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

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/

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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

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