17. Baby Sleep Without the Pressure: A Conversation with Rachael Shepard-Ohta from Hey Sleepy Baby

Today I’m joined by Rachael Shepard-Ohta, founder of Hey Sleepy Baby, for an honest look at what’s normal when it comes to baby sleep. Rachael started Hey Sleepy Baby in 2020 when she was newly postpartum with her second baby, and now as a mom of three, she has become a trusted voice for parents who want an alternative to sleep training. We talk about why sleep training doesn’t need to be an all-or-nothing decision. After several personal failed sleep training attempts at four months old with her own child, she accepted that she’d just respond to him when he needed her. A few months later, he slept through the night on his own. No program, no pressure—just development and biology doing what they’re supposed to do. Rachael explains why babies are meant to wake throughout the night and how none of us truly sleep in uninterrupted stretches. She also shares how the lack of maternity leave in the U.S. pushes so many parents toward sleep training sooner than they might naturally choose. We dig into the myth of self-soothing and how temperament plays a role in whether a baby can fall back asleep independently. We also get into the fears around attachment and why the more important question is how different approaches impact a child’s stress response rather than whether sleep training is inherently right or wrong. Rachael’s Podcast Episode with Tracy Cassels on Sleep Training: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-83-what-does-research-say-about-sleep-training/id1704569686?i=1000702040625 Rachael’s Free Guide on Better Sleep without Sleep Training: https://heysleepybaby.com/freebie-no-sleep-training Follow Rachael on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heysleepybaby/ Rachael’s Website: https://heysleepybaby.com/ Links & Resources 💻 Website & Blog: https://www.milestonesandmotherhood.com/ 📱Follow KC for daily motor milestone tips & parenting support: https://www.instagram.com/milestones.and.motherhood/ 🎧 Follow podcast updates & new episode drops: https://www.instagram.com/more.than.milestones/ 🆓 Get my free tummy time training: Mastering Milestones with Confidence https://www.milestonesandmotherhood.com/freetraining 📬 Join the email list for milestone tips + podcast updates https://idyllic-hat-942.myflodesk.com/fwefz61097 🛒 Shop KC’s favorite mom & baby finds: https://links.milestonesandmotherhood.com/amazon/amazonstorefrontmm 🤝 Sponsor or guest inquiries? Contact us at podcast@milestonesandmotherhood.com Go deeper with KC on Substack More Than Milestones: Unfiltered is my subscription channel where I release 2 exclusive bonus episodes every month. Even more raw, unfiltered motherhood chats you won’t hear anywhere else.