146: The Rested Child with Dr. Chris Winter

Sleep!  It’s a topic that’s on pretty much every parent’s mind.  We’ve already looked at this from a cultural perspective, where we learned our Western approach to sleep is by no means universal, and that this can result in quite a few of the problems we face in getting our children to sleep.   In this episode we dive deep into the practicalities of sleep with Dr. Chris Winter, who has practiced sleep medicine and neurology since 2004.  His first book, The Sleep Solution, Why Your Sleep Is Broken and How To Fix It (affiliate link) was focused on adults’ sleep challenges, and I’ve been putting the ideas in it into practice and have been getting better sleep as a result.   His new book is The Rested Child: Why Your Tired, Wired, or Irritable Child May Have a Sleep Disorder--And How to Help (affiliate link), and is based on Dr. Winters’ almost two decades of experience of evaluating children in the sleep clinic that he founded.   We’ll look at ways that you can get more sleep (or maybe even more rest that feels almost as restful as sleep), whether you can shift your (or your child’s!) sleep patterns, how to banish bedtime struggles for good, and so much more!   This episode is for all parents, but especially for those who are expecting or have a child under the age of one, and who are desperately trying to get more sleep (or worried about being in that phase of life in the near future!).  We’ll help you get started on the right foot so you can know you’re doing the best for your child - and for yourself as well.   Dr. Chris Winter's Books: The Rested Child: Why Your Tired, Wired, or Irritable Child May Have a Sleep Disorder--and How to Help The Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep is Broken and How to Fix It (Affiliate links).   Jump to highlights 01:00 Introduction to the episode and guest Dr. Chris Winter 04:24 Jen challenges Chris's stance on bed-sharing 09:52 Where the real danger in co-sleeping comes from 16:19 Reframing sleep struggles around needs 17:45 Distinguishing a gentle cry from real distress at bedtime 22:26 Why "average" sleep numbers can mislead parents 29:33 The "bad sleeper" label, and how kids internalize it 32:50 Why journaling sleep matters more than memory 34:47 Napping, and why consistency matters more than timing 41:35 Letting go of a set bedtime and trusting a child's body 51:48 What circadian rhythm actually is, and whether it can shift 01:00:52 When fragmented sleep is worth bringing to a doctor   References: The Rested Child: Why Your Tired, Wired, and Irritable Child May Have A Sleep Disorder – And What To Do About It. New York: Avery. The Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep Is Broken, And How To Fix It. New York: Berkley. Blair, P.S., Fleming, P.J., Smith, I.J., Ciarlegilio, C.M., Axley, J.C., Strauss, B.R., Gamble, K.L., & McMahon, D.G. (2011). Perinatal photoperiod imprints the circadian clock. Nature Neuroscience 14(1), 25-27. Cortesi, F., Giannotti, F., Sebastiani, T., Vagnoni, C., & Marioni, P. (2008). Cosleeping versus solitary sleeping in children with bedtime problems: Child emotional problems and parental distress. Behavioral Sleep Medicine 6(2), 89-105. Henderson, J.M.T., France, K.G., Owens, J.L., & Blampied, N.M. (2010). Sleeping through the night: The consolidation of self-regulated sleep across the first year of life. Pediatrics 126(5), e1081-e1087. Knutson, K.L., Van Cauter, E., Rathouz, P.J., DeLeire, T., & Lauderdale, D.S. (2010). Trends in the prevalence of short sleepers in the USA: 1975-2006. Sleep 33(1), 37-45. Patrick, J., Campbell, ., Carmichael, L., & Probert, C. (1982). Influence of maternal heart rate and gross fetal body movements on the daily pattern of fetal heart rate near term. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 144(5), 533-538.