How Long 'Til Bedtime? | Sleep and Parenting Podcast

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...

Missed a nap? Short nap day? Bedtime suddenly a struggle? Your child may need what Allison calls a rescue bedtime. In this episode, Allison breaks down one of the most powerful and most underused tools in a parent's sleep toolkit: moving bedtime earlier after a rough nap day. This simple shift can prevent overtiredness, protect nighttime sleep, and keep a child's schedule on track. Many parents wo...

If bedtime feels like a battle, your child is waking during the night, or mornings are starting way too early, the issue may not be how much sleep your child is getting. It may be when they are going to sleep. In this episode, Allison explains one of the most important and overlooked concepts in children's sleep: sleep timing. Once a baby develops a mature sleep rhythm, sleep becomes less about wa...

If your child wakes up in the middle of the night scared, fully awake, and talking about monsters, sharks, or something chasing them, you're likely dealing with a nightmare. In this episode, Allison explains what nightmares really are, why they happen, and how they're different from night terrors. You'll learn one of the most important clues for telling the difference between the two, and why the...

If you've ever rushed into your child's room in the middle of the night to find them screaming, sitting up, and completely inconsolable… and only to have them settle back to sleep like nothing happened… night terrors may be the reason. Night terrors can be incredibly frightening to witness, but they're often misunderstood. In this episode, Allison explains what night terrors really are, why they h...

Many toddlers wake up before it's truly time to start the day, or before their wake up light turns green. When that happens, parents often wonder: Should I let my child quietly play with toys until it's time to get up? And is it okay to let kids bring toys into bed at bedtime or nap time? At first glance, both of these solutions can feel harmless or even like a parenting win. But in reality, they...

If you have twins and are struggling to get any consolidated sleep, you're not alone and you're certainly not doing anything wrong. In this episode, Allison dives into the unique challenges of twin sleep and shares practical strategies to help you build rhythms that work for both babies and for you. From syncing overnight feeds to navigating naps when your twins have completely different sleep tem...

What does sleep look like for a child who doesn't have a bed? In honor of National Sleep Awareness Week, Allison is spotlighting a foundational—but often overlooked—piece of healthy sleep: having a bed. In this episode, she's joined by Lauren Evans, mom of two and Executive Director of Beds for Kids, an organization serving more than 1,000 families each year by providing beds and essential furnitu...

If bedtime in your house is full of stalling, endless requests, or sudden separation anxiety, it may not be about sleep at all. It may be about connection. In this episode, Allison explains how a small tweak to your language - and just 10–15 minutes of intentional one-on-one time each day - can dramatically reduce bedtime resistance and improve behavior throughout the day. You'll learn: Why attent...

Spring Time Change Cheat Sheet - Download Allison's free printable guide to plug in your child's schedule and follow a clear plan for the time change. If time changes make you anxious every year, you are not alone—but the good news is that the spring time change is typically the easier one to manage. In this episode of How Long 'Til Bedtime? , Allison walks you through exactly how to adjust your c...

In today's conversation, Allison breaks down why when your child starts their day plays a surprisingly powerful role in naps, bedtime, and overall night sleep. She answers a common question parents ask: Should my baby or toddler wake up at the same time every morning? The answer is yes… with important nuance. You'll learn how morning wake time sets the rhythm for the entire day, why too much varia...

If you're navigating the tricky transition from two naps to one, this episode is for you. In this short and practical episode of How Long 'Til Bedtime? , Allison breaks down when babies are actually developmentally ready to drop to one nap—and why making the switch too early can disrupt night sleep. Allison addresses a growing trend she's seeing with families of 10–12 month olds being told (or fee...

Many parents use bedtime mantras to help their child feel calm and secure at night. In theory, it's a beautiful idea—predictable, soothing language meant to support rest. But what if the words we're using are actually doing the opposite? In this episode, Allison explores a bedtime phrase that's become incredibly common—"you are safe"—and explains why, for some children, especially sensitive or anx...

Every child is born with a unique sleep puzzle—and understanding that concept can completely change how you approach sleep challenges. In this episode, Allison breaks down why some children seem to sleep effortlessly while others struggle no matter how closely parents follow the "rules." If you've read the books, followed the schedules, tried multiple methods, and still feel stuck, this episode is...

Later bedtimes. Bedtime resistance. A tween or teen who insists they're "not tired" until 10 p.m. or later. If this sounds familiar, you're not imagining things—and you're not doing anything wrong. In this episode, Allison explains what's really happening inside your child's body as they move into the tween and teen years. During puberty, the circadian rhythm naturally shifts later, delaying melat...