Episode 42: Get to Know - Katie Vorel, Pediatric NP & Sleep Specialist

Episode 47: Screens, Sleep, and Childhood: Building Healthy Digital Habits Before the Teenage Years with Jessica Speer

In this episode of Snooze Worthy, Lindsey Burchfield welcomes author, researcher, and digital wellness advocate Jessica Speer for an important conversation about raising children in today's screen-filled world. Jessica shares insights from her work with families and her book, The Phone Book, helping parents understand how technology impacts children's sleep, emotional regulation, physical activity, friendships, and overall development. Together, Lindsey and Jessica discuss practical ways to establish healthy digital habits in children ages 5–10, including creating family media plans, setting boundaries around devices, protecting sleep, and navigating gaming and online safety. The conversation emphasizes that technology itself is not the enemy. Instead, families can approach screens with intention, balance, and ongoing conversations that help children develop healthy relationships with digital devices. From bedtime routines to family values, Jessica offers realistic strategies parents can begin implementing today to support both healthy sleep and healthy technology use. If you've ever wondered how much screen time is too much, how to handle pushback when setting limits, or how to prepare your child for a digital world, this episode is packed with practical guidance and encouragement. Jessica Speer is an author and educator who focuses on helping children and families navigate social-emotional development and digital wellness. She is currently completing a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling and works directly with children and families. Her book, The Phone Book, helps elementary-aged children understand technology, online safety, and healthy digital habits in an age-appropriate way. * Healthy digital habits start with clear family expectations and conversations. * Screen time should never replace sleep, exercise, play, or family connection. * Children benefit from helping create family technology rules and routines. * Devices can interfere with emotional regulation when used as a primary calming tool. * Screen-free bedtime routines support better sleep quality and circadian rhythms. * Parents can reset unhealthy technology habits at any time through calm, collaborative conversations. * Modeling healthy device use is one of the most effective ways to teach children digital responsibility. * Keeping devices out of bedrooms helps protect sleep and reduce overnight screen use. * Online gaming and connected platforms require ongoing discussions about safety and boundaries. * The goal is not to eliminate technology but to teach children how to use it wisely. * Protecting sleep remains one of the most important things parents can do for their child's mental, emotional, and physical health. Learn more about Jessica, her books, and her free family resources at her website: JessicaSpeer.com. Lindsey and Jessica discuss several practical tools that families can use to start building healthier digital habits right away.

Episode 46: What to Focus on Instead — The 4 Systems That Shape Your Child’s Sleep

In this episode of Snooze Worthy, Lindsey and Paige build on last week’s conversation by answering the next big question: If sleep training alone isn’t working… what should you focus on instead? The answer is simpler—and more powerful—than most parents expect. Sleep isn’t just a behavior to fix. It’s a system-based experience. When one piece of that system is off, sleep can feel confusing, exhausting, and impossible to solve. But when the right pieces are aligned, sleep becomes significantly easier—often without adding more strategies or effort. In this episode, they break down the four key systems that shape your child’s sleep: * Biological System: Understanding your child’s circadian rhythm, sleep pressure, and why timing matters more than rigid schedules * Environmental System: How light, stimulation, and daily cues either prepare or prevent your child from settling into sleep * Emotional System: The connection between your child’s nervous system and your own—and how regulation and connection impact bedtime * Behavioral System: Sleep training, boundaries, and expectations—and why these only work best when the other systems are supported first Through real-life examples and practical reframes, Lindsey and Paige show that sleep struggles are rarely about doing more—they’re about doing the right things in the right order. This episode will help you shift from feeling stuck and overwhelmed to understanding exactly where to focus your energy. 🎧 Tune in to learn how aligning your child’s sleep system can reduce bedtime battles, improve sleep quality, and bring more ease back into your home.

Episode 45: Why Sleep Training Isn’t Working (And What You’re Missing)

In this episode of Snooze Worthy, Lindsey and Paige kick off a powerful new conversation around one of the biggest frustrations parents face: “I’ve tried everything… so why isn’t sleep working?” If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you. The truth is, most sleep advice is taught in a method-first way—focusing on routines, schedules, or sleep training techniques in isolation. But when those pieces aren’t working together, families are left feeling exhausted, confused, and questioning themselves. In this episode, Lindsey and Paige introduce a foundational shift: Sleep doesn’t live in one strategy—it lives in a system. They break down the three key areas that influence your child’s sleep: * Biological (Schedule & Circadian Rhythm): Why consistent wake times and aligning with your child’s internal clock matter more than rigid wake windows * Environmental (Sleep Environment): How light, stimulation, and evening routines either support or sabotage sleep * Emotional (Regulation): The powerful role of your child’s nervous system—and your own—in shaping how bedtime unfolds Through real client examples, they show how sleep challenges often aren’t about doing more, but about zooming out and aligning the full picture. This episode is both a relief and a reframe: You’re not failing. You’ve likely just been given incomplete information. 🎧 Tune in to learn how a system-first approach can reduce bedtime battles, improve sleep quality, and bring more ease and confidence back into your home.

Episode 44: Get to Know – Kristen Northrop, Sr. Sleep Specialist & LC

In this episode of Snooze Worthy, Lindsey welcomes Kristen Northrop, the newest Senior Sleep Specialist with Parenting Practice of Colorado, for an honest and encouraging conversation about sleep, motherhood, and supporting families through the hardest seasons. Kristen shares how her own experience as a mom—feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and “like a shell of a human”—led her into the world of sleep consulting. That lived experience deeply shapes how she now works with families, offering guidance that is practical, compassionate, and rooted in real life. Together, they unpack common misconceptions around sleep training, why it often carries an unfair negative reputation, and how the true goal of sleep support is to empower parents, not pressure them. Kristen also explains why she’s a big believer in early bedtimes, how small sleep wins can dramatically boost parental confidence, and why routine and predictability matter so much for children’s development. This episode highlights how improved sleep can transform family dynamics—and reminds parents that needing support doesn’t mean they’re failing, it simply means they don’t have to do this alone. 🎧 Tune in to get to know Kristen, learn why sleep is foundational for the entire family, and hear how personalized sleep consulting can bring clarity, confidence, and rest back into your home. Kristen's Information Email: Kristen@parentingpracticeco.com

Episode 43: Get to Know – Maureen O’Neill, Sleep Specialist

In this episode of Snooze Worthy, Lindsey sits down with Maureen O’Neill, Sleep Specialist with Parenting Practice of Colorado, to share her journey into pediatric sleep and the heart behind the work she does with families every day. Maureen is a mom of three daughters living in Colorado, with a professional background in marketing and experience working closely with baby and parenting brands. That blend of real-life parenting and industry insight gives her a unique perspective on sleep training—one that’s grounded, compassionate, and realistic. Together, they unpack some of the most common misconceptions around sleep training, why it’s never one-size-fits-all, and how aligning sleep strategies with a family’s values makes all the difference. Maureen also shares why consistency is king, how collaboration within the Parenting Practice team strengthens family support, and why sleep is a lifelong skill worth prioritizing from the very beginning. This conversation is reassuring, practical, and empowering—especially for parents who feel overwhelmed, exhausted, or unsure where to start. 🎧 Tune in to learn how personalized sleep support can reduce confusion, restore rest, and help families feel confident moving forward. Maureen's Contact Information Email: maureen@parentingpracticeco.com IG: @sweetdreamsbymaureen