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

Ep 66: Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Sleep

Sometimes health and medical issues get in the way of how sleep development unfolds. In this episode, Heather Boyd discusses why airway and obstructive sleep apnea are so important to understand, common signs parents may see at night and during the day, sleep apnea’s impact on learning and behaviour, and a plan of action if you are noticing signs of obstructive sleep apnea in your infant. Knowing what to look for and when to pursue medical support can make all the difference. Mentioned in this episode: * Little Bird Dental self-assessment tool: https://littlebirddental.ca/airway-centric-health-care/ 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 * Find previous episodes of the podcast at familysleep.ca/podcast [http://familysleep.ca/podcast] Credits: 🎵 Music: Jordan Wood

Ep 65: 5 New Year Questions to Ask Yourself Instead of Making Resolutions

New Years Eve, and New Years Resolutions land differently once you’re a parent. The idea of setting resolutions and goals for oneself in the usual ways may not fit at your season of parenting. And that’s ok. Instead, let’s explore 5 questions to ask yourself as you step into 2026. Join Heather Boyd, Occupational Therapist, sleep coach, and mother of 3 as she explores the merit of asking yourself: 1. What about this past year am I proud of or feel happy when I think of it? 2. What do I want to take with me from this past year? 3. Who do I want to be this coming year? 4. What do I want from my environment that will help me thrive and feel good --and how will I create it? 5. Who in my life is important to me (and have I told them lately)? Here’s to the coming months/season/stage of your parenting providing you with rest, connection, and meaning. What you can do next: * Subscribe to this podcast and share it with a friend!  Provide a review on Apple Podcasts.  It truly makes a difference to reaching families who would benefit from understanding their baby’s sleep better. * Sign up for weekly baby sleep emails.⁠ [https://heatherboyd.activehosted.com/f/1] * Book a screening call with Heather [https://familysleep.ca/] (receipts provided for Ontario families) Credits: 🎵 Music: Jordan Wood

Ep 64: The First Few Days of Newborn Sleep

In this episode, we break down what newborn sleep really looks like in the first week—especially the shift from the sleepy first night to the cluster-feeding intensity of night two. You’ll learn what’s normal, why it happens, and simple ways to support rest and regulation in these early days. Night one is recovery; night two is recalibration. We cover: * The biology of newborn sleep and why it’s so fragmented * What to expect on Night 1 * What to expect on Night 2 (and why it feels so intense) * Gentle strategies that actually help in week one * Red flags that mean it’s time to reach out for support Mentioned in this episode: * Ep 62: Sleep Development from Newborn to 3 months [https://open.spotify.com/episode/0n8JNtQkEYUG6elxcgj09C?si=fkCPLU11RxGN8RRyZFPRzQ] * Join the December 16th Mom & Baby Circle sample class at Between Mothers in St. Catharines [www.familysleep.ca/mom-and-baby-group] * Ep 15: Holistic Approaches to Raising Healthy Kids with integrative pediatrician, Dr. Joel Warsh [https://open.spotify.com/episode/7gS5L44VWiS5F4qFWb5BS7?si=LDkXwZOJR_SbZ-sv35tsMw] * Ep 25: The Feeding Journey with Karla Masse, IBCLC What you can do next * Subscribe to this podcast and share it with a friend! Provide a review on Apple Podcasts. It truly makes a difference to reaching families who would benefit from understanding their baby’s sleep better. * Sign up for weekly baby sleep emails.⁠ https://heatherboyd.activehosted.com/f/1 * Book a screening call with Heather (receipts provided for Ontario families) Credits: 🎵 Music: Jordan Wood

Ep 63: Parenting From Within As a Highly Sensitive Person with Nelia DeAmaral

If you identify as a highly sensitive person, wrap yourself in your favourite blanket, grab a tea, take a deep belly breath and listen in on this episode.  Psychotherapist Nelia DeAmaral chats with occupational therapist and sleep coach Heather Boyd about how to navigate early motherhood as a highly sensitive person. In this episode we talk about: * What you may recognize in yourself as a highly sensitive parent * The difference between overstimulated and stressed * Shifting from overstimulated to regulated * Is your baby overstimulated?  Or are they actually under-stimulated? * Contrasting calm versus regulated * The Window of Tolerance * Strategies for supporting yourself and your baby as a highly sensitive parent Mentioned in this episode: * Brainspotting.com [http://brainspotting.com] You can find Nelia at neliadeamaral.com, and on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/nelia.deamaral/info [https://www.facebook.com/nelia.deamaral/info].   What you can do next * Subscribe to this podcast and share it with a friend! Provide a review on Apple Podcasts. It truly makes a difference to reaching families who would benefit from understanding their baby’s sleep better. * Sign up for weekly baby sleep emails [https://heatherboyd.activehosted.com/f/1]. * Book a screening call with Heather [https://familysleep.ca/] (receipts provided for Ontario families) Credits: 🎵 Music: Jordan Wood

Ep 62: Baby Sleep Development from Birth to 3 months

As the parent of a new baby, you know better than anyone that newborn sleep is different. For Heather Boyd, occupational therapist and mom of 3, there likely was nothing that could have prepared her for the interrupted sleep, the noises her baby would make while sleeping, or the intensity of cluster feeding. However, knowing what to expect and what is normal for baby sleep can be reassuring at a time when everything feels raw, unpredictable, and new. Listen to this episode for an overview of: * What sleep looks like in the first 3 months * How sleep develops * What red flags to watch for * Strategies for supporting and influencing sleep at this stage Mentioned in this episode: * Dr. Gordon Neufeld nuefeldinstitute.com * Greer Kirshenbaum https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/ * Sarah Ockwell-Smith https://sarahockwell-smith.com/ What you can do next: * Subscribe to this podcast and share it with a friend! Provide a review on Apple Podcasts. It truly makes a difference to reaching families who would benefit from understanding their baby’s sleep better. [https://heatherboyd.activehosted.com/f/1] * Sign up for weekly baby sleep emails.⁠ [https://heatherboyd.activehosted.com/f/1]https://heatherboyd.activehosted.com/f/1 * Book a screening call with Heather [familysleep.ca] (receipts provided for Ontario, Alberta, and Manitoba families). Credits: 🎵 Music: Jordan Wood