The Responsive Family Sleep Podcast

Life with a young child is busy, and most parents struggle to make time to connect with each other. In this episode , I’m sharing some reframes and connection ideas that I regularly share with my clients. The more ways we have to connect as a couple the more likely we are to feel connected to our partner. I hope some of these ideas give you something new to try. Connect with Kim Instagram: instagr...

In this episode , I’m joined by my colleague Rachael, sleep coach and founder of Hey Sleepy Baby. Our conversation centers around our own sleep journeys from first time moms who knew nothing about sleep to experienced sleep coaches and moms. We both share tips, insights, and reflections on our own experiences and how our parenting around sleep evolved. Join us for a fun conversation. About Rachael...

There’s so much sleep information shared, but so much of it has no basis in basic sleep biology. In this episode , I’m talking about two ways the body regulates sleep – our circadian rhythm and sleep pressure. I teach these basic concepts to every family I work with or who takes a sleep class with me. Once you understand how the body regulates sleep, you can set up rhythms that work with their sle...

In this episode , I’m joined by my friend, sleep coach, and OT Heather Boyd. We dive into the world of our senses, sensory processing, and using sensory strategies to support sleep. Heather shares tips for sensory input throughout the day and evening to fill our kid’s sensory cup, allowing them to head into bedtime ready for sleep. About Heather Heather is a private practice occupational therapist...

In this episode , I’m joined by Bri, a holistic health coach for moms. Self-care is so important and yet it can feel like one more to do to add to all the things we are trying to juggle. Bri shares tips around prioritizing and simplifying nurturing yourself. We talk about how to figure out what to focus on, how to move forward, and what support you need. About Bri Brianna Wilkerson is a Holistic H...

I love floor beds! They are an under utilized tool in supporting sleep with littles. In this episode , I’m sharing some basics on floor beds. I cover what is a floor bed; what safety factors do you need to consider; and when are floor beds most helpful. I hope this gives you another sleep set up option to consider on your sleep journey. Resources Related to this Episode Check out my related blog p...

Mindset is a huge piece of sleep and parenting. In this episode, I’m joined by Amanda de la Madriz, a mindset coach for moms. We had so much fun talking about the power of our thoughts and perspective, expectations, the ‘shoulds’, overwhelm, and self-care. Mindset plays a huge role in how we navigate and show up for ourselves and our littles, and I hope you can take some of these tips and insights...

In this episode , I’m talking all about babies and toddlers that fight their naps. I’ll help you understand what might be contributing to your nap struggles and give you some ideas of ways to troubleshoot. I’ll also share my tips for what to do in the moment. Having your little fight their nap is frustrating, but there are lots of ways to decrease the struggle. Resources Related to this Episode Ch...

In this episode , I unpack bedtime timing. How do you know when your baby or toddler should go to sleep, and what factors shape that timing? It’s not as simple as some of the bedtime timing myths that float around the internet would like you to believe. This episode will help you navigate bedtime timing that works for your little and your whole family. Resources Related to this Episode Check out m...

Having an unsettled baby is hard, affecting all aspects of parenting. In this episode, I’m joined by Alice from Baby et Al, an IBCLC and expert on fussy, unsettled babies. We cover some of the common causes of unsettled behavior, navigating the maze of over-lapping symptoms, and the importance of getting to the route cause of what’s going on with your baby to guide your next steps. We also talk ab...

Sleep regressions are big topics when it comes to sleep challenges. In this episode, I’m tackling the concept of sleep regressions, and gently offering a reframe. I’ll dive into what is happening with baby, common times and reasons sleep gets trickier, and what you’ll want to keep in mind while navigating these tricky times with sleep. Whether you find the concept of sleep regressions comforting o...

In this episode , I’m joined by Jenna from Own Your Parenting Story. Jenna and I bonded over our shared love of supporting families with nursing toddlers. We talk about the joys and challenges of nursing into the toddler years and beyond. About Jenna Jenna is a Certified Lactation Counselor, Certified Purejoy Parent Coach, and host of Start to Stop Toddler Breastfeeding. She has breastfeed her own...

In this short episode , I’m sharing thoughts on recognizing gratitude and positive moments of connection. Cultivating an intentional practice of both gratitude and small positive moments can have a powerful positive impact on parenting. Connect with Kim Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dc Facebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdc Learn more about working with Kim: https://intuitivep...

In this episode , The holidays bring many joys and also a lot of disruption to your normal routines. Between travel, extra events, and lots more stimulation, sleep can often get derailed during this time. In this episode I’m sharing some of the common concerns that come up this time of year when thinking about supporting sleep through the holiday season. Resources Related to this Episode Check out...

In this episode , I’m sharing ideas around navigating family comments, advice, and opinions during holiday season travels and visits. When your family doesn’t understand or support a responsive approach to sleep support, there comments and questions can feel very stressful. I’m sharing different ways you can respond so that you are more prepared headed into these conversations. Resources Related t...

In this episode , I’m joined by the amazing Lyndsey Hookway to talk all about regulation and sleep. We dive into what regulation is; what it has to do with sleep; and why regulation is such an important and often overlooked piece in the sleep puzzle. Lyndsey is one of my sleep mentors and it’s always a joy to talk sleep with her. About Lyndsey Lyndsey is an experienced paediatric nurse, children’s...

In this episode , I’m joined by my good friend, business bestie, and Holistic Sleep Coach Colleague Maisie Ruttan. We are talking top toddler sleep misconceptions. There’s so much bad toddler sleep info out there, and we want you to feel free to ditch the stressful and incorrect info so you can better support your toddler’s sleep. About Maisie Maisie is a family sleep specialist and parenting coac...

In this episode , I’m sharing all things bedsharing and cosleeping. While bedsharing can be a controversial topic in the US, it’s also something most parents do at least some. Knowing how to bedshare safely is essential for sleep safety. Whether you think you’ll never bedshare or cosleep regularly, this episode is for you. Resources Related to this Episode My bedsharing guide: https://intuitivepar...

In this episode , I have My colleague Rocio from Newborn Parents sharing her deep knowledge of the parental brain. Nurture matters – not just for our babies but for our own transition to parenting as well. We dive into the changes that happen to your brain in early parenting; what your brain (and you) really need; and how to nurture everyone during this period. About Rocio Rocio is a neuroscientis...

In this episode , I’m diving into why responsiveness matters. Responsive, warm, sensitive care is a powerful way we help our littles grow into healthy adults. I’ll be talking about attachment, brain development, and the ways nurturing responsive care impacts our littles in the short and long-term. Resources Related to this Episode My related blog post, Responsive Parenting: What It Is And Why It M...

In this episode , I’m sharing about sleep training culture and how it influences your sleep expectations in ways you don’t often realize. So many parents know they don’t want to sleep train, but aren’t aware how much sleep training culture shapes their expectations and goals. Supporting sleep responsively isn’t just about avoiding harsh sleep training strategies, but a totally different paradigm f...

In this episode , I’m unpacking the myth that babies should go down drowsy but awake. In a culture so unhealthily obsessed with independent sleep, this sleep should can be hard to shake. I’ll talk about why falling asleep independently isn’t biologically normal and the positives of supporting sleep instead. Resources Related to this Episode My related blog post, Should I Put My Baby Down Drowsy Bu...

Everywhere you turn, people are talking about teaching babies to self-soothe. In this week’s episode, I’m diving into this popular sleep myth and unpacking what self-soothing really means (and doesn’t mean). I’m sharing where this idea and phrasing comes from, the neuroscience behind calming and self-regulation, and what you should be focusing on instead for long-term emotion regulation. Resources...

In this episode , I’m talking all about nursing to sleep. The myth that nursing to sleep is a bad habit is so wide spread, but the reality is that nursing to sleep is healthy and normal. I’ll help you understand how interconnected sleep and lactation are and share many ways that nursing to sleep is healthy, effective, and a parenting superpower. Resources Related to this Episode My related blog po...

We’ve all had those really, extra hard nights when your baby or toddler woke a million times, and you are completely exhausted. In this episode, I’m sharing my tips for supporting yourself the day after a really hard night of baby sleep. Resources Related to this Episode My related blog post, 8 Tips To Try After A Particularly Hard Night With Your Baby: https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/blog/2023/6...