The Responsive Family Sleep Podcast

Welcome to the summer from the archives series! We’re revisiting some much loved podcast episodes from the early months of the podcast. These are episode that are great to revisit at different points in your parenting journey. Sleep training culture is pervasive, and almost every parent I talk with feels its impact in some way, even the most confident, attachment focused parents. Understanding the ways that sleep training shapes our culture well beyond cry it out can be a powerful tool in building confidence and making informed decisions in sleep. In this episode, I’m sharing about sleep training culture and how it influences your sleep expectations in ways you don’t often realize. So many parents know they don’t want to sleep train, but they aren’t aware how much sleep training culture shapes their expectations and goals. Supporting sleep responsively isn’t just about avoiding harsh sleep training strategies, but a totally different paradigm for sleep. Resources related to this episodeCheck out more about sleep training history in this blog post: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/blog/history-of-sleep-trainingConnect with Kim Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdcLearn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/

Welcome to the summer from the archives series! We’re revisiting some much loved podcast episodes from the early months of the podcast. These are episode that are great to revisit at different points in your parenting journey. There’s so much focus on what baby’s need in infancy, and so little focus on what parents need in those early critical months. Even when the focus is on new parents, the focus is often on very basic physical and emotional postpartum changes. This conversation is different! In this episode, I have My colleague Rocio from Newborn Parents sharing her deep knowledge of the parental brain. Nurture matters – not just for our babies but for our own transition to parenting as well. We dive into the changes that happen to your brain in early parenting; what your brain (and you) really need; and how to nurture everyone during this period. About Rocio  Rocio is a neuroscientist and mother of two. She is the founder of Newborn Parents, which was born out of the fusion of her two passions: the brain and the relationship between parents and their infants. She educates parents and professionals about parental brain science so that they can take advantage of the profound brain changes that accompany mastrescence and patrescence. She firmly believes that when parents and professionals learn about the power of the parental brain, they can create a path for a lifelong nurturing relationship within families and their babies.Connect with Rocio and her work:Free masterclass the Parental brain 101 for professionals: https://webinarkit.com/webinar/registration/64566577392c532bee4e63a1Website: https://www.newbornparents.net/Instagram: rociozunini_newbornparentsConnect with Kim Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdcLearn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/

Welcome to the summer from the archives series! We’re revisiting some much loved podcast episodes from the early months of the podcast. These are episode that are great to revisit at different points in your parenting journey. Sleep and lactation – such a huge an important topic! In honor of World Breastfeeding Week, I think this is an important topic to share again. Every parent needs sleep information that supports their feeding goals! And sadly, that’s not what is happening for many families. In this episode I’m unpacking the ways in which sleep and lactation are interconnected. So many parents hear conflicting information about nursing and sleep, and there is a lot of sleep advice that can negatively impact a parents nursing relationship. This is a big topic, and I’m highlighting 4 factors that are important to consider: the need for nighttime milk removal to maintain supply; baby’s need for night feeds; lactation hormones supporting sleep and supply; and the fact that we need the whole picture of a baby’s feeding pattern to put night feeds in context.Resources related to this episodeNursing to sleep podcast episode: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/podcast/2023/9/19/is-nursing-to-sleep-a-bad-habitReverse cycling blog post: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/blog/2023/6/27/reverse-cycling-why-your-baby-is-suddenly-feeding-more-at-night Magic number: https://www.nancymohrbacher.com/articles/2010/8/13/the-magic-number-and-long-term-milk-production-part-1.html Connect with Kim Grab a free sleep myth busting guide and learn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdc

Welcome to the summer from the archives series! We’re revisiting some much loved podcast episodes from the early months of the podcast. These are episode that are great to revisit at different points in your parenting journey. When will my baby sleep through the night is one of the most common questions I get in casual conversation with parents. There’s so much pressure and emphasis placed on sleeping through the night, and so many parents feel like a failure when there baby is sleeping completely normally. Realistic expectations can go a long way to decrease stress and help you support better sleep in your family. In this episode, I’m unpacking the myth that babies should be sleeping through the night. We’ll talk about what it means to sleep through the night and what the research actually says around waking and sleeping through. Next time you get one of those “but shouldn’t they be sleeping through the night by now” comments, you’ll know just what the truth actually is. Resources related to this episodeDevelopmental Sleep Expectations blog post (lots of citations): https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/blog/2018/7/6/developmentally-appropriate-sleep-expectations-birth-to-age-5Study citationsHoyniak, CP, Bates, JE, Staples, AD, Rudasill, KM, Molfese, DL, Molfese, VJ.  (2019.) Child sleep and socioeconomic context in the development of cognitive abilities in early childhood.  Child Development, 1718-1737.Hysing PhD, M., Harvey PhD, A. G., Torgersen PhD, L., Ystrom PhD, E., Reichborn-Kjennerud PhD, T., & Sivertsen PhD, B. (2014). Trajectories and Predictors of Nocturnal Awakenings and Sleep Duration in Infants. Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 309-316.Paavonen, E. J., Saarenpaa-Heikkila, O., Morales-Munoz, I., Virta, M., Hakala, N., Polkki, P., Karlsson, L. (2020). Normal sleep development in infants: findings from two large birth cohorts. Sleep Medicine, 145-154.Pennestri, M. H., Burdayron, R., Kenny, S., Béliveau, M. J., & Dubois-Comtois, K. (2020). Sleeping through the night or through the nights? Sleep Medicine, 76, 98-103.Connect with Kim Grab a free sleep myth busting guide and learn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdc

Welcome to the summer from the archives series! We’re revisiting some much loved podcast episodes from the early months of the podcast. These are episode that are great to revisit at different points in your parenting journey. This is one of my top episodes for good reason. Sleep is all about regulation, and we can’t talk about improving sleep without understanding nervous system regulation. In this episode, I’m joined by the amazing Lyndsey Hookway to talk all about regulation and sleep. We dive into what regulation is; what it has to do with sleep; and why regulation is such an important and often overlooked piece in the sleep puzzle. Lyndsey is one of my sleep mentors and it’s always a joy to talk sleep with her.About LyndseyLyndsey is an experienced paediatric nurse, children’s public health nurse, IBCLC, researcher, responsive sleep/parenting advocate, and the author of 6 books. She has worked with children and families for more than 20 years within in-patient paediatrics, paediatric ambulatory care, NICU, and the community. Lyndsey is a researcher at Swansea University, exploring the needs and challenges of medically complex breastfed infants and children, and completed her PhD in 2023. In 2019 she founded the Breastfeeding the Brave project to raise awareness of the unique lactation needs of sick children in the paediatric setting. Lyndsey is the co-founder and clinical director of the Holistic Sleep Coaching program and Thought Rebellion. She is a respected international speaker and also provides regular training, advocacy and consultancy to both NHS and private organisations.Connect with Lyndseywww.lyndseyhookway.com www.thoughtrebellion.com www.holisticsleepcoaching.comwww.breastfeedingthebrave.comInstagram: @lyndsey_hookwayFacebook: @LyndseyHookwayTwitter: @FeedSleepBondResources related to this episodeI encourage you to check out Lyndsey’s books on sleep- let’s talk about your new family’s sleep and still awake.

You know they are tired, and suddenly they just start zooming around the house! Toddlers can be notorious for getting wild right when you want to calm them down for sleep. In this episode, I’m sharing some of the reasons why your toddler might get the sillies right at bedtime. To know where to troubleshoot, you need to know why they are acting the way they are. I talk you through some of the common reasons including:Over stimulated/dysregulatedNot enough movement later in the dayNot tired/too early bedtime Needing more connection (and acting wild is the best way they are getting it)Testing boundaries Connect with Kim Grab a free sleep myth busting guide and learn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdc

There’s lots of talk about how much babies should sleep, but much of that conversation centers around averages, often the higher end of those averages. So what happens if your baby never seems to sleep as much as they are supposed to? You may have a low sleep needs baby. IN this episode I’m talking about life with a low sleep needs baby or child. I answer some common questions about low sleep needs kids like: What are low sleep needs?How do I know if  my baby is low sleep needs or just not getting enough sleep?How do I cope with a low sleep needs baby?Parent’s of low sleep needs babies and children have a different balance in their days and often need to realistically strategize with their child’s low sleep needs in mind. I hope this episode gives you some things to consider. Resources related to this episodehttps://intuitiveparentingdc.com/sleep-totals-graphConnect with Kim Grab a free sleep myth busting guide and learn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdc

Early morning waking is such a frustrating and tricky sleep challenge. IN this episode I talk through some of the causes of early waking. I share some realistic expectations around what is early waking, some seasonal patterns, and talk through some of the contributing factors. Sleep timing, physical needs/discomforts, and environmental factors can all lead to early morning wakes. Sometimes we can nudge waking later, and sometimes we need to adapt so the waking is less disruptive. Resources related to this episodeCheck out my blog on early waking: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/blog/2022/10/22/what-to-do-about-early-wakingConnect with Kim Grab a free sleep myth busting guide and learn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdc

So many new parents (moms especially) experience exhaustion and overstimulation in early parenting. Some struggle more in the baby year with the higher level of touch and sleep disruption. Some struggle more in the toddler years with the increased chaos that often comes with toddlerhood. While these are common experiences, it doesn’t mean we have to struggle with no way to support ourselves through them. In this episode I’m joined by Sara Sandland, a wellness coach for moms, to talk about exhaustion and overstimulation. We talk through what’s normal tiredness or overstimulation (we all experience these sometimes) verses what’s a sign that you could use some additional support and strategies. Sarah also introduces the bucket theory, a way of looking at what adds to our overwhelm, exhaustion, and overstimulation verses what lightens our load and nourishes our energy. We also talk through some ways to better support yourself when you are feeling exhausted and overstimulated. About SaraSara Sandland is a Certified Health & Wellness Coach who specializes in maternal well-being, the motherhood experience, and the process of physically and mentally rebalancing from the physiological changes that happen postpartum and throughout motherhood. As the Founder & Owner of Notably Well, Sara helps moms improve their energy, overstimulation, overwhelm, fulfillment, fertility, weight management, and more through feasible and sustainable adjustments in their lifestyle, behaviors, and mindset so they can feel and function like themselves again and thrive in motherhood.Check out Sara’s free guide - The Overstimulated Mom’s 3-Step Guide to Reclaim Resilience in Moments of Overwhelmhttps://preview.mailerlite.io/preview/1035554/sites/149340687669658892/Sp0CeUConnect with SaraFree Discovery Call: Book NowWebsite: www.notablywell.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/notablywellFacebook: www.facebook.com/notablywellConnect with Kim Grab the free guide busting common sleep myths and learn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdc

When is it parental separation anxiety and when is it simply normal biology? In a culture that values separation and independence, where is the line between a parent’s instinct that they and their baby aren’t ready to be separated around nighttime sleep verses anxiety around separation. In this episode I’m unpacking this complicated topic. I discuss some important cultural and historical context that shapes how we think about separation between parent and baby. I also talk through context that matters such as the parent’s preferences, the likely stress level of baby, familiarity with other caregivers, and other signs of anxiety. It’s not ok for a parent to feel pressure to be away from their baby or toddler overnight before they are ready, but it’s also good to support anxiety if that is the driving factor. Connect with Kim Grab the free guide busting common sleep myths and learn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdc