Safe Bed Sharing with Zoe Ayre

01/31/24 • 53 min

Join us on the latest episode of the Baby Pro Podcast as we explore the tender practice of co-sleeping and bed sharing, featuring our special guest, Zoe Ayre. Zoe is an author renowned for her children’s literature, thought provoking essays and soulful social media posts. Her latest book, released in April 2023, “I Will Always Help You Sleep,” and her Instagram presence as “The Respectful Mum,” offers insights into nurturing and respectful parenting approaches from infancy. She shares advice and experiences about the joys and challenges of gentle parenting. During our discussion, Zoe guides us through the intricate and comforting dimensions of nighttime parenting while we also tackle the cultural taboos, safety concerns, and the profound bonds that are strengthened through these nighttime practices.

In this episode, you will learn the following:

Co-sleeping and bed sharing can enhance parent-child bonds through shared sleep experiences.
Cultural perspectives on co-sleeping vary widely with Western societies often promoting independence and other cultures viewing shared sleep as a natural part of parenting.
Addressing the stigma and criticisms around bed sharing is important as many parents quietly practice it despite fear based messaging.
Safe bed sharing practices such as the cuddle curl position can prevent parents from rolling onto the baby and facilitate easier breastfeeding.
The Safe Sleep 7 guidelines can help parents create a safer bed sharing environment by considering factors like sobriety, smoking and the baby’s health.
Parents should make informed decisions about their family’s sleep arrangements without succumbing to societal pressures or external judgment.

Connect with Zoe:

Website: Home - The Respectful Mum

Instagram: Instagram (@therespectfulmum)

Tiktok: TheRespectfulMum- Zoe Ayre's Creator Profile

Amazon: I Will Always Help You Sleep (US version): A Gentle Parenting Storybook Series

Connect with Shelly: Website: Massachusetts IBCLC | Lactation Consultant - Shelly Taft

Insta: Instagram (@shellytaftibclc)

Article mentioned: One third of women have health complications after birth:

One-third of women experience health problems overlooked during childbirth, study says

In this episode, you will learn the following:

Co-sleeping and bed sharing can enhance parent-child bonds through shared sleep experiences.
Cultural perspectives on co-sleeping vary widely with Western societies often promoting independence and other cultures viewing shared sleep as a natural part of parenting.
Addressing the stigma and criticisms around bed sharing is important as many parents quietly practice it despite fear based messaging.
Safe bed sharing practices such as the cuddle curl position can prevent parents from rolling onto the baby and facilitate easier breastfeeding.
The Safe Sleep 7 guidelines can help parents create a safer bed sharing environment by considering factors like sobriety, smoking and the baby’s health.
Parents should make informed decisions about their family’s sleep arrangements without succumbing to societal pressures or external judgment.

Connect with Zoe:

Website: Home - The Respectful Mum

Instagram: Instagram (@therespectfulmum)

Tiktok: TheRespectfulMum- Zoe Ayre's Creator Profile

Amazon: I Will Always Help You Sleep (US version): A Gentle Parenting Storybook Series

Connect with Shelly: Website: Massachusetts IBCLC | Lactation Consultant - Shelly Taft

Insta: Instagram (@shellytaftibclc)

Article mentioned: One third of women have health complications after birth:

One-third of women experience health problems overlooked during childbirth, study says

Previous Episode

The Importance of Skin to Skin with Shelly Taft IBCLC

In today’s episode of the Baby Pro Podcast, tune in as we unwrap the transformative power of skin to skin contact for newborns, exploring its almost mystical ability to stabilize a baby’s vital functions postpartum. Discover how a simple touch can do wonders for your newborn’s physiological regulation and cement the foundation for a deep, enduring bond between parent and child. We share an article about the significant victory for working mothers with Frontier Airlines’ commitment to the needs of breastfeeding pilots. We also engage in a transparent discussion about the contentious topic of bottle versus breast for babies with reflux or colic, underscoring the importance of addressing underlying health issues.

In this episode, you will learn the following:

The importance of skin to skin contact for newborns and its benefits for infant development and parental bonding.
An article about Frontier Airlines’ commitment to accommodate breastfeeding pilots, acknowledged as a win for working mothers.
The debate of whether bottle feeding is preferable for babies with reflux or colic, emphasizing the need to address underlying issues
The physiological effects of skin to skin contact such as regulation of the baby’s heartbeat, breathing and temperature are examined.
The benefits for parents include stress reduction and the release of oxytocin which enhances bonding.
The importance of skin to skin contact post birth, with advice on how to ensure it happens in both vaginal and C section births.

Connect with Shelly: Website: Massachusetts IBCLC | Lactation Consultant - Shelly Taft

Insta: Instagram (@shellytaftibclc)

Article mentioned: Frontier Airlines:

Frontier Airlines settles lawsuit filed by pilots who claimed bias over pregnancy, breastfeeding

Next Episode

History of Breastfeeding in Public

In this episode of the Baby Pro podcast, join us as we tackle the intimate and often controversial topic of breastfeeding in public. Sharing from personal journeys and a rich historical tapestry, we discuss the evolution of societal attitudes towards nursing mothers and the varied experiences across different regions. We also explore practical aspects of breastfeeding, such as managing toddlers during the process and gaining confidence for public nursing. With insights into the legal protections for nursing parents and a discussion on cultural shifts, we invite you to weigh in on the topic.

In this episode, you will learn the following:

The complexities of public breastfeeding and the advocacy efforts surrounding it.
Disparities in premature birth rates, especially among communities of color in the southern United States.
How breastfeeding mothers' legal protections and societal norms have evolved over time.
Tips for breastfeeding mothers, such managing nursing toddlers and confidently breastfeeding in public.
Ongoing challenges that breastfeeding mothers face, including incidents of harassment despite legal protections.

Connect with Shelly: Website: Massachusetts IBCLC | Lactation Consultant - Shelly Taft

Insta: Instagram (@shellytaftibclc)

Article mentioned: U.S scores only a D+ when it comes to rates of premature births

For second year in a row, US gets D+ grade for high preterm birth rate: ‘There’s so much work to be done’ | CNN