IN THE MEDIA
Interested in speaking with Dr. Anya McLaren-Barnett for your upcoming Podcast or article? Reach out to us at info@thesleephealth.org
In the media
Dr. Anya, on the record.
Dr. Anya McLaren-Barnett is a pediatric respirologist and sleep medicine physician. Journalists, producers, and podcast hosts come to her for plain answers about children's sleep. Here is where that work has appeared.
Media contact
Phone
Hours
Monday to Friday
8:30am to 5:00pm ET
Dr. Anya takes broadcast, print, podcast, and live panel bookings, in person from Burlington, Ontario, or remotely anywhere. We reply to most requests within 1 to 2 business days.
Selected coverage
Interviews, columns, and features on pediatric sleep, daylight saving time, and sickle cell disease.
How to maintain good sleep health this school year.
Dr. Anya McLaren-Barnett joins FOX to talk with Alexandra Goldberg about protecting children's sleep through the back to school season, and what to do when bedtimes have drifted over the summer.
The best fans for sleeping, according to doctors.
If you routinely find yourself waking up covered in a layer of sweat or struggling to stay asleep, a physician-approved fan for sleeping might help make drifting off a breeze.
Time to end daylight saving time, doctors say.
The twice-a-year tradition of springing forward or falling back with the clocks is a practice some doctors say should stop. Health reporter Katherine Ward has more on the risks that come with daylight saving time.
Tick-tock: It’s almost time to change our clocks back to standard time. Here’s what you should know
It is nearly time for the clocks to repeat an hour overnight, returning us to standard time. Although we are gaining an hour, it still disrupts our sleep schedules, according to experts.
Creating positive sleep habits for your child.
Achieving consistent sleep is vitally important to a child’s overall health. It has a direct impact on their physical and mental well-being and can affect academic performance and social interactions.
Seven things to help you cope with daylight saving time.
“We all have an internal clock or circadian rhythm that regulates sleep as well as other bodily functions,” said Dr. McLaren-Barnett.
Hydroxyurea improves lung function in children with sickle cell disease.
For the first time, researchers demonstrated that children diagnosed with sickle cell disease showed improvement in lung function after treatment with hydroxyurea, a treatment that is underused despite its demonstrated benefits. Presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference.
Sleep health for children.
Dr. Anya McLaren-Barnett joins TVJ Smile Jamaica to talk through what healthy sleep looks like for children and when a parent should raise it with their own clinician.
How turning the clocks back can hurt your health.
The return to standard time is less disruptive than springing an hour forward. Even so, a one-hour shift in either direction can affect your health.
A REACH Program for Sleep.
Dr. Anya McLaren-Barnett talks through her approach to pediatric care and the REACH program for sleep, and why the detection gap matters so much for families.
Sleep Series E3: How do children sleep?
Dr. Anya McLaren-Barnett joins The Thinking Mind Podcast to trace how sleep patterns develop from birth, how she works through children’s sleep disorders in clinic, what to look for when choosing a sleep consultant, and where melatonin fits.
How can I stop my child’s nosebleed?
Dr. Anya shares three steps to take if your child has a nosebleed, what not to do, how to prevent them, and how to know when to go to the hospital.
Can I use cough or cold medicines in my child?
Dr. Anya shares what parents need to know before giving cough and cold medicines to a child.
Sleep Challenges in Children with Developmental Delay: A Practical 30-Minute Guide
A 30-minute teaching session from Dr. Anya McLaren-Barnett on sleep problems in children with developmental delay: what to look for, how to separate behavioral from medical causes, and where to start. Recorded September 25, 2025.
Treatment and Management of Chronic Cough in Children
A peer-reviewed review by Tristan Henry and Dr. Anya McLaren-Barnett on assessing and managing chronic cough in children, including refractory chronic cough and when a multidisciplinary approach is needed. Canadian Allergy & Immunology Today, 4(3), 2024.
Working with Dr. Anya
What producers and editors usually ask before booking.
What topics can Dr. Anya speak to?
Pediatric sleep across childhood, including infant and toddler sleep, sleep-disordered breathing and snoring, daylight saving time and circadian rhythm, sleep and ADHD, melatonin, and the sleep gap between when a problem is spotted and when it is treated. She also speaks to her research on lung function in children with sickle cell disease.
How much notice do you need?
For a scheduled interview, a few days is comfortable. For breaking stories, including the twice-yearly clock change, write to us and we will tell you the same day whether she is available.
Can you provide a headshot, bio, and credentials?
Yes. Ask and we will send a press kit with a high-resolution headshot, a short and long bio, correct title and credentials, and the preferred spelling of her name.
Will Dr. Anya comment on an individual child?
No. She speaks to the evidence and to patterns across children, not to a named child’s care. For a story built around a family, we can help you frame questions that stay general and safe.
How should she be credited?
Dr. Anya McLaren-Barnett, pediatric respirologist and sleep medicine physician, founder of The Sleep Health Organization. On second reference, Dr. Anya is fine.
The best fans for sleeping, according to doctors.
If you routinely find yourself waking up covered in a layer of sweat or struggling to stay asleep, a physician-approved fan for sleeping might help make drifting off a breeze.
Time to end daylight saving time, doctors say.
The twice-a-year tradition of springing forward or falling back with the clocks is a practice some doctors say should stop. Health reporter Katherine Ward has more on the risks that come with daylight saving time.
Tick-tock: It's almost time to change our clocks back to standard time. Here's what you should know.
It’s nearly time for the clocks to repeat an hour overnight, returning us to standard time—but although we’re ‘gaining’ an hour, it still disrupts our sleep schedules, according to experts.
Creating positive sleep habits for your child.
Achieving consistent sleep is vitally important to a child’s overall health. It has a direct impact on their physical and mental well-being and can affect academic performance and social interactions.
Jamaican doc wins sickle cell research award.
A Jamaican medical practitioner based in Toronto, Dr Anya McLaren, has received the prestigious Paediatrics Scientific Abstract Award from the American Thoracic Society (ATS) for her groundbreaking research in sickle cell disease.
Here are 7 things to help you cope with daylight saving time on Sunday, March 10
"We all have an internal clock or circadian rhythm that regulates sleep as well as other bodily functions," said Dr. McLaren-Barnett.
Hydroxyurea Improves Lung Function in Children with Sickle Cell Disease
For the first time, researchers were able to demonstrate that children diagnosed with sickle cell disease showed improvement in lung function after treatment with hydroxyurea, a treatment that is underused despite its demonstrated benefits. The study was presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference.
Jamaica News Today
Sleep Health for Children with Dr. Anya McLaren-Barnett | TVJ Smile Jamaica
Slumber Party Podcast
Dr. Anya McLaren, a children's respirologist and sleep doctor to discuss their shared passion for sleep. Dr Anya is a mom, wife, author, assistant professor and sleep health advocate, and she sees first hand just how widespread poor sleep health is and knows all too well how crucial sleep is to overall health (especially mental health). Dr Anya is on a mission to close the gap between the detection of sleep problems in children and the appropriate management of these issues in order to optimise overall health.
Daylight saving time ends this Sunday: How turning the clocks back can hurt your health
The return to standard time is thoughtless disruptive than springing an hour forward, however, a one-hour shift, in either direction, can impact your health.
Discover the "A Reach Program for Sleep" with Dr. Anya McLaren Barnett MD
Empowering Better Sleep for Children Welcome back to our channel! In this enlightening episode, we have the pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Anya McLaren Barnett MD, a dedicated pediatrician and respirologist (also known as a pulmonary doctor), to delve into her passion for pediatric care and her innovative "A Reach Program for Sleep."
How Can I Stop My Child’s Nosebleed?
Seeing blood drip down your child’s nose can be scary, so let’s talk about how to stop them! Watch Dr. Anya McLaren-Barnett share 3 steps to take if your child has a nosebleed. She also shares what not to do, how to prevent them, and tips for knowing when to go to the hospital.
Can I Use Cough Or Cold Medicines In My Child?
Watch Dr. Anya McLaren-Barnett share what you need to know about giving cough and cold medicines to your child!
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