About From Head to Toe: Sleep & Development with Deirdre Edwards
Deirdre Edwards talks to Mark Pougatch about her fifty-year career in paediatrics as a nurse, health visitor and McTimoney chiropractor. With stories from her clinic, she explains the importance of the cranial nerves – particularly for sleep, health and development - and why these should be checked in the first ten days of a baby’s life.
In this series Deirdre seeks to enlighten parents, grandparents and accredited health care professionals to understand the power of the nervous system and why it matters for optimum development. Being Informed empowers rather than the ‘wait and see’ condition led approach.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
WHAT IS NORMAL? Deirdre Edwards talks to Mark Pougatch about the normal range of development for babies and young children in this second series of FROM HEAD TO TOE: SLEEP AND DEVELOPMENT. For over 50 years Deirdre Edwards has worked in paediatrics as a nurse, health visitor and McTimoney chiropractor. She founded the Abacus Chiropractic Clinic in Stratford-upon-Avon. Deirdre speaks to Mark using stories from her clinic. Listen out for her Top Tips at the end of each episode.
Deirdre Edwards talks to Mark Pougatch in this final episode about what she considers to be excessive screen time for children. What is the impact on their physical and mental health, social development, and academic performance? She argues that by understanding the potential negative impacts of excessive screen time and promoting a balanced approach parents can help children navigate the digital world in a healthy and constructive way. She examines the effect of looking at a phone on posture and its impact on the five senses.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
20 Nov 2025
Dealing with Loss
WHAT IS NORMAL? Deirdre Edwards talks to Mark Pougatch about the normal range of development for babies and young children in this second series of FROM HEAD TO TOE: SLEEP AND DEVELOPMENT. For over 50 years Deirdre Edwards has worked in paediatrics as a nurse, health visitor and McTimoney chiropractor. She founded the Abacus Chiropractic Clinic in Stratford-upon-Avon. Deirdre speaks to Mark using stories from her clinic. Listen out for her Top Tips at the end of each episode.
Loss includes divorce, separation, trauma, bereavement, moving house and the impact of the Covid epidemic on children. Deirdre Edwards talks to Mark Pougatch about how big changes impact a youngster in unpredictable and unprecedented ways. This can manifest itself in sadness, shyness, unprovoked temper tantrums, silliness, wakefulness, self-harm and food refusal. She discusses ways to rebalance a child who presents with ‘out of character behaviours’; the importance of communication and the impact of trauma on the cranial nerve and when to seek counselling.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
13 Nov 2025
Boundaries, Safety, Discipline & Manners
WHAT IS NORMAL? Deirdre Edwards talks to Mark Pougatch about the normal range of development for babies and young children in this second series of FROM HEAD TO TOE: SLEEP AND DEVELOPMENT. For over 50 years Deirdre Edwards has worked in paediatrics as a nurse, health visitor and McTimoney chiropractor. She founded the Abacus Chiropractic Clinic in Stratford-upon-Avon. Deirdre speaks to Mark using stories from her clinic. Listen out for her Top Tips at the end of each episode.
Having addressed routines around food in episode 1 and bedtimes in episode 5 Deirdre Edwards discusses acceptable boundaries with Mark Pougatch. Children are sponges and will copy both positive and negative behaviour of those around them. Respect, tolerance and sharing with others start in the sandpit. Deirdre shares her advice about how to keep children safe; ways to manage the wider world; the benefits of repetition; the importance of consistency and feral times. She talks about the ‘grumpy bone’ and when parents should seek chiropractic help if a child is out of sorts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
6 Nov 2025
Sleep & Bedtime Routines
WHAT IS NORMAL? Deirdre Edwards talks to Mark Pougatch about the normal range of development for babies and young children in this second series of FROM HEAD TO TOE: SLEEP AND DEVELOPMENT. For over 50 years Deirdre Edwards has worked in paediatrics as a nurse, health visitor and McTimoney chiropractor. She founded the Abacus Chiropractic Clinic in Stratford-upon-Avon. Deirdre speaks to Mark using stories from her clinic. Listen out for her Top Tips at the end of each episode.
How much sleep do babies and young children need? Following on from episode 4 Deirdre Edwards talks to Mark Pougatch about sleep hygiene and how to establish a good night-time routine. This episode covers night terrors, bed wetting and how toilet training can interrupt sleep. She discusses the impact of bad sleep emphasising how sleep is essential for growth and development.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
30 Oct 2025
Potty and Toilet Training
WHAT IS NORMAL? Deirdre Edwards talks to Mark Pougatch about the normal range of development for babies and young children in this second series of FROM HEAD TO TOE: SLEEP AND DEVELOPMENT. For over 50 years Deirdre Edwards has worked in paediatrics as a nurse, health visitor and McTimoney chiropractor. She founded the Abacus Chiropractic Clinic in Stratford-upon-Avon. Deirdre speaks to Mark using stories from her clinic. Listen out for her Top Tips at the end of each episode.
In this episode Deirdre Edwards talks to Mark Pougatch about how to toilet train successfully. She discusses the importance of establishing a routine; how to cope with the impact of starting nursery or school as well as what to do about bed wetting and when to seek clinical help.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
23 Oct 2025
How Can We Help Our Children Acquire Independence?
WHAT IS NORMAL? Deirdre Edwards talks to Mark Pougatch about the normal range of development for babies and young children in this second series of FROM HEAD TO TOE: SLEEP AND DEVELOPMENT. For over 50 years Deirdre Edwards has worked in paediatrics as a nurse, health visitor and McTimoney chiropractor. She founded the Abacus Chiropractic Clinic in Stratford-upon-Avon. Deirdre speaks to Mark using stories from her clinic. Listen out for her Top Tips at the end of each episode.
In this episode Deirdre Edwards talks to Mark Pougatch about how we can help children learn independence especially in readiness for nursery and school. She discusses techniques for basic handling, dressing, changing, getting into car seats, sitting on highchairs ensuring feet are resting on something, crawling, nursery rhymes and games. These all encourage the natural progression from primitive reflexes to a learned function in normal childhood development. She explains what ‘parachute flight’ is and why parents should be concerned about the potential long-term impact of retained infantile reflexes. She advocates that parents should seek clinical advice to check the cranial nerves, particularly the vagus nerve.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
16 Oct 2025
How Can We Help Children with Their Movement?
WHAT IS NORMAL? Deirdre Edwards talks to Mark Pougatch about the normal range of development for babies and young children in this second series of FROM HEAD TO TOE: SLEEP AND DEVELOPMENT. For over 50 years Deirdre Edwards has worked in paediatrics as a nurse, health visitor and McTimoney chiropractor. She founded the Abacus Chiropractic Clinic in Stratford-upon-Avon. Deirdre speaks to Mark using stories from her clinic. Listen out for her Top Tips at the end of each episode.
Is clumsiness a problem? In this episode Deirdre Edwards talks to Mark Pougatch about how the primitive reflexes impact gross and fine motor skills. She discusses communication, fidgeting, dyspraxia, and children who are unable to sit still. She advocates signing and ‘Tiny Talk’ to aid communication.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
9 Oct 2025
How Do We Help Children Have a Healthy Relationship with Food?
WHAT IS NORMAL? Deirdre Edwards talks to Mark Pougatch about the normal range of development for babies and young children in this second series of FROM HEAD TO TOE:SLEEP AND DEVELOPMENT. For over 50 years Deirdre Edwards has worked in paediatrics as a nurse, health visitor and McTimoney chiropractor. She founded the Abacus Chiropractic Clinic in Stratford-upon-Avon. Deirdre speaks to Mark using stories from her clinic. Listen out for her Top Tips at the end of each episode.
Deirdre Edwards talks to Mark Pougatch about how we can avoid mealtimes becoming a battleground. Can children thrive on simple, albeit repetitive, food? When food and swallowing become an issue at what point should we seek medical advice? She discusses the important of the cranial nerves and primary reflexes.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
14 Nov 2024
Young Children 3 to 4 years – Becoming independent
The focus of episode 6 is what should be happening developmentally for children aged 3 to 4. Deirdre Edwards talks to Mark Pougatch about gross motor and fine motor skills, concentration, communication through sign and verbal language, and social skills. She is passionate about the cranial nerves and advocates for regular chiropractic and health care checks – ideally four times a year but at the very least annually – to ensure spinal and skeletal growth is in line with development. She re-emphasises the importance of sleep. Her message to parents, health care and educational providers is to listen to the child. Parents are the voice for their children.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
7 Nov 2024
12 months to 3 years – Calm Child means Quietening the amygdala
The focus of this episode is big changes daily from 1 to 3 years. Deirdre Edwards talks to Mark Pougatch about what developmental progress
toddlers should be making during this time. She delves into the importance of sleep for cellular health and development and talks about the importance of a calm bedtime routine. Children can wake if they are frightened or in pain and Deirdre advocates having a child assessed if parents notice any changes in their sleep patterns. Parents also need to sleep to find the patience to cope with the developing toddler. Deirdre Edwards is all about the cranial nerves and her focus here is quietening the amygdala.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
31 Oct 2024
6 months to 1 year - Family and the environment.
In this episode Deirdre Edwards talks to Mark Pougatch about the developmental milestones parents should be looking for in babies
between six to twelve months. These include gross and fine motor skills, socialisation, communication through sign and verbal language. She offers advice on what parents can do to encourage developmental progress and how to aid sleep and create good routines. She delves deeper into the function of the cranial nerves - why they matter and when to get them checked out.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
24 Oct 2024
Babies to 6 months - What you haven’t been told
Deirdre Edwards discusses the first six months of a baby’s life with Mark Pougatch. Topics covered include: the importance of rest, nutrition, maternal self-recovery, sleep, how to establish routines and how to get help from your support tribe. With the focus on the baby’s development, she talks about what to look for and when to ask for help from professionals. Deirdre is all about the cranial nerves and advocates getting these checked out by accredited specialists within the first 10 days of life. She also offers advice on different handling positions, play stations, car seats and bath time.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
17 Oct 2024
Healthy Pregnancy, Birth and Cranial Nerves
Deirdre Edwards talks to Mark Pougatch about the importance of self-care during pregnancy. Chiropractic she explains is important for
expectant mothers to be balanced skeletally, she advocates Head to Toe checks and advice. She wants all new-born babies to have a cranial
nerve assessment alongside the Apgar score. She talks about ways to encourage good feeding and sleeping habits in those early weeks of
parenthood and how this can aid maternal health recovery.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
7 Oct 2024
Those first 10 days – The impact of birth on the cranial nerves
Deirdre Edwards talks to Mark Pougatch about her fifty-year career in paediatrics as a nurse, health visitor and McTimoney chiropractor. With stories from her clinic, she explains the importance of the cranial nerves – particularly for sleep, health and development - and why these should be checked in the first ten days of a baby’s life.
In this series Deirdre seeks to enlighten parents, grandparents and accredited health care professionals to understand the power of the nervous system and why it matters for optimum development. Being Informed empowers rather than the ‘wait and see’ condition led approach.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
Contact From Head to Toe: Sleep & Development with Deirdre Edwards
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of From Head to Toe: Sleep & Development with Deirdre Edwards?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
