Episode 234: Rethinking Sleep for Tweens and Teens: Supporting Rest for Growing Kids with Dr. Funke Afolabi-Brown

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In this week’s episode of The Balanced Parent Podcast, Dr. Laura Froyen sits down with triple board-certified sleep physician Dr. Funke Afolabi-Brown, founder of Restful Sleep MD, to talk about a topic we don’t often dive into—sleep! But not the sleepless nights of toddlerhood—this time, we’re exploring how to help our older kids and teens get the restorative rest they need to grow, learn, and thrive.

Here are the key takeaways:

  • Poor sleep can signal deeper physical or emotional issues.

  • Recognize signs of inadequate or non-restorative sleep.

  • Improve sleep quality with consistent routines, calm environments, and mindful evening habits.

  • Adapt bedtime routines for older kids to strengthen connection and support healthy sleep.

  • Set appropriate bedtimes for tweens and teens while balancing family and couple time.

  • Establish healthy screen boundaries before bedtime for kids and adults.

  • Support older kids with sleep anxiety, racing thoughts, and bedtime worries.

  • Help teens value good sleep by linking it to their goals and interests.

Resources:

If you’d like to learn more about Dr. Funke Brown, visit restfulsleepmd.com, where you’ll find links to her medical practice, and weekly blogs. You can also connect with her on YouTube @drfunkebrown and on social media @restfulsleepmd.

Remember, good sleep is the foundation for helping our kids grow, learn, and thrive—one restful night at a time.