Your Questions About Children and Sleep, Answered

In this Q&A edition of the Thriving Kids Podcast, Dr. Dave Anderson takes on parents’ top questions about kids and sleep. From breaking the habit of co-sleeping to tackling bedtime fears, setting routines that stick, and knowing when to drop naps, he offers practical strategies to make nights calmer for the whole family.

Have a question for Dr. Dave? Email [e-mail]

What you’ll learn:

• Step-by-step ways to help kids learn to fall asleep independently
• How to create a bedroom environment that promotes restful sleep
• When a soothing bedtime routine turns into stalling—and how to handle it
• Signs that nighttime fears are typical vs. when they signal anxiety
• Why removing screens at night matters (and how to offer alternatives)
• Clues your child may be ready to shorten or give up daytime naps
• Tips for managing siblings with different sleep needs and schedules
• How to respond when kids keep getting out of bed after lights out
• The truth about weekend late nights and sleep-ins

Creators and Guests

Host

Dave Anderson

Dave Anderson, PhD, is the Vice-President of Public Engagement and Education and a senior psychologist in the ADHD and Behavior Disorders Center at the Child Mind Institute. Dr. Anderson focuses on the expansion of our awareness-building and prevention programs while also leading initiatives that build the Child Mind Institute brand, foster strategic partnerships, and forge new relationships with policy makers and youth mental health leaders.

AD

Producer

Andrew Dearling

Andrew Dearling is the Digital Director at the Child Mind Institute, where he leads strategy and execution across web, email, social media, and digital campaigns. He focuses on using digital tools to connect more families with mental health resources, expand the organization’s reach, and drive measurable impact. Andrew combines deep expertise in content, platforms, and performance marketing with a clear understanding of how to reach people where they are, and move them to take action.

Producer

Chad Garber

Chad Garber, a seasoned Creative Producer with over 15 years of experience, shapes branded video, digital, and experiential content for Fortune 100 companies, agencies, and in-house teams to Child Mind Institute. Known for building high-performing creative operations, he led pro-bono productions to multimillion-dollar campaigns for brands like Verizon, Microsoft, New Balance, Budweiser, and FedEx. His sharp storytelling, deep production expertise, and collaborative leadership move ideas from concept to screen with impact.

SJ

Producer

Sofia Japal

What is Thriving Kids: A Parenting Podcast From the Child Mind Institute?

Thriving Kids is a podcast for parents and caregivers who want clear, honest answers about child and adolescent mental health. Hosted by Dr. Dave Anderson, clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute, each episode tackles a common parenting challenge — from anxiety to tantrums to school struggles — with practical strategies backed by science.

You’ll hear real talk, expert advice, and compassionate guidance from clinicians who work with kids every day.

New episodes every other week, with companion newsletters for easy reference.