Brand New Little People
Kids & Family
About
Welcome to the ultimate podcast for parents navigating the early stages of parenting, with a special focus on vital aspects like sleep, settling, and crying. As passionate hosts and holders of PhD’s in early child development, we're Dr. Fallon Cook and Dr. Laura Conway, also known as paediatric sleep practitioners at Infant Sleep Australia and co-founders of the ground-breaking online paediatric sleep program, Sombelle. Come with us as we delve into the complexities of early parenting, exploring the shades of grey in the advice often given to new parents. Our discussions are informed by our rich experiences in the cl...
Episodes
- Episode 118: Fixing False Starts
In this episode, Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura discuss false starts in babies and toddlers at bedtime. They explain why these false starts occur and provide solutions for parents.
- Episode 117: Fixing the 5am wake up
Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura, sleep practitioners and PhDs, discuss common causes for early morning waking in children. They identify potential mistakes that reinforce early rise times and offer practical steps to help parents adjust their chi…
- Episode 116: Yes, you can wake your sleeping child
Dr. Fallon, a sleep practitioner, discusses the reasoning behind waking babies or toddlers from naps. She explains how limiting daytime sleep can sometimes help improve nighttime sleep patterns.
- Episode 115: The mental load of sleep – who carries it in your house?
Dr. Fallon Cook and Dr. Laura Conway discuss the mental load associated with infant sleep, addressing the planning and cognitive effort often experienced by parents. They explore strategies for managing and sharing this burden to improve p…
- Episode 114: Managing your low sleep needs child
Drs. Fallon and Laura discuss strategies for parenting low sleep needs babies and toddlers. They explore ways to manage expectations and find support for families dealing with this common parenting challenge.
- Episode 113: Using white noise to support sleep
In this episode, Dr. Fallon, a sleep practitioner, discusses how to effectively use white noise to support infant sleep and avoid common mistakes. The episode explores why babies find white noise soothing and how it can be used to calm cry…
- Episode 112: Master the bedtime routine
Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura discuss the importance and science of bedtime routines for children. They provide insights into brain development during these routines and offer strategies for establishing effective habits for babies, toddlers, a…
- Episode 111: The Sleep Assessment Breakdown
Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura explain the step-by-step sleep assessment process they use to support parents of babies and toddlers. They discuss how this approach helps tailor solutions to improve sleep and settling for families.
- Episode 110: Sleep Dilemmas Answered
Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura address common parent questions regarding baby sleep, including nap lengths, managing overnight feeds, and settling strategies for newborns with toddlers. The episode also covers the hosts' future plans for expandi…
- Episode 109: 10 tips for a Merry Xmas with your little one
Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura provide tips for managing holiday stress, navigating family dynamics, and setting expectations for Christmas with young children. They also share personal stories, discuss new traditions, and address listener quest…
- Episode 108: The magic of a set wake up time
Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura explain the benefits of maintaining a consistent daily wake-up time for children’s sleep patterns. They discuss how this practice influences circadian rhythms and provide practical tips for families to implement it.
- Episode 107: Does bedsharing have benefits?
Drs. Fallon and Laura examine scientific literature regarding bedsharing and its impact on infant development and attachment. The episode discusses findings from systematic reviews on breastfeeding, safety risks, and sleep patterns.
- Episode 106: The Answer is Sleep Pressure
Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura explain how to identify and resolve sleep pressure issues that can cause false starts, split nights, and difficulty settling babies or toddlers. They suggest that adjusting a child's daily rhythm can lead to improv…
- Episode 105: Night Weaning
Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura, both PhDs and sleep practitioners, discuss the factors influencing night feeding in babies. They explore the distinction between hunger and habit to help parents make informed decisions about night weaning.
- Episode 104: Speech & Sleep with Dr Kylie
In episode 104 of Brand New Little People, speech pathologist Dr. Kylie Smith discusses communication development and tips for building language skills. Additionally, Dr. Fallon addresses questions regarding baby and toddler sleep and sett…
- Episode 103: Night waking is normal…right?
Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura, both PhDs and sleep practitioners, discuss the common assertion that night waking in babies is normal. They examine this statement in the context of parents experiencing frequent, prolonged sleep disruptions.
- Episode 102: Sleep apnoea in babies & toddlers
This episode discusses sleep apnoea in babies and toddlers, highlighting its impact on wellbeing and explaining why it is screened for in sleep clinics. The episode outlines four key signs of sleep apnoea that parents should monitor.
- Episode 101: How to drop a nap
Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura, sleep practitioners, discuss the key signs that indicate a child is ready to drop a nap. They also provide guidance on how to manage the nap transition process to support healthy overnight sleep.
- Episode 100 🎉 Behind the scenes with Dr Fallon & Dr Laura
To celebrate the 100th episode of Brand New Little People, Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura provide a behind-the-scenes look at their work. They share personal fun facts, answer parenting questions, and discuss the history of the podcast.
- Episode 99: Sleep Questions Answered
Dr. Fallon Cook and Dr. Laura Conway address 10 sleep-related questions from parents. The episode covers topics such as sleep cycles, teething, toddler behavior, and the impact of daycare on sleep routines to help parents understand baby a…
- Episode 98: 3 Factors to Reduce Night Waking
Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura explain three key factors that influence night waking in older babies and toddlers: settling methods, daily rhythm, and motivating factors. Addressing all three is presented as essential for achieving restful sleep.
- Episode 97: Parasomnias
Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura discuss common childhood parasomnias, such as night terrors, sleepwalking, and nightmares. They explore the causes of these sleep experiences and provide advice for parents on how to manage them.
- Episode 96: Sleep during illness
In this episode of Brand New Little People, Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura discuss strategies for managing baby and toddler sleep disruptions caused by illness and how to help children return to their normal sleep routines afterward.
- Episode 95: The 4-Month Sleep ‘Regression’
Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura discuss the reasons behind sleep challenges in four-month-old babies and offer strategies to manage them. They also explore the scientific context of sleep regressions and provide information on further resources f…
- Episode 94: Moving your toddler from cot to bed
In this episode of Brand New Little People, Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura discuss strategies for transitioning a toddler from a cot to a bed. They share personal experiences and professional insights to help parents manage this milestone while…
- Episode 93: Dummies & sleep
In this episode of Brand New Little People, Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using dummies for babies and toddlers. They also provide guidance on how to wean a child off a dummy when the time comes.
- Episode 92: What is 'Cry It Out'?
Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura explain why they advise against the 'Cry It Out' sleep method. They discuss evidence-based, responsive alternatives and the potential issues that arise when the term 'Cry It Out' is used incorrectly.
- Episode 91: Rigid wake windows can worsen sleep
In this episode, Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura discuss why rigid, age-based wake windows often fail to address baby sleep difficulties. They explain why these schedules may be based on unrealistic sleep expectations and fail to account for indi…
- Episode 90: Contact naps to cot naps in 3 easy steps
Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura, sleep practitioners and PhDs, outline a three-step approach to transitioning babies from contact naps to cot naps. The episode also features a Q&A session addressing common baby and toddler sleep challenges.
- Episode 89: Low Sleep Needs? It’s going to be OK!
Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura, doctoral-level sleep practitioners, discuss how to identify if a baby or toddler has low sleep needs and offer strategies for managing these requirements during early childhood.
- Episode 88: Your Guide to the end of Daylight Saving Time
Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura provide guidance on managing baby and toddler sleep schedules during the end of Daylight Saving Time. They also answer parent questions regarding infant sleep and settling.
- Episode 87: Parental Presence at Bedtime
Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura discuss methods for parents to gently reduce their presence at bedtime while their child falls asleep. The episode explores why some parents find constant presence difficult and offers guidance for those looking to…
- Episode 86: Self-soothing behaviours
In this episode of Brand New Little People, Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura discuss the concept of self-soothing in babies and children. They explore various self-soothing behaviors, clarify developmental myths, and explain the capacity of infant…
- Episode 85: Strong-willed toddlers
Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura discuss strategies for managing challenging toddler bedtimes, such as helping a toddler transition to sleeping in a cot. The episode addresses a listener's question regarding a child who struggles with falling asle…
- Episode 84: Cot Shenanigans
In this episode, the hosts offer advice for parents dealing with babies or toddlers who are standing or sitting in their cots instead of sleeping. You will learn practical strategies to help your child settle down and return to a regular s…
- Episode 83: Does darkness help sleep?
This episode explores whether babies and toddlers need a dark environment for sleep. It discusses how to determine the ideal sleep setting based on an individual child's needs.
- Episode 82: Your Pep Talk
This episode provides a pep talk for parents dealing with persistent baby or toddler sleep challenges. It emphasizes that with the right plan and resolve, sleep difficulties can be improved or resolved effectively.
- Episode 81: Toddler Sleep During Big Life Changes
Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura provide guidance on supporting toddlers' sleep during major life transitions, such as the arrival of a new sibling, moving house, or starting childcare. They discuss common challenges toddlers face when their routi…
- Episode 80: The Perfect Nap
Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura analyze the science behind baby and toddler naps. They discuss how nap needs vary by child and aim to help parents feel confident about their child's sleep rhythm.
- Episode 79: Sleep & Attachment
Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura discuss the relationship between sleep arrangements and secure attachment. They clarify that where a child sleeps does not determine attachment style, which is instead built through responsive interactions while th…
- Episode 78: How to stop bed sharing
Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura discuss the factors associated with unwanted bed-sharing among babies and toddlers. The episode provides guidance on preventing bed-sharing and offers strategies for parents who wish to transition their child back…
- Episode 77: From 8-10 night wakes to ZERO!
Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura discuss the case of a mother who went from eight to ten night wakings to zero by moving her eight-month-old infant from bed-sharing to a cot. This episode explores the steps taken to achieve successful independent…
- Episode 76: Baby & Toddler Sleep During the Festive Season
Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura, sleep practitioners, discuss strategies for managing baby and toddler sleep routines during the busy festive season. They provide advice on how families can keep sleep on track amid travel, gatherings, and changes…
- Episode 75: Your Guide to Tired Signs
Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura provide a guide to identifying tired signs in newborns, babies, and toddlers. They discuss the reliability of yawning as a signal and explain how appropriate settling timing varies based on a child's age.
- Episode 74: Red Flags: Sleep Advice
In this episode of Brand New Little People, the hosts discuss how to identify and avoid unreliable or dangerous sleep advice for babies and toddlers. The episode aims to help parents navigate conflicting information and find effective, sup…
- Episode 73: Parent sleep
Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura provide tips for parents to manage middle-of-the-night rumination and improve their own sleep after settling a baby or toddler. This episode explores techniques to avoid 'barbed-wire thinking' when struggling to fa…
- Episode 72: Sleep & settling can be hard to change
Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura discuss the challenges parents face when adjusting a baby or toddler's sleep habits. They explore why these transitions can be difficult and offer guidance for parents looking to make changes to sleep and settling…
- Episode 71: What’s your ‘17 diapers’ story?
Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura discuss the '17 diapers' TikTok trend, which highlights the realities of postpartum life and the importance of supporting mothers. They also answer parenting questions from members of the Sombelle Paediatric Sleep…
- Episode 70: Trauma & Parenting
Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura discuss how parents' past experiences and trauma can influence the transition into parenthood. The episode also features answers to frequently asked listener questions regarding baby and toddler sleep and settling…
- Episode 69: Extreme parent fatigue
Dr. Fallon and Dr. Laura discuss strategies for parents managing extreme fatigue while trying to improve their child's sleep. They also address listener questions regarding high-needs babies, cot settling, and pacifier use.