The Sleep Teacher Podcast

Is bub REALLY ready to drop the third nap?

One of our most downloaded episode so far has been EVERYTHING You Need to Know About the 2-1 Nap Transition but we’ve had so many of you reach out asking for HELP to navigate through the 3-2 transition 

It can be tricky knowing when and how to transition bub from the 3 - 2 naps.. But we have you covered. Join us as we talk ALL things 3rd nap including what age they will be ready, how to read the signs and the BEST ways to drop that nap. 

You’ll hear:

✨ The signs that they’re actually NOT ready yet 

✨ The one nap you NEED to focus on before dropping the 3rd nap

✨ How to make sure dropping the nap doesn’t equal early morning wakeups

… and a whole lot more!

This episode is made possible thanks to Your Reformer, find out how you can get started in the comfort of your own home  for just $39 per week at www.yourreformer.com.au

Is bub starting daycare? Have a listen to one of our latest episodes all about How to Prepare for Daycare.

Struggling with early rising? Check out our episode on tackling those 4.30 am rises. 

If you want to share YOUR sleep story submit it here or if you’ve got a question or episode you’d love us to cover send us a DM @thesleepteacher or submit them here.

Are you currently in the trenches? We got you, Mumma!

What do you wish you could go back in time and tell yourself about becoming a parent for the first time?

We’ve been planning this episode for a while but we wanted to keep it REAL and have someone who would be completely honest about becoming a parent AND transitioning from one to two kids. If you’ve followed her on Instagram you’ll know that Elyse Knowles does just that.

Elyse is a mum of two, a model and was the winner of the Block along with her partner Josh back in 2017. She has just had her second child Zaii 7 months ago and her son Sunny is almost three. 

If you or someone you know are considering, expecting or about to transition into have two (or three) this episode is a great reminder of what it’s REALLY like that most people don’t tell you. 

You’ll hear:

✨What the hospitals tell you to focus on that is a complete waste of time 

✨Absolute MUST HAVES for a new Mum 

✨What Elyse struggled with the most when becoming a parent 

✨Where each of us found our support networks

… and a whole lot more!

Kristy is FINALLY onto Ted Lasso and lets you know what she thinks but Beck isn’t quite ready to share her midnight mummas recommendation this week. If you’ve got something you think we should watch send us a DM! 

If you want to share YOUR sleep story submit it here or if you’ve got a question or episode you’d love us to cover send us a DM @thesleepteacher or submit it here.

Are you currently in the trenches? We got you, Mumma!

Are your loved ones pressuring you to avoid sleep training and stay sleep deprived?

We are back with our first Q&A session of 2024! Our submission box has been very busy over this holiday season, and we are SO excited to be back and tackling our listeners' sleep problems once again. These segments are where our listeners send through their sleep concerns, and Beck and I walk you through our solutions live on air. 

We have a very mixed bag this week and cover lots of different topics such as vocal and nosy family members, story times about when our bubs dropped their naps, and of course our favourite: the longer lunchtime nap.

You’ll hear:

✨ 6:25 - The thing that boils our blood the MOST - how to approach sleep training when your friends and family are against it

✨ 12:28 - Which age your little one will likely drop the nap COMPLETELY

✨ 16:13 - Cranky toddler or cranky dentist? Why you should have a chat with your dentist BEFORE your bub gets used to going to bed with the bottle 

✨ 17:49 - FOUR things to consider when your baby won't sleep for longer than 40 minutes at lunch

✨ 19:53 - Why it’s best to cut down on your morning nap EVEN if Bub loves them

… and a whole lot more!

We have a great balance of Midnight Mumma recommendations this week. We’ve moved on to the 1923 (the sequel of 1883) Taylor Swift Concerts on Netflix, and Beck is still on the Ted Lasso bandwagon! 

This episode is made possible thanks to Your Reformer. Find out how you can get started in the comfort of your own home for just $39 and completely FREE delivery over at https://yourreformer.com.au/products/your-reformer-rental.

If you want to share YOUR sleep story submit it here or if you’ve got a question or episode you’d love us to cover send us a DM @thesleepteacher or submit it here 

Are you currently in the trenches? We got you, Mumma!

***TRIGGER WARNING: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome***

In those early sleep-deprived days it can be so hard to keep your eyes open, and for so many of us, those middle-of-the-night feeds are one of the hardest times. 

You hear about the dangers of sleep sharing all the time, but how often are you warned against surface sharing? Or falling asleep on the armchair after a feed?

On today’s episode, I chatted with Emily, an incredibly brave and strong mother who has made it her goal to spread as much awareness around sleeping with bub as possible. In June of 2023, Emily and Brian lost their precious baby, Ellie, to surface sharing when her partner fell asleep on an armchair after a feed. Emily and Brian were amazing parents to Ellie and I am so grateful for Emily coming on and sharing her story.

You’ll hear:

✨ How to safely navigate those middle-of-the-night feeds 

✨ The importance of doing your research before buying any products for your baby to sleep in 

✨ Kristy shares her own surface sharing experience that changed the way she feeds her little ones

… and more.

If you want to hear more about what Emily is doing to spread awareness, you can find her @elliesvoice_safesleep on Instagram and TikTok.

Please take a minute to read Sharing a Sleep Surface With a Baby, as well as What is a Safe Sleeping Environment.

If you want to share YOUR sleep story, submit it here, or if you’ve got a question or episode you’d love us to cover send us a DM @thesleepteacher.

Are you currently in the trenches? We got you, Mumma!

Can you even create routines for your newborn?

Happy New Year Mumma!

We have decided to start the year fresh with an episode dedicated to everything newborns. While you can look back on this time as beautifully exhausting, when you’re deep in trenches it can just feel plain exhausting. Not only is there a lot of pressure on social media about what you should be doing but both you and Bub are on a constant learning curve.

To help ease the pressure, on today’s episode, we cover what to expect, what’s normal, and how to lay the foundations early on so that both you and Bub can receive the best gift of all: rest.

You’ll hear:

✨ Why trying to create a routine for your newborn is a one-way road to exhaustion

✨ The cues you might be missing when everything is new and exciting

✨ Whether sleeping in a dark room encourages day and night confusion or not

✨ What might be going wrong if your bub hates being swaddled

… and a whole lot more!

If you’re dealing with the pesky 4-month regression, we have a whole episode dedicated to the topic here. 

If you’re trying to decide how to approach sharing the load with your partner, listen to our episode with Blackbird Counsellor, Eliza Pike here.

Check out our reel on how to pop a newborn into the cot feet first here.

If you want to share YOUR sleep story, submit it here, or if you’ve got a question or episode you’d love us to cover send us a DM @thesleepteacher.

Are you currently in the trenches? We got you, Mumma!

Ever find sleep training so daunting that starting feels impossible? And what even is a realistic goal for your bub?

We know just how demotivating it can be when you’re sleep training your little one and it feels like one step forward, and two steps back. 

When it comes to sleep training, it is rarely an easygoing process (oh how we wish it could be!). One of the best, and easiest ways to combat this is to set small, realistic goals and move the goalpost one nap at a time! 

On today’s episode, Beck and I chat about simple actions you can take to make this journey feel less overwhelming. We cover the best time of day to teach your little one to self-settle and the power of being consistent when it comes to creating new routines for you and Bub.

You’ll hear:

✨ Easy steps to train your little one to sleep in a new environment

✨ How you can use age-appropriate nap routines to work towards your goals (and get that Mumma time back!)

✨ How your daytime feeds could be affecting your baby’s nighttime sleep

… and a whole lot more!

Check out our free resource for our podcast listeners, Five Steps to Sleep Success here.

If you want to share YOUR sleep story, submit it here, or if you’ve got a question or episode you’d love us to cover send us a DM @thesleepteacher.

Are you currently in the trenches? We got you, Mumma!

Are you ready for daycare?

On today’s episode, we talk about all things daycare with our resident expert, Beck! Daycare creates a lot of mixed reactions, some Mummas might be cheering while for others it might be a stressful change. It can be a scary thing to start with but once you get used to it, it can help you get your much-deserved me time back. And then you’ll wonder why you didn’t start sooner!

We cover all sorts of topics such as the importance of introducing bottle feeding before starting daycare, steps to help ease the transition, and troubleshooting strategies for those inevitable days when things don’t go to plan!

You’ll also hear:

✨Key questions to ask educators for reassurance about your little one's safety and well-being

✨Essential aspects to research when choosing a daycare provider

✨The importance of teaching your little one to fall asleep without a feed

✨ A simple tip to help your baby become more familiar with caregivers before the official first day!

… and a whole lot more!

The Midnight Mumma recs are back this week with two shows! We have been loving both 1883 and Ted Lasso so keep these on your list for that next late-night show.

If you want to share YOUR sleep story submit it here or if you’ve got a question or episode you’d love us to cover send us a DM  @thesleepteacher or submit it here.

Are you currently in the trenches? We got you, Mumma!

Are four cat naps too many? It’s time for one of your favourite episodes!

Our Q&A segments are where we answer the questions YOU’ve sent in for us to answer and choose the ones that need a little more detail than we can give in our usual minute on Instagram. We love getting these questions in and being able to help you with your sleep struggles.

We chat about a range of topics today so whether you’re navigating a tricky transitional phase or you’re still working hard on those nap routines then we have you covered!

You’ll hear:

✨ 2:57 - Why your little one might be waking HOURLY and how to change it QUICKLY

✨ 5:56 - Ripping off the bandaid and getting your baby sleeping in a cot, ditching the dummy AND un-swaddled all at once  

✨ 9:31 - How to stop the cat naps (and what happens if you don’t) 

✨ 15:13 - Our favourite topic - how long does the four-month regression ACTUALLY last 

… and a whole lot more!

If you want to learn more about the four-month-old regression, we have a full episode dedicated to it which you can listen to here.

If you want to share YOUR sleep story submit it here or if you’ve got a question or episode you’d love us to cover send us a DM  @thesleepteacher or submit it here.

Are you currently in the trenches? We got you, Mumma!

It is okay to say no to people to prioritise your little one and your own mental health.

It's that time of the year where you are probably getting invited to every event left right and centre, and they ALL happen to be at nap time. The holiday season can be stressful, and the last thing you need is to worry about upsetting anyone (because, let’s face it, feathers may be ruffled regardless!).

On today’s episode, we crafted a game plan to help make the silly season as easy as possible. We share practical tips such as using the car for naps, advice on getting your baby used to the portacot and the importance of establishing a routine before the big day.  

You’ll hear:

✨ Our hack to limit the number of people wanting to cuddle with your little one

✨ A checklist of items that can make your baby more comfortable if they have to nap at someone else’s home

✨ Strategies for managing those late nights with bub

… and a whole lot more!

Check out the Sleep Sundays Removable Blockout Blinds here.

Taking the portacot with? Have a look at the Snooze Shades here.

If you want to share YOUR sleep story submit it here or if you’ve got a question or episode you’d love us to cover send us a DM @thesleepteacher

Are you currently in the trenches? We got you, Mumma!

We always hear “Never wake a sleeping baby,” but sometimes, you just have to.

If you don’t know, split nights are when your baby has an awake period overnight for more than 2 hours, and usually after midnight. This is a super common occurrence, especially with toddlers, and could indicate a couple of things. We know how hard it can be to be cheerful in the morning when bub has robbed you of your night's sleep but the good news is, it's really easy to identify what causes them and why they’re happening!

You’ll hear:

✨ 3 of the main reasons why your baby might be awake when they’re meant to be in dreamland

✨ How to use an age-appropriate routine to find out what changes you can make

✨ Whether it is an overtired or untired problem

✨ The importance of not over-playing your role, no matter how hard that might be!

… and a whole lot more!

If you’re looking for resources on an age-appropriate routine, check out our episode here. 

And here for our Early Rising episode.

If you want to share YOUR sleep story submit it here or if you’ve got a question or episode you’d love us to cover send us a DM @thesleepteacher.

Are you currently in the trenches? We got you, Mumma!