On the Endo Kids Podcast, pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Rinku Mehra interviews pediatric sleep expert Dr. Funke Brown, founder of The Restful Sleep Place, about why sleep is a foundational pillar of childhood health affecting brain function, emotion regulation, memory, metabolism, heart health, growth, puberty, obesity, and diabetes risk. Dr. Brown explains age-based sleep needs and how sleep architecture shifts from high REM in infancy to more deep sleep when growth hormone is released, then to more light sleep with age. They discuss effects of chronic sleep deprivation, why sleep should be part of endocrine treatment plans, common pediatric sleep disorders (sleep apnea, insomnia, circadian rhythm disorders, restless leg syndrome), when to pursue a sleep study, and how screens, caffeine, and late-night activity disrupt sleep. They also address t ...