That's Not How A Baby Sleeps

Alicia Dyshon
  • 5.0 (4)
  • PARENTING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

You have likely heard the old saying "sleeping like a baby"....well whoever created this saying was clearly not a parent. Prepare for a rollercoaster of laughs and insights as we navigate the world of sleep and gentle parenting. From midnight lullabies to daytime chaos, we're here to share our own parenting triumphs and fiascos while debunking sleep training myths. So buckle up! Each week, as we dive headfirst into the adventure of parenting, unraveling the mysteries of sleep, and proving that laughter is the best medicine for those sleep-deprived nights.

  1. 23H AGO

    S3E17 Why Prenatal Breastfeeding Support Matter With Lactation Counsellor Taylor Bonacolta

    Breastfeeding advice is everywhere — and yet so many parents still find themselves completely blindsided once baby arrives. In this episode, we sit down with Taylor of June And Lily, a lactation educator and pediatric nurse, for an honest, reality-based conversation about breastfeeding, newborn sleep, and the early postpartum days. We talk about why prenatal breastfeeding education matters far more than most parents realize, the unrealistic expectations many families carry into postpartum, and how those expectations can quietly shape confidence, stress, and mental health. Taylor walks us through what “normal” can actually look like in the first week home with a newborn — from feeding patterns to sleep to the behaviors that often leave parents wondering if something is wrong. We also dive into the intersection of breastfeeding and sleep, why understanding infant sleep biology is essential for new parents, and the importance of harm-reduction conversations around bed sharing — including why education like the Safe Sleep 7 matters even for families who never planned to share sleep. This is a grounding, reassuring episode for pregnant parents, newly postpartum families, and anyone who has ever felt like their newborn experience didn’t match what they were told to expect. If you’re navigating feeding, sleep, or the overwhelming noise of early parenthood — this conversation will help you exhale a little 💛 Check out Taylor’s website➡️ www.juneandlily.com ESSENTIALS waitlist➡️ https://juneandlily.myflodesk.com/essentialswaitlist Follow Taylor on Instagram➡️ @juneandlily Alicia & Aleni are both Moms and certified infant and toddler sleep specialists who don't use traditional sleep training methods to support the families that they work with. Follow along on social media for more sleep without sleep training tips. ⁠Alicia's Instagram⁠ ⁠Alicia's Tiktok⁠ ⁠Aleni's Instagram⁠ Work with Alicia View 1:1 support options and services here Purchase our comprehensive sleep courses Book a FREE 20 minute clarity call here Check out our free resources here **The information shared is not medical advice & is for entertainment purposes only

    41 min

  2. FEB 12

    S3E16 Sleep Support for Highly Sensitive & Neurodivergent Children with Lauren Sloan

    Sleep advice often assumes that all babies are the same — and for many families, that assumption is where everything starts to fall apart. In this episode, we sit down with Lauren Sloan, a baby-led sleep and wellbeing specialist who specializes in supporting highly sensitive, neurodivergent, and medically complex babies and children. Together, we unpack the huge gap families fall into when their baby’s sleep challenges are dismissed as “normal,” labeled as behavioral, or brushed off with a “wait and see” approach — even when something doesn’t feel right. Lauren shares why traditional sleep advice so often fails sensitive and neurodivergent children, how regulation challenges actually show up at night, and why expecting these kids to “self-soothe” is not only unrealistic, but often harmful. We talk about nervous-system-informed care, overlapping feeding and airway concerns, hypotonia, sensory differences, and what gets missed when sleep is treated as a standalone issue instead of part of a whole system. This conversation also dives deep into parental intuition and advocacy — how to trust yourself when professionals minimize your concerns, how to advocate without burning out, and why parents don’t need to become medical experts to know when something is off. We also explore what biologically respectful sleep support really looks like, how responsive care supports long-term regulation and emotional health, and how to redefine “progress” when sleep doesn’t look typical. If you’re parenting a baby or child who feels more intense, more reactive, harder to settle, or harder to fit into mainstream advice — this episode is for you. This is a grounding, validating conversation for parents who have felt unseen, dismissed, or blamed — and who are looking for support that actually honors their child’s biology. 💛 Work with Lauren Lauren’s Free Resources Follow Lauren on Instagram Additional resources mentioned in this episode: Finding Support Guide (Free) Ferritin & Sleep Connection & Sleep Early Neurodiversity Community Is my baby neurodivergent? Aspiration Risk Post Natalie Brunswick’s Instagram Raising Us Community – for Highly Sensitive/Neurodivergent families The Neurodiversity Docs Instagram Alicia & Aleni are both Moms and certified infant and toddler sleep specialists who don't use traditional sleep training methods to support the families that they work with. Follow along on social media for more sleep without sleep training tips. ⁠Alicia's Instagram⁠ ⁠Alicia's Tiktok⁠ ⁠Aleni's Instagram⁠ Work with Alicia View 1:1 support options and services here Purchase our comprehensive sleep courses Book a FREE 20 minute clarity call here Check out our free resources here **The information shared is not medical advice & is for entertainment purposes only

    1h 3m

  3. JAN 29

    S3E15 Beyond “Good Parenting”: Sleep, Culture & Shared Values with Childhood Development Specialist, Melina.

    Parenting already comes with a lot of noise — and when you’re raising children in a multicultural home, that noise can feel even louder. In this episode, we sit down with Melina, a childhood development specialist and founder of Pueblo, to talk about what it really looks like to parent across differences — cultural and personal — without losing yourselves or your relationship along the way. Melina shares how her own experience shaped her work and why so much mainstream parenting advice asks parents to leave parts of themselves at the door. We talk about the quiet stand-offs many couples experience behind closed doors, especially around emotionally loaded topics like sleep, routines, and “what good parenting should look like.” This is a grounding, validating conversation for parents who feel caught between instincts, advice, culture, and partnership — and who want to enjoy parenting together again instead of constantly managing it. If you’ve ever felt like you and your partner were parenting from different playbooks, especially around sleep, this episode is for you. 💛 Follow Melina on Instagram Follow Melina on SubStack Book a Consultation with Melina Alicia & Aleni are both Moms and certified infant and toddler sleep specialists who don't use traditional sleep training methods to support the families that they work with. Follow along on social media for more sleep without sleep training tips. ⁠Alicia's Instagram⁠ ⁠Alicia's Tiktok⁠ ⁠Aleni's Instagram⁠ Work with Alicia View 1:1 support options and services here Purchase our comprehensive sleep courses Book a FREE 20 minute clarity call here Check out our free resources here **The information shared is not medical advice & is for entertainment purposes only

    52 min

  4. JAN 22

    S3E14 When Bed Sharing Stops Working: A Gentle Way to Transition

    Bed sharing works for a lot of families… until it doesn’t. In this episode, we’re talking about how to transition away from bed sharing gently and responsively, without rushing your child or forcing independence before they’re ready.  We dive into why separation can feel so big for babies and toddlers, how attachment actually develops in the first year of life, and why there is no such thing as a baby or toddler who is “too attached.” We also talk about what changes after 12 months and why that stage often opens up more options for easing into separation. You’ll learn how to: Set up a sleep space your child actually feels safe in Bridge separation using attachment-based strategies Decide what your initial transition goal should be (without doing everything at once) Navigate this change in a way that honors both your child’s needs and your own We also get a cameo appearance from Aleni’s partner Dave to give us a Dad perspective.   This conversation isn’t about perfect plans or rigid consistency. It’s about trust, responsiveness, and making changes in a way that feels supportive for your family. If bed sharing has stopped working but sleep training doesn’t feel right, this episode is for you. 💛 Alicia & Aleni are both Moms and certified infant and toddler sleep specialists who don't use traditional sleep training methods to support the families that they work with. Follow along on social media for more sleep without sleep training tips. ⁠Alicia's Instagram⁠ ⁠Alicia's Tiktok⁠ ⁠Aleni's Instagram⁠ Work with Alicia View 1:1 support options and services here Purchase our comprehensive sleep courses Book a FREE 20 minute clarity call here Check out our free resources here **The information shared is not medical advice & is for entertainment purposes only

    40 min

  5. JAN 15

    S3E13 What Normal Toddler Sleep Really Looks Like

    Toddler sleep can feel confusing, emotional, and wildly inconsistent — especially when it seems like everyone else’s toddler is “sleeping through the night.” In this episode, we’re breaking down what normal toddler sleep actually looks like, from night wakings and nap resistance to bedtime struggles and early mornings. We talk about how developmental progressions, temperament, separation awareness, and changing sleep needs all play a role in toddler sleep — and why sleep at this age is rarely linear. This conversation is meant to take pressure off, normalize what you’re seeing, and help you understand your toddler’s sleep without rigid rules or one-size-fits-all advice. If toddler sleep has been feeling harder than you expected, this episode is for you. Mentioned in this episode: Aleni’s Book: Where Love Sleeps  Alicia & Aleni are both Moms and certified infant and toddler sleep specialists who don't use traditional sleep training methods to support the families that they work with. Follow along on social media for more sleep without sleep training tips. ⁠Alicia's Instagram⁠ ⁠Alicia's Tiktok⁠ ⁠Aleni's Instagram⁠ Work with Alicia View 1:1 support options and services here Purchase our comprehensive sleep courses Book a FREE 20 minute clarity call here Check out our free resources here **The information shared is not medical advice & is for entertainment purposes only

    38 min

  6. JAN 8

    S3E12 Normal Infant Sleep: What to Expect in the First 12 Months

    If infant sleep has felt harder than you expected, you’re not alone — and you’re not doing anything wrong. In this episode, we walk through what’s biologically normal for infant sleep during the first year of life. From frequent night wakings and short naps to sleep disruptions during developmental progressions, we explain why so many common struggles are actually expected. This episode is for parents who want clarity without pressure and reassurance without rigid rules. Mentioned in this episode: Free Sidecar Guide S2E8 Hourly Wake Ups Rest Assured Book **New Sleep Assessment Support Option** Alicia & Aleni are both Moms and certified infant and toddler sleep specialists who don't use traditional sleep training methods to support the families that they work with. Follow along on social media for more sleep without sleep training tips. ⁠Alicia's Instagram⁠ ⁠Alicia's Tiktok⁠ ⁠Aleni's Instagram⁠ Work with Alicia View 1:1 support options and services here Purchase our comprehensive sleep courses Book a FREE 20 minute clarity call here Check out our free resources here **The information shared is not medical advice & is for entertainment purposes only

    42 min

  7. 12/18/2025

    S3E11 Carried With Care: Babywearing, Safety & Supporting Sleep With Anna

    In this episode, we’re joined by Anna, a baby wearing educator, for a conversation about baby wearing as more than just a tool — but a biologically normal, relationship-based way of caring for babies and toddlers. We talk about how baby wearing supports regulation, attachment, emotional connection, and sleep, and why humans have always relied on carrying our babies long before cribs and sleep “solutions” existed. Anna breaks down what baby wearing actually is, why it’s not about creating dependence or “bad habits,” and how proximity and responsiveness help babies feel safe enough to regulate — both during the day and at night. We unpack common misconceptions, discuss safety and fit (especially for newborns and preemies), and explore how baby wearing can be a powerful support during big emotions, middle-of-the-night wake-ups, and those seasons where nothing else seems to work. We also dive into the practical side — choosing the right carrier, troubleshooting when baby wearing feels hard, and why it doesn’t have to be perfect to be safe and functional. Whether you’re brand new to baby wearing or looking to reconnect with it in a way that feels sustainable, this episode will leave you feeling more confident, more supported, and more aligned with your instincts. Follow along with Anna on Instagram @buffalobundles Join her private Facebook group Email Anna at buffalobundlesbabywearing@gmail.com Alicia & Aleni are both Moms and certified infant and toddler sleep specialists who don't use traditional sleep training methods to support the families that they work with. Follow along on social media for more sleep without sleep training tips. ⁠Alicia's Instagram⁠ ⁠Alicia's Tiktok⁠ ⁠Aleni's Instagram⁠ Work with Alicia View 1:1 support options and services here Purchase our comprehensive sleep courses Book a FREE 20 minute clarity call here Check out our free resources here **The information shared is not medical advice & is for entertainment purposes only

    53 min

  8. 12/11/2025

    S3E10 Pelvic Floor 101: What Every Mom Should Know (But Was Never Taught)

    In this week’s episode, we’re joined by pelvic floor specialist Dr. Ashley Schaab for a conversation every mom deserves to hear. Pelvic floor health is one of those things we all know matters… but no one actually talks about until we’re already struggling with discomfort, leaking, pain, or feeling like our bodies just aren’t the same postpartum. Ashley walks us through what actually happens to the pelvic floor during pregnancy and birth, how common symptoms are (and which ones aren’t normal), and why healing requires so much more than “just do your kegels.”  She shares practical, gentle steps moms can take to support healing, how to advocate for real care, and why reconnecting with your body is such an important part of postpartum mental health. Whether you’re newly postpartum or years into motherhood, this episode will leave you feeling informed, validated, and empowered — because your body deserves support, not silence. Follow Ashley on Instagram ⁠@a_la_pelvis⁠ ⁠Visit Ashley’s website⁠ and check out her free resources Alicia & Aleni are both Moms and certified infant and toddler sleep specialists who don't use traditional sleep training methods to support the families that they work with. Follow along on social media for more sleep without sleep training tips. ⁠Alicia's Instagram⁠ ⁠Alicia's Tiktok⁠ ⁠Aleni's Instagram⁠ Work with Alicia View 1:1 support options and services here Purchase our comprehensive sleep courses Book a FREE 20 minute clarity call here Check out our free resources here **The information shared is not medical advice & is for entertainment purposes only

    41 min
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out of 5
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About

You have likely heard the old saying "sleeping like a baby"....well whoever created this saying was clearly not a parent. Prepare for a rollercoaster of laughs and insights as we navigate the world of sleep and gentle parenting. From midnight lullabies to daytime chaos, we're here to share our own parenting triumphs and fiascos while debunking sleep training myths. So buckle up! Each week, as we dive headfirst into the adventure of parenting, unraveling the mysteries of sleep, and proving that laughter is the best medicine for those sleep-deprived nights.

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