The Sleep Sense Show

I've been a mother for a little over 18 years now, and although I wouldn't trade those years for anything, there's no question that raising kids has been a challenge. In fact, in those 18 years, I've never spoken to a single mother who hasn't felt completely overwhelmed at one point or another. 

My guest today has a unique perspective on chronic overwhelm. She was already raising three boys when she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. 

Her story is a real inspiration and her message is one that all mothers can benefit from in this time of near-constant uncertainty.  She also has an amazing podcast, called Mom is In Control, "about pursuing the life you crave without sacrificing the parent you want to be." Check it out once you've finished this one!

It's no secret that new mothers can go through some pretty brutal emotional ups and downs after giving birth.

But that doesn't necessarily make it easier to talk about, or get rid of the stigma that some of us feel when we experience postpartum depression.

My guest today, Courtney Allison, is a wife, mother to two little girls, and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, as well as the creator of The Girl Without a Mom, and her YouTube channel is full of videos to help moms learn everything they need to know about mental health, coping skills and self care. Whether you're a new mom or a parent of any stripe, I can't recommend her content highly enough! Check her out on today's episode of The Sleep Sense Show!

These last couple of months have been trying ones for most people I know, but nobody more so than parents.

The sudden demand for us to step into every role for our children, from parent to teacher to playmate and beyond, has proven to be a tall order, to say the least!

That's a big reason why I'm so happy to bring you this week's episode, featuring an interview with Alyssa Westring, one of the authors of "Parents Who Lead - The Leadership Approach You Need to Parent with Purpose, Fuel Your Career, and Create a Richer Life"

Alyssa has taken the principles of leadership and applied them to the realm of parenting, and I've got to say, this conversation was one "A-ha!" moment after another. 

Check it out, then check out her book! It's one of the most engaging reads I've experienced in a while. 

I've always been a very family-oriented woman. I know I'm hardly alone in this position, but my husband and kids are the center of my universe. And since I started my business 16 years ago, I've also been captivated with the experience of building something from the ground up and seeing the results that it brings, not just to me, but the families that The Sleep Sense Program helps.  I find the "mompreneur" life extremely rewarding and I just love hearing the similar, but unique, stories of other moms who have come up with a solution to a common parenting problem and created a business around it.  That's why I'm so excited to be talking today to Katy Mallory and Lou Childs, the creators of the SlumberPod. They're a mother-daughter team who have come up with an amazing product that can help your baby sleep almost anywhere, anytime!  Their story is a truly inspiring example of what can be accomplished with a couple of creative minds, a drive to succeed, and a focus on family. Check it out!

The last month or two have seen some unprecedented changes in our daily lives, due in large part to the stay-at-home directive imposed on a huge percentage of the world's population. And while we all wish we had more time to spend with our kids, spending all day, every day with them stuck in the house presents a lot of new challenges that can leave us feeling overwhelmed at times. So today I have a few tips to help you navigate these uncharted waters, keep your little ones' schedule on track, and make the most of this time together with our families, even if it is a little more than we might have planned on.

When I originally created the Sleep Sense Program 14 years ago, I didn't intend to make a business out of it. It was just my personal solution to the problem of my first-born not sleeping.  Many entrepreneurs start out this way. They're not looking to start a business, they're just people who've come up with a better way of doing things. 

That's why, at this particularly challenging point in time, I'm delighted to bring you the story of Cara Sayer, the creator of Snoozeshade.

In 2009, Cara was a mum who needed a solution to a problem she had (and knew that many other parents had) - how to get her baby to sleep when they were out and about. 

With no experience in retail or manufacture she invented what is now the UK and US best-selling range of baby sun and sleep shades – SnoozeShade – which are recommended by baby experts, loved by parents and have won over 70 awards.  Cara has grown SnoozeShade from one product to thirteen (with versions for strollers, infant car seats and pack’n’plays) and has helped hundreds of thousands of parents worldwide.  I found her story funny, fascinating, and super-relatable. Give it a listen and I'm sure you will too! You can check out Cara's amazing line of baby sleep products at www.snoozeshade.com

All of the sharing we do on social media has made this a bit of a strange time to be a new mother.

On the one hand,  we're undoubtedly seeing more understanding and acceptance around the idea of postpartum depression. Mothers who are experiencing it have a number of forums and communities to discuss their feelings with others who have experienced the same situation. 

On the other, it feels like there's never been so much pressure to put on a brave face and show the world that you've got everything under control.

My guest today, Dr. Sudeepta Varma is a board-certified psychiatrist, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at the NYU Langone Medical Center, and a fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, and she's joining me today for a frank and open conversation about postpartum depression, what causes it, how to identify it, and how to ask for help or to offer support to people you love who might be going through it. 

Dr. Varma has so much insight and information on the subject, and I think this conversation is an absolute must-listen for any new mother and for the people who love them. 

You can find out more about Dr. Varma and her work at her website, or follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

After all my years as a pediatric sleep expert, you might think I'd get a little fatigued talking about the subject, but the truth is, there's never been a more exciting time to be in this line of work. There's a prominent new focus on the value and health benefits of sleep, and with it comes a lot of research and findings, which brings a lot of exciting new conversations. That's why I'm so pleased to be speaking today with Dr. Mary Wilde. A board-certified pediatrician, author, mother of eight (wow!) and the founder of Imagine Pediatrics Behavioral Health & Wellness, Dr. Mary has a unique and innovative approach to child wellness.  On today's show, we're discussing some of the sleep challenges facing kids today and exchanging some thoughts on how current research has reshaped our approach to dealing with them.  You can find out more about Dr. Mary at her website, drmarywilde.com

Stress is a part of life, there's no getting around it. No matter our age, gender, or responsibilities, we all feel the pressures of day to day life, and we all deal with it the best we can.

But as parents, how we react when we're feeling overwhelmed can have a trickle-down effect on the rest of our family. Overreactions due to stress can leave our kids confused, and us feeling like bad parents.

Which is why I'm so excited to be speaking today with Emily Nagoski, researcher, activist, and author of the amazing book, Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle. 

Emily has some amazing insights into what causes stress, why we hold on to it, and offers a few simple, practical suggestions for dealing with it in your day to day life. So give it a listen and then pick up a copy of her book. You'll be glad you did, I assure you!

There's a common misconception among mothers, both old and new, that breastfeeding and sleeping well are mutually exclusive. You can sleep well or you can nurse on demand, but you can't do both.

I've worked hard to dispel that myth, but to be perfectly honest, I had a very hard time nursing my babies, and don't consider myself to be the foremost authority on the subject.

That's why I'm so glad to be joined today by Courtney Zentz, LLC and postpartum doula, who also happens to be a Certified Sleep Sense Consultant! Courtney has some really eye-opening insight into the facts and myths about breastfeeding, why many parents believe babies can't sleep well and nurse well, and how to incorporate proper nutrition and healthy sleep habits into your family's life.