How Long 'Til Bedtime? | Sleep and Parenting Podcast

What do you do when your child's brain won't shut off at bedtime? Can years of poor sleep habits be changed? And how long should you give a new sleep strategy before deciding whether it works? In this episode, pediatric sleep and wellness coach Allison Egidi answers three thoughtful questions she received from middle school students, high school students, and a parent during recent sleep presentat...

What if raising a good sleeper isn't just about having the right bedtime routine or sleep schedule? What if the way you talk about sleep matters too? In this episode, pediatric sleep and wellness coach Allison Egidi explains how the words we use about sleep can shape how children think about themselves as sleepers and influence their relationship with sleep for years to come. Allison explains why...

Postpartum psychosis is a serious psychiatric emergency, but it's a topic that is often misunderstood, especially when news coverage focuses on the most tragic cases. In this episode, Allison Egidi talks with Laudy Burgos, a clinical social worker who specializes in perinatal mood disorders and serves in leadership roles with Postpartum Support International. Together, they take a closer look at w...

What do you do when your baby or toddler skips a nap? Whether your child refuses a nap, takes a 15-minute car nap instead of their usual 90 minute nap, or simply has an unexpectedly short day of sleep, an off nap day can leave parents wondering what to do next. In this short but practical episode, Allison breaks down exactly how to handle a skipped or shortened nap without throwing off the rest of...

Sports can teach girls confidence, resilience, teamwork, and leadership. But what else might they be learning along the way? In this thought-provoking episode of How Long 'Til Bedtime? , Allison shares an essay she originally wrote after reflecting on her own experiences as a parent on the sidelines of youth sports. She asks a bigger question: Are the sports our daughters participate in actually p...

Is your child's crib or bed overflowing with loveys, stuffed animals, and comfort items? Or maybe you're wondering when it's okay to introduce a lovey, or whether your big kid is too old to still sleep with one. In this episode, pediatric sleep coach Allison Egidi answers your most common questions about loveys and toddler sleep. She explains how many loveys she recommends keeping in your child's...

Does your child insist that only Mom can do bedtime? And they refuse to let Dad put them to bed? Parent preference at bedtime is incredibly common, especially during the toddler and preschool years. But while it's normal, that doesn't mean you have to accept a situation where only one parent can handle bedtime every night. In this episode, Allison explains why children develop a strong preference...

A closed bedroom door might not seem like a sleep issue, but it could save your child's life. In this episode, Allison shares an important fire safety message that every parent should hear: close your bedroom door before you go to sleep, and close your children's bedroom doors, too. After seeing a Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) video demonstrating what happens to two bedrooms during the sam...

Wondering if your child is meeting speech milestones? A speech language pathologist explains early language development, red flags, and when to seek help. In this episode, Allison sits down with speech language pathologist Dinalynn Rosenbush to answer some of parents' biggest questions about early speech and language development. Together, they discuss what language milestones really mean, why onl...

The back-to-school season isn't just an adjustment for preschoolers and elementary-aged children. In many ways, the tween and teen years present the biggest sleep challenge of all. As children move through puberty, their circadian rhythm naturally shifts later, making it harder to fall asleep early, just as school start times require earlier wake-ups. Add in homework, sports, extracurricular activ...

Back-to-school season is here, and while parents are busy shopping for backpacks, lunchboxes, and school supplies, one of the most important tools for a successful school year often gets overlooked: sleep. In this episode, Allison explains why sleep is one of the biggest predictors of academic success, emotional regulation, physical health, and overall well-being for elementary-aged children. Draw...

Starting kindergarten is one of the biggest transitions of early childhood. Even children who have spent years in daycare or preschool often find kindergarten far more demanding than parents expect. In this episode, Allison explains why sleep should be at the top of every parent's back-to-school checklist. She shares how kindergarten differs from preschool, how much sleep most kindergartners actua...

If your preschooler is heading to school for the first time, or getting ready for another school year, there's one thing Allison hopes you'll add to your back-to-school checklist: sleep. Parents often focus on backpacks, school supplies, and lunchboxes, but a well-rested child is more likely to adjust smoothly to new routines, regulate emotions, retain what they're learning, and enjoy the preschoo...

Pediatrician Dr. Stephanie Grice explains when parents should call the doctor, when a fever is concerning, signs of dehydration, and how to know when a sick child needs medical care.  How do you know when your sick child needs to see the doctor? It's one of the most common questions parents ask. Whether your child wakes up with a fever, develops a rash, starts vomiting, or simply seems "off," it c...

Pediatrician Dr. Stephanie Grice joins Allison to explain how growth charts work, what percentiles really mean, when parents should be concerned, and why healthy growth is about patterns over time, not a single number.  Dr. Grice explains how pediatricians use growth charts to monitor a child's health over time, why percentiles are often misunderstood, and what parents should focus on instead. She...

Pediatrician Dr. Stephanie Grice joins Allison for the first installment of a three-part summer series. Together, they take a deep dive into well visits, from infancy through the teen years, covering what pediatricians are looking for, how parents can prepare, and how these appointments evolve as children grow. Dr. Grice shares practical advice for preparing children for checkups, reducing anxiety...

Does dinnertime feel like the most stressful part of your day? Maybe your toddler refuses dinner, takes three bites and declares they're done, or suddenly becomes ravenous right as you're starting the bedtime routine.  Allison is joined by pediatric dietitian Kathy O'Bryan to discuss one of the biggest sources of stress for parents of toddlers: mealtime. Kathy shares practical strategies to help p...

Both Ellen and Sophie started as exhausted parents searching for answers to their own children's sleep struggles. Today, after nearly three years on the Sleep and Wellness Coach team, they've helped countless families navigate bedtime battles, night wakings, short naps, early mornings, and everything in between. In this candid conversation, Allison, Ellen, and Sophie share: Their personal stories...

Sometimes solving a child's sleep struggle requires a full reset. And sometimes, it's just one small missing piece. Allison shares four real client sleep stories that highlight how one simple change completely shifted a child's sleep. From newborn naps to bedtime protests to nighttime wakings, each family had a different challenge, but in every case, one specific adjustment made a surprisingly big...

To recognize ten years of Sleep and Wellness Coach, Allison reflects on the journey that led her from a severely sleep-deprived working mom struggling with postpartum anxiety to becoming a pediatric sleep consultant who has now helped thousands of families. She shares the personal story behind the creation of her business, including the exhausting early years of motherhood, unsuccessful attempts a...

One of the most common questions Allison hears from parents is whether they should get rid of the pull-up or diaper at night when they begin daytime potty training. Many potty training methods encourage families to go "all in" with underwear day and night, but Allison explains why she recommends a very different approach. In this episode, Allison breaks down the important difference between daytim...

May is Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month. It is believed that 1 in 5 new moms experience some level of perinatal mood or anxiety disorder. And when a new mom experiences postpartum anxiety or depression, her partner is 50% more likely to also experience anxiety or depression. In today's episode, we've invited three fathers to share their perspective on the postpartum journey. Mike Vasquez and...

Motherhood can be full of people and still feel lonely.  In this episode, Allison reflects on Mother's Day and Maternal Mental Health month and shares why connection with other women is one of the most overlooked tools for maternal wellbeing. Between school schedules, sports practices, and endless logistics, many moms spend their days surrounded by people but rarely experience true, nourishing con...

May is Maternal Mental Health Month, and in this episode of How Long 'Til Bedtime? , Allison sits down with postpartum doula and maternal health advocate Kristin Revere to talk about a type of support that can make a profound difference for new families: postpartum doula care. While many parents are familiar with birth doulas, postpartum doulas are often less understood. Kristin explains what post...

Is your elementary-age child suddenly resisting bedtime, taking longer to fall asleep, waking at night, or starting the day too early? You may be dealing with a very real and very common pattern: the end of school year sleep regression. In this episode of How Long 'Til Bedtime? , Allison explains why sleep often starts to unravel in the final stretch of the school year. While longer daylight hours...