Why won't my baby sleep through the night? Is co-sleeping ever safe? Will feeding or rocking my baby to sleep create a "bad habit"?
In this episode of the Best for Baby Podcast, host Lisa Rogers Sergeant sits down with Maddy Thompson, a social worker, mum of two, and paediatric sleep consultant at Balanced Bedtime Sleep Consultancy, for an honest, guilt-free look at baby and toddler sleep.
Maddy explains the enormous "normal" range for newborn sleep, why safe sleep guidelines and natural instincts to hold and comfort your baby aren't in conflict, and how to safely navigate co-sleeping and contact naps. She breaks down practical, science-backed tools like sleep pressure, light exposure and anchoring the day, and reframes "sleep training" as gentle, responsive sleep optimisation. If you've ever felt judged, confused or anxious about your baby's sleep, this conversation will leave you feeling reassured and equipped.
In this episode:
The huge "normal" range for newborn sleep (11–19 hours)
Safe co-sleeping guidance and why the conversation has changed
Why feeding, rocking or contact-napping to sleep isn't a "bad habit"
What sleep pressure is and how it drives good sleep
Why light exposure within 30 minutes of waking matters
Sleep training vs. sleep optimisation: the gentler, responsive approach
Common sleep myths busted (overtiredness, "if I respond too much…", age cutoffs)
Why comparing your baby to others online does more harm than good
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