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 --------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our sponsors this week: *Fast Growing Trees: This Fall, Fast Growing Trees has the best deals for your yard, up to half off on select plants and other deals.  Listeners of our show get 15% OFF at https://www.FastGrowingTrees.com/TWOPARENTS when using the code TWOPARENTS at checkout. *Neuro: For a limited time, you can get 20% off your first order at https://www.Neurogum.com by using code TWOPARENTS. You can also find Neuro at CVS and Amazon. *Hungryroot: For a limited time, get 40% off your first box PLUS a free item in every box for life. Go to https://www.Hungryroot.com/TWOPARENTS and use code TWOPARENTS. *BetterHelp: As the largest online therapy provider in the world, BetterHelp can provide access to mental health professionals with a wide variety of expertise. Our listeners get 10% off their first month at https://www.BetterHelp.com/TWOPARENTS. --------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices