Description
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
Questions or feedback? Email us here. We are collecting questions for future Q&A shows!
Links:
Huggy puppy intervention for night time fears
Brett Kuhn Ph.D
Why is your toddler waking up at night
How much sleep does your child need at night?
How to address night feedings
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