Shows
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastHow Do You Define Success With Responsive Sleep Support?In a developmental and attachment based approach to sleep, success is as much about the process as where the process gets us. Outcomes matter, but they have to be understood within the context of your individual baby or toddler’s unique needs and capabilities. I share some of my key success points with the families I work with – that sleep is easier, more restful, and that they navigate any changes with connection. I also want them to understand their baby’s needs and feel more confident in their responsive approach. Beyond that, it’s about taking the next step towards...2025-05-0811 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastSimplifying Parenting With Jenna MichaelSo many parents I support (and let’s be real, my family as well) struggle with too much stuff, too many commitments, too much busyness. Simplifying parenting and life seems like an amazing dream, but one that can feel so hard to achieve. And yet my guest for this episode breaks down small and actionable ways to simplify family life. In this episode I’m joined by Jenna Michael, a coach specializing in simplified and intentional living for families. We discuss the idea of simplifying parenting – from identifying your individual and family values to how to translate those values into m...2025-05-0136 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastIs Bedsharing A Bad Habit?Our culture is so anti bedsharing that we tend to only hear (or interpret) bedsharing stories as scary, bad, worse case scenario situations. In this episode, I’m unpacking the idea that bedsharing is a bad habit or a tool parents are scared of using. So many parents feel like if they bedshare they’ll get stuck bedsharing for forever and look at other families’ long term bedsharing as a cautionary tale, rather than a tool that worked for that family. I share some thoughts around the fact that bed sharing is biologically normal, and many babies transition in and out...2025-04-2418 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastHow To Know If It's Time To Drop A Nap?Nap struggles are frustrating, but they don’t always mean it’s time to drop a nap. In this episode I’m talking about nap transitions. I share common times for nap transitions as well as the fact that transitions are often messy times with sleep. I give some context for when fighting naps and skipping naps mean it’s time to drop a nap and when it means it’s time to troubleshoot your current nap rhythm first. Nap rhythms change a lot over time and it’s normal to need to tweak and adjust sleep timings as your little g...2025-04-1712 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastHow To Know Your Postpartum Doula Is Lactation And Normal Sleep Supportive With Alex KingThroughout human history new parents had support with their newborns around the clock from their friends and family. Now, most parents don’t have friends and family who are able to help overnight, and postpartum doulas are an option for nighttime support to help you get more rest. However, if you are a parent looking for someone who is knowledgeable and comfortable with nurturing biologically normal sleep and lactation then it’s important you hire the right professional. In this episode, I’m joined by Alex King, a postpartum doula who exclusively does overnight support. We talk about w...2025-04-1042 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastSimple Steps To Nurture Your SleepModern life is not sleep friendly for any of us. While there are many ways to better support and optimize baby and toddler sleep, let’s not forget that there are often simple things that adults can do to support your own sleep (no matter how your child is sleeping). As the days get longer (and warmer), it’s a good time to check in with yourself and what small steps you can take to better support your own sleep. In this episode I’m walking you through a few easy but powerful things you can do to improve your s...2025-04-0315 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastAvoiding The Comparison TrapYour baby is an individual and comparing them to other babies can create a whole lot of unnecessary stress and struggle. In this episode I’m talking about how comparisons make your life harder as a parent, especially if you have a baby or toddler who is more….more sensitive, intense, persistent, active, perceptive….essentially who needs more support and is more wakeful than the children you see around you. There’s a wide range of normal, and sensitive, intense, persistent, highly alert children sleep differently than your typical baby or toddler. If your child has some additiona...2025-03-2711 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastHow To Make Bedtimes Easier: Your Parenting SuperpowerSleep is separation, and connection is our best tool to support through a separation challenge. And in fact, connection is almost always part of the answer to most parenting challenges. In this episode, I’m talking about the role of connection in the evening to set you up for better sleep - Connection through the bedtime routine, but also in the hours ahead of the bedtime routine. I discuss 3 key ways to think about connection: intentional, focused connection – be fully present with your kids. Play - use play to connect with your littles, laugh, and even navigate transitions with co...2025-03-2011 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastThe Dad Perspective With Adam Angel LCSWThere’s a lot of focus on moms and their experience with baby sleep, but less attachment based conversations focusing on the dad experience. While I’m fortunate to get to support many actively involved dad’s through my work, I’m also a mom , not a dad. So when I wanted to talk about the dad experience I reached out to Adam Angel, a licensed social worker with a specialty in working with new dads. We talked about some of the common themes that come up in his dad groups and my sleep support, and there was a lot of ov...2025-03-131h 00
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastWhen Can I Get My Baby On A Schedule?When can I get my baby on a schedule is a very popular question I get from parents of younger babies (and even parents of older babies struggling with sleep unpredictability). It’s understandable as schedules bring predictability and order to what can feel like sleep timing chaos. In this episode I’m talking about schedules – what’s realistic and what’s not. The answer to when a baby’s sleep gets more predictable depends on their Temperament, age, and daily patterns. It also depends on what you mean by a schedule, more of a rhythm or precise, exact timings. The...2025-03-0609 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastHow To Spot Hidden Sleep Training Info (Even When It’s Called Gentle)The world of sleep information is full of information that claims to be gentle and responsive but is really just sleep training with gentle marketing. So many of the sleep norms commonly shared are just wishful thinking for sleep training outcomes. How is a parent supposed to know what’s what? In this episode I’m sharing some of the red flags for sleep training - sometimes it’s very obvious and sometimes it’s more subtle. From understanding how sleep training culture influences how we think about sleep even when you know you don’t want to sleep t...2025-02-2716 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastUnderstanding The Stages Of Attachment With Heather BoydAttachment is the most fundamental need and yet we don’t do much to educate parents around attachment – what is it and what do we need to do in our parenting to support it? In this week’s episode I’m joined by my friend, colleague and sleep coach Heather Boyd to talk about attachment. Our conversation focuses on the importance of attachment, attachment as the basis for development tounfold, and Dr. Neufeld’s 6 stages of attachment. We took a deeper look at the first 3 stages of attachment and how they relate to sleep and...2025-02-2056 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastRealistic Expectations For Older Toddler Sleep (2 And 3 Year Olds)Is it normal for my toddler to still wake? Surely they should be independent by now….. Even the most responsive parents can sometimes feel like toddler sleep should be easier than it is. In this last episode of my realistic expectations mini series I’m talking about 2 and 3 year old sleep. Older toddlers can still need your support at bedtime and in the night. They also do have a lot more capacity for independence and long sleep stretches than they did as a younger toddler or baby. Older toddlers need a lot of the same supports as babi...2025-02-1313 min
Healing TRAUMASocial Media and Damage Control Depicting the world of ChaosMoments in lifeDefining momentsMoments that change the course of your life, such as an injury, illness, career change, or relationship changeHappy momentsMoments that bring joy, such as seeing a child's first steps, hearing a child's first words, or meeting your partnera moment in time, either through words or images. This can be done through paintings, drawings, photographs, or movies.Impressionist artArtists depicted fleeting moments in time to capture the impression the scene left on themsenator Hawleyhttps://youtu.be/TrXhzfcDW8chttps://youtu.be/TrXhzfcDW8c2025-02-0925 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastEmbracing Your Feeding Journey With Kassi Reyes IBCLCFeeding and sleep are two of the most individual and emotive topics in early parenting. In this episode I’m joined by Kassi Reyes, IBCLC to talk about navigating your feeding journey, especially when things don’t go as expected. We talk about the importance of support and accurate information, and also that a lactation consultant’s job is to support you to meet your feeding goals as defined by you. Our conversation touches on the emotions that can come up when navigating feeding challenges and how important it is to check in with your self t...2025-02-0644 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastRealistic Expectations For Younger Toddler Sleep (12-24 Months)Your baby isn’t a baby any more – suddenly they are a toddler. After that first birthday the unrealistic expectations just keep coming. We expect so much from our young toddlers that they just aren’t ready for yet. In this 4th episode of my series on realistic sleep expectations by age I’m focusing on younger toddlers between 12-24 months. In many ways these toddlers are more like babies, especially in the first half of this age range. It’s very much an in-between age with widely different capabilities as far as sleep goes.Resource...2025-01-3013 min
Mastering the RoomKimberly Clausing Talks Economic PolicyTariffs have been a part of U.S. economic policy since its inception.Historically, tariffs were a significant source of revenue for the U.S. government.The burden of tariffs is primarily borne by consumers, not foreign producers.Tariffs can hurt U.S. manufacturing by increasing the cost of intermediate goods.The interconnected nature of the global economy makes tariffs less effective.Tariffs can lead to retaliatory measures from other countries, harming U.S. exports.Trade deficits are a result of savings and investment imbalances, not just poor trade policies.Revenue from tariffs is often offset by negative economic impacts...2025-01-2349 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastWhat's The Deal With Wake Windows?Wake windows – helpful or stress inducing….it really depends on the family. However, wake windows are commonly shared as precise, exact rules we must follow or else (insert some fear based message). In this episode I’m sharing some thoughts on wake windows including the fact that they are not an evidence-based concept so you can feel free to ignore them if you find them stressful. I talk you through how I use wake windows as a flexible guide in my own work and as one tool, not as the only tool, for helping create a good...2025-01-2312 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastLet’s Talk Mom Guilt With Jillian NeillParenting is hard, and there are so many rules, shoulds, and external expectations that can lead to feelings of mom guilt. In this episode I’m joined by Dr. Jillian Neill, a psychologist specializing in the parenting transition. We talk about:What is mom guilt.Guilt verses shame verses regret.The ways in which external expectations, rules, and shoulds create mom guilt.The structural factors and things out of our control that shape our parenting experience.Identifying your values as part of pushing back against mom guilt.The importance of self-compassion.I see so much guilt over no...2025-01-1658 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastRealistic Expectations For Older Baby Sleep (6-12 Months)There are so many unrealistic expectations perpetuated about older baby sleep that it’s no wonder that so many parents are confused and overwhelmed about what’s going on. This episode is the third in my series on realistic expectations. While you hear a lot about older babies sleeping through the night and not feeding, the reality (and research) tells a very different story. In this episode I help you understand what’s normal and some of the reasons why sleep is very dynamic during this time. The more you can understand what’s normal, the more you can...2025-01-0918 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastHow To Get Back On Track With Sleep After The HolidaysIt’s January, and you may be thinking about bringing some order to the chaos that the holidays brought to your sleep routines. In this episode, I’m sharing some tips for getting back on track and into a good rhythm with sleep. This is a good time to keep things simple, work towards more consistent rhythms and routines, 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 reestabl...2025-01-0210 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastRealistic Expectations For Little Baby Sleep (3-6 Months)You finally feel like you got the hang of things, and then your baby is in a whole new phase! This is a really common feeling in this phase of babyhood. This episode is the second in my realistic expectations by age short series. I’m sharing some key points about sleep in this very in-between age, and how parents can sometimes be both a step ahead of their baby and a step behind. Throw in all the development that happens during this time and sleep definitely keeps you on your toes.Resources related to this ep...2024-12-2613 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastCoregulation And The Parent Baby Nervous Systems With Meaghan BeamesWe tend to think of baby and parent as separate beings, separate nervous systems. And yet in so many ways they are part of an inter-connected, inter-dependent system.In this episode I’m talking with Meaghan Beames, an experienced Registered Massage Therapist, CST practitioner, mom, and the founder of the Beames CST Training Center. Our discussion focuses on regulation, coregulation, and the parent baby nervous system. While we do talk about the role of body work in supporting parent baby functioning and regulation, our conversation goes beyond the body work piece for a more comprehensive conversation about pa...2024-12-1950 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastRealistic Expectations For Newborn Sleep (0-3 Months)What is normal for newborn sleep? How can parents have more realistic expectations? Our culture is full of unrealistic expectations about baby sleep and it creates so much stress, worry, and anxiety. This episode starts a short series I’ll be weaving through my other episodes over the next few months on realistic expectations by age. In this episode, I’m focusing on some important points about newborn sleep and just how immature and ever changing their sleep is during this phase.Resources related to this episodeHow to think through a fami...2024-12-1220 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastMindful Parenting With Sultana KarimEarly parenting is an intense time that can challenge us physically, emotionally, and mentally. A wonderful tool for coping with the intensity, challenges, and changes that come with parenting a young child is mindful parenting. In this episode I’m joined by Sultana Karim, a therapist with a specialty in both the perinatal period and trauma. Our conversation springs from a wonderful parenting group she runs and focuses on regulation, mindfulness, and self compassion. We discuss:Radical acceptance, and how not accepting our reality creates more suffering.Mindful parenting and how it can help you...2024-12-0542 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastHoliday Family Rituals And TraditionsTo those in the US who celebrate, Happy Thanksgiving. This is a short episode to kick off the holiday season. There’s so much pressure to create traditions and have perfect family holiday rituals right from the start. In this episode, I encourage you to consider what you’d like to carry forward from your own childhood, allow for organic traditions to unfold, and remember you don’t have to have it all figured out now in the early years – you can always create new traditions as your kids get older. Enjoy the holidays!Connect with Kim2024-11-2806 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastInformed Decision Making When You Aren't Always Given All Your Options With Kaely HarrodHow 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 the...2024-11-2141 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastIt's Time To Stop One Size Fits All Sleep InfoHave 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 sugg...2024-11-1417 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastAnxiety and Sleep with Clare DonofrioDoes 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, sl...2024-11-0745 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastIs It Possible To Over Respond To Night Wakes?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...2024-10-3111 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastFinding Your Community With ElizabethWe 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 ty...2024-10-2459 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastMy Baby Only Cat Naps - Is That Ok?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...2024-10-1708 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastThe Complexities Of Postpartum Mental Health And Sleep With Dr. Emma BaschNew 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 opposi...2024-10-1053 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastLet’s Do An Evening Light Check For Better SleepAs 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-nikkoConn...2024-10-0311 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastParenting Triggers With Sheena HillParenting 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 impo...2024-09-2655 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastShould I Ever Wake A Sleeping BabyShould 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 de...2024-09-1909 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastBaby Gear And Body Tension With Austin ReesAbout 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 co...2024-09-1248 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastHow To Get More Sleep As A Parent (Without Changing Your Baby's Sleep)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 fee...2024-09-0513 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastSetting Limits With Sarah RosensweetLearning 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...2024-08-2950 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastTips For Managing Your Bedtime MindsetBedtime 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 w...2024-08-2216 min
The Responsive Family Sleep Podcast3 Steps For Bedtime SuccessBedtime 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 ro...2024-08-1512 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastUnderstanding Sleep Training Research With Jess From The Infant Sleep ScientistThe 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...2024-08-081h 07
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastWhat Does It Mean To Work Towards Independent Sleep?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...2024-08-0112 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastThe Power Of Processing Your Birth Story With Jaely TurnerBirth 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 fr...2024-07-2539 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastWhat Does It Mean To Support Healthy Baby Sleep?What does it mean to support healthy sleep for your baby or toddler? In this episode I’m unpacking the definition of healthy sleep. In the US, our definition of healthy sleep is very narrow and focused around independent sleep. I’m sharing how this narrow definition affects sleep goals, and what babies, toddlers, and all humans really need for healthy sleep.Resources related to this episodeCheck out my related blog post about what babies need for healthy sleep:https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/blog/what-babies-need-to-sleepConnect with KimGrab...2024-07-1811 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastSupporting Yourself In The 4th Trimester With Hollie HauptlyYour postpartum experience matters. In this episode, I’m joined by Hollie Hauptly, doula, Childbirth Educator, and CEO of Birth Boot Camp. Our conversation focuses on what to expect in the 4th trimester and how best to support yourself. We talk about what the 4th trimester is, and why your postpartum experience matters. We discuss realistic expectations around baby care, expectations around the birthing parents physical, mental, and emotional experience, and differences in partners early parenting experience. Whether you are pregnant, have a newborn at home, or are thinking ahead to a future baby, I hope this ep...2024-07-1145 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastDoes Sleep Beget Sleep?I hear this popular phrase a lot – that sleep begets more sleep. It brings your focus to always encouraging longer naps, longer nighttime sleep, and that lack of sleep is always the reason sleep is tricky. In this episode I’m debunking this myth. Assuming your baby always needs more sleep can actually make sleep worse. I walk you through the idea that babies (and all humans) only need so much sleep in 24 hours, when more sleep is helpful, and when more sleep is not helpful.Resources related to this episodeCheck out more info...2024-07-0409 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastAre Contact Naps Ok?The questions ‘are contact naps ok?’ and ‘are contact naps creating bad habits?’ come up a lot with new parents. There’s such a narrow definition of acceptable, healthy naps, that it’s easy to feel guilty and stressed over a baby who does better contact napping. In this episode, I’m answering this question. I’m sharing why contact naps are healthy, normal, and a great parenting tool. Enjoy those baby snuggles!Resources related to this episodeCheck out my blog on contact naps for more tips: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/blog/2021/7...2024-06-2711 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastExploring The Weaning JourneyWeaning is such a big step in a nursing journey, and often there isn’t much support and space to explore the weaning process. In this episode, I’m joined by Katy Baker-Cohen, an IBCLC with a special love of supporting parents on their weaning journey. Our conversation focuses on the experience of choosing to wean an established nursing relationship. We talk about the decision to wean and the emotions that surround this part of the nursing journey. We explore the relationship between weaning decisions and sleep and how interconnected these aspects of parenting often are. For many...2024-06-2050 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastThe False Promises Of Sleep TrainingWe live in a sleep training culture, and that means we hear a lot of promises around the magic of sleep training. It’s safe, effective, and will definitely fix your baby’s sleep quickly! There’s much more complexity to what the research actually says about sleep training, however, and much of what we commonly hear is full of false promises. In this episode, I’m sharing reflections around the idea that sleep training guarantees quick fixes to sleep. Even when parents don’t want to sleep train, I see them grappling with this false promise, and it’s exhausting...2024-06-1315 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastThe Power Of Nurture With Greer KirshenbaumThe early years are a sensitive period for development, and the last several decades have started to give us insights into this sensitive period through the lens of neuroscience. . In this episode, I’m joined by Greer Kirshenbaum, PhD, a Neuroscientist, Doula, and Infant and Family Sleep Specialist. Our conversation focuses on the importance of nurture in the early years and how this time is really the infancy for the brain. We dive into our low nurture culture and the importance of working towards a high nurture culture. We talk about some of the pressures and cultural na...2024-06-0639 min
Book Club with BenefitsChapter 28 - The Mollys Get Invited to the BallIn this week’s book club, join the Mollys on their quest into regency romance with the beautiful, stunning, perfect book: A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall! The Mollys gush about how beautifully queer this book is, the importance of telling and reading stories about trans joy, and the surprisingly acceptable use of a kidnapping??? Stick around to find out what the Mollys REALLY think about epilogues, hear what they’ve been reading lately (inside of us there are TWO wolves IYKYK), and for Molly B’s fun British slang twist on anatomy class! All that and more o...2024-06-051h 07The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastHow To Know When Sleep Info Isn’t Nursing SupportiveThe world of sleep info is generally terrible when it comes to supporting the nursing relationship. As a nursing parent, it’s important to know when information could potentially harm your supply or make nursing unnecessarily hard. IN this episode I’m highlighting some of the most common information that signals a source isn’t giving you nursing supportive advice.Resources related to this episodeMy podcast on nursing to sleep: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/podcast/2023/9/19/is-nursing-to-sleep-a-bad-habitAnd my podcast on sleep and lactation:https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/podcast/2024/3/29/lets-talk-sleep-and-lactationConnec...2024-05-3011 min
The Responsive Family Sleep PodcastBabywearing With Katie ShampBabywearing is one of my personal essential parenting tools! In this week’s episode I’m joined by Katie Shamp, Babywearing Educator/Consultant, and we are talking all about babywearing. We touch on the reasons to reach out to a babywearing educator and the many ways they can help you along your babywearing journey. We discuss how babywearing looks different from family to family and as your child grows. Plus, we touch on different carrier options, benefits of babywearing, and things to consider when doing a babywearing nap. I hope this conversation gives you some new ideas and things to c...2024-05-2358 min