On this week's episode of Sense, by Meg Faure, we delve into the transition period for new parents as the newborn honeymoon phase ends. Our guest, Julia, shares her personal journey and offers valuable insights on handling the challenges of bedtime and feeding routines with her newborn, Aurelia. This episode is packed with practical tips and strategies to help new parents navigate this critical stage. Effective Bedtime Strategies Meg and Julia discuss the importance of establishing effective bedtime routines. They delve into concepts like dream feeds and cluster feeds, explaining how these can help extend the baby’s sleep periods. Julia shares her experiences with these methods and their impact on her baby's sleep patterns. Understanding Hunger and Sleep Cues The conversation highlights the significance of understanding a baby's hunger and sleep cues. Julia talks about how recognizing these cues has helped her manage her baby’s needs better. Meg provides additional insights on how parents can identify and respond to these cues effectively. Engaging Older Siblings in the Routine Julia discusses the role of her older child, Santi, in caring for the newborn. She emphasizes the importance of involving older siblings in the baby’s routine to ease the transition for the entire family. Meg agrees, highlighting the benefits of sibling involvement in fostering a supportive family environment. Handling the Evening Juggle Julia recounts the challenges of juggling the needs of her newborn and her older child. She shares practical tips on managing this evening juggle, such as involving Santi in activities like reading stories to Aurelia during feeding times. Meg supports these strategies and offers additional advice on how to keep older siblings engaged. Dealing with False Starts and Evening Fussiness The episode addresses common issues like false starts and evening fussiness. Julia talks about her experiences with Aurelia’s evening crying spells and how cluster feeding has helped manage these episodes. Faure explains the concept of false starts and provides tips on handling them effectively. This episode is a must-listen for new parents navigating the end of the honeymoon period with their newborn. Meg and Julia provide practical advice and personal experiences that offer valuable insights. By the end of the episode, listeners will feel more confident in their ability to manage bedtime and feeding routines. They will also gain a better understanding of their baby’s needs and how to create a supportive family environment. Tune in to learn effective strategies and feel empowered in your parenting journey.