – original paper by Dr. Kelly Baron (J Clin Sleep Med, 2017)
CBT-I Coach App (VA) — free, useful for teens 12+ and adults

Arielle's website & resources

Contact Listener questions: sleepeditpod@gmail.com

RE-AIR Episode 11: Navigating Holiday Sleep Challenges: Tips for Parents Dec 15, 2025

Show notes

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 actionable advice to help your family enjoy the season while staying (relatively) well-rested. They’ll even share some pro tips, like the ultimate New Year’s Eve bedtime trick you won’t want to miss.

Remember: holiday sleep doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to work for you and your family. So, give yourself some grace, enjoy the cookies, and focus on the quality of your time together.

Links

Dr. Canapari's guide to Vacation "Sleep"
Canapari's guide "Holiday Travel Sleep Guide: Real Parents, Real Questions, Real Solutions"
Arielle's guide: "How to enjoy your holidays and protect your child's sleep"
Studies on sugar consumption and sleep
- Study of 287 children ages 8-12 showing no association between sugar and sleep or behavioral change
- Study of 2600 children aged 6-12 showing that more sugar consumption was associated with decreased sleep duration
- Metanalysis of studies of young children 0-5 showing worse diet and higher sugar intake were associated with lower sleep quality

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and Disclaimer
01:13 Navigating Holiday Sleep Challenges
03:18 Travel Tips for Parents
06:04 Managing Sleep in Different Environments
13:30 Handling Naps and Bedtime During Holidays
22:19 Dealing with Food and Sugar
28:50 Final Tips and Holiday Wishes
30:53 Conclusion and Resources

Connect with Us! Send us an email about questions, feedback, or ideas for future topics.

RE-AIR Episode 11: Navigating Holiday Sleep Challenges: Tips for Parents Dec 15, 2025

Show notes

Remember: holiday sleep doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to work for you and your family. So, give yourself some grace, enjoy the cookies, and focus on the quality of your time together.

Links

Dr. Canapari's guide to Vacation "Sleep"
Canapari's guide "Holiday Travel Sleep Guide: Real Parents, Real Questions, Real Solutions"
Arielle's guide: "How to enjoy your holidays and protect your child's sleep"
Studies on sugar consumption and sleep
- Study of 287 children ages 8-12 showing no association between sugar and sleep or behavioral change
- Study of 2600 children aged 6-12 showing that more sugar consumption was associated with decreased sleep duration
- Metanalysis of studies of young children 0-5 showing worse diet and higher sugar intake were associated with lower sleep quality

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and Disclaimer
01:13 Navigating Holiday Sleep Challenges
03:18 Travel Tips for Parents
06:04 Managing Sleep in Different Environments
13:30 Handling Naps and Bedtime During Holidays
22:19 Dealing with Food and Sugar
28:50 Final Tips and Holiday Wishes
30:53 Conclusion and Resources

Connect with Us! Send us an email about questions, feedback, or ideas for future topics.

Episode 16: Napping Spectacular Pt 2 Nov 17, 2025

Show notes

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.

You’ll learn

• How to know when it’s time to drop a nap

• The signs of a nap transition vs. a temporary “nap strike”

• Why total 24-hour sleep matters more than wake-window charts

• What typical daytime sleep looks like for infants and toddlers

• The sleep math behind transitions (high vs. low sleep-need kids)

• How daycare schedules can derail naps—and what parents can control

• Strategies for capping naps, shifting schedules, and preventing bedtime battles

• When early morning awakenings actually signal too much daytime sleep

Chapters

00:00:01 — Welcome & Episode Setup
00:01:07 — The 3→2 Nap Transition: When It Starts
00:02:48 — Biology of Sleep Drive & Late Naps
00:03:43 — Why Late Bedtimes Are So Common Now
00:04:59 — How Total Sleep Needs Shape Nap Schedules
00:06:32 — Wake Windows vs. Real Sleep Need
00:07:52 — Consolidated Naps & Nap Length Targets
00:09:41 — How to Use the Third Nap as a Bridge
00:11:06 — Example: Designing a 13.5-hour Sleep Day
00:12:59 — Signs It’s Time to Drop From 3→2 Naps
00:14:45 — Why Transitions Are Messy (and Normal)
00:15:56 — The 2→1 Nap Transition: Age & Signs
00:17:46 — Developmental Milestones That Disrupt Naps
00:19:06 — Case Example: Drew (13 Months)
00:20:57 — How to Start the 2→1 Transition Step-by-Step
00:22:54 — Shifting Nap Timing & Early Bedtime Strategy
00:23:56 — Tracking Sleep: Apps vs. Diaries
00:24:53 — Why Smart Monitors Often Mislead Parents
00:26:50 — When Nights Get Worse Because of Nap Issues
00:27:59 — The 1→0 Transition: What Truly Signals Readiness
00:29:18 — Daycare Nap Challenges & Parent Options
00:31:56 — Capping Naps to Protect Nighttime Sleep
00:33:30 — Nap Strikes vs. True Transitions
00:36:06 — Early Morning Awakenings & Too Much Day Sleep
00:38:30 — Final Thoughts & The Greenleaf Windows

References

Paruthi, S., Brooks, L. J., D’Ambrosio, C., Hall, W. A., Kotagal, S., Lloyd, R. M., Malow, B. A., Maski, K., Nichols, C., Quan, S. F., Rosen, C. L., Troester, M. M., & Wise, M. S. (2016). Consensus statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine on the recommended amount of sleep for healthy children: methodology and discussion. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 12(11), 1549–1561. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.6288
Spencer, R. M. C., & Riggins, T. (2022). Contributions of memory and brain development to the bioregulation of naps and nap transitions in early childhood. PNAS, 119(11), e2114326119. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2114326119
Staton, S., et al. (2020). Many naps, one nap, none: A systematic review and meta-analysis of napping patterns in children 0–12 years. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 50, 101247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2019.101247
Galland, B. C., Taylor, B. J., Elder, D. E., & Herbison, P. (2012). Normal sleep patterns in infants and children: A systematic review of observational studies. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 16(3), 213–222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2011.06.001
Horváth, K. (2018). Spotlight on daytime napping during early childhood. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 1238. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01238
Wolke, D., Bilgin, A., & Samara, M. (2017). Systematic review and meta-analysis: Fussing and crying durations and prevalence of colic in infants. The Journal of Pediatrics, 185, 55–61.e4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2017.02.020
Lavner, J. A., et al. (2023). Sleep SAAF randomized clinical trial. JAMA Network Open, 6(3), e236276. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.6276
Paul, I. M., et al. (2016). INSIGHT Responsive Parenting Intervention and Infant Sleep. Pediatrics, 138(1), e20160762. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-0762

Episode 16: Napping Spectacular Pt 2 Nov 17, 2025

Show notes

You’ll learn

• How to know when it’s time to drop a nap

• The signs of a nap transition vs. a temporary “nap strike”

• Why total 24-hour sleep matters more than wake-window charts

• What typical daytime sleep looks like for infants and toddlers

• The sleep math behind transitions (high vs. low sleep-need kids)

• How daycare schedules can derail naps—and what parents can control

• Strategies for capping naps, shifting schedules, and preventing bedtime battles

• When early morning awakenings actually signal too much daytime sleep

Chapters

00:00:01 — Welcome & Episode Setup
00:01:07 — The 3→2 Nap Transition: When It Starts
00:02:48 — Biology of Sleep Drive & Late Naps
00:03:43 — Why Late Bedtimes Are So Common Now
00:04:59 — How Total Sleep Needs Shape Nap Schedules
00:06:32 — Wake Windows vs. Real Sleep Need
00:07:52 — Consolidated Naps & Nap Length Targets
00:09:41 — How to Use the Third Nap as a Bridge
00:11:06 — Example: Designing a 13.5-hour Sleep Day
00:12:59 — Signs It’s Time to Drop From 3→2 Naps
00:14:45 — Why Transitions Are Messy (and Normal)
00:15:56 — The 2→1 Nap Transition: Age & Signs
00:17:46 — Developmental Milestones That Disrupt Naps
00:19:06 — Case Example: Drew (13 Months)
00:20:57 — How to Start the 2→1 Transition Step-by-Step
00:22:54 — Shifting Nap Timing & Early Bedtime Strategy
00:23:56 — Tracking Sleep: Apps vs. Diaries
00:24:53 — Why Smart Monitors Often Mislead Parents
00:26:50 — When Nights Get Worse Because of Nap Issues
00:27:59 — The 1→0 Transition: What Truly Signals Readiness
00:29:18 — Daycare Nap Challenges & Parent Options
00:31:56 — Capping Naps to Protect Nighttime Sleep
00:33:30 — Nap Strikes vs. True Transitions
00:36:06 — Early Morning Awakenings & Too Much Day Sleep
00:38:30 — Final Thoughts & The Greenleaf Windows

Links

References

Paruthi, S., Brooks, L. J., D’Ambrosio, C., Hall, W. A., Kotagal, S., Lloyd, R. M., Malow, B. A., Maski, K., Nichols, C., Quan, S. F., Rosen, C. L., Troester, M. M., & Wise, M. S. (2016). Consensus statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine on the recommended amount of sleep for healthy children: methodology and discussion. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 12(11), 1549–1561. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.6288
Spencer, R. M. C., & Riggins, T. (2022). Contributions of memory and brain development to the bioregulation of naps and nap transitions in early childhood. PNAS, 119(11), e2114326119. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2114326119
Staton, S., et al. (2020). Many naps, one nap, none: A systematic review and meta-analysis of napping patterns in children 0–12 years. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 50, 101247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2019.101247
Galland, B. C., Taylor, B. J., Elder, D. E., & Herbison, P. (2012). Normal sleep patterns in infants and children: A systematic review of observational studies. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 16(3), 213–222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2011.06.001
Horváth, K. (2018). Spotlight on daytime napping during early childhood. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 1238. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01238
Wolke, D., Bilgin, A., & Samara, M. (2017). Systematic review and meta-analysis: Fussing and crying durations and prevalence of colic in infants. The Journal of Pediatrics, 185, 55–61.e4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2017.02.020
Lavner, J. A., et al. (2023). Sleep SAAF randomized clinical trial. JAMA Network Open, 6(3), e236276. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.6276
Paul, I. M., et al. (2016). INSIGHT Responsive Parenting Intervention and Infant Sleep. Pediatrics, 138(1), e20160762. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-0762

Episode 15: Napping Spectacular! Oct 06, 2025

Show notes

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 and periods of crying.

Key takeaways

Think in 24 hours: aim to balance daytime sleep with restorative overnight sleep.
AASM consensus ranges: infants 4–12 mo (12–16 h), toddlers 1–2 y (11–14 h), preschoolers 3–5 y (10–13 h), school-age 6–12 y (9–12 h), teens 13–18 y (8–10 h).
Nap transitions are tied to brain maturity; as memory systems develop, many preschoolers naturally nap less.
Typical goals for many infants: at least two naps of ~1 hour each and ~10 hours overnight (individual needs vary).
Independent sleep skills are the linchpin for extending naps beyond a single 30–45 minute sleep cycle.
Watch sleepy cues, but remember boredom can masquerade as tiredness in older infants.
Contact napping can be soothing, but it’s risky if the caregiver is truly exhausted—prioritize safe sleep.
Newborn naps are erratic; you can practice gentle routines, but you can’t “schedule” a newborn.
Consistency across naps and nights helps babies learn faster than a mix-and-match approach.

Links

Chapters

00:00 Intro and disclaimer
01:10 Why naps feel harder than nights; personal stories
03:00 What parents often misunderstand about naps
04:00 How much sleep kids need (AASM consensus)
06:00 Why naps matter for mood and learning
06:40 Brain development and nap transitions (hippocampus)
07:00 Average nap duration by age; variability is normal
09:10 How many naps per day; typical progression through early childhood
12:00 Galland review; why transitions are tricky in real life
14:00 The “art” of troubleshooting naps
15:00 Naps vs. nights: balance the 24-hour total
18:00 Targets for infants; prioritizing overnight sleep
22:00 High vs. low sleep-need babies
23:00 Nap routines vs. bedtime routines; wind-down for toddlers
25:00 How to get longer naps: schedule fit and independent sleep
27:00 Evidence-based infant sleep tips (INSIGHT and SAAF principles)
29:00 Reading sleep cues without getting trapped by rigid schedules
30:30 Overtiredness vs. boredom; case example
34:00 Can you sleep-train for naps but not nights? Why consistency wins
36:00 Typical nap times by age; capping late naps
39:00 Newborn nap reality check
40:00 Contact napping and safety
42:00 Period of PURPLE Crying and parental stress
45:30 Wrap-up and preview of Part 2

References

Paruthi S, Brooks LJ, D’Ambrosio C, et al. Consensus statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine on the recommended amount of sleep for healthy children: methodology and discussion. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 2016;12(11):1549-1561.
Spencer RMC, Riggins T. Contributions of memory and brain development to the bioregulation of naps and nap transitions in early childhood. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2022;119(11):e2114326119.
Staton S, et al. Many naps, one nap, none: A systematic review and meta-analysis of napping patterns in children 0–12 years. Sleep Medicine Reviews. 2020;50:101247.
Galland BC, Taylor BJ, Elder DE, Herbison P. Normal sleep patterns in infants and children: A systematic review of observational studies. Sleep Medicine Reviews. 2012;16(3):213-222.
Horváth K. Spotlight on daytime napping during early childhood. Frontiers in Psychology. 2018;9:1238.
Wolke D, Bilgin A, Samara M. Fussing and crying durations and prevalence of colic in infants: Systematic review and meta-analysis. The Journal of Pediatrics. 2017;185:55-61.e4.
Lavner JA, Hohman EE, Beach SRH, Stansfield BK, Savage JS. Effects of a responsive parenting intervention among Black families on infant sleep: Secondary analysis of the Sleep SAAF randomized clinical trial. JAMA Network Open. 2023;6(3):e236276.
Paul IM, Savage JS, Anzman-Frasca S, Marini ME, Mindell JA, Birch LL. INSIGHT Responsive Parenting Intervention and infant sleep. Pediatrics. 2016;138(1):e20160762.

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