Episode 46: Parental mental health during a sleep crisis with Dr Fiona Jeffries

Tiffany Belanger from Cosleepy returns to The Sleep Show for this episode and I’m so excited to talk to her again! In this episode, she shares how you can make bed-sharing safer when away from home.If you bed share and are about to stay away from home in a hotel, apartment or holiday home this episode is for you.We talk through how to pack the crack, bed boards, mattresses and so much more! Tiffany Belanger attended UCLA and adventured in the film and television industry prior to parenthood. In 2020 she founded Cosleepy, a cosleeping one-stop shop to help modern parents keep their babies safe and close at night.Tiffany is a frequent guest on podcasts and blogs, and she was recently interviewed in New York Magazine's viral article Are We All Secretly Co-sleeping?She and her husband are currently bedsharing with their two little boys in Sacramento, California. Further resources: Safety packet: cosleepy.com/safe-bedsharing-guidelinesTiffany’s first episode on The Sleep Show: careitout.com/podcast/episode-45-all-about-bed-sharing-with-tiffany-belanger-aka-cosleepy

On this episode of The Sleep Show, Zoe Ayre AKA The Respectful Mum joins us to talk about weaning respectfully and share her weaning story. And it’s FULL of wonderful nuggets of wisdom!Zoe is a children’s author, mum and respectful parenting advocate. She shares her respectful and honest parenting journey along with advice on Instagram as The Respectful Mum.  She loves sharing her respectful parenting journey as a toddler mum and her account shares the honest highs and lows of parenthood!Her book, ‘I Will Always Help You Sleep’ was born of a desire for parents and children to be able to see themselves in the pages of a children’s book, in a world where being responsive to our children at nighttime can sometimes feel a lonely path. The book is as much for parents as it is for children, and hopes to bring reassurance that it’s okay to support our little ones to sleep. It’s truly unique in the way it represents normal infant sleep, co-sleeping and post-partum reality.  During this episode we talk through together:Why she’s an advocate of respectful parentingWhat does respectful mean to her?Is it possible to night wean respectfully?Her experience of night weaning her 20 month old daughter Why being calm and confident is crucial when night weaning?When is the best time to night wean?Is it possible to night wean without tears?Tips for when/if you’re ready to night wean And SO much more!I really hope you enjoy listening to this episode as we had so much fun recording it together! You can find Zoe’s Instagram page at instagram.com/therespectfulmumAnd you can buy her amazing book at www.therespectfulmum.comUse RESPECT10 for 10% off the book, free bookmark and free signing/dedications (free P&P included).                                                                                                   Further links:My weaning workshop:www.careitout.com/courses/night-weaning-workshopwww.tiktok.com/@therespectfulmumwww.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083393322318www.facebook.com/TheBookYouWish/www.janetlansbury.com

On this episode of the Sleep Show I speak to pregnancy and postpartum psychotherapist Sophie Harris.Sophie’s a psychotherapist who specialises in helping new mums during pregnancy and postpartum. She aims to normalise motherhood's tough times, help mums feel better, and celebrate being a mother. She believes that supporting and valuing the role of a mother should be made a priority to help build a happier and healthier society.She’s also known as Looking After Mum on Instagram and I absolutely LOVE her reassuring and supportive posts. I experienced night rage as a new mum and I wasn’t expecting it. The rage really took me by surprise and I found her page invaluable in my early days of motherhood.I really hope she becomes a regular guest on the podcast for us!During this episode she talks us through:-Mum rage-Irrational fears-Intrusive thoughts-Anxiety-Anxious thoughts-ResentmentAnd SO much more!I found it so reassuring to hear that I wasn’t the only one who found some days so exhausting that I didn’t have the energy to even brush my teeth.And I really hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it together!You can find Sarah’s amazing Instagram page here:www.instagram.com/looking_after_mum/Further links:www.lookingaftermum.co.ukwww.empoweredmumclub.co.uk

I’m always honest that Waiting It Out works.And will forever reassure you that your Small will sleep through the night all by themselves even if you do nothing now.I know that can sound unbelievable because society and the sleep training industry are constantly telling you the only way your Small will ever sleep through is if you teach or train them to.But even if you:Do nothing now Never sleep train Put a single sleep tip in placeYour Small will eventually: Fall asleep solo Sleep in their own sleep space And sleep through the night!However, I can’t tell you when they will and that can be hard to hear and the waiting isn’t always easy.In this episode, Mum of two Kirsty joins me to share her waiting-it-out story with us. She waited it out with her 3-year-old and is currently doing the same with her 7-month-old baby.In this podcast episode, Kirsty and i talk through:What is wait it out?What wait it out mean for her familyWhy Wait It Out worked for her familyDid she feel pressure to sleep train?Was she ever tempted to sleep train?What helped her while waitingWhether she will wait it out again with her second babyAnd so much more! I really enjoyed talking to Kirsty and I hope you loved listening.If you do please give The Sleep Show a little love and leave a review! Further resourcesFree nap gap guide:www.careitout.com/blog/infant-nap-gaps-guide Free four steps webinar: www.careitout.com/sleep-freebie

This week’s guest on The Sleep Show is neuroscientist, doula and mom Dr Greer Kirshenbaum. She’s no stranger to the podcast because this is the second time she’s talked to us.You can listen to her debut here: careitout.com/podcast/episode-17-baby-brains-and-bedtime And I’m really hoping she becomes a regular because I LOVE her and her approach to parenting and sleep. I could talk to her all day!She’s passionate about nurturing your baby’s brain and is all about connection too.During this episode, we explore how we’ve both taken our responsive approaches from our practices into our own personal parenting journey.And we answer the million-dollar questions:Has our approach changed now that we’re parentsCould or would we ever sleep train our own children?I really hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it together! You can find Greer’s reassuring and supportive Instagram community here: @nurture_neuroscience_parentingAnd you can buy her book here: www.amazon.co.uk/Nurture-Revolution-Transform-Nurtured-Parenting/dp/1538709333/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2RWAUJBWFEUAY&keywords=the%20nurture%20revolution&qid=1687379955&sprefix=the%20nurture%20%2Caps%2C206&sr=8-1

Olivia Hinge is a midwife, IBCLC and mother of 3.She’s passionate that evidence-based and inclusive feeding information is accessible to all.Her Instagram page is packed with reassurance and a huge wealth of feeding information And she delivers it all with a massive dollop of humour.I love her and her approach and hope you will too!In this Podcast episode, Olivia answers all of your breastfeeding questions:How can I stop my baby from pulling my nipple?How to help my exclusively breastfed transition to nursery?Do the number and length of feeds decrease as baby gets older?How to help my baby take a bottle or cup?How to manage night feeds when they are frequent and feel a lot?How can I help my breastfed baby during a period of short separation? You can find Olivia on Instagram here: @olivia_lactation_consultantFurther resources:www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.ukwww.solidstarts.com/water  www.fairplaylife.com

If you’re about to return to work (or have recently returned!) this episode is for YOU.I speak to Sam from The Float Space about returning to employment after parental leave.Going back to work is a big transition for your family.And it’s not always easy!We both share what returning to work looked like for us and what helped us in the first couple of months.This podcast is packed with reassurance, laughs and practical advice to help your return to work go smoothly. Coaching with The Float Space is like taking your brain to a spa. Sam provides a calm, judgement-free space where you can organise your thoughts and put your ideas into action with accountability.Sam works one-to-one and with groups using a range of coaching tools honed through a combination of professional coaching education with International Coaching Federation (ICF) accredited Barefoot Coaching and over 10 years experience leading people and projects in politics, not-for-profits and the public sector.Last year Sam launched ‘Float Back’, a return to work coaching programme to support people returning to employment from parental leave.You can find Sam on Instagram: instagram.com/thefloat.space And visit her website: www.thefloat.space  Further resources:Read my blog on napping at nursery - careitout.com/podcast/episode-25-napping-at-nurserydoingitforthekids.net

Does your Small wake at night and won’t resettle unless you bring them into your bed?If so you are NOT alone and this episode is for you!Rachel is a first time mum to 2-year-old Samuel. Most of the time he wakes up once or twice before midnight and can be resettled with a quick cuddle back into his cot.But after midnight he’s harder to settle so they co-sleep and it's becoming a little crowded!Rachel would love to slowly move away from bringing him into her bed and support Samuel to spend more time at night in his cot.And in this podcast episode, I’m going to talk you through how to do this. The caring way!Reassurance first because I’m here for that and I want to remind you that there's absolutely nothing wrong with doing a cot (or bed!) and co-sleeping combo.If bringing your small into your bed and co-sleeping…from their first wake upfor part of the nightfrom the early hoursfor the last hour to get more sleep…Is working for you, your Small and everyone's sleep, Then all is well!It's not wrong, a bad habit or something that needs to stop unless you want it too. However, if it’s not working for you it IS possible to make changes with care.If you do decide to put some bed boundaries in place at wake ups it is a BIG change for both you and your Small and it is going to take time, patience and support.If you would like your Small to spend more time in their bed than yours join me for this podcast and I’ll talk you through:What you can expect this transition to look likeHow you can support your Small to stay in their bedWhy bedtime boundaries can be a game-changer for someThe bed bufferAnd much more.If you loved listening to this podcast episode please don’t forget to subscribe or leave me a review! Further resources for you:Settling to sleep with someone else podcast:www.careitout.com/podcast/settling-to-sleep-with-someone-elseBedtime Boundary Coursewww.careitout.com/courses/bedtime-boundaries-ecourseSafer co-sleeping If you do co-sleep it’s really important to always follow safer sleep guidelines. I recommend reading these here:www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/co-sleepingwww.llli.org/the-safe-sleep-seven

Are you looking for some support to help your child settle to sleep with someone else at bedtime and/or wake ups?If so, you’re going to love listening to this podcast episode!In this episode, I’m joined by Rona, a first time mum to Lily who’s 18 months old. Rona would love it if Dad was able to settle Lily at bedtime and when she wakes up at night. But like SO many Smalls, Lily is finding this transition a little tricky. And Rona doesn’t quite know where to start making this huge change. This is totally understandable because any changes (but especially one this big) can feel super overwhelming.  Join us for this podcast episode on getting someone else to settle your child to sleep, and we’ll talk you through: Where to start your Small settling to sleep with someone else. The key really is finding that first small step! The parent preferenceWhy this is a big boundary to change for you allWhat this transition can look likeHow to implement these big changes with careWill there be tears and what to do when they are upsetWhy focusing on you feeling calm and in control is important And much moreFurther resources for you:Floor bed podcast episode: careitout.com/podcast/episode-44-benefits-of-a-floor-bed-with-sian-aldis-aka-no-milk-like-mamasBedtime boundary e-course: careitout.com/courses/bedtime-boundaries-ecourse 

Co-sleeping isn’t a bad bed habit and it only ever needs to stop if and/or when you’re ready.And only you know when it’s time for this transition because you’re the expert on what works for your family!If you do decide to move away from co-sleeping it is a BIG change for both you and your Small and it is going to take time, patience and support.However, it IS possible to make this change with care.If you're thinking about moving away from co-sleeping, this podcast is packed with tips and things to think about to help transition your Small into their own sleep space. Join me for this podcast and I’ll talk you through: When is the best time to move away from co-sleeping? Will moving away from co-sleeping improve your sleep?What will this transition likely look like?And much more.If you loved listening to this podcast episode please don’t forget to subscribe or leave me a review!  Safer co-sleeping resourcesIf you do co-sleep it’s really important to always follow safer sleep guidelines. I recommend reading these:lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/co-sleepingllli.org/the-safe-sleep-sevenBedtime Boundary Coursecareitout.com/courses/bedtime-boundaries-ecourseCo-sleeping support resources I absolutely love the following for amazing co-sleeping support and advice: instagram.com/cosleepyinstagram.com/motherbabysleep