Parenting Decoded welcomes McCall Gordon to tackle one of parenting’s toughest questions: Why won’t my kid sleep? Her book is aimed at parents of "livewires" — kids who are more alert, intense, and emotionally reactive than average, making traditional sleep advice ineffective.
McCall explains that temperament plays a huge role in sleep struggles — some kids just have a harder time winding down. These children are perceptive, persistent, and often lack typical “sleepy cues” like yawning. Instead, they need more support and a customized sleep strategy.
She encourages parents to stop blaming themselves. These kids aren’t “bad” sleepers — they’re wired differently. The solution? A gradual, step-by-step approach to bedtime routines, not the cold-turkey methods like “cry it out,” which often backfire for sensitive kids.
McCall’s key advice:
Understand your child’s temperament
Taper off bedtime habits gradually
Use consistent patterns at bedtime and during night wakings
Think of it like teaching a child to ride a bike — slowly let go while supporting them
She also emphasizes ruling out medical issues for frequent night wakings, especially in infants or kids who snore.
The bottom line: You’re not crazy, and it’s not your fault — you just need a different roadmap.
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