The Responsive Family Sleep Podcast
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by conflicting sleep information; frustrated by sleep advice that felt wrong; or searched for a truly gentle, responsive alternative to sleep training, then you are in the right place. In each episode I’ll be answering your most pressing baby and toddler sleep questions, dispelling common sleep myths, deepening your understanding of biologically normal sleep, and encouraging you to trust your intuition. And because sleep is rarely just about sleep, you may just find some responsive parenting, lactation, or self-care tips sprinkled in along the way.
I’m your host, Kim Hawley, MA, MPH, IBCLC Holistic Sleep Coach, Lactation Consultant, Peaceful Parenting Educator, and mom. My specialty is truly holistic, developmental, attachment focused sleep support – no hidden sleep training here!
The Responsive Family Sleep Podcast
Is 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 of bedsharing relatively easily. I also discuss the babies who do struggle with the transition away from bedsharing with the context that these babies were also struggling with sleeping separately and generally bedsharing reduces that struggle. If the goal is to prioritize sleep, then use the tools that prioritize sleep and change them when you are ready to down the road.
Resources related to this episode
Bedsharing safety podcast episode: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/podcast/2023/10/6/how-to-bedshare-safely
Cosleeping tips and tricks episode: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/podcast/2024/3/14/tips-and-tricks-for-enjoying-bedsharing-with-tiffany-from-cosleepy
Connect with Kim
Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dc
Facebook: facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdc
Learn more about working with Kim: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/