In this episode I’m joined by infant sleep expert and founder of Care it Out, Kerry Secker. Kerry has over 20 years’ experience specialising in infant sleep – first as a nanny and now as a sleep consultant. Kerry has provided families across the globe with support and assurance to help them reach a settled night’s sleep without sleep training.
“We all dance differently, parenting is no different”
Kerry shares so much knowledge in this episode that whatever stage of the sleep journey you are on there will be something that you can take away and hopefully make your nights a little more settled.
I turned to Care it Out when I was riding out that tough first year. I knew that sleep training wasn’t for us and I was so pleased when I discovered Kerry’s gentle and down-to-earth approach that meets families where you are.
Infant sleep is definitely one of those subjects that everyone has a view on and will happily voice their opinions on whether they think you are approaching sleep right. But we need to get away from the idea of “bad habits” and “creating a rod for your own back” because as Kerry reminds us in this episode you are never a crutch or a negative sleep association.
“Falling to sleep independently has nothing to do with self-settling”
Kerry has a brilliant course about bedtime boundaries aka how your little one falls asleep. I found this course so helpful in making small adjustments to our bedtime routine. But remember, whether you are breastfeeding to sleep, rocking to sleep or using another method of supporting your little one to sleep there is nothing wrong with what you are doing as long as it’s working for you.
Kerry’s advice to consider whether your baby is asking for support was an absolutely game-changer for us – perhaps it’ll work for you too.
“Your worth as a parent isn’t tied up into how often your baby wakes up”
We also discuss routines vs going with the flow and how there is no wrong approach no matter where on the spectrum your family falls. Something that works for one family might not work for another. It’s not one size fits all.
I ask Kerry about recognising sleep cues and we discuss how sometimes it can be really difficult to recognise these. Again, every baby is different when it comes to recognising when you should try to put them down. But sleep is a biological process and your little one will sleep when the sleep pressure has built up enough to tip them into sleep.
Finally Kerry busts bed-myths and answers some brilliant questions submitted on my Instagram stories.
“Every baby is perfect and every parent is the perfect parent for their baby”
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Mentioned in this episode:
- Care it Out
- The Sleep Show
- Bedtime boundaries
- Gina Ford
- Sleep training
- Naps and nap gaps
- Bedtime routines
- Sleep cues
- Breastfeeding and co-sleeping
- SIDS
You can find Kerry at www.careitout.com or on Instagram at @careitoutsleepconsultant
If you enjoyed this episode you may also find this in-depth look at co-sleeping and SIDS interesting – why not read it next.
Don’t forget to save this episode with Kerry Secker of Care it Out for later:
