The Sleep Edit Craig Canapari, MD and Arielle Greenleaf

Today, Craig and Arielle unpack the often mystifying world of newborn sleep—those crucial first three months. The inspiration for this episode was Craig's new niece, who was 2 weeks old at the time of recording. Whether you're navigating the unpredictable waters of infant sleep or just curious about what's normal, this episode promises to arm you with the insights you need to feel a bit more in control—or at least to understand that sometimes, chaos is just part of the parenting package.




[00:00:00] Introduction and disclaimer



[00:01:09] Welcoming listeners back and introducing the episode's focus on newborn sleep



[00:02:12] Discussion on the erratic nature of newborn sleep



[00:03:22] Personal story about sleep expectations with a newborn



[00:08:21] Explanation of active sleep in newborns and advice for parents



[00:10:41] Impact of external factors like maternity and paternity leave on sleep



[00:14:26] Transition to detailed discussion on sleep cues and signs of tiredness in newborns



[00:21:08] Exploring the science of sleep cycles and the development of circadian rhythms



[00:26:35] Discussion on the "witching hour" and strategies to cope with it



[00:32:23] Month-by-month sleep development and expectations



[00:37:38] Review of sleep tools and technologies affecting newborn sleep



[00:42:35] Closing remarks and where to find more resources




Notable Quotes:




Craig Canapari MD: "Things will get better with time, even if you're really struggling. It's funny, my older son was one of those babies that we took him home from the hospital. My wife had a c-section the first night. And he slept six hours overnight."



Arielle Greenleaf: "I think one of the biggest things I wish I had known back in the day was I didn't know really about active sleep. And so I think when she was coming, she's going through that, what did you call it?"



Arielle Greenleaf: "I always tell newborn parents, don't rush. They will tell you if they need you. They will, they have lungs and they can scream."



Craig Canapari MD: "A newborn, that could be anywhere from 13 to 14 hours per or 20 hours within a 24 hour period. So if you have a baby who's natural sleep needs at that point is 20 hours a day, you are gonna feel like a parenting genius."




Links and Resources:




Sleep and Wakefulness by Nathaniel Kleitman



Why room sharing is important for safe sleep



AAP Safe Sleep Guidelines



Period of purple crying



How many wet diapers per day



Happiest Baby on the Block



Bringing up Bebe- and Le Pause



Wirecutter article on the SNOO




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

In our first mailbag episode, Arielle and I take a deep dive into your most pressing sleep-related questions, from the perfect setup for your toddler's room to managing sleep challenges in children with autism. We took YOUR questions from email and Instagram.



Timestamps:




[00:02:00] "What should the light setup be in a toddler's room?"



[00:03:23] "Can you immediately stop using a pacifier when sleep training?"



[00:05:39] "How to introduce room sharing?"



[00:08:31] "Tips for jet lag when flying overseas with kids?"



[00:11:30] "How much movement during sleep is typical in an elementary schooler?"



[00:15:05] "Is it okay to use melatonin for sleep issues in kids?"



[00:22:44] "How to manage bedtime for children with autism?"



[00:28:47] "Dealing with night nursing and weaning issues."



[00:36:00] "How do we break the cycle of bottle feeding and rocking to sleep for a 2-year-old?"



[00:39:00] "Will removing a nighttime sleep crutch result in split nights?"



[00:51:27] "Should weekend naps match daycare schedule for a 6-month-old?"



[00:53:10] "Recommendations for a 3-year-old inconsistent in taking naps."



[00:55:00] "How to handle a baby's strong preference for one parent at bedtime."



[00:57:16] "Helping a 6-year-old with congenital heart disease to sleep better."




Notable Quotes from the Episode:




"It should be dark enough in your kid's room that you can't read a book by the light." - Dr. Craig Canapari



"The sooner you can eliminate the pacifier, the better." - Arielle Greenleaf



"Kids adjust more quickly to new time zones than adults do." - Dr. Craig Canapari



"Melatonin is not a magic bullet. It's part of a broader strategy." - Dr. Craig Canapari



"Natural light is very helpful for adjusting to new time zones." - Arielle Greenleaf



"Being a little bit careful with screens before bedtime can help with jet lag." - Dr. Craig Canapari



"Restless leg syndrome in kids is typically associated with both sensory and sleep issues." - Dr. Craig Canapari



"Swap your child's fear of not having the pacifier with germophobia and you're all set." - Dr. Craig Canapari, humorously suggesting a strategy for weaning off pacifiers.




Links




Sleep edit episode with Dr. Garay



Room sharing links: Dr Canapari article in the NYT ; Dr Canapari article on his website



Melatonin for Children: A Guide for Parents



Melatonin overdoses are on the rise: why parents should worry



Solving Sleep Problems in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Guide for Frazzled Families



How to stop night feeds



AAP Safe Sleep Guideline 2022



Want to stop cosleeping? Here’s how



List of sleep training methods



Early morning awakenings: what to do about them




Got sleep questions? Drop us a line for a future episode

In this episode, Dr. Canapari and Arielle welcome their first guest, pediatric psychologist Dr. Danielle Garay from the Yale Pediatric Sleep Program to discuss the role of psychology in treating children's sleep difficulties, focusing on anxiety, nighttime fears, tantrums, and separation anxiety. 



Important Sections:




[00:03:09] The role of a psychologist in the care of children with sleep difficulties



[00:07:47] Discussion on temperament and its relevance to sleep difficulties



[00:10:12] Advice for dealing with nighttime fears in children



[00:17:56] Managing nighttime tantrums in toddlers and preschoolers



[00:39:49] Explanation of separation anxiety and its manifestation at night



[00:44:58] Understanding accommodations and their role in managing anxiety



[00:52:55] Using reward structures and incentives for behavior change in children




Highlighted Quotes:



"It is such a powerful intervention to be able to help people with their sleep." - Dr. Danielle Garay



"Tantrum has such a negative connotation, and it's not like a child is choosing to have a tantrum, and I feel like sometimes parents see it as the child choosing to have that tantrum and cause chaos at bedtime. And it's really just not the case." - Arielle Greenleaf



"True boundaries should require the other person to do nothing. It's you setting the boundary for yourself." - Dr. Danielle Garay



"Small changes in parental behavior can lead to significant improvements in a child's sleep." – Dr. Craig Canapari



Links




How to stop cosleeping including an evidence based plan for children with separation anxiety



Huggy puppy treatment for night time fears



How to help an anxious child sleep better



Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD: A Scientifically Proven Program for Parents By Eli Lebowitz PhD



Treating Childhood and Adolescent Anxiety: A Guide for Caregivers by Eli Lebowitz PhD and Haim Omer PhD



Psychology Today - find a therapist, screening for your insurance type and specialty of provider



https://www.spacetreatment.net/space-providers - Find SPACE treatment providers (excellent parent training for treating anxiety in children



The Sleep Edit CIO episode



Books on dealing with fears of the dark:



Uncle Lightfoot Flip That Switch: Overcoming Fear of the Dark



Orion and the Dark



The Rabbit, the Dark and the Cookie Tin.




(Note that we use Amazon Affiliate links to support the podcast).



Have questions? Drop us a line!

Today, we're cutting through the noise to bring clarity to some common pediatric sleep myths that frequently confuse tired parents. Dr. Canapari and Arielle are tackling:




Wake windows



Sleep regressions



Nap strikes



Whether you should or should not wake a sleeping baby



Teenage sleep myths




Notable Quotes:




"Children are as unique in their sleep needs as they are in their personalities. It's our job to guide, not dictate, their path to better sleep." - Dr. Craig Canapari



"The concept of wake windows has become a maze for parents. Let's simplify and tailor sleep strategies to fit the child, not the other way around." - Ariel Greenleaf



"Initiating a bedtime routine early is key, but adjusting strategies as your child grows is equally important." - Dr. Craig Canapari on establishing and evolving sleep routines.



"Addressing sleep is not just about tonight's rest; it's about setting a foundation for healthy sleep habits that last a lifetime." - Arielle Greenleaf




Time Stamps:




00:00 Introduction and Discussion on Naps



00:15 Debunking Sleep Myths and Discussing Wake Windows



08:44 Understanding Sleep Regressions



17:17 The Controversy of Nap Strikes



23:05 The Impact of Napping on Nighttime Sleep



23:39 The Role of Daycare in Children's Sleep Patterns



25:35 Debunking Sleep Myths: Late Bedtimes and Desired Wake Times



38:22 The Controversy of Sleep Training



42:38 The Struggle of Teenagers with Early School Start Times



45:33 Closing Thoughts and Future Advocacy




Show notes




Do wake windows really help babies and kids nap better?



How to deal with a sleep regressions



Sleep regressions in the NYT:



Iglowstein article– on sleep needs and nap timing



Study on driving in sleep deprived mothers: 



Understanding sleep drive and the circadian clock in children



Facebook groups raise cortisol in moms



More help on napping




Questions or feedback? Email us here. We are collecting questions for future Q&A shows!

In this episode, we talk about the controversial method of 'Cry It Out' (CIO) or Extinction Sleep Training. This approach, often misunderstood and feared, can be a quick and efficient method to improve a child's sleep. We go deep on the criteria for its successful implementation, discussing age-appropriateness, parental consistency, and prioritizing safety and health. We also cover that the method is not suitable for all children or families, and alternative methods like bedtime fading and pick up/put down are also considered. Finally, we cover importance of sleep training for both children and parents to improve the overall family dynamic. (Full transcript and a video are available here).



Here are the three key take-aways from the episode:



Be open to trying different sleep training methods - What works well for one child's temperament may not work for another. Give a new method 3-5 nights before deciding if it's effective.



"Gentle" is not always better - Sitting in the room while ignoring crying (camping out) can actually prolong upset in some young babies. More separation may help them learn to self-soothe faster.



Cry it out is generally safe when done responsively - Research shows no long term emotional harm. But if excessive crying persists beyond expectations, reevaluate and adjust. Be responsive to your baby's needs.




00:00 Introduction to the Sleep Edit



00:03 Discussing Cry It Out (CIO) Method



00:09 Introducing Arielle Greenleaf



01:08 The Controversy Around Sleep Training



02:56 Understanding Different Sleep Training Techniques



03:43 The Importance of Sleep for Children and Parents



04:02 Defining Sleep Training Terms



09:21 The Impact of Parenting Styles on Sleep Training



09:27 The Role of Attachment Theory in Sleep Training



17:03 The Effectiveness of Extinction Sleep Training



24:46 Sleep Training in the Era of Room Sharing



28:14 The Power of Parental Presence



29:12 Understanding the Importance of Age-Appropriate Schedules



29:56 The Role of Routine in Sleep Training



30:58 The Challenges of Nap Time



31:40 Who is Extinction Sleep Training For?



33:35 The Importance of Consistency in Sleep Training



36:54 The First Year of Life: Sleep Expectations and Realities



39:22 The Pitfalls of Sleep Training Methods



42:59 The Role of Feeding in Sleep Training



45:56 Alternatives to Extinction Sleep Training




Links:




How long will your baby cry during sleep training?



Article in Time on why Dr. Sears’ contention about the dangers of crying are false



Two articles on why sleep training doesn’t hurt your child



Why you should room share but not bed share in infancy



Modern family sleep training scene




Questions or feedback? Email us here. We are collecting questions for future Q&A shows!





Assistant producer: Theodore Canapari

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