Advertise on podcast: That's Not How A Baby Sleeps

Have you ever wondered if your child's sleep struggles could be related to something more than just sleep? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Elizabeth Turner, an airway-focused dentist, to discuss the often-overlooked connection between airway health and sleep. From mouth breathing and snoring to tongue ties and early airway development, She helps us understand some of the red flags parents may want to watch for and why they matter. We cover: • How airway health impacts sleep in babies, toddlers, and children • The difference between nasal breathing and mouth breathing—and why it matters • Whether mouth breathing during sleep is something parents should investigate • If snoring is ever considered "normal" in children • How tongue ties can affect sleep, even when feeding appears to be going well • The truth about breastmilk and tooth decay • How untreated airway issues can show up later in childhood • Gentle, early interventions that may help support healthy airway development If you've ever felt like something was "off" with your child's sleep but couldn't quite put your finger on it, this episode is packed with valuable information that may help you better understand what's going on. As always, our goal isn't to create fear or convince parents that every sleep challenge is caused by an airway issue. It's simply to provide education so families can make informed decisions and know when it may be worth digging a little deeper. Follow Elizabeth on Instagram @drlizzzt & @untetheredairway Check out Elizabeth’s website Check out her Podcast No One Told Me: The Airway Health Connection Airway Specialist Directory Find a TOTS Trained Myofunctional Therapist in your area 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

Note: We had a few technical difficulties with recording this week, so this episode is audio only and may sound a little “off” at times — thank you for bearing with us. 💛 This week on the podcast, we’re joined by our Mother’s Day giveaway winner, Kate — a mama of four boys (including her younger twin boys) and a birth doula. Before the call, Kate tracked her twins’ sleep so we could take a deeper look at their patterns, sleep needs, and overall schedule. In this episode, we walk through our assessment, share what we’re seeing, and talk through what adjustments might better support their sleep. We also answer Kate’s questions in real time, making this a really honest, practical look at what sleep support can actually look like behind the scenes. If you’ve ever wondered how to figure out your child’s unique sleep needs or what a sleep assessment actually looks like, this episode is such a good listen. Follow along with Kate and her work as a birth doula on 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

Enter our Mother’s Day Giveaway HERE Motherhood isn’t just physically exhausting. It’s the constant thinking, remembering, planning, anticipating & the never turning your brain off. This week on the podcast, we’re talking about the invisible mental load of motherhood — the piece no one really prepares you for, but that impacts everything… including your capacity, your nervous system, and even how you experience your child’s sleep. Because it’s not just about what you’re doing, It’s about everything you’re holding. In this episode, we talk about: • What the mental load actually is (and why it feels so heavy) • Why it’s often carried disproportionately by moms • How it impacts your nervous system and daily capacity • Why “just ask for help” doesn’t actually solve the problem • How this invisible load shows up at bedtime and overnight • & what it can look like to start doing less — without the guilt If you’ve ever felt overstimulated, touched out, or like your brain just won’t shut off… this episode is for you. Because you’re not just tired, you’re carrying too much. 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

Why does parenting feel like there is never enough time… even when you’re doing everything? This week on the podcast, we’re joined by Sondra Fireling, founder of Beyond Delegation, for a powerful conversation about the invisible load so many parents are carrying and why modern family life can feel so overwhelming. Sondra teaches families how to create time wealth — the feeling of having enough time for what matters most. We talk about: • why so many parents feel constantly behind • the mental load mothers often carry in silence • why “just ask for help” usually misses the bigger issue • how to decide what to do, what to drop, and what to delegate • letting go of perfectionism and unrealistic expectations • how shared labour can transform family life • why doing less can actually help you parent better If you’ve ever felt like you’re drowning in responsibilities, touched out, overstimulated, or like everyone needs something from you all the time… this episode is for you. Because the answer isn’t always doing more. Sometimes it’s doing less — on purpose. 💛 Sondra’s website Follow Sondra on Instagram Mentioned in this episode: 75 Things to Delegate & Who Can Do Them  Mindful Delegation® Decision Tree (Freebie) Community Show Up Sheets  Fair Play Cards-Eve Rotsky 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

“Not all sleep training is cry it out.” This is something parents hear all the time… but in reality, many families end up there anyway. In this episode, we’re unpacking why methods like timed check-ins (Ferber) or the chair method—often labeled as “gentle”—can actually lead to more tears, not less. If you’ve ever felt like your baby cries harder when you go in to comfort them… you’re not imagining it. We’re talking about: • why babies often become more distressed during timed check-ins • what’s actually happening in their nervous system in those moments • how this can lead parents to feel like full cry it out is the “better” option • why temperament plays such a huge role in how babies respond • and how even “gentle” methods can create mis-attunement when you’re asked to override your instincts We also dive into a powerful historical comparison—when parents were once told not to visit their hospitalized children because it “made them cry more”… and what we now understand about separation, connection, and emotional safety. This episode is for the parent who tried the “gentler” way and thought… this feels worse. And for the parent who’s been told their only options are to either follow through with sleep training or just wait it out. Because there is another way, one that supports your child’s sleep and their nervous system—without leaving them to cry alone. 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

“If my child cries, I’m doing something wrong” So many parents feel stuck between two extremes — either never making changes to avoid upsetting their child, or being told they need to ignore the crying altogether. But there is a middle ground. In this episode, we’re talking about how to support your child’s emotions while still making changes around sleep — whether that’s weaning, moving away from nursing or rocking to sleep, or setting new boundaries overnight. We break down: • The difference between crying alone vs. crying with support • What co-regulation actually looks like during sleep changes • Why crying itself isn’t the problem — and what matters more • How to set loving boundaries without disconnecting from your child • Why emotions often increase during change (and why that’s not a bad thing) • How supported emotions actually help build secure attachment • And why true independence comes from feeling safe enough — not forced If you’ve been feeling torn between wanting better sleep and wanting to stay responsive, this episode will help you understand how both can exist at the same time. Because you don’t have to choose between supporting your child and making changes, you can do both 💛 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

Nap transitions are one of the most common questions parents ask about sleep. One day naps seem to be working… and the next it suddenly feels like everything has fallen apart. In this episode, I’m breaking down nap transitions from the newborn stage all the way through the toddler years so you can better understand what’s actually happening with your child’s sleep. I talk about: • How many naps newborns typically take (and why their sleep feels so unpredictable) • When the 3 to 2 nap transition usually happens and signs it might be starting • Why babies sometimes refuse their third nap but then treat bedtime like a nap • What bridge naps are and when they can help during transitions • When the 2 to 1 nap transition typically happens • Different ways to approach moving to one nap depending on your child’s sleep needs and wake window threshold • And when children usually drop naps completely If you’re currently navigating nap transitions with your baby or toddler, this episode will help you understand what’s normal and how to approach these changes with a little more confidence (and a lot less stress). 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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