Brand New Little People

Does bedsharing have benefits for infant development or attachment? The quick answer is no. Systematic reviews (the highest form of scientific evidence) consistently show that bedsharing is associated with: 1️⃣ Longer breastfeeding duration 2️⃣ Increased risk of death 3️⃣ More frequent night waking Bedsharing might be your preference, and that's ok, but it's important to understand both the risks, and the reality - babies who sleep in cots are just as well attached to their parents, as those who share a bed with their parents. Drs Fallon & Laura (PhDs, Sleep Practitioners) dive head first in to the scientific literature on bedsharing, so you can make an informed decision for your little one ✅ Need additional support? Join our Sombelle Paediatric Sleep Clinic Programs, where we have an entire chapter dedicated to helping you resolve sleep pressure difficulties. Or visit our wonderful sleep clinic, via Telehealth or in person if you're local to Melbourne. ☕️ Love our work? Buy us a coffee! ❤️ Listen on Apple Podcasts❤️ Listen on Spotify❤️ Listen on Amazon Music🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube   If you choose to bedshare please follow the RedNose guidelines for safer cosleeping: https://rednose.org.au/safe-sleep-and-safer-pregnancy/newborn-to-1-year/co-sleeping-with-your-baby/ REFERENCES: Das,  Rashmi Ranjan, Sankar,  M. Jeeva, Agarwal,  Ramesh, Paul,  Vinod Kumar, Is “Bed Sharing” Beneficial and Safe during Infancy? A Systematic Review, International Journal of Pediatrics, 2014, 468538, 16 pages, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/468538 Baddock, et.al. The influence of bed-sharing on infant physiology, breastfeeding and behaviour: A systematic review, Sleep Medicine Reviews, Volume 43, 2019, Pages 106-117, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2018.10.007. Horsley T, Clifford T, Barrowman N, et al. Benefits and Harms Associated With the Practice of Bed Sharing: A Systematic Review. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007;161(3):237–245. doi:10.1001/archpedi.161.3.237  A Morneau, A Vallieres, 0949 Should Parents and Children Share the Same Bed? A Systematic Review of the Consequences of Bedsharing on Sleep and Child Development, Sleep, Volume 43, Issue Supplement_1, April 2020, Pages A360–A361, https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsaa056.945 Wolf et. al., (2025). Mother–Infant Bed-sharing Is Associated with Increased Breastfeeding: A Systematic Review. Breastfeeding Medicine, 20 (4).

If your baby or toddler has false starts, split nights, or they are hard to settle to sleep, then there is a very good chance your little one has a sleep pressure difficulty. The good news? These problems are easily fixed by taking a close look at the daily rhythm. When sleep pressure challenges are resolved, the door to easier settling and quieter nights, swings wide open. This episode is Dr Fallon & Dr Laura's guide to identifying and fixing sleep pressure difficulties. ✅ Need additional support? Join our Sombelle Paediatric Sleep Clinic Programs, where we have an entire chapter dedicated to helping you resolve sleep pressure difficulties. Or visit our wonderful sleep clinic, via Telehealth or in person if you're local to Melbourne. ☕️ Love our work? Buy us a coffee! ❤️ Listen on Apple Podcasts ❤️ Listen on Spotify ❤️ Listen on Amazon Music 🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube

Is your baby hungry at 2am…or do they feed simply out of habit? Not all babies will stop feeding overnight when it’s no longer necessary – some enjoy those overnight feeds a lot and expect them to continue for 1, 2, or even 3 years! There are loads of factors that influence night feeding and in this episode Dr Fallon & Dr Laura (PhDs, Sleep Practitioners) unpack what you need to know before weaning overnight feeds. ☕️ Love our work? Buy us a coffee! ❤️ Listen on Apple Podcasts❤️ Listen on Spotify❤️ Listen on Amazon Music🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube ✅ Visit our clinic or join Sombelle for expert support with baby & toddler sleep & settling difficulties.

When parents know how to spot communication difficulties, they’re able to quickly increase the support their little one’s need for communication to thrive! In episode 104 of Brand New Little People, you’ll meet Dr Kylie Smith, speech pathologist and mum of three. Dr Kylie will teach you: 👉🏽 What typical communication development looks like 👉🏽 How to identify that your little one needs support 👉🏽 Tips for building language skills that you can integrate into everyday life ➕ PLUS Dr Fallon answers all your questions about sleep and settling 💤   🗣️ To learn about communication milestones visit Speech Pathology Australia 💬 Check out Dr Kylie's clinic ☕️ Love our work? Buy us a coffee! ❤️ Listen on Apple Podcasts ❤️ Listen on Spotify ❤️ Listen on Amazon Music 🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube ✅ Visit our clinic or join Sombelle for expert support with baby & toddler sleep & settling difficulties.

Imagine this – your 6 month old baby wakes at least 5 times every night, sometimes very briefly and other times for up to 2 hours 😥 You’ve rocked and shooshed your baby for so long that your body aches every day. The minute your head hits the pillow your baby wakes again. In a state of desperation you open Instagram and there it is in big, bold font, with a picture of a peaceful, well rested mother. It reads: “It’s normal for babies to wake in the night”. Ughhh. 😒 In today’s episode, Dr Fallon & Dr Laura (PhDs, Sleep Practitioners) unpack this very toxic statement, because parents deserve better.  ☕️ Love our work? Buy us a coffee!  https://buymeacoffee.com/infant.sleep ❤️ Listen on Apple Podcasts https://loom.ly/zui5kX8 ❤️ Listen on Spotify https://loom.ly/ZuBk3N0 ❤️ Listen on Amazon Music https://loom.ly/ZsS9sTQ 🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube https://loom.ly/JhNkXPs ✅ Visit our clinic or join Sombelle for expert support with baby & toddler sleep & settling difficulties: https://loom.ly/RZeC0NA

Sleep apnoea can occur at any point in the lifespan, in any gender, and when left untreated in babies and toddlers it can have a huge impact on sleep quality and your child’s broader wellbeing. Our sleep clinics focus on the behavioural aspects of sleep, but we always screen for sleep apnoea and refer on when needed. 👉🏽 Let’s learn the four key signs every parent needs to be on the lookout for. ☕️ Love our work? Buy us a coffee!  https://buymeacoffee.com/infant.sleep ❤️ Listen on Apple Podcasts https://loom.ly/zui5kX8 ❤️ Listen on Spotify https://loom.ly/ZuBk3N0 ❤️ Listen on Amazon Music https://loom.ly/ZsS9sTQ 🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube https://loom.ly/JhNkXPs ✅ Visit our clinic or join Sombelle for expert support with baby & toddler sleep & settling difficulties: https://loom.ly/RZeC0NA

😴 Knowing when and how to drop a nap is important. It can make the difference between your little one having great overnight sleep….or having weeks or even months of really tricky nights 🙁 👉🏽 In Episode 101 Dr Fallon & Dr Laura (PhDs, Sleep Practitioners) unpack the key signs that your little one is ready to drop a nap, and talk you through exactly how to manage the transition 💅🏼 ✅ Visit our clinic or join Sombelle for expert support with baby & toddler sleep & settling difficulties: https://loom.ly/RZeC0NA ☕️ Love our work? Buy us a coffee! ❤️ Listen on Apple Podcasts https://loom.ly/zui5kX8 ❤️ Listen on Spotify https://loom.ly/ZuBk3N0 ❤️ Listen on Amazon Music https://loom.ly/ZsS9sTQ 🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube https://loom.ly/JhNkXPs  

Welcome to Episode 100 of Brand New Little People, the podcast that’s helped over 193,000 sleepy parents navigate the wild world of baby and toddler sleep! For 100 episodes, we’ve been your go-to for evidence-based, no-guilt sleep support, and guess what? We’re still the highest-ranked infant sleep podcast in the parenting charts! 🎉 Together, we’ve answered over 600 parent questions, cheered on your victories, and busted myths from Australia to Finland, the USA to Japan, because yes, sleep struggles are truly universal! But today? We’re mixing it up! For our 100th episode, we’re pulling back the curtain (just a little!) on who we really are—with fun facts, hypotheticals, and we’ll address some recent parent questions too. Let’s celebrate how far we’ve come… and how much more there is to learn! ✅ Visit our clinic or join Sombelle for expert support with baby & toddler sleep & settling difficulties: https://loom.ly/RZeC0NA ☕️ Love our work? Buy us a coffee!  ❤️ Listen on Apple Podcasts https://loom.ly/zui5kX8 ❤️ Listen on Spotify https://loom.ly/ZuBk3N0 ❤️ Listen on Amazon Music https://loom.ly/ZsS9sTQ 🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube https://loom.ly/JhNkXPs

In this episode, Dr Fallon Cook and Dr Laura Conway answer 10 brilliant sleep-related questions from very tired parents. They explore various topics including sleep cycles, teething, toddler behaviour, and the impact of daycare on sleep routines. Tune in as they dive deep in to the importance of understanding baby and toddler's sleep needs and offer practical advice for parents navigating these challenges. ☕️ Love our work? Buy us a coffee! ❤️ Listen on Apple Podcasts https://loom.ly/zui5kX8 ❤️ Listen on Spotify https://loom.ly/ZuBk3N0 ❤️ Listen on Amazon Music https://loom.ly/ZsS9sTQfg, 🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube https://loom.ly/JhNkXPs ✅ Visit our clinic or join Sombelle for expert support with baby & toddler sleep & settling difficulties: https://loom.ly/RZeC0NA

In older babies and toddlers, night waking is influenced by 3 key factors, (1)  how they settle to sleep, (2) the daily rhythm, and (3) motivating factors. If one of these 3 factors isn’t addressed, it’s likely night waking will continue to be a persistent problem. Success comes when all three factors have been addressed. In episode 98 of Brand New Little People, Dr Fallon & Dr Laura (PhDs, Sleep Practitioners) unpack the 3 factors that impact night waking, so you are your little one can enjoy restful nights.  ☕️ Love our work? Buy us a coffee! ❤️ Listen on Apple Podcasts https://loom.ly/zui5kX8 ❤️ Listen on Spotify https://loom.ly/ZuBk3N0 ❤️ Listen on Amazon Music https://loom.ly/ZsS9sTQfg, 🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube https://loom.ly/JhNkXPs ✅ Visit our clinic or join Sombelle for expert support with baby & toddler sleep & settling difficulties: https://loom.ly/RZeC0NA

Night terrors, sleep talking, confusional arousals, sleep walking, and nightmares, are all common types of parasomnias that can occur during toddlerhood. Parasomnias are undesirable experiences that occur during sleep, that usually aren’t harmful, but they can be disturbing and frustrating for parents.  In episode 97 of Brand New Little People, Dr Fallon & Dr Laura (PhDs, Sleep Practitioners) explore what causes parasomnias and how you can best manage these in your toddler. ☕️ Love our work? Buy us a coffee! ❤️ Listen on Apple Podcasts https://loom.ly/zui5kX8 ❤️ Listen on Spotify https://loom.ly/ZuBk3N0 ❤️ Listen on Amazon Music https://loom.ly/ZsS9sTQfg, 🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube https://loom.ly/JhNkXPs ✅ Visit our clinic or join Sombelle for expert support with baby & toddler sleep & settling difficulties: https://loom.ly/RZeC0NA

You’re finally starting to enjoy some longer stretches of overnight sleep, when suddenly your baby or toddler catches a virus and before you know it you’re back to multiple night wakes and tricky settling. Often when our little ones recover from illness, their sleep takes a surprising amount of time to return to normal. This is a well worn path by generations of parents! In episode 96 of Brand New Little People, Dr Fallon & Dr Laura (PhDs, Sleep Practitioners) discuss how to navigate sleep challenges during illness, with your baby or toddler. ⭐️ Join Dr Fallon in the Raising Children Network sleep webinar for babies 4-12 months, it’s FREE! Register now. ☕️ Love our work? Buy us a coffee! ❤️ Listen on Apple Podcasts https://loom.ly/zui5kX8 ❤️ Listen on Spotify https://loom.ly/ZuBk3N0 ❤️ Listen on Amazon Music https://loom.ly/ZsS9sTQfg, 🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube https://loom.ly/JhNkXPs ✅ Visit our clinic or join Sombelle for expert support with baby & toddler sleep & settling difficulties: https://loom.ly/RZeC0NA #sleep #babysleep #toddlersleep #parenting #sleepclinic #earlyparenting #sleephelp #sleeptips #sleepdoctor

It’s a big concern for so many new parents - the dreaded four month sleep ‘regression’. The science behind sleep regressions is non existent 🤷🏻‍♀️ so mostly, we disregard them, but the reality is, sleep often does become a big challenge at 4 months of age for so many parents and their babies. 🎧 In episode 95 of Brand New Little People, Dr Fallon & Dr Laura (PhDs, Sleep Practitioners) unpick why sleep can worsen at 4 months of age, and what you can do to keep sleep on track. ⭐️ Join Dr Fallon in the Raising Children Network sleep webinar for babies 0-3 months, it’s FREE! Register now. ⭐️ Sign up for Parent Day to hear experts speak on a range of parenting topics including Dr Laura who will speak about how to make bedtimes easier in toddlers to teens. This is an initiative of the International Congress on Evidence-based Parenting Support. ☕️ Love our work? Buy us a coffee!  ❤️ Listen on Apple Podcasts ❤️ Listen on Spotify  ❤️ Listen on Amazon Music 🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube ✅ If you’re ready to resolve your baby or toddler’s sleep and settling difficulties, join Sombelle! Members can submit questions to be answered on the podcast each week: https://sombelle.infantsleep.com.au/ 

We all dread the day it happens—your toddler suddenly starts trying to climb out of the cot, and it feels like game over for sleep. Well, good news: it doesn’t have to be. While we don’t always get to choose when our toddlers transition to a bed, there are plenty of ways to make the shift smoother and keep their sleep (and yours!) on track. 🎧 In episode 94 of Brand New Little People, Dr Fallon & Dr Laura (PhDs, Sleep Practitioners) share everything they wish they’d known before moving their own little ones from cot to bed—so you can handle this milestone with confidence.  ☕️ Love our work? Buy us a coffee! ❤️ Listen on Apple Podcasts https://loom.ly/zui5kX8 ❤️ Listen on Spotify https://loom.ly/ZuBk3N0 ❤️ Listen on Amazon Music https://loom.ly/ZsS9sTQ 🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube https://loom.ly/JhNkXPs ✅ Visit our clinic or join Sombelle for expert support with baby & toddler sleep & settling difficulties: https://loom.ly/RZeC0NA #sleep #babysleep #toddlersleep #parenting #sleepclinic #earlyparenting #sleephelp #sleeptips #sleepdoctor

👶🏽 Dummies, or pacifiers, can be a life saver for exhausted parents. Some babies and toddlers find it comforting to suck, and their dummy becomes part of their strategy for staying calm and even falling asleep. But dummies don’t come without their controversies. 🎧 In episode 93 of Brand New Little People, Dr Fallon & Dr Laura deliver the sensible middle ground, discussing the pros and cons of dummy use - so you can make an educated decision about whether to give your baby a dummy. 👉🏽 PLUS learn everything you need to know about weaning the dummy when the time comes. ☕️ Love our work? Buy us a coffee!  ❤️ Listen on Apple Podcasts ❤️ Listen on Spotify  ❤️ Listen on Amazon Music 🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube ✅ If you’re ready to resolve your baby or toddler’s sleep and settling difficulties, join Sombelle! Members can submit questions to be answered on the podcast each week: https://sombelle.infantsleep.com.au/ 

We never recommend the 'Cry It Out' (CIO) approach in our sleep clinics - and for good reason. In this episode, Dr Fallon & Dr Laura (PhDs, Sleep Practitioners) unpack what CIO means, and what alternatives align better with responsive, evidence-based care. We also take a look at the damage that can be done when the term 'Cry It Out' is applied incorrectly and explore why we steer families toward more supportive sleep solutions. ☕️ Love our work? Buy us a coffee!  ❤️ Listen on Apple Podcasts ❤️ Listen on Spotify  ❤️ Listen on Amazon Music 🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube ✅ If you’re ready to resolve your baby or toddler’s sleep and settling difficulties, join Sombelle! Members can submit questions to be answered on the podcast each week: https://sombelle.infantsleep.com.au/ 

Rigid, age-based wake windows are splashed across the internet, promising the solution to all your baby’s sleep difficulties. But do they actually work? Mostly, no. 🥱 The majority of age-based schedules aim for more sleep than is typical for your baby’s age. 📉 They also assume that all babies of the same age need the exact same thing – which is a bit like assuming that all babies of the same age are the same height and weight! In this episode, Dr Fallon & Dr Laura (PhDs, Sleep Practitioners) unpack why following rigid age-based wake windows can do more harm to sleep than good.  ☕️ Love our work? Buy us a coffee: https://loom.ly/gKUHe3M ❤️ Listen on Apple Podcasts https://loom.ly/zui5kX8 ❤️ Listen on Spotify https://loom.ly/ZuBk3N0 ❤️ Listen on Amazon Music https://loom.ly/ZsS9sTQ 🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube https://loom.ly/JhNkXPs ✅ If you’re ready to resolve your baby or toddler’s sleep and settling difficulties, join Sombelle! Members can submit questions to be answered on the podcast each week: https://loom.ly/RZeC0NA Follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/infant.sleep.australia/ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sombelle 

There is nothing better than those sweet baby cuddles when your little one naps, but at some point, you may find yourself wishing you could have your arms back. You’re not alone! Contact naps can be precious, but they might not feel sustainable, especially if you’ve got other children 👧🏻  your own sensory challenges 🌻 or you simply want to use the bathroom...alone 🚽 In this episode, Dr Fallon and Dr Laura (PhDs, Sleep Practitioners) share 3 easy steps to help you nail the switch from contact naps to cot naps, using a low-stress, adaptable, approach.  Plus, we answer your burning sleep questions! ☕️ Love our work? Buy us a coffee: https://loom.ly/gKUHe3M ❤️ Listen on Apple Podcasts https://loom.ly/zui5kX8 ❤️ Listen on Spotify https://loom.ly/ZuBk3N0 ❤️ Listen on Amazon Music https://loom.ly/ZsS9sTQ 🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube https://loom.ly/JhNkXPs ✅ If you’re ready to resolve your baby or toddler’s sleep and settling difficulties, join Sombelle! Members can submit questions to be answered on the podcast each week: https://loom.ly/RZeC0NA

In this episode, Dr Fallon & Dr Laura (PhDs, Sleep Practitioners) unpack what it means to have a low sleep needs baby or toddler, how to know if your little one is getting the amount of sleep they truly need, and how you can manage their lower sleep requirements across the first few years. ☕️ Love our work? Buy us a coffee: https://loom.ly/gKUHe3M ❤️ Listen on Apple Podcasts https://loom.ly/zui5kX8 ❤️ Listen on Spotify https://loom.ly/ZuBk3N0 ❤️ Listen on Amazon Music https://loom.ly/ZsS9sTQ 🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube https://loom.ly/JhNkXPs ✅ If you’re ready to resolve your baby or toddler’s sleep and settling difficulties, join Sombelle! Members can submit questions to be answered on the podcast each week: https://loom.ly/RZeC0NA 📷 Follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/infant.sleep.australia/ 

If you’ve been trying to get your baby or toddler to go to bed earlier and wake earlier, then the end of Daylight Saving Time (DST) is going to be a huge win for you! But what if you’re happy with your baby or toddlers’ bedtime and wake time and feel mildly petrified that the end of DST is going to mess things up? Never fear, today Dr Fallon & Dr Laura (PhDs, Sleep Practitioners) explain how you can take pre-emptive steps to ensure a smooth transition when clocks change this coming Sunday, in Victoria, NSW, ACT, SA and Tasmania. PLUS hear answers to parent questions about baby and toddler sleep and settling.  ☕️ Love our work? Buy us a coffee: https://loom.ly/gKUHe3M ❤️ Listen on Apple Podcasts https://loom.ly/zui5kX8❤️ Listen on Spotify https://loom.ly/ZuBk3N0❤️ Listen on Amazon Music https://loom.ly/ZsS9sTQ🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube https://loom.ly/JhNkXPs ✅ If you’re ready to resolve your baby or toddler’s sleep and settling difficulties, join Sombelle! Members can submit questions to be answered on the podcast each week: https://sombelle.infantsleep.com.au/  ❤️ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/infant.sleep.australia/ & https://www.instagram.com/brand.new.little.people/