The Responsive Family Sleep Podcast

How can you make informed decisions when you don’t know all your options? Well, you can’t! From sleep setups and safety to navigating big sleep transitions and parent led changes, knowing your options makes a huge difference. In this week’s episode I’m joined by my bestie, doula, educator, and doula business coach Kaely Harrod for a conversation about the challenges of making decisions without all the information. Parents are actively not educated in ways that set them up for informed decision making around sleep and that can have real safety consequences as well as feeling like they have no other option than to do something that feels wrong or like a bad fit for their little. We talk about how this unfolds with sleep safety and parents sleeping in dangerous ways because they aren’t taught about safety beyond crib/bassinette sleeping – so either falling asleep in an unsafe bedsharing situation or in a dangerous situation trying not to bedshare. We also talk about how this plays out in the choices parentsmake in supporting sleep and making bigger changes. Kaely shares some of her own early parenting and sleep experiences with her 3 kids and some of the ways she empowers her clients to be able to make informed choices with high quality information.About KaelyKaely has been a doula unofficially since 2010 and officially since 2018! She’s built her business to the point of supporting hundreds of families, but realized along the way that it wasn’t enough to be an amazing doula, she also needed to be an amazing CEO! She’s since added mentoring small business owners and doula entrepreneurs to her repertoire to help others find their clear path to a thriving doula business while avoiding doula burnout!Connect with Kaelyhttps://www.harroddoulaservices.com/kaely-daily-podcasthttps://www.harroddoulaservices.com/Instagram: @harroddoulaConnect with KimGrab 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

Have you ever noticed how much sleep information and advice seems to be very generic, one size fits all? As if all babies have the exact same sleep needs and it’s only a matter of being consistent to get all babies sleeping alike. In this week’s episode, I’m unpacking why continuing to talk about baby sleep in these one size fits all type ways is wrong, unhelpful, and really out of step with what we know about the wide range of babies’ needs. After all, babies are individuals with individual sleep needs. So sleep conversations, information, and suggestions needs to be nuanced, or at the very least acknowledge the wide range of normal.Connect with KimGrab 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

Does baby sleep make you anxious? Does your anxiety keep you from sleeping? Either or both of these things can be true. The relationship between anxiety and sleep as a new parent is complex. IN this episode I’m joined by Clare Donofrio, a perinatal psychotherapist, to talk withme about the ways our anxiety shows up in relationship to sleep in early parenting. Clare shares some ways you can recognize anxiety and OCD in the perinatal period and early parenting. Our conversation focuses on lots of examples of how anxiety and OCD affect parent sleep, sleep decisions,and the ability to listen to your instincts and parent from your own values (rather than outside expectations). We both share our experiences and support for more normalizing of what’s normal so you can better cope with it – something that benefits all parents, and especially anxious parents. Wetalk about the importance of both social support and accessing clinical support for anxiety. Clare also shares some suggestions for how to start reflecting on your own parenting values if you aren’t sure about them yet. I see a lot of anxious parents in my work and it was so wonderful to have thisconversation. I hope you have some great takeaways.About ClareClare Donofrio, MPH, LCSW-C, PMH-C (she/her) is a perinatal psychotherapist in Maryland. Clare has been serving perinatal populations since she first trained as a full spectrum doula in 2014, and has since gone on to support many families through infertility, abortion, perinatal loss,pregnancy, postpartum, and parenthood. Clare has a background in social work and public health, and practices from a feminist lens oriented in reproductive justice and decolonization.Clare has worked with pregnant and postpartum clients and their families in a variety of settings including a hospital, community center, public school, and women's prison. Clare now sees Maryland-based clients virtually as a perinatal therapist, and loves to support women and queer folks navigating anxiety, OCD, and trauma histories while building their families. You can reach Clare at claredonofriolcswc@gmail.com or visit her website kindhealingmd.com. The Womb Room -- local support for Baltimore-area families; Clare leads groups here  Expectful -- guided meditations Connect with KimGrab 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

In a world that pushes non-responsive sleep training at every turn, it’s understandable that you might worry about the idea of over responding to night wakes. In this episode I talk about the importance of responding to your little’s nighttime needs and also where there is some nuance. It’s important to get to know your baby so that you can learn what’s a sleep noise verses signaling for you. I’ll talk about when a pause can be helpful, and how not to confuse pausing with not responding.Connect with KimGrab 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

We all need community, and yet finding that community can be a real struggle. So many of the parents I support with sleep are searching for parenting communities that lean responsive, as so many of the spaces they move through regularly are full of sleep training advice. In this episode, I’m joined by Elizabeth Hubley of the mama love collective to talk all about community. We dive into the cultural aspects of community, and why it can be so hard to build community. We talk about the many ways you can find community, and how different types of communities can fill different roles. We also talk about what community means and how we all have different needs from community. Elizabeth has such a gift for community and such wisdom and insight about it – I know you’ll love this conversation.About ElizabethElizabeth Hubley is the director of the Mama Love Collective and a mom of two. Elizabeth loves creating connections and providing parents with the support they need to thrive in pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond. She has worked with hundreds of pregnant people and new mothers in circles, classes, one-on-one coaching, and in casual conversations on so many playgrounds.She is passionate about providing space for people to explore and create their identities as parents and mothers - through conversation, exploration, and deep listening.  Her training as a yoga teacher, group facilitator, and holistic health coach inform her work with groups and individuals. Connect with Elizabeth and her communities Motherhood: Redefined: https://www.themamalovecollective.com/motherhood-redefined.htmlNavigating Neurodiversity Circle: https://www.themamalovecollective.com/neurodiversitycircle.htmlAll Circles: https://www.themamalovecollective.com/circles.htmlConnect with KimGrab 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 is so much incorrect information thrown around about what makes a good nap. It can lead parents to worry that their baby isn’t getting the rest they need if their naps are short (or cat naps). In this episode I’m calling out the misinformation around cat naps. I talk about what a short nap is, some ideas around what makes a healthy nap, and some thoughts around the concept of an ideal nap length. I hope this episode helps you stress less about your littles naps.Connect with KimGrab 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

New parent sleep and mental health can be such a tricky topic, with so many blanket statements thrown around. In this episode I’m joined by Dr. Emma Basch, licensed clinical psychologist, for a wide-ranging and nuanced conversation about postpartum mental health.A few of the many things we discussed include:Most people struggle with the transition to parenthood, and what some signs are that you should seek some additional support.Protecting a parent’s sleep through mental health struggles is complex and nuanced, and we don’t need to put baby and parent needs in opposition to each other.Sleep and mental health have a bidirectional relationship and we need to look at that relationship from both sides.Informed decision making is key, and there is no one right way to do anything in parenting.There is so much information overload affecting how we figure out our values.This conversation was hard to sum up, and also so wonderful to have. I hope you enjoy listening to it. I’d love to hear what stands out to you.About EmmaDr. Emma Basch is a licensed clinical psychologist based in Washington, DC. She is the founder and director of Dr. Emma Basch & Associates, a group practice specializing in women’s mental health with a focus on perinatal and reproductive mental health. Dr. Basch serves as the Vice President of the DCMetro Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative and is a founding board member of the Washington DC Chapter of Postpartum Support International. She is also a Clinical Instructor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at George Washington University. She is a frequent speaker and teacher on topicsrelated to reproductive mental health, and her writing on the topic has been featured in Washington Parent Magazine, Scary Mommy, and other media outlets. She is a proud native Washingtonian and a parent to two incredible children. Connect with EmmaWebsite: www.dremmabasch.com All socials are at: @dremmabaschConnect with KimGrab 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

As the sun sets earlier we use a lot more artificial light in the evening. In this episode I’m walking you through what to consider when it comes to light sources as you move through your evening, why it matters, and what some tricky places are in your home. Let’s do a light check before the sun sets any earlier.Resources related to this episodeYou may find these earlier episodes helpful.Sleep biology: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/podcast/2024/2/1/how-to-work-with-your-babys-sleep-biologyCircadian rhythm: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/podcast/2024/3/28/how-to-support-a-healthy-circadian-rhythm-for-you-and-your-baby-with-nikkoConnect with KimGrab 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

Parenting is hard sometimes, and it’s natural to feel overwhelmed or triggered by hard parenting moments. In this episode I’m joined by Sheena Hill, a Responsive Parenting Coach, to talk all about parenting triggers. We discuss common triggers and why they are more or less likely to happen based on how well we are meeting our own needs, temperament, and neurodivergent brains. We talk about how our own early experiences and attachment needs being met or not met can shape our responses and triggers in parenting. Sheena shares with us 3 regulation strategies to try, and maybe more importantly the context for how to have the most success building your regulation toolbox.About SheenaSheena Hill is a trauma-informed, neurobiologically-focused responsive parenting coach in private practice at Parenting Works. She works with families around the world, providing education and support for parents and professionals who seek to move beyond rewards and consequences to deepen their understanding of development and attachment while masterfully applying concrete skills in emotional intelligence, limit setting, and using play therapeutically. She lives in Baltimore with her spouse, 3 children, and a growing menagerie of pets (including 5 axolotls).Connect with SheenaWebsite: https://www.sheenahill.com/Connect with KimGrab 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

Should I ever wake a sleeping baby? Doesn’t sleep beget more sleep? There’s such a widely held belief that more sleep is always better and so we should never wake babies, and yet that’s not really true. If letting your baby sleep however they sleep is working for you, that’s great – keep doing it. But if you are struggling with your baby’s overall sleep pattern, have other kids, or a schedule that requires you to wake your baby sometimes, know that it is ok to wake a baby – and even sometimes beneficial. In this episode I’m debunking the myth to never wake a sleeping baby and talking about times when you might want or need to wake them up both for practical, logistical reasons or as part of working to improve sleep.Resources related to this episodeYou may also want to listen to my episode on sleep begets sleep from earlier this year:https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/podcast/2024/7/4/does-sleep-beget-sleepConnect with KimGrab 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