Pediatric Sleep Expert: Sleep training myths, safe co-sleeping & how to get better sleep without “training” your baby

This week on Two Parents & A Podcast , we’re joined by Rachael Shepard-Ohta , a pediatric sleep expert and founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby — to talk about what evidenced-based sleep methods that ACTUALLY work and how to get better sleep without “training” your baby . We get into it all: what to do in those first sleepless newborn weeks, when (if ever) to expect a routine, and why traditional sleep training isn’t the only way. Rachael explains why baby sleep isn’t linear, how to handle night wakings, and what safe co-sleeping can look like for families who choose it. We also cover the modern sleep training industry , what other countries are doing better around infant sleep, and the biggest mistakes parents make in the first year (spoiler: it’s not what you think). Whether you’re team crib, team co-sleep, or somewhere in between, Rachael will leave you feeling empowered to find what actually works for YOUR family :) Timestamps: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Two Parents & A Podcast! 00:05:20 Introduction to Rachael Shepard-Ohta (Pediatric Sleep Expert) 00:06:00 What’s the game plan parents should follow for newborn sleep when bringing baby home from the hospital? 00:10:30 When can parents realistically expect their baby to get into a routine? 00:12:30 Why Rachael doesn’t recommend traditional sleep training 00:15:30 The real pros and cons of sleep training 00:18:10 Rachael’s personal experience with sleep training and how it shaped her approach 00:23:44 Why baby sleep is not linear — and what that means for parents 00:27:30 When should parents actually expect their baby to sleep through the night? 00:28:25 When do frequent wake-ups become concerning? 00:31:10 The pros and cons of co-sleeping — plus how to do it safely 00:35:21 Alex & Harrison share their own experience with sleep training 00:39:45 Evidence-based alternatives to sleep training and co-sleeping 00:47:10 Dealing with nap refusal and short naps 00:52:28 Trial-and-erroring new sleep methods and learning your baby’s cues 00:54:50 What other countries are doing around infant sleep that the U.S. could learn from 00:55:37 Rachael’s thoughts on the modern “sleep training industry” 01:02:00 The biggest mistakes parents make around sleep in the first year 01:06:00 Thank you for listening! #twoparentsandapod --------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our sponsors this week: *Fast Growing Trees: This Fall, Fast Growing Trees has the best deals for your yard, up to half off on select plants and other deals. Listeners of our show get 15% OFF at https://www.FastGrowingTrees.com/TWOPARENTS when using the code TWOPARENTS at checkout. *Neuro: For a limited time, you can get 20% off your first order at https://www.Neurogum.com by using code TWOPARENTS . You can also find Neuro at CVS and Amazon. *Hungryroot: For a limited time, get 40% off your first box PLUS a free item in every box for life. Go to https://www.Hungryroot.com/TWOPARENTS and use code TWOPARENTS . *BetterHelp: As the largest online therapy provider in the world, BetterHelp can provide access to mental health professionals with a wide variety of expertise. Our listeners get 10% off their first month at https://www.BetterHelp.com/TWOPARENTS . --------------------------------------------------------------- Follow Two Parents & A Podcast: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/twoparentsandapod TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@twoparentsandapod Follow Alex Bennett: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/justalexbennett TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@justalexbennett Follow Harrison Fugman: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/harrisonfugman TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@harrisonfugman Find our guest: Website | https://heysleepybaby.com/ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/heysleepybaby TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@rachaelshepardohta Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices