Fact or Fiction? Child Sleep Science with a Pediatric Neurologist and Sleep Specialist

The PedsDocTalk Podcast

Dr. Mona Amin

Medicine, Health & Fitness, Kids & Family, Parenting

5 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 16 April 2025

⏱️ 35 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

There is a lot of terminology and misconceptions thrown around in the pediatric sleep world especially on social media. Can they self- settle? Are wake windows a real thing? And what about regressions? I welcome back Sujay Kansagra who is a pediatric neurologist and sleep medicine physician at Duke who has dedicated his life to helping kids (and their parents) sleep better. He knows sleep and the importance of it. He was on my show before on an episode called Sleep-training: What the evidence does or doesn't say. He joins me to discuss: If genetics play a role in sleep and if there is such a thing as a “good” or “bad” sleeper If “wake-windows” are evidence-based If there’s a certain age we would expect a baby to “sleep through the night” The truth behind sleep regressions To connect with Sujay Kansagra follow him on Instagram @thatsleepdoc and purchase his book My Child Won’t Sleep: A Quick Guide for the Sleep-Deprived Parent Additional Resources About Sleep: Review of Sleep Training Data: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17068979/ Cortisol and Sleep Training Research Study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27221288/ Short Sleep Gene: https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2019/08/415261/after-10-year-search-scientists-find-second-short-sleep-gene "Sleeping Through the Night" Article: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20974775/ Wide Range of Normal Sleep During First Year: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12563055/ Sleep Regressions and Data Behind Fixed Months for Regression: https://www.babysleep.com/sleep-advice/what-is-a-sleep-regression/ We’d like to know who is listening! Please fill out our Listener Survey to help us improve the show and learn about you! 00:00 – Intro 01:17 – Meet Dr. Sujay Kansagra: Pediatric Sleep Doc at Duke 04:38 – Do Genetics Impact How Children Sleep? 06:05 – Why Labels Like “Bad Sleeper” Can Be Harmful 08:06 – What’s the Deal with Wake Windows? 10:31 – Why Overtired Kids Have Trouble Falling Asleep 12:55 – Are Sleep “Crutches” Like Nursing or Rocking Bad? 15:00 – When and How to Phase Out Sleep Associations 16:33 – The Parent Sleep Guilt Spiral—And Why It’s Not Helping 18:05 – Social Media Pressure and Parenting Choices 19:30 – When Should Babies Sleep Through the Night? 23:04 – Is There a Minimum Weight for Sleep Training? 25:19 – Why Sleep Isn’t Just Sleep: Feeding, Temperament, and More 25:59 – What Science Says About Sleep Regressions 28:44 – Why Modern Parenting Creates Fear Around Normal Sleep 30:08 – Don’t Pathologize Your Parenting Journey 30:52 – Final Message: Sleep Is Hard—Even for Sleep Experts 32:14 – Where to Learn More from Dr. Kansagra 33:02 – Wrapping Up: Science, Sanity, and Sleep Confidence Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and subscribe to PedsDocTalk. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships page of the website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	We also know that sleep, there are so many different factors that weigh into how we sleep,
0:03.8	whether it be our caregiver approach, whether it be our social environment, whether it be
0:07.4	sleep hygiene or approach to sleep hygiene, whether it be caffeine we adjust during the day
0:11.9	or substances that we adjust, electronics exposure, etc.
0:15.5	And this notion of this child is a bad sleeper or a poor sleeper versus a good sleeper,
0:20.7	I like to say that every child has the intrinsic ability to sleep well.
0:24.6	No matter what their temperament is or what their environment is,
0:27.6	if we set them up for success,
0:29.6	most children have the ability to sleep well,
0:32.6	or at least do better than what they're currently doing.
0:35.6	You're listening to the Peds Doc Talk podcast where we keep things real, science-based,
0:40.2	and totally judgment-free.
0:41.8	It's me, Dr. Mona, your trusted pediatrician, confidant, and mom friend,
0:45.5	here to support you through every twist, turn, and 2 a.m., Google spiraling of parenting.
0:50.9	Whether this is your first time tuning in or you're a season listener,
0:54.1	you're in for a
0:55.0	treat and maybe even a full night of sleep, if we're lucky. Today's episode is fact or fiction,
1:01.1	child sleep science with a pediatric neurologist and sleep specialist. Because let's be honest,
1:05.7	the pediatric sleep world is full of strong opinions, social media buzzwords, and advice that can
1:10.2	make you feel like you're doing it all wrong. Can babies actually self-settle? Our wake windows backed by science
1:15.8	are just sleep training folklore. And what's the real deal with regressions? To help us make sense
1:20.7	of it all, I'm joined again by Dr. Sujay Kansagra, pediatric neurologist, sleep medicine, physician
	...

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