Episode 61: How to Lengthen Short Naps: Interview with Kim West

07/18/21 • 52 min

1 Listener

Welcome to Season 3 of the Finding Your Village podcast. I am so excited to be kicking off a new season with one of my favorite parenting experts, Kim West! Before I introduce Kim and the topic for our show today I wanted to let you know what I have been working on in the past few weeks while the show has been on summer break!

I have been able to spend some quality time with my family and have fun one on one time with my kids.I have opened up my virtual 4 week online childbirth classes and if you are interested in taking a birth class with me you can check out more info on my website: www.findingyourvillage.com. I have also been doing some professional development to make this podcast even better for you. Finally, I downloaded another social media app that you may have heard of...its called TikTok. I have been sharing labor and postpartum information on there, connecting with other birth workers and parents and have started making Weird Al like parody songs based on pregnancy and postpartum struggles. If you have jumped on the TikTok bandwagon, follow me at findingyourvillage.

Ok, now that you’re all caught up with what I did over summer break, I get the distinct honor of introducing our guest for today!

KIM WEST, LCSW-C, is a mother of two daughters, best selling author and a licensed child and family therapist. Known as The Sleep Lady® by her clients, she has personally helped over 20,000 tired parents all over the world get a good night’s sleep without letting their children cry it out alone.

Kim is the author of three books: “The Sleep Lady’s Good Night, Sleep Tight: Gentle Proven Solutions to Help Your Child Sleep Well and Wake Up Happy”, “ The Good Night, Sleep Tight Workbook” and “The Good Night, Sleep Tight Workbook for Children with Special Needs”.

In today’s episode we are discussing how to lengthen short baby naps. We also talk about Kim’s background and how she came to be the Sleep Lady and my personal story of how Kim’s work helped me.

In this episode we discuss:

The history of sleep training methodologies
There is no science to support sleep training babies under 4 months old, you can set up proper sleep hygiene with younger babies, but true sleep training shouldn’t take place until babies are at least 4 months old
There are really 3 main sleep training/coaching methods
- Extinction (cry-it-out)
- Graduated extinction (Timed checks or controlled crying)
- Fading (The Sleep Lady Shuffle)
What is a disaster nap?
- A short nap that isn’t a complete sleep cycle that is enough to take the edge off the exhaustion but isn’t enough to be restorative
What can parents do to lengthen a baby’s nap?
- You can start to work on lengthening baby naps when they are at least 5 months old
- Make sure you are paying attention to baby awake intervals and sleep cues to put them down for a nap at the appropriate time
- Work on baby getting to sleep on their own at bedtime first, then work on naps
Common baby sleep cues
- Sucking hands
- Disengaging/looking away
- Zoning out
- Yawning
- *Some babies don’t show sleep cues!
Kim’s new podcast: The Gentle Parenting Show

How to get in touch with Kim

Follow her on Instagram
Website

How to get in touch with me:

My Virtual 4-week online Birth Class
Follow me on

Visit www.keepsakecastle.com today!

Support the show

Ok, now that you’re all caught up with what I did over summer break, I get the distinct honor of introducing our guest for today!

In this episode we discuss:

The history of sleep training methodologies
There is no science to support sleep training babies under 4 months old, you can set up proper sleep hygiene with younger babies, but true sleep training shouldn’t take place until babies are at least 4 months old
There are really 3 main sleep training/coaching methods
- Extinction (cry-it-out)
- Graduated extinction (Timed checks or controlled crying)
- Fading (The Sleep Lady Shuffle)
What is a disaster nap?
- A short nap that isn’t a complete sleep cycle that is enough to take the edge off the exhaustion but isn’t enough to be restorative
What can parents do to lengthen a baby’s nap?
- You can start to work on lengthening baby naps when they are at least 5 months old
- Make sure you are paying attention to baby awake intervals and sleep cues to put them down for a nap at the appropriate time
- Work on baby getting to sleep on their own at bedtime first, then work on naps
Common baby sleep cues
- Sucking hands
- Disengaging/looking away
- Zoning out
- Yawning
- *Some babies don’t show sleep cues!
Kim’s new podcast: The Gentle Parenting Show

How to get in touch with Kim

Follow her on Instagram
Website

How to get in touch with me:

My Virtual 4-week online Birth Class
Follow me on

Visit www.keepsakecastle.com today!

Support the show

Previous Episode

Episode 60: Cloth Diapering: Interview with Gigi Vera Vincent

Today’s episode will wrap up the end of season 2 of the Finding Your Village podcast. I am taking a vacation from the show as I prepare to launch by birth classes on July 7th! Season 3 of the podcast starts on July 18th!

In today’s episode we are talking all about cloth diapers! I had the pleasure of talking to Gigi Vera Vincent, who is a postpartum doula, mother to three toddlers, including twins, and a wife to her high school sweetheart. As a former teacher, her love languages are planning and handouts; she brings realistic, evidence-based, and actionable advice. She founded A Simple Home to help parents find their way to raise babies, so they can thrive in the fourth trimester and beyond.

Cloth Diapering 101:
Pushbacks:

1. Partner / Caregiver / Daycare doesn't want to

Find what will convince them
Make a routine and give direction
Walk the walk
Let them do it their way, even if it means disposables.

2. Gross

They aren't much better or worse than disposables.
Solids in disposables should be placed in the toilet as well.
Use a diaper sprayer and save clean up for once or twice a day.

Benefits:

1. Save money

Cloth diapers are around $500 and can be resold or used for multiple children.

2. Help the Environment

Over 20 billion diapers are thrown away in the US every year.
With cloth diapers, you'll save disposables from entering landfills, sewers, and waterways.

3. Improve your baby's health

Disposable diapers have harmful chemicals like bleach, dioxins, phthalates, and fragrances.
If your baby has sensitive skin, natural fibers in cloth diapers are much better.

4. Are more practical

You'll never run out.
You'll have fewer blowouts.
You won't need to deal with size changes.

Types:

1. Diaper + Cover

This diaper has two parts: an absorbent diaper and a waterproof cover.
They're called flats, prefolds, and fitteds.
These are great for people who want a small, minimal, easy-to-wash diaper.

2. Diaper + Insert

This diaper has two parts as well: a waterproof cover with fabric inside and an insert that absorbs liquid.
They're called pockets, all-in-twos, and hybrids.
These are best for people who want to customize their diaper.

3. Complete System

This is one piece with the cover and absorbency all sewn together.
They're called all-in-ones.
These are a good choice for someone who has others caring for their baby or wants a diaper most similar to disposable.

Freebie: Step-by-Step Cloth Diaper Routine

How to get in touch with Gigi

Follow her on Instagram
Website

How to get in touch with me:

Birth Class!
Follow me on Instagram
Find other episodes at: www.findingyourvillagepod.com
Email me at [email protected]

Visit www.keepsakecastle.com today!

Support the show

Next Episode

Episode 62: Breastfeeding Support: Interview with Amanda Gorman

Announcements
First: Big shoutout and congratulations to Christi Matusiak, she was a guest on the show in episode 44 and she just published her first book! It is called Coordinating the Chaos, and it's a holistic take on balancing hormones postpartum and cultivating the energy to show up as the exceptional, nurturing mother you want to be. This book is available for pre-order right now on her website and I have linked to it in the show notes for this episode: https://www.christymatusiakdc.com/shop
Second, I have created a free download about 7 experts to have in your prenatal and postpartum village. You can download it here: https://www.findingyourvillage.com/7-experts

This week’s interview is with another Amanda Gorman. I found Amanda after learning about Amanda SC Gorman, the poet laureate and I realized that this third Amanda Gorman is also a podcast host and is in the postpartum support industry. Crazy small world.

Amanda is a mother of two and a Board-Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. She founded Nest Collaborative after experiencing the lack of available resources for nursing parents both professionally in her primary care practice and personally, as a mother who struggled to breastfeed. She brings a passion to Nest Collaborative to expand access for parents to accessible, affordable and preventive breastfeeding support.

In this episode we discuss:

Amanda’s background
She noticed a lack in the ability and resources to support breastfeeding moms in postpartum care
She started Nest Collaborative in 2017
- Use telehealth/virtual visits to bring Board Certified Lactation support to people who otherwise have trouble accessing it
- Use insurance and make sure the support is affordable
Common breastfeeding issues
- Latch and positioning issues
- Concerns about how much baby is getting and if baby is getting enough
- Jaundice
- Is breastfeeding supposed to be uncomfortable
How the use of IV fluids during labor impacts establishing a breastfeeding relationship
Supplementation
- Breastfeeding is a supply and demand process

How to get in touch with Amanda:

How to get in touch with me: