Heather explores the pressure she felt as a new mom to “measure up” and be “attachment-based enough”.  This pressure to be good enough is a theme that comes up often in her one-on-one and sleep group work.

In this episode, Heather explores:

• “Attachment Parenting” and the 7 B’s

• Why checklist parenting undermines what is truly important to you (and what to focus on instead)

• The freedom in knowing that not every moment is perfect

• The questions parents ask about whether what they are doing is attachment-based enough or if what they are doing is actually sleep training

• The value of knowing what’s most important to you so that decisions are easier

• Looking ahead at where you want your parenting to steer your family

• Appreciating that you are in a season of parenting right now that requires some compromise 

Mentioned in this episode:

• Scott Noelle Scott Noelle - Author & Life Coach

• Dr. and Martha Sears, The Baby Book and the 7 B’s

What you can do next:

• Subscribe to this podcast and share it with a friend!

• Download the Baby Sleep Connection Podcast Listener Guide at www.familysleep.ca/links

• ⁠Work with Heather⁠ inside the Confident & Connected Baby Sleep group program or one-on-one.

• Find previous episodes of the podcast at infantsleep.ca/podcast

Credits:

🎵 Music: Jordan Wood

Baby wearing (carrying a baby on your body using a sling, wrap, or fabric carrier) is a popular and useful way of keeping baby close, and keeping a caregiver’s hands free.  

In this episode, Heather talks with Jordan Morillo, maternal health occupational therapist, mom of one, and babywearing educator about the benefits and barriers to baby wearing.  Jordan became inspired to start The Babywearing OT when she saw gaps in the perinatal care continuum after giving birth to her son.

Her evidence-based wisdom and passion for sharing information on the safety, merits, options and strategies for baby wearing leaves little doubt: babywearing is not a fad, but is a long-term helpful strategy that, with the right knowledge, can be done safely and easily.

When Jordan’s not working, you can find her caring for her plants, exploring local restaurants and boba tea shops, and spending afternoons on the couch, nap trapped.

Where to find Jordan:

Website: motherhoodtherapyservices.com 

IG: motherhoodtherapyservices.com

What you can do next:

• Subscribe to this podcast and share it with a friend!

• Download the Baby Sleep Connection Podcast Listener Guide at www.familysleep.ca/links

• ⁠Work with Heather⁠ inside the Confident & Connected Baby Sleep group program or one-on-one.

• Find previous episodes of the podcast at infantsleep.ca/podcast

Credits:

🎵 Music: Jordan Wood

In May, communities across Canada come together for Flora’s Walk to increase awareness of maternal mental health and raise funds for community agencies who support mothers in the perinatal period. 

In this episode, Heather explores:

• The statistics around prevalence of mental illness in mothers and fathers in the perinatal period

• Common signs of Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders

• 5 Strategies for supporting maternal mental health

• The roles that sleep and community play in supporting maternal mental health 

Don’t miss this important episode.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Lifewithababy.com

• Postnatal Support International postpartum.net

What you can do next:

• Subscribe to this podcast and share it with a friend!

• Download the Baby Sleep Connection Podcast Listener Guide at www.familysleep.ca/links

• ⁠Work with Heather⁠ inside the Confident & Connected Baby Sleep group program or one-on-one.

• Find previous episodes of the podcast at infantsleep.ca/podcast

Credits:

🎵 Music: Jordan Wood

If you’re feeling frustrated or discouraged by your baby’s sleep, you’re not alone.  There’s really no way to fully appreciate how exhausted you’ll be as a parent, even if you’ve been told you’re going to be tired and your baby will wake up often.

In this episode, Heather breaks down 3 shifts you can make so that your baby’s sleep is easier and less draining starting right now.

So often in our search for solutions to sleep problems, we focus on fixing what isn’t broken, and we struggle to shift our expectations around what we think our baby's sleep looks like.  We also tend to latch onto what has worked for other families, instead of looking at what our unique babies need from us (and what we’re capable and willing to do).

The 3 tips in this episode won’t address underlying sleep disorders (that’s an episode of its own!).  What it will do is give you a foundation for what you can shift TODAY so that you are losing less energy trying to make sleep look a certain way.

Mentioned in this episode:

• The Infant Development Circle -get on the waitlist for September 2025 at www.familysleep.ca/infant-development-circle

What you can do next:

• Subscribe to this podcast and share it with a friend!

• Download the Baby Sleep Connection Podcast Listener Guide at www.familysleep.ca/links

• ⁠Work with Heather⁠ inside the Confident & Connected Baby Sleep group program or one-on-one.

• Find previous episodes of the podcast at infantsleep.ca/podcast

Credits:

🎵 Music: Jordan Wood

Corrie Rose is a Kinder Musik educator in Niagara Ontario and studio owner of Kinder Musik with Miss Corrie.  Music is a powerful and deeply engrained medium for learning, connection, and regulation.  Kinder Musik is a specific program that uses instruments, stories, and movement activities to support early development.

In this episode we explore

• The benefits of music for mental health, regulation, and connection

• Corrie’s unexpected path from pharmacy assistant to struggling student, motherhood, and Kinder Musik educator

• What to expect in a Kinder Musik class

• How play and discovery are a part of the routine and rhythm of a Kinder Musik class

• Music, emotions, and healing

• Why being able to sing or play an instrument is NOT a prerequisite to using music to support your baby’s development

Where to find Miss Corrie:

Website: www.kindermusikwithmisscorrie.com

FB: https://www.facebook.com/KindermusikWithMissCorrie

IG: kindermusikwithmisscorrie

What you can do next:

• Subscribe to this podcast and share it with a friend!

• Don’t miss the next episode of The Baby Sleep Connection: ⁠Sign up for weekly baby sleep emails (which includes a heads up when a new podcast episode is released)

• ⁠Work with Heather⁠ inside the Confident & Connected Baby Sleep group program or one-on-one.

• Find previous episodes of the podcast at infantsleep.ca/podcast

Credits: 🎵 Music Credit: Jordan Wood

Naps can be a huge stress for parents.  

You might be asking yourself:

What time should naps be?  How long should they be?  How do you drop a nap?  And what on earth do you do if your baby falls asleep at 5pm?  What will happen to bedtime?!

In this episode, Heather shares strategies on managing the messy middle of changing naps to support night time sleep.

Have a listen to explore:

• How to distribute naps over the day to land at a reasonable bedtime

• How to be flexible with nap length to manage a decent bedtime

• When to consider capping a nap

• How rest time, nature, and water can support a skipped nap

• Strategies for managing surprisingly early or late bedtimes, late naps, and no naps

Mentioned in this episode:

• Heather’s Podcast Listener Guide is available at www.familysleep.ca/links

• Episode #14: How to drop naps.  https://open.spotify.com/episode/2q4dg8MB4YCufyxUTgokSn

 🎵 Music Credit: Jordan Wood

In February, I had the pleasure of speaking at Sleeposium 2025, an annual international conference for sleep professionals. I spoke about the importance of taking a STRENGTH-based approach when working with families.

When families are seeking help around sleep, it’s not because things are going well –there are often some pretty big challenges and some significant hurdles.   Parents feel exhausted and defeated.  And it can feel like NOTHING is going well.

Buried under all the challenges, however, are strengths that can help us support your baby’s sleep and help them reach their potential.

It’s so important to look for the strengths!

Listen in as I share why a strength-based approach is key to getting the support you need.

What you can do next:

• Subscribe to this podcast and share it with a friend!

• Don’t miss the next episode of The Baby Sleep Connection: ⁠Sign up for weekly baby sleep emails (which includes a heads up when a new podcast episode is released

• ⁠Work with Heather⁠ inside the Confident & Connected Baby Sleep group program or one-on-one.

• Find previous episodes of the podcast at infantsleep.ca/podcast

Credits:

🎵 Music: Jordan Wood

Heather is joined today by Helen Thompson, Tasmania-based infant massage instructor with over 3 decades of experience working with babies, toddlers, and their families.

In this episode, Helen helps break down:

• How to be “baby-led” when doing baby massage

• What signals a baby gives so you can tune into their cues

• How a gentle massage routine can help babies relax and settle into easier sleep

• The role massage plays in building connection, bonding, and communication

• How parents benefit from infant massage

And more

Helen is host of the First Time Mum’s Chat podcast (on which Heather was a guest for episode 160) and is a huge advocate and source of support for mums navigating their parenting journey.

You can find Helen at www.mybabymassage.net, on instagram at @babymassagehelen and @firstimemumschat

What you can do next:

Subscribe to this podcast and share it with a friend!

Don’t miss the next episode of The Baby Sleep Connection: ⁠Sign up for weekly baby sleep emails (which includes a heads up when a new podcast episode is released

⁠Work with Heather⁠ inside the Confident & Connected Baby Sleep group program or one-on-one.

Find previous episodes of the podcast at infantsleep.ca/podcast

Credits:

🎵 Music: Jordan Wood

It’s time for the Spring Forward time change!

And that means losing a precious hour of sleep at a time in your parenting where every minute of sleep feels crucial.

As much as I’d love us to be able to ditch the entire time change ritual every year, there are ways you can make this shift easier.

In this episode, I share:

• How circadian rhythm drives sleep

• 3 approaches you can take to manage the time change

• What are zeitgebers and how do they help you manage the time change

• 1 key reassuring take away that will help you feel less worried and more confident coming into the spring forward time change

Looking for more? What you can do next:

• Subscribe to this podcast and share it with a friend!

• Don’t miss the next episode of The Baby Sleep Connection: ⁠Sign up for weekly baby sleep emails (which includes a heads up when a new podcast episode is released

• ⁠Work with me⁠ in the Confident & Connected Baby Sleep group program or one-on-one.

• Find previous episodes at infantsleep.ca/podcast

Credits:

🎵 Music: Jordan Wood

March Break is coming up.  For many families, that means travelling.

But how do you go away and not see your baby's sleep fall apart?

Listen to this episode for:

• 4 perspectives on why (and how) sleep might not tank the way you expect it to
• 3 practical strategies to tip the scales in favour of reasonable sleep AND a reasonable vacation
• 1 story of how our vacation to Mexico didn’t look like we expected, but why it worked out anyway

Looking for more?  What you can do next:

• Subscribe to this podcast and share it with a friend!

• ⁠Sign up for weekly baby sleep emails.⁠