How Long 'Til Bedtime? | Sleep and Parenting Podcast

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 postpartum doulas do, how their role differs from night nurses or newborn care specialists, and the wide range of ways they can support families in the early weeks and months after bringing home a baby. From overnight newborn care and feeding support to helping parents process their birth experience and build confidence, postpartum doulas provide both practical and emotional support during one of the most vulnerable transitions in life. This conversation also explores the connection between sleep, support, and maternal mental health, and why having the right help in place can be truly life-changing for new moms. In this episode, you'll learn: What a postpartum doula is and how they support new families The difference between a postpartum doula, night nurse, and newborn care specialist The types of services postpartum doulas may offer (and how they vary) How postpartum doulas support maternal mental health Why sleep support plays a critical role in emotional well-being How doulas help build confidence in new parents What to look for when hiring a postpartum doula Why asking for help is not a luxury, it's essential Support in the postpartum period isn't a luxury. It truly is a critical part of maternal well-being. Having the right support system in place can ease the transition into parenthood, improve sleep, and make a meaningful difference in a mother's mental health. Learn more about Kristin Revere and Gold Coast Doulas at their website or on Instagram or check out Kristin's book: Supported: Your Guide to Birth and Baby May is Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month. Each of the ten episodes we have dedicated to this important subject offers a slightly different perspective. Listen in and help spread the word by forwarding an episode or two to a new mom in your life. Episodes: 29. My Postpartum Anxiety Story 30. How to Keep Reaching for the Light with Britt Davis 31. Sleep Makes Such a Difference with Caroline Vasquez 32. Where Did I Go with Ellen Jones and Holly Kennedy 82. The Postpartum Journey from the Perspective of Three Husbands with Mike Vasquez, Alex Grant and Todd Kennedy 84. Planning for Your Mental Health Postpartum with Kayce Hodos 135. Maternal Mental Health From The Perspective of an OB/GYN with Dr. Nicole Rankins 136. Maternal Mental Health From The Perspective of a Pediatrician with Dr. Stephanie Grice 137. How Postpartum Support International Supports Parents with President and CEO Wendy Davis 138. Maternal Mental Health: What I Want Every Parent To Know Click here to listen to the episode on YouTube Looking for expert guidance on your child's sleep? Allison offers two free age-specific guides to help you discover how much sleep kids need to thrive—at any age. Get your free copy now: 0-2 Years Old or 3 to 10 years old From baby sleep to toddler sleep, daycare naps to sleep training—How Long 'Til Bedtime? is the podcast for parents who want practical, guilt-free sleep tips they can actually use. Hosted by pediatric sleep coach Allison Egidi, each episode delivers real solutions for every stage—from navigating newborn sleep struggles and weaning night feedings to helping your 3-year-old fall asleep independently (and stay asleep!). Whether you're trying to make sense of daycare sleep patterns, craving your evenings back, or simply need a working mom podcast to keep you grounded, you're in the right place. Want more from Allison? Sign up here to get her weekly email with podcast updates and other helpful parenting topics. Enjoying How Long 'Til Bedtime? Your rating and review help Allison reach and support more parents. On Apple Podcasts: Click here, scroll to the bottom, rate the show, and tap "Write a Review." On Spotify: Click here to leave a rating or review. Don't miss an episode—subscribe so you're always up to date! Connect with Allison: Instagram | Facebook | Website | YouTube

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 can play a role, the bigger driver is often simple exhaustion. Kids are tired of routines. Parents are tired of enforcing them. Bedtime drifts later, structure loosens, and sleep quality begins to slip. The good news is that a few small adjustments can help get sleep back on track and make the final weeks of the school year smoother for everyone. Allison shares practical strategies parents can use right away, including how to reset bedtime routines, protect the hour before bed, handle the "but it's still light outside" argument, and stay consistent even during busy spring schedules. If your household feels a little more tired, cranky, or chaotic than usual right now, you are not alone. This episode will help you understand what is happening and how to finish the school year strong. Listen in to learn: Why sleep problems often show up at the end of the school year How longer days and routine fatigue affect bedtime and sleep quality What to do when a child suddenly starts resisting bedtime How to reset routines after bedtime has drifted later Why protecting the hour before bed is especially important in the spring How to handle late activities without derailing the whole schedule Why consistency on weekends matters more than parents think Resources mentioned in this episode: Episode 235. What Time Should My Child Go to Bed? How to Find Their Ideal Bedtime Allison's favorite black out shades Click here to listen to the episode on YouTube Give your child the gift of better sleep. Allison's free, age-specific guides show you exactly how many hours of rest kids need to grow, learn, and thrive—no matter their age. Get your free copy now: 0-2 Years Old or 3 to 10 years old From baby sleep to toddler sleep, daycare naps to sleep training—How Long 'Til Bedtime? is the podcast for parents who want practical, guilt-free sleep tips they can actually use. Hosted by pediatric sleep coach Allison Egidi, each episode delivers real solutions for every stage—from navigating newborn sleep struggles and weaning night feedings to helping your 3-year-old fall asleep independently (and stay asleep!). Whether you're trying to make sense of daycare sleep patterns, craving your evenings back, or simply need a working mom podcast to keep you grounded, you're in the right place. Want more from Allison? Sign up here to get her weekly email with podcast updates and other helpful parenting topics. Enjoying How Long 'Til Bedtime? Your rating and review help Allison reach and support more parents. On Apple Podcasts: Click here, scroll to the bottom, rate the show, and tap "Write a Review." On Spotify: Click here to leave a rating or review. Don't miss an episode—subscribe so you're always up to date! Connect with Allison: Instagram | Facebook | Website | YouTube

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 worry that an earlier bedtime will cause an earlier wake-up. In reality, the opposite is often true. A well-timed rescue bedtime helps children catch up on missed sleep, fall asleep more easily, and wake up better rested. Parents who understand how to use a rescue bedtime feel more confident handling off days and stop worrying that one bad nap will ruin the next few nights. Listen in to learn: What a rescue bedtime is and how much earlier bedtime should be Why overtired babies and toddlers often sleep worse, not better How to prevent night wakings and early morning wakeups after a rough nap day When to use an earlier bedtime and when it is not necessary Why an early bedtime usually leads to better sleep, not earlier mornings How a rescue bedtime protects a child's circadian rhythm and next day schedule Allison mentions Episode 235: What Time Should My Child Go to Bed? How to Find Their Ideal Bedtime Click here to listen to the episode on YouTube Give your child the gift of better sleep. Allison's free, age-specific guides show you exactly how many hours of rest kids need to grow, learn, and thrive—no matter their age. Get your free copy now: 0-2 Years Old or 3 to 10 years old From baby sleep to toddler sleep, daycare naps to sleep training—How Long 'Til Bedtime? is the podcast for parents who want practical, guilt-free sleep tips they can actually use. Hosted by pediatric sleep coach Allison Egidi, each episode delivers real solutions for every stage—from navigating newborn sleep struggles and weaning night feedings to helping your 3-year-old fall asleep independently (and stay asleep!). Whether you're trying to make sense of daycare sleep patterns, craving your evenings back, or simply need a working mom podcast to keep you grounded, you're in the right place. Want more from Allison? Sign up here to get her weekly email with podcast updates and other helpful parenting topics. Enjoying How Long 'Til Bedtime? Your rating and review help Allison reach and support more parents. On Apple Podcasts: Click here, scroll to the bottom, rate the show, and tap "Write a Review." On Spotify: Click here to leave a rating or review. Don't miss an episode—subscribe so you're always up to date! Connect with Allison: Instagram | Facebook | Website | YouTube

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 wake windows and more about anchor start times that align with their natural biological clock. Every child has a natural "sleep wave," a time when their body is primed to fall asleep easily and stay asleep through the night. When bedtime lines up with that window, sleep becomes smoother. When it doesn't, families often see bedtime resistance, night wakings, and early morning wakings, even if their child is technically getting enough sleep. Allison shares how to recognize your child's sleep wave, what happens when you miss it, and why an earlier bedtime often leads to better sleep and later mornings, not earlier ones. She also addresses common concerns from working parents who worry about losing precious evening time with their child. Listen in if you have ever wondered: What time should my child go to bed? Is bedtime too late? Why is my child waking early? Why does bedtime suddenly feel so hard? This episode will give you practical tools to find the bedtime that works with your child's biology instead of against it. Click here to listen to the episode on YouTube Looking for expert guidance on your child's sleep? Allison offers two free age-specific guides to help you discover how much sleep kids need to thrive—at any age. Get your free copy now: 0-2 Years Old or 3 to 10 years old From baby sleep to toddler sleep, daycare naps to sleep training—How Long 'Til Bedtime? is the podcast for parents who want practical, guilt-free sleep tips they can actually use. Hosted by pediatric sleep coach Allison Egidi, each episode delivers real solutions for every stage—from navigating newborn sleep struggles and weaning night feedings to helping your 3-year-old fall asleep independently (and stay asleep!). Whether you're trying to make sense of daycare sleep patterns, craving your evenings back, or simply need a working mom podcast to keep you grounded, you're in the right place. Want more from Allison? Sign up here to get her weekly email with podcast updates and other helpful parenting topics. Enjoying How Long 'Til Bedtime? Your rating and review help Allison reach and support more parents. On Apple Podcasts: Click here, scroll to the bottom, rate the show, and tap "Write a Review." On Spotify: Click here to leave a rating or review. Don't miss an episode—subscribe so you're always up to date! Connect with Allison: Instagram | Facebook | Website | YouTube

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 timing of the wake-up matters more than most parents realize. Nightmares are extremely common, especially in the preschool and early elementary years when imagination is developing quickly. But while they're normal, frequent nightmares are often a sign that something in your child's sleep or daily routine needs adjusting. We'll talk about the most common triggers, including overtiredness, stress, illness, and the content children are exposed to during the day, and what to do in the moment when your child wakes up scared. Most importantly, you'll walk away with practical strategies to help reduce nightmares and support more restful nights for your whole family. In this episode, you'll learn: What nightmares are and how they differ from night terrors Why nightmares usually happen in the early morning hours The most common triggers for nightmares in children How overtiredness and late bedtimes increase nightmares Why content (movies, shows, stories, conversations) can fuel nightmares What to say - and what not to say - when your child wakes up scared Simple sleep changes that can reduce nightmares quickly How to help sensitive or imaginative children feel more secure at night And if you suspect your child might be dealing with night terrors, listen to last week's episode: 233. Night Terrors in Kids: What They Are, Why They Happen, and How to Stop Them Click here to listen to the episode on YouTube Wondering if your child is getting enough sleep? Allison's free guides take the guesswork out of bedtime. Learn the optimal sleep ranges for every age so your little one can feel their best—day after day. Get your free copy now: 0-2 Years Old or 3 to 10 years old From baby sleep to toddler sleep, daycare naps to sleep training—How Long 'Til Bedtime? is the podcast for parents who want practical, guilt-free sleep tips they can actually use. Hosted by pediatric sleep coach Allison Egidi, each episode delivers real solutions for every stage—from navigating newborn sleep struggles and weaning night feedings to helping your 3-year-old fall asleep independently (and stay asleep!). Whether you're trying to make sense of daycare sleep patterns, craving your evenings back, or simply need a working mom podcast to keep you grounded, you're in the right place. Want more from Allison? Sign up here to get her weekly email with podcast updates and other helpful parenting topics. Enjoying How Long 'Til Bedtime? Your rating and review help Allison reach and support more parents. On Apple Podcasts: Click here, scroll to the bottom, rate the show, and tap "Write a Review." On Spotify: Click here to leave a rating or review. Don't miss an episode—subscribe so you're always up to date! Connect with Allison: Instagram | Facebook | Website | YouTube