The Baby Sleep Connection: Holistic help for tired, responsive parents who don't want to sleep train

Ep 60: Separation Strategies That Backfire

Heather Boyd, occupational therapist and mom of 3, shares ways that separation-based advice backfires and what to do instead. When parents get advice that involves separation without any focus on attachment, it can block a parent's ability to help their children regulate.  Whether it’s daytime meltdowns or bedtime shenanigans, separation can feel very alarming. Listen to this episode for examples of bad separation-based advice that Heather wishes she’d ignored early on in parenting, and what to do instead.   With attachment-based perspectives and tools, as well as self-regulation tools for parents, the focus shifts to connection and co-regulation. And with connection and co-regulation, the alarm of separation can soften. Mentioned in this episode: * Gordon Neufeld: “Speak but not too much.  Be close but not too close” www.neufeldinstitute.com [http://www.neufeldinstitute.com/] * Kim Barthell: Be a behavioural detective.  www.kimbarthel.ca [http://www.kimbarthel.ca/] * Parent Self-Care Toolkit https://heatherboyd.vipmembervault.com/products/units/view/1239883/?lesson=1601156 [https://heatherboyd.vipmembervault.com/products/units/view/1239883/?lesson=1601156] What you can do next: * Subscribe to this podcast and share it with a friend! * * Download the Parent Self-Care Toolkit at https://heatherboyd.vipmembervault.com/products/units/view/1239883/?lesson=1601156 [https://heatherboyd.vipmembervault.com/products/units/view/1239883/?lesson=1601156] * Find previous episodes of the podcast at familysleep.ca/podcast [http://familysleep.ca/podcast] * Credits:  🎵 Music: Jordan Wood

Ep 59: Managing a Sleep Emergency Part 2

In Part 2 of Sleep Emergencies, Heather Boyd, occupational therapist and sleep coach, explores a shift she has seen in her private practice away from “preventing” sleep challenges towards more sleep emergencies, and increased parent stress. The impact on mental health is significant, and getting the appropriate supports is crucial. At a time when stress and information overwhelm are high, parents who are struggling with their child’s sleep are also experiencing feelings of guilt and shame.  This only adds to the burden parents are carrying. Listen in to explore: 1. How Bad advice can be worse than no advice at all. 2. How social media and information overwhelm are making parents feel like they are not measuring up 3. How to shift to more preventative measures when sleep or parenting are getting challenging 4. How creating a sleep emergency plan may actually lead to options you have not considered that actually help your baby sleep. 5. Why getting support can make all the difference What you can do next: * Subscribe to this podcast and share it with a friend! * Download the Baby Sleep Connection Podcast Listener Guide at www.familysleep.ca/links [http://www.familysleep.ca/links] * ⁠Work with Heather⁠ [https://familysleep.ca/contact] inside the Confident & Connected Baby Sleep group program or one-on-one. * Find previous episodes of the podcast at familysleep.ca/podcast [http://infantsleep.ca/podcast] Credits: 🎵 Music: Jordan Wood

Ep 58: Managing a Sleep Emergency

What is a sleep emergency? How is it different than difficult sleep that needs coaching. And when is it a mental health emergency requiring medical attention? Heather Boyd, occupational therapist and certified infant and family sleep specialist, explores these questions and offers strategies for getting support and managing a sleep emergency including: * Signs and symptoms of a mental health crisis that warrants intervention without delay * Who to reach out to in a mental health crisis * Signs that what you are experiencing is a sleep emergency * What to do about a sleep emergency * How sleep coaching plays a role (and when it’s not enough) * Preventative steps for sleep emergencies * How to consider caregivers and feeding in a sleep emergency Additional Resources: If you are struggling, call for support without delay: your doctor, your midwife, your therapist or when it is a crisis, 911 or your local crisis line. Call your local crisis line -in Niagara Ontario it's COAST (Crisis Outreach And Support Team, available 24/7). In the U.S. call the Maternal Mental Health Line (https://mchb.hrsa.gov/programs-impact/national-maternal-mental-health-hotline [https://mchb.hrsa.gov/programs-impact/national-maternal-mental-health-hotline]). Internationally, reach out through Postpartum Support International at https://postpartum.net/ [https://postpartum.net/] . Go to the Emergency Department or call 911 if you worry that you or your partner or spouse is at risk of harming themselves or their baby. Getting the support you need matters. Mentioned in this episode: The concept of sleep emergencies is from Lyndsey Hookway in a talk a number of years ago. Lyndsey Hookway is an IBCLC and founder of the Holistic Sleep Coach training in the United Kingdom at https://lyndseyhookway.com/hscp/ If you found value in this podcast: 1. Subscribe to this podcast and share it with a friend! 2. Download the Baby Sleep Connection Podcast Listener Guide at www.familysleep.ca/podcast [www.familysleep.ca/podcast] 3. Book a screening call with Heather Boyd at familysleep.ca [familysleep.ca] 4. Find previous episodes at familysleep.ca/podcast [familysleep.ca/podcast] Credits: 🎵 Music: Jordan Wood

Ep 57: Sleep Associations: The Good, the Helpful, and the Misunderstood

Sleep associations often get a “bad wrap”, being labelled crutches or bad habits. In this episode, Heather breaks down what a sleep association is, what it isn’t, and how to appreciate the role sleep associations have in making bedtimes more pleasant. Sharing parallels with routines and habits we have during the day, as well as sleep associations that we as adults use, Heather makes a case for judgement-free sleep associations and why doing what works, and changing what doesn’t, is a helpful approach at any age. What you can do next: * Subscribe to this podcast and share it with a friend! * * Download the Baby Sleep Connection Podcast Listener Guide at www.familysleep.ca/links [http://www.familysleep.ca/links] * * ⁠Work with Heather⁠ [https://familysleep.ca/contact] inside the Confident & Connected Baby Sleep group program or one-on-one. * * Find previous episodes of the podcast at infantsleep.ca/podcast [http://infantsleep.ca/podcast] Credits:  🎵 Music: Jordan Wood

Ep 56: Laila on Her Personal Journey with Antenatal Depression

Laila, mom of two and host of the popular Learning To Mom Podcast, shares her personal story about discovering what prenatal depression is and why she has come to understand that prenatal depression may have been part of what made her unexpected pregnancy at age 24 so challenging. This is a heartfelt conversation that runs the gamut from laughter to vulnerability. Although the circumstances of Laila’s journey are unique to her, and where she found support may be different than for you, her message is important: when you understand your experience, and you know what may be happening to you, it becomes easier to get the support you need to survive and thrive at a very challenging time.  It can also reduce the guilt and shame you may be feeling around how you are navigating pregnancy and motherhood. In this episode: * Laila talks openly about her personal struggles and what helped her.   * She outlines the common symptoms of prenatal depression, what the risk factors are, and 8 tips she has for families based on her experience. If you are struggling with depression (prenatally, postnatally, or outside of pregnancy altogether), talk with your doctor or mental health professional today, be honest with what you are feeling, and get the support you deserve. If you are the spouse, partner, or loving family member or friend who sees your loved one struggling, do not hesitate to help them get help. Mentioned in this episode: * Brianna Wiest, on Self-Care https://thoughtcatalog.com/brianna-wiest/2024/04/this-is-what-self-care-really-means-because-its-not-all-salt-baths-and-chocolate-cake-2/ [https://thoughtcatalog.com/brianna-wiest/2024/04/this-is-what-self-care-really-means-because-its-not-all-salt-baths-and-chocolate-cake-2/] Additional Resources: * Prenatal Depression Resources.  If you are struggling, call for support without delay: your doctor, midwife your therapist.  Call your local COAST (Crisis Outreach And Support Team, available 24/7), or local Mental Health Association (CMHA.ca [http://cmha.ca/] in Canada).  Call 911 if you or your partner or spouse is having a mental health crisis.   * Canada’s new (2024) resource for prescription drugs during pregnancy https://www.healthypregnancyhub.ca/ [https://www.healthypregnancyhub.ca/] based on research from the https://motherchildcohort.ca/ [https://motherchildcohort.ca/] You can find Laila at: * https://www.instagram.com/learningtomom.podcast [https://www.instagram.com/learningtomom.podcast] * https://www.learningtomompodcast.com [https://www.learningtomompodcast.com/] * learningtomompodcast@gmail.com [learningtomompodcast@gmail.com] What you can do next: * Subscribe to this podcast and share it with a friend! * Download the Baby Sleep Connection Podcast Listener Guide at www.familysleep.ca/links [http://www.familysleep.ca/links] * ⁠Work with Heather⁠ [https://familysleep.ca/contact] inside the Confident & Connected Baby Sleep group program or one-on-one. * Find previous episodes of the podcast at familysleep.ca/podcast [http://familysleep.ca/podcast] * And do ONE THING right this moment that helps you feel grounded –take a deep belly breath, wiggle your toes, make some tea, look up at the stars, or anything else you can do easily that feels good. Credits:  🎵 Music: Jordan Wood