The Responsive Family Sleep Podcast

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/

The return to work is a big transition. So many parents are worried about the impact of starting daycare on sleep, and the need to prepare their baby to handle daycare naps. In this episode, I’m walking you through some key things to consider about sleep and the daycare transition. This is a big transition for the whole family, and bringing understanding, patience, and extra connection through the process makes a big difference. Connect with Kim Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdcLearn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/

Your toddler nurses 1 million times a night (or at least it feels like it)! Your little won’t unlatch for hours on end. There are many reasons why you might want to set some limits around your toddler’s nursing around sleep or otherwise, but how do you do it? In this episode I’m talking about nursing limits. What is a nursing limitWhen might you want to use a nursing limit, sleep and otherwiseWhy daytime breastfeeding limits are the place to startHow to set a nursing limitNursing limits can be a challenge, but that doesn’t mean you need to be scared of setting them.  They are a big part of continuing to enjoy nursing if that’s your goal. And if your goal is to lead the weaning process, then they are central to that journey.Connect with Kim Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdcLearn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/

It’s germ season, and babies, toddlers, and young kids get sick a lot! In this episode, I’m talking with pediatrician Dr. J about supporting sleep when your little is sick. We chat about:What to expect from sleep when your little is sickHow to make them more comfortable Red flags that you need medical supportTips for preventing illness in the germy months Sick littles and sleep is hard, and the only way through is to support everyone through it. I hope these tips help you next time your family is sick.About Dr. JDr. Jalan Burton, or Dr. J, as she loves to be called, is a pediatrician, public health champion, professional coach, wife, and mother of three. Equipped with 7 years of professional coaching and consulting experience, 15 years of medical education and pediatrics experience, and over 20 years of peer health education experience, Dr. J is passionate about family wellness, healthcare worker wellness, and community building. She is the founder and CEO of Healthy Home Pediatrics and Harmony in Practice. Dr. J is a proud graduate of the University of Virginia, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, and The George Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. J's clinical philosophy is built around the belief that when families are truly supported they thrive. Dr. J’s professional coaching philosophy centers on the belief that when healthcare workers build businesses that are joyful, profitable, scalable, and sustainable, we enrich the lives of our communities and generations to come. Connect with Dr. JWebsite: https://www.healthyhomepediatrics.com/IG: https://www.instagram.com/drjalanburtonFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/drjalanburton/Connect with Kim Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdcLearn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/

Switching sleep spaces can be stressful for both parents and babies. Whether you are moving your little from their bassinet to their crib, crib to big kid bed, bedsharing to floor bed, it can be a big transition. In this episode I’m sharing ways to make the transition easier for everyone. I talk you through building familiarity with the new sleep space, helping them feel safe and connected to you in that sleep space, and tips for supporting them through the transition. Some strategies work at all ages, and other ones I break down by age. Connect with Kim Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdcLearn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/

Parent preference is a really normal thing, and it’s a common struggle around sleep. Sometimes it’s developmental and sometimes it comes from doing what works for so long that we just don’t have experience doing something else anymore. In this episode, I’m sharing some tips around parent preference and how to gently encourage balancing things out. I share some tips for supporting the relationship away from sleep, ways to get them involved with you around sleep with both parents present, and some ideas for how to work towards supporting sleep with that parent on their own. This is a process that takes time, support, and patience, but it can definitely be worth the effort. Resources related to this episodeCheck out my related blog post on helping your partner be more confident in supporting sleep when there’s parent preference: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/blog/2022/6/21/how-to-help-your-partner-be-more-involved-at-bedtimeConnect with Kim Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdcLearn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/

Habit stacking is a common strategy I use with many families when they want to make a change with sleep or have more flexibility. In this episode I’m sharing:What is habit stacking (or layering sleep associations)?When and how to use habit stacking when supporting your baby or toddler through a sleep change.Examples of sleep soothing tools to stack.And some tips for ways I see the strategy not work in implementation. If you’ve been wondering how you can increase flexibility in how you support your little to sleep or support them through a change, I hope this episode gives you some ideas. Connect with Kim Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdcLearn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/

Sleep predictability is a common struggle for many families. And the important thing to note is that not all babies are going to have the same level of predictability in their sleep patterns. In this episode I’m talking you through the things we can’t control and the things we can control that contribute to how predictable our child’s sleep is. Everything from age development, and temperament to how we set up our days can influence sleep predictability. Connect with Kim Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdcLearn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/

For most babies and toddlers, there naps have an impact on their nighttime sleep quality. So what happens when your child is in daycare, and you aren’t in control of their naps? This is a common situation for many of the families I support. In this episode I’m talking you through some daycare nap troubleshooting. I discuss:The most common daycare nap challengesDaycare has limitsEvery environment is differentAsk questionsGive clear suggestions while respecting limitationsConnect daycare sleep to what you are seeing at home While there are some things we can’t control when it comes to naps at daycare, there are often some things we can troubleshoot. It’s a balance. Connect with Kim Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdcLearn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/

Are you a morning or evening person? What about your baby or toddler? We all have tendencies in our circadian rhythm, and this episode dives into those tendencies or chronotypes. I talk about the general trends in chronotypes, some impacts of modern living environment on our circadian rhythm, and How our circadian rhythm shifts across the lifespan. I also talk about the mismatches that can happen between parent and baby chronotypes, and how that can complicate supporting everyone’s sleep. Connect with Kim Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dcFacebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdcLearn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/