The Responsive Family Sleep Podcast

Night wakes are a normal part of nighttime parenting, and often they are more disruptive to parent sleep than baby sleep. Long wakes in the middle of the night are a particularly challenging experience. In this episode, I’m talking you through some common causes of split nights or long wakes in the middle of the night. I’ll also help you tease out the differences between transfer challenges  and true split nights. Resources related to this episodeSplit night blog post:  https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/blog/2022/5/18/split-nights-what-they-are-and-how-to-handle-themConnect with Kimhttps://intuitiveparentingdc.com/https://www.instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dc/https://www.facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdc

You are told to leave your baby to cry by the sleep trainers. You are told to respond, and made to feel like you should have the answer to every cry by the no cry folks. You wonder if crying in arms is just as bad as CIO – and does it matter if you’ve done everything to soothe your little? In this episode I’m talking about crying, and sharing some perspective and context I hope will be helpful. Crying is communication, and our children need our support and loving presence, even when we can’t solve their problem in the moment.  Connect with Kim Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdcLearn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/

Are you dreading the time when your toddler drops their nap? Wondering about quiet time? In this episode I’m sharing some insight and tips about quiet time. There are different ways families think about quiet time, and different set ups will work with different toddlers. And if quiet time feels impossible, I share some thoughts around working towards it and also a full confession that it never worked for my own kids 😊  Connect with Kim Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdcLearn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/

There are so many all or nothing messages about night feeds. Pressure to night wean early. Pressure to be 100% consistent. In this episode, I’m sharing my thoughts and some practical tips for how you can reduce night feeds without night weaning. I’m sharing some general night feeding norms  because that’s always the best starting place. I also share some thoughts around the decision to reduce feeds as it’s not always a straight forward decision.   Connect with Kim Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdcLearn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/

Temperament is one of the biggest factors that shapes what kind of sleeper your baby or toddler is. It’s also one of the least acknowledged pieces of sleep in the sleep world. In this episode, I’m going over some key points about temperament that will help you view your little’s sleep with a bit more understanding. I touch on temperament traits, the dandelion orchid spectrum, and how various temperament factors impact your littles sleep and soothing needs. So many families I work with say that better understanding the temperament factor was a game changer for understanding why sleep is the way it is in their family. Connect with Kim Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdcLearn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/

As new parents, you are trying to figure this whole parenting thing out, and as new grandparents, your parents are trying to figure the whole grandparenting thing out. And a lot has changed in the last several decades when it comes to parenting research, tools, and strategies. In this episode, I’m joined by parenting coach Sheena Hill to talk about responsive grandparenting and her new book The Grand Guide: Mindful Tools for Modern Grandparenting. We talk about the generational gap in parenting understanding and approaches, and how that gap can leave both parents and grandparents misunderstood and frustrated. Sheena shares her thoughts on how to help grandparents understand the why behind responsive parenting and have practical tools to use. We also talk about the importance of parents being able to articulate that why and the shifts in research, approach, and tools in conversation with their parents. With her book, Sheena Hopes to bring a framework for compassionate and non-judgmental approach to conversations about parenting. And I hope this conversation helps you see new ways to engage with your parents on responsive parenting so that everyone wins – more relational safety, more understanding, and more connection. Grab your copy of The Grand Guide: Mindful Tools for Modern Grandparenting.Preorder here if before February 28: https://parentingworks.org/ggpreorderAfter February 28, buy it from Sheena’s website or your favorite bookstore.About Sheena Sheena 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/IG: @parenting_worksConnect with Kim Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdcLearn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/

There are lots of rules shared about what makes a nap a good nap. Most of them aren’t true, or aren’t true as absolutes. In this episode, I’m busting some nap myths and sharing some thoughts around what makes a good nap for your baby or toddler. Connect with Kim Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdcLearn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/

Breastfeeding is not the reason that other people can’t support your baby to sleep! And yet, it’s so often blamed for a parent preference around sleep. In this episode,  I’m talking you through why we see a feeding to sleep preference so often tied into a parent preference. There are  structural/family systems reasons as well as  regulation reasons, but also lots you can do to gently shift the pattern with intention.   Connect with Kim Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdcLearn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/

Babies aren’t born regulating their circadian rhythm which means they don’t know their days from night in the early months. While time is a big piece of the puzzle, there are things you can do to help your baby’s emerging circadian rhythm and support better sleep. In this podcast episode I’m talking you through simple strategies to help your baby sort out their days from nights more quickly and set them up for a healthy circadian rhythm. Connect with Kim Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdcLearn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/

We need to do better as perinatal professionals when it comes to sleep information. To parents who are my main listeners, this episode highlights the most common misinformation shared about sleep from professionals so that you are more able to spot outdated and unhelpful sleep myths. For professionals because I know some of you are listeners too, this is information you need to know. It’s not about taking sides but about what is actually developmentally normal and evidence-based. Let’s move past sleep training culture to a world where parents baseline information is based in biology. That’s the only way we can support informed decision making and what is best for both parents and babies. Connect with Kim Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdcLearn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/