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

Join Heather Boyd as she talks to Carrie Bennett, a health educator in the emerging field of quantum biology, about using light to optimize health and sleep.  Carrie has a background in biology, nutrition and body work.  Her work is focused on supporting clients by translating and applying research and knowledge about using light and water for promoting optimal health. In this episode, Heather and Carrie talk about: * Quantum Biology: what is it? * How to use natural light exposure to improve sleep and health * The value of true darkness at night * The biology of ultraviolet light * What times of day to consider light exposure * Carrie’s simple recommendations for increasing light exposure safely * UVA’s link to serotonin, melatonin, and tryptophan * Sunlight’s link to serotonin and healthy bowel movements * How where you place your lighting impacts your circadian rhythm * Red light blue light: what colour and kind of bulbs are best? * Why you can still get the benefits of light sitting on the grass in the shade of a tree  Mentioned in this episode: * My Circadian App * Hooga lights * The Carnegie Curve Published Research about concepts covered in this episode: * Red blood cells have a negative charge; zeta potential; Rouleaux Formation https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3415751/ [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3415751/] * Earthing restores negative charge on red blood cells https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3576907/ [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3576907/] * Environmental light exposure and melatonin https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9855654/ [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9855654/] Where you can find Carrie: * carriebwellness.com [http://carriebwellness.com/] * Instagram https://www.instagram.com/carriebwellness/ [https://www.instagram.com/carriebwellness/] * Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@carriebwellness [https://www.youtube.com/@carriebwellness] * Podcast https://www.youtube.com/@QuantumConversationsPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@QuantumConversationsPodcast] 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

In this episode, Heather answers real questions from tired parents looking for solutions. We cover two questions about independent sleep: 1. How do I stop holding my 15 month old’s hand for her to fall asleep? 2. How do I help my 3 and 5 year old fall asleep independently? To answer these questions, Heather describes sleep support strategies that respect your baby’s need for safety and security, stage of development, and temperament. Listen in to hear how the Loved to Sleep method can help you change how a 15 month old falls asleep, and what the Boomerang Method and Bridging to the Next Connection can do to support your preschooler’s sleep. Mentioned in this episode: * Andrea Strang and Jen Verela's Loved to Sleep https://lovedtosleep.com/ [https://lovedtosleep.com/] * Gordon Neufeld’s Roots of Attachment neufeldinstitute.org [http://neufeldinstitute.org/] * Lyndsay Hookway's Holistic Sleep Coach lyndsayhookway.com [http://lindsayhookway.com/] Do you have a question you want answered on the podcast? * Leave a text or voice note for Heather in Whatsapp at 905-749-8254 and I may use your question on a future episode. 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 links to the podcast at familysleep.ca/podcast [http://infantsleep.ca/podcast] Credits: Credits:🎵 Music: Jordan Wood

Let’s talk about the 4-month sleep regression: what it is, what it’s not, and how to manage it. In this episode, Heather Boyd, occupational therapist and sleep coach, explores what’s happening at the 4-month mark and how to move past the worry and fear about this stage of your baby’s development. You’ll learn: * An alternative perspective on the entire idea of a 4-month sleep “regression * What’s happening in your baby’s brain and body at 4 months * Why sleep is sensitive at this stage * What makes this stage difficult for some babies * 4 strategies for supporting your 4 month old baby * That if sleep is difficult, it doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong   Mentioned in this episode: * Parent Self-Care resource https://heatherboyd.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/1090681 [https://heatherboyd.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/1090681] * Baby Sleep Mini Course (50% off in June 2025 with the code JUNEBUG): https://familysleep.ca/baby-sleep-course [https://familysleep.ca/baby-sleep-course] 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

If there was one theme in my practice in the past year, it was night weaning and how to do it with respect, reason, and responsiveness.  So today’s episode is right on the mark. My colleague and friend, Kim Hawley, IBCLC and Holistic Sleep Coach, shares perspectives and guidance on night feeding and weaning, and its relationship to sleep. Kim Hawley, MA, MPH, IBCLC is a Holistic Sleep Coach, Lactation Consultant, Peaceful Parenting Educator, mom, and the host of The Responsive Family Sleep Podcast. She helps tired parents bring together developmental knowledge, sleep science, and their intuition to improve family sleep. Her specialty is holistic, responsive sleep support for babies, toddlers, and nursing families. Kim lives in Capitol Hill, Washington DC with her husband, 2 kids, guide dog, and cat. She loves running, listening to audio books, coffee, chocolate, and wine. Listen for: * 2 questions Kim wants parents to ask themselves when considering night weaning * What age may be easier to night wean (you might be surprised!) * What age tends not to be easy! * Feeding is more than calories * How the sensory system, nervous system regulation, and temperament play roles in night weaning * Perspectives on how much of a gamble to put on night weaning helping sleep * The fear Kim and I are seeing from parents about big feelings from your toddler * Setting loving limits * Kim’s favourite picture books about night weaning * Strategies for setting the stage for night weaning Mentioned in this episode: * Research on the parent experience of weaning a toddler (covered in Heather’s blog, https://familysleep.ca/blog/nightweaning [https://familysleep.ca/blog/nightweaning]) Where you can find Kim: * Website: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/ [https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/] * The Responsive Family Sleep Podcast: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/podcast [https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/podcast] * https://www.instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dc/ [https://www.instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dc/] * https://www.facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdc [https://www.facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdc] 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/podcast [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]  Stay tuned for a collaborative project Kim and I are working on! Credits:🎵 Music: Jordan Wood

Wondering if your newborn’s sleep is normal? In this episode, Heather Boyd, occupational therapist and sleep coach, breaks down what to expect in the first few months of sleep development. Listen in to hear: * What sleep looks like in the first few months * What movements, sounds, and behaviours you’ll see in your newborn when they are sleeping * What reflexes, breathing patterns, and movement patterns you’ll see from your newborn * When sleep cycles and consolidated night time sleep start to develop, and what you can do to help * The role that routines play in supporting your baby’s sleep * Your role in supporting newborn sleep Mentioned in this episode: * Baby Tired Cues resource (and resources from other episodes) https://heatherboyd.vipmembervault.com/products/units/view/1654580/?lesson=2922858 [https://heatherboyd.vipmembervault.com/products/units/view/1654580/?lesson=2922858] 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