The Responsive Family Sleep Podcast

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

About AustinAustin Rees (she/her) is a mother to four children and has been engaged in the health field for 25 years. She is a Licensed Massage Therapist, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and Craniosacral Therapy Practitioner. She is the founder of Nourish and Align, providing craniosacral therapy for all stages in life; using an individualized approach for each client and family. Austin specializes in optimizing infant oral function though bodywork. She provides guidance to caregivers on how to comfortably feed their baby, reduce crying, understand sleep, increase their baby’s immunity, foster parent and baby’s confidence, and nurture their baby’s intelligence.Connect with Austinwebsite: https://www.nourishandalign.comIG: https://www.instagram.com/nourish.alignFB: https://www.facebook.com/Nourish.AlignResources related to this episodeCheck out my podcast episode on body work with Austin earlier this year:https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/podcast/2024/2/22/how-can-bodywork-support-your-baby-with-austinConnect 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

Almost every parent I know wants more sleep. Society and the sleep consulting industry tells us that the answer to that need is to change the baby’s sleep. While working to improve and optimize our little’s sleep is one way to get more sleep, we tend to overlook that there are almost always ways to support parent sleep without changing baby sleep. In this episode I’m sharing some simple ways to better support your sleep by examining your own habits, patterns, and sleep hygiene. When you support better sleep from all fronts you are more likely to feel better rested.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

Learning how to set limits can be hard for many parents. I see so many parents struggle with this as their baby transitions from infant to toddler. In this episode, I’m joined by Sarah Rosensweet, a Peaceful Parenting Coach who has had a big impact on my own parenting journey. Our conversation focuses on setting limits – both the how to but also the important context around limits. We talk about connection, welcoming emotions, and when to be flexible. We discuss how to be playful in limit setting, figure out the right supports your kid needs to meet your expectation, and also when to recognize that your limit isn’t realistic for your child in this phase. We also get to benefit from the long term view of Sarah as a parent who’s kids are late teens and early 20s – so much of responsive parenting is the long term, and Ihope you love hearing this perspective from her.About Sarah RosensweetSarah Rosensweet is a certified peaceful parenting coach, speaker, and educator and the founder of Reimagine Peaceful Parenting. She lives in Toronto with her husband and her 17 year old daughter. Her 20 and 23 year old sons have launched. Peaceful parenting is a non-punitive, connection-based approach that uses firm limits with lots of empathy. Sarah works one-on-one virtually with parents all over the world to help them go from frustrated and overwhelmed to, “We’ve got this!”Read more at: www.reimaginepeacefulparenting.com  or listen to her top-rated parenting podcast, The Peaceful Parenting Podcast, wherever you get your podcasts!Connect with SarahWebsite: https://reimaginepeacefulparenting.com/IG: @sarahrosensweetConnect 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

Bedtime is a tricky time for babies and toddlers and also for us parents. After a long day, your cope is likely low and you are ready for some down time. If bedtimes have been a struggle lately, then you are likely anticipating a frustrating experience. In this episode I’m sharing some tips to help you reset your mindset and emotional capacity headed into bedtime. I’m also explaining how your mindset can be a contributing factor to how bedtime unfolds.Resources related to this episodeCheck out my blog post on what to do when you are dreading bedtimes:https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/blog/dreading-bedtimeConnect 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

Bedtime routines are a great way to support better sleep for your little, but did you know your whole evening flow affects their sleep? In this episode I’m sharing some tips for how to move through your evening for a smoother bedtime. First, I highlight 2 really common mistakes I see that can make bedtime more challenging. Then I walk you through 3 steps that set you up for a more peaceful bedtime. First your little needs to get their wiggles out, then you need to calm things down a bit, then you can move into your bedtime routine. Since all kids are different, some may need more activity and some may need a longer period of calm – don’t be afraid to experiment a bit.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

The research on sleep training has many limitations that are often not discussed in mainstream narratives around sleep training. In this episode I’m joined by Jess of the infant sleep scientist, to talk about sleep training research. We discuss the challenges in reading research, and how sleep training research has historically been very separate from other important areas like attachment, development, and sleep science. We dig into what the research says about sleep training safety and effectiveness and talk about what the research says and doesn’t say. We also discuss how research is important but your instincts as a parent do not need to be validated by the research. They are valid, powerful, and important no matter what the research says.About JessDr Jessica Guy has a PhD in developmental psychology and is a certified Infant and Family Sleep Specialist, and has 14 years combined research and professional experience in sleep, infant and child development, and parent support and education.Jess is passionate about breaking down the science when it comes to all things sleep and development so parents are empowered to make informed decisions in alignment with their values.Connect with Hollie and Birth BootcampIG: @infantsleepscientist Website: www.infantsleepscientist.comEmail: jess@infantsleepscientist.comResources related to this episodeCheck out my blog post critiquing sleep training research:https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/blog/2022/5/5/sleep-training-research-unpacking-sleep-training-cultureConnect 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

Independent sleep isn’t inherently something young children can do, and yet it is one of the most common goals parents have for their baby or toddler. That tension between expectation and capability can lead to a lot of stress and frustration. In this episode I’m digging into what it means to work towards independent sleep. I discuss how independent sleep goals can look different from family to family. I contextualize independent sleep within the developmental and biological norms and explain just how much variation there is in children’s capabilities. I hope this episode helps you to see the big picture when it comes to independent sleep and feel confident in your own child’s best path and timeline.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

Birth is the transition into parenthood, and your birth story affects your early parenting experience. In this episode, I’m joined by Jaely Turner, a Perinatal Educator, Birth Story Listener, and doula, to talk about the power in our birth stories. We discuss why birth stories matter, the importance of integrating our birth story, and how carrying that story forward without holding space for it can have a negative impact. We also expand this idea to cover the whole journey from fertility stories to postpartum and lactation stories. Jaely also shares how birth story medicine is different from processing with a therapist, and how both can be valuable.About JaelyJaely Turner (she/her) is a Mom of 2 based in Northern Virginia.  She is a Perinatal Educator, Birth Story Listener, Full Spectrum Doula, & owner of Our Village Circle Birth Services, whose mission is to create a space of authenticity & elevate the voices of parents and professionals alike, to demystify the realities of new parenthood.  Jaely understands, on a visceral level, that with the joy of your new human also comes every other emotion under the sun, and aims to help her clients feel seen, heard, known, and held in this life-altering stage.  She wholeheartedly believes that everyone's story has something powerful to offer others as they navigate their own journey.Connect with JaelySchedule a Birth Story Medicine session with Jaely: www.ourvillagecircle.com/birthstory Signature Online Course: Preparing for a Smooth Postpartum:www.ourvillagecircle.com/webinarWebsite: www.ourvillagecircle.comIG: https://www.instagram.com/ourvillagecircle/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ourvillagecircleConnect 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