Sleep training might be one of the most controversial topics in motherhood — but does it really mean shutting the door and letting your baby cry until they fall asleep? Spoiler alert: no.
This week, I’m sitting down with pediatric sleep consultant Iliana Pineda, who has personally helped our family through multiple stages of baby sleep, to break down everything you actually need to know about sleep training.
We’re talking Sleep Training 101: what it really means to teach your baby independent sleep, the biggest misconceptions (including the dreaded “cry it out” debate), how to know when your baby is ready, and the different methods you can use depending on your baby’s temperament and what feels right for your family.
Iliana also breaks down the science behind baby sleep in a way that actually makes sense — from wake windows and sleep pressure to circadian rhythm, short naps, early morning wake-ups, and that infamous four-month sleep regression.
And because every exhausted parent has found themselves Googling a VERY specific sleep question at 2 a.m., we end with a rapid-fire listener Q&A covering some of the most common baby and toddler sleep struggles.
In this episode, we get into:
- What sleep training actually is — and what it isn’t
- The biggest myths and misconceptions surrounding sleep training
- The four common methods: extinction, check-ins, chair method + pick-up/put-down
- How to figure out which approach may work best for your baby and your family
- When babies are developmentally ready for sleep training
- Wake windows, sleep pressure + circadian rhythm explained
- Why sleep can suddenly fall apart around four months
- How daytime activity and schedules can impact nighttime sleep
- The benefits of independent sleep for babies, parents + the entire family
- Why consistency is one of the biggest pieces of successful sleep training
- Early morning wake-ups, short naps + overnight feeds
- Babies who only want to sleep while nursing or being held
- Toddler sleep struggles + needing a parent in the room
- Transitioning from the Snoo to a crib and from a swaddle to a sleep sack
- Teething, regressions + what to do when life inevitably throws off the schedule
Whether you’re considering sleep training, currently in the thick of it, or just trying to understand why the heck your baby won’t sleep longer than 30 minutes, this episode is packed with practical information you can actually use — without the judgment or one-size-fits-all advice.
And if you decide to reach out to Iliana for some extra sleep support, make sure to tell her you heard her on The Milk or found her through me!
Reach out to Iliana:
Email: ncsservices2019@gmail.com
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