How Long 'Til Bedtime? | Sleep and Parenting Podcast

Sports can teach girls confidence, resilience, teamwork, and leadership. But what else might they be learning along the way? In this thought-provoking episode of How Long 'Til Bedtime?, Allison shares an essay she originally wrote after reflecting on her own experiences as a parent on the sidelines of youth sports. She asks a bigger question: Are the sports our daughters participate in actually preparing them to become strong leaders, or are we sometimes teaching them to tolerate bad behavior from people in positions of power? Allison shares a pattern she has witnessed in youth sports: coaches behaving inappropriately toward young players or officials, parents recognizing that the behavior is unacceptable, and yet everyone continuing to participate because of the fear that speaking up could hurt a child's opportunity to advance. She reflects on her own experience navigating this dynamic with her daughter and the uncomfortable lesson her actions could have inadvertently communicated. The conversation also challenges the idea that tolerating inappropriate behavior is simply part of building resilience. Allison makes an important distinction between the difficult experiences she absolutely wants her daughters to learn to handle - competition, disappointment, hard feedback, and working toward a goal - and learning that someone in power can behave badly and that the safest response is to tolerate it. Drawing on her own experiences as a competitive soccer player, coach, parent, and woman who has worked in predominantly male professional environments, Allison explains why being demanding and being inappropriate are not the same thing. Girls don't need softer expectations; they need adults who can hold high standards while modeling self-control, respect, accountability, and good leadership. Allison also shares her experience coaching her daughter's middle school soccer team, where she held players to high expectations while emphasizing that experienced players should help newer teammates improve and feel included. For her, that combination of intensity and decency is one of the most valuable lessons sports can teach. Ultimately, this episode is about much more than soccer. It's about the messages our daughters absorb from the adults around them about leadership, power, accountability, fair treatment, and what they should, and shouldn't, have to tolerate from someone in authority. In This Episode: What sports can teach girls about confidence, resilience, and leadership The unintended lessons girls can learn from poor coaching Why tolerating inappropriate behavior isn't the same as building resilience The difficult decision parents face when speaking up could affect their child's opportunities Why being a tough coach and being an inappropriate coach are two very different things What good leadership looks like in youth sports Why intensity and decency can and should coexist How parents and coaches model leadership for young girls What youth sports can teach girls about power and accountability Why the lessons our daughters learn on the field can follow them into adulthood Chapter Markers: 00:00 The power of tidying your space and productivity 02:21 The statistic linking girls in sports to success in the C-suite 04:24 Parents' reactions to coach misconduct and the cycle of tolerance 07:20 The analogy of workplace behavior and youth sports 09:41 The importance of equal standards for coaching boys and girls 12:08 The systemic issues of gender and authority in sports and work 14:07 The risk of teaching girls to tolerate bad behavior 14:34 The importance of standing up against misconduct 15:28 The role of adults in shaping girls' understanding of leadership 15:53 Closing thoughts and the importance of advocacy in sports   Join the conversation! Read Allison's essay on LinkedIn and share your thoughts.  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  

Is your child's crib or bed overflowing with loveys, stuffed animals, and comfort items? Or maybe you're wondering when it's okay to introduce a lovey, or whether your big kid is too old to still sleep with one. In this episode, pediatric sleep coach Allison Egidi answers your most common questions about loveys and toddler sleep. She explains how many loveys she recommends keeping in your child's crib or bed, why too many can become a bedtime distraction, how to stop the "lovey fetch" game, and why soft comfort items should stay in the sleep space. Allison also shares practical tips for choosing a lovey, keeping a backup, traveling with a lovey, and preventing that beloved comfort item from getting lost. And if your eight-, ten-, or even older child still sleeps with a lovey? Allison explains why she's firmly Team Lovey and sees no reason to rush them out of something that brings comfort at bedtime. If your child has a favorite blanket, stuffed animal, or other special sleep companion, this episode will help you keep the lovey situation simple, and prevent it from becoming another source of bedtime battles. In This Episode: How many loveys should your child have? When is it safe to introduce a lovey? Why Allison recommends one to three loveys Why too many stuffed animals can create bedtime distractions How to stop the "lovey fetch" game What makes a good lovey Should you have a backup lovey? Tips for traveling with your child's lovey What to do if your child's favorite lovey gets lost How long should a child sleep with a lovey? Why there's no need to rush your child out of their comfort item Chapter Markers: 00:00 – Life update: A microburst, two totaled cars & car shopping 02:48 – Today's topic: All things loveys 04:11 – What is a lovey? 04:51 – When can you introduce a lovey? 06:43 – Can your child have too many loveys? 07:17 – Why Allison recommends 1–3 loveys 09:01 – Soft items only: Why hard toys don't belong in bed 10:14 – Why the lovey should ideally stay in the bed 12:40 – How to stop the "Lovey Fetch" game 13:59 – How to choose a good lovey 15:42 – Should you have a backup lovey? 16:00 – Traveling with a lovey 17:00 – What happens when the beloved lovey gets lost? 19:07 – Making sure the lovey comes home from vacation 19:50 – Is your child too old for a lovey? 22:14 – Why Allison is Team Lovey for as long as they want it 22:55 – The lovey rules to remember 23:40 – This is one parenting problem you don't need to solve 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

Does your child insist that only Mom can do bedtime? And they refuse to let Dad put them to bed? Parent preference at bedtime is incredibly common, especially during the toddler and preschool years. But while it's normal, that doesn't mean you have to accept a situation where only one parent can handle bedtime every night. In this episode, Allison explains why children develop a strong preference for one parent at bedtime and, more importantly, exactly how to help your child become comfortable with both parents doing bedtime. Allison shares a simple approach that she has seen work repeatedly with families, and says that many children begin to adjust within about a week when parents consistently follow the plan. In this episode, you'll learn: Why a child may strongly prefer one parent at bedtime Why parent preference does not mean your child loves the other parent less Why solving this issue can benefit the entire family How to establish a simple alternating bedtime schedule Why the parent whose turn it is should handle the entire bedtime routine from start to finish Why having both parents participate in bedtime can sometimes make the struggle worse What to say when your child protests or has a meltdown Why the preferred parent should not rescue the other parent during a difficult bedtime How to respond calmly while allowing your child to have big feelings Why the first few bedtimes may be rough, and why consistency matters How keeping the bedtime routine consistent between parents can help What to do if the bedtime struggle seems to involve more than just parent preference Chapter Markers: 00:00 – Allison's Maine & Acadia trip update 02:36 – When your child only wants one parent at bedtime 03:20 – Why parent preference at bedtime is completely normal 04:45 – Why it's worth helping your child accept both parents 06:05 – The key strategy: Take turns doing bedtime 07:25 – Why one parent should do the entire bedtime routine 08:35 – How to introduce the new bedtime plan 09:30 – What to say when your child protests 10:25 – Let the big feelings happen and keep moving 11:05 – Why the other parent shouldn't "rescue" bedtime 12:30 – How to handle a major bedtime meltdown 14:00 – Expect a few bumpy nights 15:15 – How quickly children usually adjust 16:10 – Keep the bedtime routine consistent between parents 17:00 – The one-week plan for ending parent preference 18:05 – When to seek additional help with bedtime struggles 18:40 – Final thoughts on parent preference at bedtime If you're in the middle of the "ONLY MOM!" or "ONLY DAD!" bedtime trenches, this episode will give you a practical plan for getting out of them. And if you want a sleep coach to guide you as you make the change, schedule a free 15 minute Get Acquainted call with our team 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  

A closed bedroom door might not seem like a sleep issue, but it could save your child's life. In this episode, Allison shares an important fire safety message that every parent should hear: close your bedroom door before you go to sleep, and close your children's bedroom doors, too. After seeing a Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) video demonstrating what happens to two bedrooms during the same house fire, one with the door open and one with the door closed, Allison was stunned by the difference. The bedroom with the open door reached temperatures of more than 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, while the bedroom with the closed door stayed under 100 degrees. In this episode, Allison explains: Why a closed bedroom door can dramatically slow the spread of heat, flames, and toxic smoke Why the amount of time families have to escape a house fire has decreased from roughly 17 minutes decades ago to just about 3 minutes today Why so many home fire deaths happen while people are sleeping How a closed bedroom door can buy firefighters valuable time to reach sleeping children Why parents may want to keep a baby monitor even after transitioning to a closed bedroom door How to introduce a closed-door bedtime routine without creating unnecessary anxiety about house fires for young children How older children can learn about closed doors as part of their family's overall fire escape plan Important reminders for checking and maintaining your home's smoke alarms Allison also shares why her own family changed their nighttime routine after she learned about this research, and why she now sleeps with her bedroom door closed. This is a simple change that takes just seconds but could make an enormous difference in a fire emergency. Resources Mentioned: Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI): Close Before You Doze campaign Allison recommends watching the FSRI video demonstrating the dramatic difference between an open and closed bedroom door during a house fire   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  

Wondering if your child is meeting speech milestones? A speech language pathologist explains early language development, red flags, and when to seek help. In this episode, Allison sits down with speech language pathologist Dinalynn Rosenbush to answer some of parents' biggest questions about early speech and language development. Together, they discuss what language milestones really mean, why online milestone charts can sometimes create unnecessary anxiety, and how parents can support speech development naturally at home. Dinalynn explains the difference between speech sounds and language, why conversation is more valuable than talking at your child, and how to create a language-rich environment that encourages communication from infancy through the preschool years. They also discuss common concerns with younger siblings, what to do when children become frustrated because they can't express themselves, and why parents should trust their instincts if they feel something isn't quite right. Whether your child is saying their first words or beginning to speak in sentences, this conversation offers practical, reassuring guidance for supporting healthy communication development. In this episode, you'll learn: What speech and language milestones parents should watch for Why milestone charts can be confusing and how to interpret them The difference between speech sounds and language development How many words toddlers should be using at different ages How to create a language-rich home environment Why younger siblings sometimes talk later How to respond when children become frustrated trying to communicate Simple ways to encourage more conversation throughout the day When to seek a speech-language evaluation Why trusting your parental instincts matters Chapter Markers: 00:00 Meet speech language pathologist Dinalynn Rosenbush 01:30 What is the "Language of Play"? 03:45 Understanding speech and language milestones 08:00 Why milestone charts can be misleading 12:30 How many words should toddlers be saying? 18:30 Why younger siblings sometimes talk later 23:30 Helping children who get frustrated communicating 26:00 Creating a language-rich home 31:00 Speech red flags parents shouldn't ignore 34:30 Trusting your instincts and seeking help early 39:30 Where parents can learn more Learn more about Dinalynn and her work  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