The Responsive Family Sleep Podcast

Your baby wakes, signals they need you,  and you respond to settle them back to sleep. This is a pretty standard part of most parents nights. What most people don’t realize is there are lots of small decisions you make about that interaction that can impact how rested you feel in the morning. In this episode, I’m sharing some points for you to consider when responding to night wakes. I want you to think about these factors well ahead of bedtime, and see if there are any tweaks or adjustments you can make to your nighttime parenting routine that can help conserve your energy , consider safety, and support your sleep in small ways.Connect with Kim Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdcLearn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/

The other day I was reflecting on some of the struggles a few clients had shared with me, and how common their individual stories really were. As new parents, there’s so much pressure, guilt, and expectation that you should be doing it “right”. In this episode, I’m doing something a bit different and sharing the advice I wish every parent new as the mom of big kids. It’s not about what I chose to do or how I chose to do it. It’s about themes I see so many parents struggle with. I talk about leaning into nurture both in how you care for your baby but also self-nurture as an equal priority. I  also touch on different seasons of parenting, how and what information we consume, and the way we approach team work with partners/coparents. I hope this perspective as both a sleep coach and mom is helpful.  Connect with Kim Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdcLearn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/

Bedtime can be a really hard time of day for many families. If bedtime has been long, stressful, and feels like a battle, then this episode is for you! There are many reasons bedtime can turn into a struggle. In this episode I’m walking you through some of the most common reasons I see for challenging bedtimes. Bedtime can be a peaceful and connected time with our babies and toddlers. The key is evaluating where things aren’t working and being willing to experiment with new ideas. Connect with Kim Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdcLearn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/

Happy new year It’s January, and you may be thinking about bringing some order to the chaos that the holidays brought to your sleep routines. I’m sharing a from the archives episode on getting back on track after the holidays. I want you to feel ready to reclaim your normal rhythms or look ahead to new routines, and I hope this episode helps.In this episode, I’m sharing some ideas for where to start as you work back to your regular routines, or try to establish new rhythms. This is a good time to keep things simple and also check in to see if your little’s needs have changed in the midst of the holiday season. It’s also a good time to remember that consistency, time, and patience go a long way to reestablishing good rhythms and routines and the lack of consistency is one of the ways we get off track over the holidays (for a good reason of course). Connect with Kim Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdcLearn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/

What helps you feel like you are taking care of yourself ? How well have you adapted those things to your life as the parent of a baby or toddler. In this episode, I’m talking about non-negotiables. The self-nurturing things you need to show up as the person, partner, friend, and parent you want to be. These are not fun, optional self-care activities, but rather small, important nurturing activities that keep you resilient  and cared for, especially when sleep, parenting, or life are particularly hard. I share some of my non-negotiables as examples, but these are very individual things.Connect with Kim Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdcLearn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/

Modern sleep info is recent while baby biology is hundreds of thousands of years old. While cultural expectations have changed drastically, babies have not. In this episode I’m talking you through the mismatch of baby biology and humans as carry mammals with the modern independent, separate sleep focused sleep expectations. Your baby is hardwired for proximity so I hope this episode helps you lean into that need with more confidence and find the balance that works for you.Connect with Kim Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdcLearn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/

Sleep is in a reasonably good place. You feel like you have a handle on things. Then suddenly, they are waking more, a struggle to get down to sleep, and need so much support and soothing! What happened? This is a normal part of sleep development, and the reasons for sleep suddenly getting harder can be varied. In this episode, I’m sharing a simple check list to get you started on troubleshooting. Connect with Kim Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdcLearn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/

There’s lots of talk about how babies should sleep, but that conversation it often misses the mark for what babies and toddlers actually need to get good quality sleep. We need to look past the modern sleep rules and shoulds and should nots and talk about the physiological factors that lead to good quality sleep. In this episode I’m sharing the core things humans of all ages need to sleep well – to be tired, able to relax, and feel safe and secure. They sound simple, but in practice can be nuanced. Connect with Kim Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdcLearn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/

Happy Thanksgiving. I hope today is a day full of family, food, and connection with loved ones. This is a short episode reflecting on gratitude. Connect with Kim Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdcLearn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/

The holiday season comes with so much joy and also so much disruption to your normal sleep and parenting routines. This is a common time for lots of questions about routines, sleep set ups, and navigating family. In this episode I’m talking through some of the most common concerns I hear from the families I work with, and I hope they give you some good food for thought as you plan for your holidays. Resources related to this episodeWhile I didn’t mention this in the episode, this guide for safely bedsharing during holiday travels is a great resource by Cosleepy: https://courses.cosleepy.com/courses/holiday?ref=0e118fConnect with Kim Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdcLearn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/