Dani is a paediatric nurse, sleep consultant and mum of two who shares how baby food intolerances, allergies and a missed diagnosis led to months of chronic sleep deprivation, hourly wakes and declining maternal mental health. In this episode, we explore baby sleep, postnatal depression, cow's milk protein intolerance (CMPI), soy allergies, sleep training, evidence-based parenting and why sometimes a baby isn't "just a bad sleeper." After years working as a paediatric nurse, Dani thought she was prepared for motherhood. Instead, she found herself desperately searching for answers as her daughter cried constantly, woke hourly, struggled to gain weight and was repeatedly dismissed. Despite her medical background, it took months before baby food intolerances to both dairy and soy were recognised. Once those food intolerances were identified, everything changed. Her daughter's sleep improved, the hourly wakes finally stopped, and for the first time she began to understand just how profoundly chronic sleep deprivation had affected her family. In this episode, Dani shares the emotional reality of parenting through chronic sleep deprivation, postnatal depression, grief, parenting two under two and living with POTS. We talk honestly about what sleep deprivation does to your mental health, your relationships and your confidence as a parent, and why so many mums are left believing they simply have a "bad sleeper" when there may be an underlying medical reason contributing to their baby's sleep. Together, Dani, Sophia and Jess unpack one of the biggest misconceptions in modern parenting: that every baby who wakes frequently simply needs sleep training. Dani brings the perspective of both a paediatric nurse and sleep consultant, Sophia shares the latest evidence as a paediatric sleep consultant, while Jess asks the questions every exhausted parent wants answered after navigating the realities of motherhood herself. Together, they explore what the research actually says about infant sleep, why social media has created so much fear around sleep training, and why good baby sleep is never about ignoring a baby's needs. It's about understanding the whole child, recognising when poor baby sleep may have an underlying medical cause, and helping families escape the cycle of chronic sleep deprivation with compassionate, evidence-based support. Whether you're navigating hourly wakes, wondering if allergies or food intolerances could be affecting your baby's sleep, struggling with postnatal depression, or simply trying to make sense of conflicting advice online, this conversation is filled with practical, evidence-based information and the reassurance that you are not alone. In this episode we discuss: Baby food intolerances and baby sleepChronic sleep deprivation and maternal mental healthPostnatal depression and parenting through exhaustionCow's milk protein intolerance (CMPI) and soy allergiesHourly wakes, reflux, eczema and poor weight gainEvidence-based sleep training and infant sleepPaediatric nursing, motherhood and becoming a sleep consultant Parenting two under two while navigating grief and POTSWhy some babies aren't "just bad sleepers"When to seek medical advice for persistent sleep concerns Find the wonderful Dani @sleep.nurse.dani or on her website at: https://www.sleepnursedani.com Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE) is Australia's peak body in perinatal mental health. COPE provides families and health professionals with evidence-based perinatal mental health screening, resources, education and pathways to care. EmergeCare - Helping new and expectant parents confidently handle first aid for babies and beyond, and care for their own emotional well-being along the way.
