Emma and Alex Weehuizen talk through the realities of baby sleep, especially for twin parents and why so much mainstream sleep advice can leave families feeling more anxious, more exhausted and less connected. Alex shares her perspective as a twin mum, early childhood teacher, parent support facilitator, and responsive sleep coach, with a strong focus on temperament, sensory needs, and the long game of attachment.We discuss what actually shapes sleep in the newborn to six month window, why rigid schedules often miss the point, and how parents can use observation instead of fear to support their child. This one is especially useful for twin parents, but the ideas apply to any family trying to make sleep feel safer and more sustainable.

Key topics

• Emma introduces Alex Weehuizen, who brings experience as a twin mum, early childhood teacher, nanny, and parent support advocate.
• Alex shares how becoming a twin mum reshaped her work and pushed her toward parent support, professional development, and responsive sleep guidance.
• We discuss how a child’s temperament is often visible early, and why twins can need very different settling approaches even when they share the same home and age.
• Emma and Alex unpack the pressure parents feel to buy expensive sleep products and follow commercial advice instead of trusting their own instincts.
• Alex explains why many sleep programs are fear-based, especially around swaddling, bottles, wake windows, and the idea that babies must sleep a certain way to be “good.”
• We discuss the first few months of life as a season of getting to know your child, not fixing sleep problems that may not actually exist.
• Alex outlines how she looks at sleep through the lens of sensory needs, biological sleep needs, and developmental changes rather than one-size-fits-all routines.
• The conversation covers the four month progression, why it is not a magical switch, and why some babies are affected earlier, later, or barely at all.
• Emma and Alex talk about supporting sleep by layering sleep associations early, then gradually adjusting them as babies grow and as parents’ bodies can no longer do the same physical work.
• The episode closes with a strong message about support, self-advocacy, and spotting red flags in the sleep industry, especially salesy promises, buzzwords, and copy-and-paste plans.

Join us as we hear Chloe share her incredible journey of stepping into full-time guardianship of her twin sisters after her mother unexpectedly left. This honest conversation explores the emotional rollercoaster, community support, legal struggles, and the importance of resilience in parenting.

Resources & Links:

• Therapy & Mental Health Support - ACC NZ
• Guardianship legal process info
• Support for children with ADHD

Connect with Chloe:

• TIK TOK
• Instagram

When I found out I was having twins, I was petrified and the more I searched online, the worse it got. Outdated info, endless negativity and barely any real stories from twin parents who'd actually lived it. So I decided to create exactly what I was looking for.

Are They Twins? is a New Zealand twin podcast bringing you honest, judgement free conversations with twin parents and experts. Covering everything from pregnancy and birth to raising your twins all the way through to when they leave home. No doom and gloom, just real information so you can make confident and informed decisions for your family.

Plus a free community hub to tie it all together, backed by some brilliant Kiwi businesses.

Whether you're expecting twins or already knee deep in twin life, this is a space for you to learn and share your life as a twin parent.