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. MAR 12

    S3E20 Night Terrors, Sleepwalking & Confusion Arousals: Understanding Parasomnias in Kids

    Middle-of-the-night moments with our kids can sometimes feel incredibly scary. Your child suddenly sits up screaming. They look awake but don’t recognize you. Or they start walking around the house while seemingly still asleep. And if you’ve never seen it before, it can leave you wondering what on earth is going on. In this episode, we’re talking all about parasomnias — a group of sleep behaviors that include things like confusion arousals, sleepwalking, night terrors, and nightmares. Parasomnias are actually much more common in childhood than most parents realize, and many of the behaviors that feel alarming in the moment are a normal part of how a child’s brain develops during sleep. In this conversation we cover: • What parasomnias actually are • Why they tend to happen during deep sleep • The difference between night terrors and nightmares • What confusion arousals look like in babies and toddlers • Why things like illness, overtiredness, emotional stress, or schedule disruptions can trigger episodes • What parents can do in the moment when they happen • And why trying to wake your child often isn’t necessary Aleni also shares her personal experience navigating night terrors with her daughter Nora, including some of the triggers they’ve noticed over time. Understanding what’s happening during these episodes can make those middle-of-the-night moments feel a lot less frightening — and a lot more manageable. If you’ve ever experienced night terrors, sleepwalking, or strange nighttime behaviors with your child, this episode will help bring some clarity and reassurance. Mentioned in this episode: S2E8 Hourly Wake Ups: Red Flags & When To Look Deeper 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

    26 min

  2. MAR 5

    S3E19 Talking to Kids About Bodies, Boundaries & Consent With Sex Educator Kimberly Wolf

    Talking to kids about bodies, boundaries, and consent can feel… intimidating. A lot of us didn’t grow up with these conversations and most parents are quietly wondering: “Am I starting too early?” “How much detail is too much?” “What if I say the wrong thing?” This week on the podcast, we sit down with sex education expert Kimberly Wolf for a deeply practical and reassuring conversation about how to talk to kids about bodies, privacy, boundaries, and consent — from toddlerhood through puberty. We cover: 💛 What sex education actually looks like for toddlers and preschoolers 💛 Age-appropriate language for 2–4 year olds and 5–7 year olds 💛 How to introduce consent in everyday parenting moments 💛 How to respond when your child asks a question you weren’t expecting We also talk about parental discomfort — because so many of us are trying to parent differently than we were parented. Kimberly shares why silence is often more harmful than saying the “wrong” thing, and why starting early doesn’t take away innocence — it protects it. She also introduces her guide, Tiny Talks to Big Conversations, which helps parents move from small, everyday language shifts to confident, ongoing conversations as their children grow. If you’ve ever felt unsure about when to start, what to say, or whether you’ve “missed the window” — this episode will feel grounding. Because these conversations aren’t one big talk. They’re tiny, connected moments that build safety and trust over time 💛 Visit Kimberly’s website Follow Kimberly on Instagram Grab her guide Tiny Talks to Big Conversations 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

  3. FEB 26

    S3E18 The Baby Led Sleep Approach with Lauren Weber

    This week on the podcast, we’re sitting down with Lauren Weber of Isla Grace Sleep and co-creator of the Baby-Led Sleep Approach — the certification both Aleni and I completed as sleep consultants. We dive into Lauren’s journey into motherhood, the sleep struggles that shaped her work, and the pivotal shift that so many parents can relate to: Learning to trust that you actually know your baby best. Inside this episode, we talk about: 💛 What baby-led sleep really means (and what it doesn’t) 💛 Why so many families feel like they’ve already failed at sleep 💛 Sleep as development, not something to “fix” 💛 The connection between sleep, mental health & the nervous system 💛 How parental sleep struggles often run deeper than we realise 💛 The evolving conversation around adult sleep & regulation 💛 What truly supportive, ethical sleep support looks like If sleep has ever made you question yourself, your instincts, or your parenting… This one is for you 💛 Become a certified baby-led sleep coach Follow Lauren on Instagram Sleep support for adults Visit Lauren’s website 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

    1 hr

  4. FEB 19

    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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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
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5
out of 5
4 Ratings

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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