Your Complete Guide to Baby and Toddler Sleep Support

​​Sleep isn’t just one part of parenting, it’s the foundation.

It affects how we feel, how we show up, and how our children grow and thrive. Whether you're hoping to extend sleep stretches, curious about sleep training, or feeling overwhelmed by all the myths and opinions out there… I created this guide with you in mind.

Inside, you’ll find every PedsDocTalk video, podcast episode, blog post, downloadable, and course related to sleep all in one place. Whether you're navigating newborn wake windows, toddler bedtime battles, or questions about melatonin and regressions, it’s all here. And we will continue to update this as we grow. 

Organized by age and topic, so you can get the support you need without the endless Googling.

Both free and paid resources are included, so you can choose what works best for you.
Because sleep is personal, emotional, and ever-changing. You shouldn’t have to piece it together alone.

You’ll find helpful resources across formats:

🎧Podcast Episode | 🔗YouTube Video | 📄Blog
📘Free Guide |  💻Course  | 📩Newsletter

Each one is labeled so you can spot what works best for you, whether you're listening on the go, watching a quick video, or diving deeper.

What’s Inside?

1. Infant Sleep (0–12 months)

2. Toddler Sleep (1–3 years)

3. Sleep Training

4. Troubleshooting & Special Topics

5. Courses & Workshops

Each section is full of labeled, trusted PedsDocTalk resources, so you can scroll to what fits your current season best.

Infant Sleep (0-12 months)

From sleepy cues and safe sleep to regressions and crib transitions, these resources help you understand and support your baby’s changing sleep needs. Your mindset matters too, because how you feel during this season is just as important.

• Top Five Newborn Sleep Tips 🔗: From sleep cues to wake windows and calming bedtime routines, these five tips will help your newborn (and you!) ease into more restful sleep rhythms.

• Newborn Sleep Tips 📘: This guide helps you shift the sleep-deprived narrative with practical tips to stretch your baby’s sleep and make bedtime smoother because better sleep is possible (and coming!).

• The Power of Pausing 📘: This guide teaches you how one simple strategy, pausing, can support your baby’s independence, emotional growth, and language development from the very beginning.

• Fact or Fiction? Child Sleep Science with a Pediatric Neurologist and Sleep Specialist 🎧: Dr. Mona and pediatric sleep expert Dr. Sujay Kansagra cut through the confusion around baby sleep myths, covering self-settling, wake windows, sleep regressions, and how much genetics really matter.

• SIDS Uncovered: Facts, Risk Factors and Safe Sleep Tips for Parents 🎧: Dr. Mona and ER physician Dr. Darria Gillespie explore how safe sleep strategies like the ABCs of sleep can significantly lower the risk of SIDS. They discuss key factors like bed sharing, sleep surfaces, and the power of evidence to guide calmer, safer choices.

• Safe Sleep Guide 📘: From crib safety to SIDS prevention and bed-sharing questions, this guide covers essential safe sleep practices so you and your baby can both sleep with peace of mind.

• The 5 S’s of Newborn Sleep With Pediatrician Dr. Harvey Karp 🎧: Dr. Mona and Dr. Harvey Karp dive into the 5 S’s of soothing, newborn sleep tips, and how to better understand (and survive) those early postpartum months.

• Hunger and Sleepy Cues 📘: Avoid those meltdown moments by learning how to spot your baby’s hunger and sleep cues. This guide helps new parents decode fussiness and respond with confidence.

• The Connection Between the Lack of Postpartum Sleep and Postpartum Depression 🎧: Dr. Mona and Dr. Harvey Karp discuss how sleep deprivation impacts mental health in the postpartum period and what new parents really need to feel supported and rested.

Toddler Sleep (1-3 years)

Nap refusals, bedtime battles, and toddler independence can all disrupt sleep. These resources offer ways to respond with connection and confidence. Negotiating with a toddler at bedtime can be exhausting, so having a plan (and a little perspective) can go a long way.

• Toddler Sleep: Effective Bedtime Routines and Sleep Tips 🔗: Tired of the bedtime power struggles? Learn practical, connection-based strategies to make toddler bedtime smoother, calmer, and more enjoyable for everyone.

• Toddler Nap Refusal and Quiet Time 🔗: Not sure what to do when your toddler starts resisting naps? This episode breaks down when to drop naps, how to transition to quiet time, and how to support your child through the shift.

• Toddlers and Night Feeds, Sleep Associations, and Calorie Anxiety 🎧: Dr. Mona and a parent from the PDT community talk through feeding schedules, when to drop night feeds, and how to stop second-guessing your toddler’s calorie intake.

• How To Handle Separation Anxiety in My Toddler at Bedtime 🎧: Dr. Mona and a PDT community parent discuss how to support a 26-month-old navigating separation anxiety at bedtime while still holding healthy sleep boundaries.

Sleep Training

Sleep training means different things to different families. These resources explain the research, explore common methods, and offer supportive ways to approach independent sleep, so you can make a decision that fits your values, your baby, and your season.

• Is Sleep Training Helpful or Harmful? 📩: A research-backed look at popular sleep training methods, what they mean for stress, attachment, and long-term development and how to choose an approach that works for your family.

• Sleep Training: What the Evidence Does or Doesn’t Say 🎧: Dr. Mona and pediatric sleep expert Dr. Sujay Kansagra break down the facts and myths around sleep training. They explore what sleep training really means, what the research shows, and how to make informed choices without shame or pressure.

• Do Babies Really Need Sleep Training or Will They Learn on Their Own? 🎧: Dr. Mona and Dr. Sarah Mitchell explore when babies learn sleep skills naturally vs. when guidance helps and why sleep matters for the whole family’s well-being.

• Does Independent Sleep Need to be Taught? 🎧: Dr. Mona and behavioral sleep expert Dr. Shelby Harris explore whether there’s a “right age” to teach independent sleep, what signs to look for in older children who struggle to fall or stay asleep, and how to gently support the transition no matter where you’re starting.

• Infant and Child Sleep and Cultural Barriers 🎧: Dr. Mona and certified sleep consultant Diana Martins discuss how to find your “why” behind sleep training, handle cultural pressures, and communicate sleep choices with extended family.

• Breastfeeding and Sleep Training: Can it Be Done? 🎧: Dr. Mona and pediatric sleep coach Lola Sanchez Liste share how breastfeeding and sleep training can go hand in hand, plus tips on night weaning, preventing engorgement, and choosing an approach that works for your family.

• Co-Sleeping to Independent Sleep: Strategies for Success 🎧: Dr. Mona and pediatric sleep consultant Ashley Olson share practical, judgment-free tips for parents ready to shift from co-sleeping to solo sleep, plus common pitfalls and how to avoid them.

• Is Sleep Training While Room-Sharing With a Sibling Possible 🎧: Dr. Mona chats with a PDT community parent about navigating sleep training with a 4-month-old who will eventually room-share with a 3-year-old and how to prep both kids for success.

• The Common Misconceptions Around Baby and Toddler Sleep Training 🎧: Dr. Mona and sleep expert Dr. Sarah Mitchell break down common misunderstandings around sleep training, “cry-it-out,” and why some babies and toddlers struggle with sleep in the first place.

• Cry Babies: Cortisol Research and Secure Attachment 🎧: Dr. Mona talks with developmental psychologist Dr. Brie Reid about how early stress impacts children, what cortisol research reveals, and why understanding these dynamics matters for parenting and child health.

• We’re Losing Sleep Over Our Kids’ Sleep: My Views on Sleep Training 🎧: In part 2 of her sleep series, Dr. Mona shares her personal and professional perspective on how modern parenting has made sleep more stressful and how to simplify your mindset.

• Is it Too Late to Jump On The Sleep Train? Various Methods in Sleep Training 🎧: In part 3 of the sleep series, Dr. Mona unpacks popular questions about baby sleep, including naps, regressions, swaddles, teething, room-sharing, and sleep-training while traveling plus tips for twins and early risers.

• A Conversation About Sleep With a Sleep Consultant 🎧: Dr. Mona and sleep consultant Andrea cover everything from sleep training methods (cry and no-cry) to early wakings, nap transitions, and moving from bassinet to crib, all with a judgment-free approach.

• Momma Needs Some Sleep! How Different Moms Approach Sleep Training 🎧: In the final episode of her sleep series, Dr. Mona speaks with six moms who each took a different approach to sleep training, highlighting that there’s no one “right” way, just what works best for your family and your baby.

Troubleshooting and special topics

Some sleep challenges don’t fit neatly into an age or stage. These resources cover things like regressions, bedwetting, melatonin, and when sleep struggles might point to something deeper, so you can find answers when things feel confusing or off track.

• Infant and Toddler Sleep Regressions 🔗: Learn when sleep regressions tend to happen, why they occur, how to manage them, and when it might be time to consult your pediatrician.

• Navigating the Most Common Bedtime Excuses 📩: Kids can get very creative at bedtime. This resource shares real stalling tactics from the PDT community, plus practical ways to stay calm, hold boundaries, and get everyone to sleep a little easier.

• What Happened to My 21-Month-Old Who Used to Be a Great Sleeper? 🎧: Dr. Mona helps a parent understand why her 21-month-old’s great sleep suddenly changed and how to navigate regressions without losing your mind (or your boundaries).

• How to Keep Your Toddler in Their Bed 📩: When toddlers start wandering out of bed at night, it’s easy to feel stuck. This resource offers calm, consistent strategies from walk-backs to bedtime passes to help your child stay in their room and sleep more independently.

• Managing Toddler Sleep Concerns 🎧: Dr. Mona and toddler sleep consultant Victoria from Bella Luna Family dive into why toddler sleep regressions happen and how to build lasting independent sleep skills through connection and consistency.

• Dropping to One Nap: Signs and Strategies 📩: Around 14–18 months, nap resistance and short naps can signal it’s time to transition. Learn how to spot the signs and ease into a smoother one-nap routine.

• Nightmares vs. Night Terrors 🎧: Dr. Mona explains how to tell the difference between common toddler sleep disruptions plus what causes them and how to comfort your child through the night.

• Toddler Bed Transition Tips 📩: Moving from crib to toddler bed can bring new challenges, especially when freedom leads to wandering. This post shares realistic strategies like walk-backs, sticker charts, and bedtime passes to help your child adjust with less resistance and more confidence.

• Fear of the Dark 📩: Fear of the dark often starts around age three as imagination grows. This resource offers ways to validate your child’s feelings, explore the fear together, and build confidence through gentle routines and gradual exposure.

• Is it Sleep Apnea, ADHD, or Lack of Parental Sleep Boundaries? 🎧: Dr. Mona and sleep psychologist Dr. Shelby Harris dive into how sleep apnea and ADHD can affect your child’s rest and behavior, and when sleep struggles might need deeper evaluation.

• Nighttime Potty Training: When and How to Start 📩: Staying dry overnight is a developmental skill, not just a training step. Learn when nighttime potty training makes sense, what signs to watch for, and how to prep without pressure.

• Bedwetting Solutions 🔗: Understand why bedwetting happens, what you can do to manage it with confidence, and when it’s time to talk to your pediatrician.

• Melatonin Supplements 🔗: Is melatonin safe for children? This episode explores what the science says about its use, dosage, and how to support healthy sleep habits without over-relying on supplements.

• Tips to Transition Out of Swaddle 📄: Worried about dropping the swaddle? This blog covers when and how to transition out of swaddling, signs your baby is ready, and gentle strategies to support better sleep through the change.

• Transitioning to a Crib 📄: Ready to move your baby from the bassinet to the crib? This post walks you through when to make the switch, how to ease the transition, and tips to help your baby feel safe and sleep soundly in their new space.

Courses and Workshops

Looking for more structured help or something you can return to when things get hard? These workshops and courses offer step-by-step support, expert strategies, and reassurance you can keep coming back to, especially on the days that feel long.

New Mom’s Survival Guide (NMSG) 💻: By buying this, you get access to our online group community for troubleshooting tips forever! From soothing fussy babies to understanding newborn sleep and starting sleep training, this all-in-one guide helps new moms feel more confident and prepared. You'll also get expert tips on feeding, safety, cues, and when to call your pediatrician—everything you need in one trusted resource.

Newborn Sleep Workshop 💻: This doctor-approved 2-hour workshop covers everything from soothing techniques and realistic sleep expectations to week-by-week strategies for improving overnight sleep, plus solutions for short naps, tricky transfers, and more. Includes a comprehensive downloadable guide.

Toddler Essentials 💻: By buying this, you get access to our online group community for troubleshooting tips forever! From bedtime battles and nap refusal to tantrums and transitions, this research-backed course gives you practical tools to handle toddler sleep and behavior with confidence. You'll learn how to navigate stalling at bedtime, quiet time struggles, nightmares, night terrors, and even the big-kid bed switch, plus get expert guidance, calming scripts, and short videos to support you through every meltdown moment.