This week on Two Parents & A Podcast, we’re joined by Rachael Shepard-Ohta, a pediatric sleep expert and founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby — to talk about what evidenced-based sleep methods that ACTUALLY work and how to get better sleep without “training” your baby.

We get into it all: what to do in those first sleepless newborn weeks, when (if ever) to expect a routine, and why traditional sleep training isn’t the only way. Rachael explains why baby sleep isn’t linear, how to handle night wakings, and what safe co-sleeping can look like for families who choose it.

We also cover the modern sleep training industry, what other countries are doing better around infant sleep, and the biggest mistakes parents make in the first year (spoiler: it’s not what you think). 

Whether you’re team crib, team co-sleep, or somewhere in between, Rachael will leave you feeling empowered to find what actually works for YOUR family :)

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Welcome back to Two Parents & A Podcast!

00:05:20 Introduction to Rachael Shepard-Ohta (Pediatric Sleep Expert)

00:06:00 What’s the game plan parents should follow for newborn sleep when bringing baby home from the hospital?

00:10:30 When can parents realistically expect their baby to get into a routine?

00:12:30 Why Rachael doesn’t recommend traditional sleep training

00:15:30 The real pros and cons of sleep training

00:18:10 Rachael’s personal experience with sleep training and how it shaped her approach

00:23:44 Why baby sleep is not linear — and what that means for parents

00:27:30 When should parents actually expect their baby to sleep through the night?

00:28:25 When do frequent wake-ups become concerning?

00:31:10 The pros and cons of co-sleeping — plus how to do it safely

00:35:21 Alex & Harrison share their own experience with sleep training

00:39:45 Evidence-based alternatives to sleep training and co-sleeping

00:47:10 Dealing with nap refusal and short naps

00:52:28 Trial-and-erroring new sleep methods and learning your baby’s cues

00:54:50 What other countries are doing around infant sleep that the U.S. could learn from

00:55:37 Rachael’s thoughts on the modern “sleep training industry”

01:02:00 The biggest mistakes parents make around sleep in the first year

01:06:00 Thank you for listening!

#twoparentsandapod

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Follow Two Parents & A Podcast:

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/twoparentsandapod

TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@twoparentsandapod

Follow Alex Bennett:

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/justalexbennett

TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@justalexbennett

Follow Harrison Fugman:

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/harrisonfugman

TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@harrisonfugman

Find our guest:

Website | https://heysleepybaby.com/

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/heysleepybaby

TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@rachaelshepardohta

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