Sleep isn’t just about whether your child seems tired. It can influence their mood, behavior, concentration, immune function, physical health, growth, and ability to learn. In this episode of Everyday Epigenetics: Raw. Real. Relatable., Susan sits down with JaNae Haycock, certified pediatric nurse practitioner, pediatric sleep specialist, and founder of Sleep Stars Kids, to unpack why children’s sleep deserves much more attention.

With 25 years of experience in pediatric healthcare, JaNae has helped thousands of children and families navigate medical and behavioral sleep challenges. She breaks down what healthy sleep can look like from infancy through the teenage years, why routines matter, how genetics can influence sleep, and the impact phones and screens may have at bedtime. Susan and JaNae also discuss how poor sleep can sometimes show up as hyperactivity, emotional dysregulation, trouble concentrating, anxiety, or poor academic performance. Plus, JaNae shares important red flags parents should know, including snoring, breathing disruptions, extreme daytime sleepiness, and excessive restlessness.

In This Episode:

• How much sleep children actually need at different ages
• The connection between poor sleep, behavior, mood, learning, and physical health
• Why some sleep issues can look similar to symptoms associated with ADHD
• How genetics, routines, screens, and environment can influence sleep
• Why snoring and restless sleep in children shouldn’t automatically be considered normal
• Sleep disorder red flags that may warrant further evaluation

Learn more about our guest JaNae Haycock:

JaNae Haycock is a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and the founder of SleepStars Kids. She earned her master’s degree in nursing and has spent the past 25 years working in pediatric healthcare. After years working in pediatric primary care, JaNae specialized in sleep medicine, helping thousands of children conquer complex medical and behavioral sleep struggles. Today, she runs a virtual behavioral sleep medicine practice for families in Colorado, where she is licensed as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.

She created SleepStars Kids to expand her reach, bringing her expertise to parents worldwide through dedicated one-on-one coaching and self-guided educational tools.

JaNae breaks down complex medical insights into actionable, easy-to-understand advice. As a mother of four who has faced her own fair share of sleepless nights, she knows there is no one-size-fits-all sleep solution. She blends her clinical expertise with practical, compassionate strategies, tailored to fit the unique needs of every parent and child. When she’s not helping families get the rest they need, she can be found enjoying the great outdoors in beautiful Colorado.

RESOURCES:

Connect with JaNae Haycock:

Website: https://www.sleepstarskids.com/

Facebook - SleepStars

IG - https://www.instagram.com/sleepstarskids

Full Shownotes:

https://healthyawakening.co/2026/10/05/episode143

Connect with Susan:

https://linktr.ee/susanrobbins

Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast

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