We're all told that we need to be good parents, but what does this mean?  Is it universal for all people of all walks of life?  In this episode, I talk with my ongoing guest Dr. Levita D'Souza about a paper that piqued our interest looking at the relationship of parenting styles with emotion regulation in a predominantly lower-SES and African American sample.  Through understanding the effects of parenting on emotion regulation, we can better understand the implications for child development in these marginalized communities.  And yes, we need to consider the intersection of parenting and race and economics because these have profound impacts for what we might consider "a good parent".  So let us take a look at this important work and what we can glean from it.

The Paper: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/dev.21965
Dr. Joanna Wu: https://healthandhumansciences.fsu.edu/human-development-family-science/faculty-staff/wu/
Dr. Levita D'Souza: https://www.centreforperinatalpsychology.com.au/psychologists/levita-dsouza/

To learn more about the Evolutionary Parenting Podcast visit https://evolutionaryparenting.com/evolutionary-parenting-podcast-2/

Ep. 23: What is the association of parenting styles with emotion regulation in infancy?

A common view today is that when we are born, we are somehow born on even footing when it comes to the effects of how we are raised and what this means for us developmentally.  We believe this despite the emergence of epigenetic theories that tell us otherwise, but the problem becomes how to actually study this given the myriad variables that are at play.  This week I had the pleasure of talking to a leader in this field - Dr. Amanda Dettmer - and her work studying rhesus macaques to explore this very issue of not only intergenerational effects, but how our early life experiences impact so many facets of our lives.  We also got talking about anti-animal research perspectives if that's something you're interested in.  I hope you'll enjoy this conversation as much as I enjoyed having it.  

Dr. Dettmer: https://medicine.yale.edu/profile/amanda_dettmer/
Dr. Dettmer on Twitter: https://twitter.com/amanda_dettmer

Relevant Articles:
https://www.nber.org/papers/w27737
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ajp.22969
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/dev.21916
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17470919.2016.1176952
https://academic.oup.com/ilarjournal/article/55/2/361/645985
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3196800/

To learn more about the Evolutionary Parenting Podcast visit https://evolutionaryparenting.com/evolutionary-parenting-podcast-2/

Ep. 24: What is the role of intergenerational early life experience on life outcomes?

Although not every parent chooses to, many report wanting to breastfeed or chestfeed their child.  Our Western society likes to promote this with slogans and ideas that "breast is best", but most of that isn't backed up with the type of support that parents need to make this a reality.  From inadequate leave to advice that counters the promotion of breastfeeding to a lack of instrumental and social support for new parents, breast and chestfeeding are an uphill battle, to say the least.  Unfortunately this means many parents fail to reach their own goals and this can lead to intense grief about this.  Too often, they are told it doesn't matter or just to suck it up, neither of which is supportive or helpful for parents experiencing this grief.  This week I was privileged to talk to Dr. Amy Brown about this issue, one she has researched and written on for her book, "Why breastfeeding grief and trauma matter".  Whether you were successful in your breast or chestfeeding goals or not, or even if that just wasn't your choice to even embark on, this episode is a critical listen for all of us who engage with new parents.

Dr. Amy Brown: https://professoramybrown.co.uk/about-me
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Prof_AmyBrown
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prof_amybrown/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/breastfeedinguncovered
Why Breastfeeding Grief and Trauma Matter: https://www.bookdepository.com/Why-Breastfeeding-Grief-Trauma-Matter-Amy-Brown/9781780666150

To learn more about the Evolutionary Parenting Podcast visit https://evolutionaryparenting.com/evolutionary-parenting-podcast-2/

Ep. 28: Why should breastfeeding grief and trauma matter?

"You must breastfeed!"  says the medical professional.  
"Don't you dare sleep with your baby!" says the same medical professional.
The tension between how we feed our babies and how we sleep with them is a real problem for many new families.  As primates, we are expected to stay close to our young, and that includes nighttime, and this has profound implications for our feeding journey.  As we discussed last week, breast or chestfeeding grief is real and many families struggle with it, but some of this comes from advice that may be well-intentioned but harms that feeding relationship.  This week I got to talk to the expert herself - Dr. Helen Ball - researcher of the effects of sleep location on feeding and vice versa about this very issue.  She also happens to be one of my favourite people to talk so this episode was an absolute joy for me.  If you think that how you sleep doesn't affect how you feed your baby or how you feed your baby doesn't affect how you sleep, you're likely in for a bit of a surprise.  

Dr. Helen Ball: https://www.dur.ac.uk/research/directory/staff/?id=121
Durham Infancy and Sleep Centre: https://www.durham.ac.uk/research/institutes-and-centres/durham-infancy-sleep-centre/ 
BASIS Website: www.basisonline.org
BASIS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BabySleepInfoSource/
BASIS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/basis_babysleepinfosource/
Articles of Interest (a small selection of many):
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1046/j.1523-536X.2003.00243.x
https://adc.bmj.com/content/89/12/1106.abstract
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0264683021000033147
https://anthrosource.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1525/aa.1999.101.1.143
https://adc.bmj.com/content/91/12/1005.short
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/icd.519
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Helen-Ball/publication/30053712_Breastfeeding_and_mother-infant_sleep_proximity_implications_for_infant_care/links/0fcfd50c45a22d9d36000000/Breastfeeding-and-mother-infant-sleep-proximity-implications-for-infant-care.pdf
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10995-015-1798-7

Ep. 29: What is the relationship between feeding and sleep in infancy?

"It's just the way it is!"
"Progress is always good"
These are the sentiments that many people feel about the way our society and culture is structured.  Because it's how we've grown up and what we've experienced, we believe this is the way it is.  We view change as progress and think that anything different must be less than.  But what if this isn't the type of society or life that enabled us humans to thrive?  We evolved to this point, but is this really the best we can hope for?  Welcome to the concept of the Evolved Nest - the concept that how we lived for the majority of human history has been what enabled our success and moving back to the key features of that history can help us thrive once again.  This week I had the pleasure of talking with Dr. Darcia Narveaz, the creator of this concept and the associated nonprofit organization to discuss what this involves and how we can all thrive.  Isn't it time we get to the stage where we all feel whole again?

Dr. Darcia Narvaez: https://psychology.nd.edu/faculty/darcia-narvaez/
The Evolved Nest: https://evolvednest.org/
Books on the Evolved Nest*
Contexts for Young Child Flourishing: https://amzn.to/3AYbD1j
Neurobiology and the Development of Human Morality: https://amzn.to/36EoOq9
Restoring the Kinship Worldview: https://amzn.to/36AbbZ1
Scientific Articles on the Evolved Nest
https://pubs.lib.umn.edu/index.php/ijps/article/view/2244
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/eco.2020.0067?journalCode=eco
https://internationaljournalofwellbeing.org/index.php/ijow/article/view/987/775

Ep. 32: What is the Evolved Nest and how can it help us thrive?

When we think about education, most of us think about our experience with what we might call modern-traditional schooling: classes by grade, a teacher at the front, testing, memorization, getting to know a new teacher each year, and maybe some more good like good friendships or more bad, like bullying.  But what if school doesn't have to look like this?  What alternative paradigms are out there?  This week I'm joined by former Montessori Principal and advocate for public Montessori at a national level John Freeman to discuss what the different features of Montessori are and how they can help children thrive.  My hope is that after listening to our conversation, families who feel that education could be better for their kids have one more option that they might feel comfortable exploring.  

The National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector: https://www.public-montessori.org/about-us/
Elm City Montessori School: https://elmcitymontessori.org/about-us/
Hartford Courant article: https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-2008-12-29-school1229-story.html

Ep. 33: How does Montessori differ from modern-traditional education?

If you've listened here before you will know that the research doesn't support the idea that extinction sleep training methods, like crying it out or controlled crying, actually improve our infant's sleep (or children's for that matter).  Despite parents reporting improvements, when we look at objective measures of sleep, the sleep of children pre- and post-sleep training is actually no different.  Many of us see this as a bit damning for sleep training, but what cannot be denied is that sleep training may improve parent sleep and in cultures where sleep is hard to come by and expectations for parents are through the roof, this is not something to be overlooked.  This week, I was able to chat with Dr. Levita D'Souza about this very tension - how do we balance our infant's needs for proximity and support as well as their biologically normal sleep rhythms with a parent's need for more sleep in an unsupportive culture.  We both know that only if we can start to address this issue will we be able to move away from our sleep training culture.  I hope our conversation can help move this issue forward.

Dr. Levita D'Souza: www.centreforperinatalpsychology.com.au/psych…ouza/
For those who are interested in an in-depth look at the science on sleep training, you can check out this eLearning Module (available worldwide, continuing education credits for IBCLCs and Australian midwives): https://www.breastfeedingconferences.com.au/conference_details.php?conferenceId=110

Ep. 34: How can we balance our infant's biological sleep with a parent's need for sleep?

We all want our kids to be able to regulate themselves, don't we?  It feels like one of the main goals of parenting is how we are able to help get our kids to the stage where they can handle big emotions, frustrations, and the minor struggles on their own.  Like most things that are developmental in nature, parents can play a key role in how this happens.  This week we explore the issue of how parents can help their child's emotion regulation development with renowned researcher Dr. Lisa Gatzke-Kopp.  From parenting in infancy to the synchrony between parent and child, the insights she has gleaned from years of research are not to be missed.  

Dr. Lisa Gatzke-Kopp: https://hhd.psu.edu/contact/lisa-gatzke-kopp
The Penn State Prevention Science Research Center: https://www.prevention.psu.edu/
The Family Life Project: https://flp.fpg.unc.edu/
Relevant Articles:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/imhj.21913
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/dev.21905
https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2021-24186-001

Ep. 38: What kind of parenting helps children develop emotion regulation?

I want to mention some things that parents of young babies have to think about.  They often think about: 
* Where their baby sleeps
* Why their baby cries (or cries so much)
* Worry about SIDS
* How much their baby sleeps
* Their baby's brain development
* How to feed their baby (and how to get support for it)
* Wondering when our babies will speak
Of course there is so much more, but I mention these in particular because they may all be related to something we definitely don't think about: How our babies breathe.  If you're confused, don't worry because this week is the first of two episodes covering these topics - and more - with the incredible Dr. James McKenna.  Over two weeks, James shares so much wisdom about our babies, parenting, and this both older and newer line of research he's looking at linking so many of these parenting issues to that most basic physiological function of breathing.  

Dr. James McKenna: https://cosleeping.nd.edu/mckenna-biography/
The Mother-Infant Sleep Laboratory: https://cosleeping.nd.edu/
Some Relevant Articles:
https://www.proquest.com/docview/1783392943
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1526054205000230
https://dro.dur.ac.uk/28335/
https://europepmc.org/article/med/26295452

Ep. 39:  Can co-sleeping help prevent SIDS? Part 1

Welcome back to Week 2 with Dr. James McKenna as we continue our conversation into SIDS, colic, breathing, and how our closeness to our babies can protect them.  Please see below for the summary from Part 1:

I want to mention some things that parents of young babies have to think about.  They often think about: 
* Where their baby sleeps
* Why their baby cries (or cries so much)
* Worry about SIDS
* How much their baby sleeps
* Their baby's brain development
* How to feed their baby (and how to get support for it)
* Wondering when our babies will speak
Of course there is so much more, but I mention these in particular because they may all be related to something we definitely don't think about: How our babies breathe.  If you're confused, don't worry because this week is the first of two episodes covering these topics - and more - with the incredible Dr. James McKenna.  Over two weeks, James shares so much wisdom about our babies, parenting, and this both older and newer line of research he's looking at linking so many of these parenting issues to that most basic physiological function of breathing.  

Dr. James McKenna: https://cosleeping.nd.edu/mckenna-biography/
The Mother-Infant Sleep Laboratory: https://cosleeping.nd.edu/
Some Relevant Articles:
https://www.proquest.com/docview/1783392943
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1526054205000230
https://dro.dur.ac.uk/28335/
https://europepmc.org/article/med/26295452

Ep. 40: Can co-sleeping help prevent SIDS? Part 2

Let's be honest - when we talk about parenting, we're often talking about mothering.  Most of the research on raising kids is based on mothers.  Mothers in WEIRD cultures (and by weird, I mean the acronym - Western, Educated, Industrial, Rich, and Democratic countries).  But of course, humans are in a small group of animals where the fathers play a large role in how children are raised.  This means we need to broaden our work, our discussions, and our mindsets around parenting if we're going to truly understand parenting.  As such, this is the beginning of my Fatherhood series where I will be welcoming researchers who have focused on fathers in their work.  There are more than you'd think and this is just the beginning of what I hope to cover.  And starting us off is the researcher who comes to most minds when we think of research on fathering - Dr. Lee Gettler.  This is the beginning of a two-part interview covering just a small part of his research which has advanced our knowledge on fathering across cultures and from different lenses.  Here is for all the fathers out there.  

Dr. Lee Gettler: https://anthropology.nd.edu/people/faculty/lee-gettler/
Relevant Research (just skimming the surface):
https://www.pnas.org/content/108/39/16194.short
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/dev.22121
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-70958-3
https://pure.mpg.de/pubman/faces/ViewItemOverviewPage.jsp?itemId=item_3281046
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ajhb.23342

Ep. 45: Fathering Series Part 1: What Makes Good Fathers?

This week we continue our conversation with Dr. Lee Gettler, discussing his research which has advanced our knowledge on fathering across cultures and from different lenses.  Here is for all the fathers out there.  

Dr. Lee Gettler: https://anthropology.nd.edu/people/faculty/lee-gettler/
Relevant Research (just skimming the surface):
https://www.pnas.org/content/108/39/16194.short
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/dev.22121
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-70958-3
https://pure.mpg.de/pubman/faces/ViewItemOverviewPage.jsp?itemId=item_3281046
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ajhb.23342

Ep. 46: Fathering Series: What Makes Good Fathers? (Part 2)

As we kick off Season 2 of the podcast, we're going to dive into the research on an area that often brings fear to new parents - rightfully - that of SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.   Most people will be aware of best sleep practices promoted by professionals - put your baby to sleep on their back, no extra items in the sleeping area, and no matter what you do, never sleep with your baby.  But how well do these recommendations stand up to the actual research?  What do we really know versus what we're being told?  Joining me (again) is one of my favourite people and one who is out there changing the way we think about our advice for SIDS through research and advocacy - Dr. Helen Ball.  Through her work at Durham University's Parent-Infant Sleep Centre, she has been helping professionals and families better understand the risks around SIDS and how we can best support families with evidence-based information.  If you think you know the evidence behind sleep recommendations, you may need to think again.

Dr. Helen Ball: https://www.durham.ac.uk/staff/h-l-ball/
Parent-Infant Sleep Centre: https://www.durham.ac.uk/research/institutes-and-centres/durham-infancy-sleep-centre/
BASIS: https://www.basisonline.org.uk/
SIDS and Infant Sleep Webinars for Professionals (or Parents): https://www.basisonline.org.uk/hcp-infant-sleep-webinars/ 

**March 28 is a virtual (or in-person) conference through the Parent-Infant Sleep Centre.  Speakers include Dr. James McKenna and Kristin Tully!!!
Get more information and register (I have!) here: https://www.dur.ac.uk/conference.booking/details/?id=1736

Ep. 49: What do we know about sleep and SIDS?

When you think about your child's sleep, what are the words that often come to mind?  I know in Western cultures, we often hear "independence", "self-soothing", "needy", "manipulative" and so on.  The way in which we speak about something has a profound impact on how we conceptualize and approach it.  In the realm of sleep, the language of independence and manipulation has led to the flourishing of sleep training and perceived sleep problems for many families.  But what if we had culturally-approved and accepted language that focused on supporting our children during sleep?  What difference could that make?  The word Uspavani embraces just that.  Unlike in our Western world, in the Czech Republic, they do have language that focuses on embracing the support our kids need.  Joining me today is Mrs. Lenka Tinkova, a Czech sleep expert and graduate student who is exploring the very issue of how language and concepts like Uspavani support families in helping their children.  If you've ever felt alone in your sleep journey or like you're doing something wrong by helping your child, it may be time to learn about and embrace Uspavani in your family.

Mrs. Lenka Tinkova: https://www.durham.ac.uk/staff/lenka-m-tinkova/
Prosim Spinkej (Czech sleep site): https://ProsimSpinkej.cz
Mrs. Tinkova's books: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/18740980.Lenka_Medvecov_Tinkov_
Article on Language and Sleep: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352721821002254

Ep. 51: What is 'Uspavani' and how can it help us support our children's sleep?

One of the more difficult topics for many families these days has to do with media use.  We are a tech-heavy society and that extends downwards to our kids.  It's not uncommon to go out and see parents handing over screens to their kids to get through a dinner, a car ride, a boring appointment, and so on.  At home kids spend hours in front of screens for school, to be social, to play games, and more.  When parents try to understand the effects of this screen time, they are often met with tons of different information.  Some makes it out that we are damaging our children for life.  Others say it's just the way of the future.  So which is it?  Joining me this week is Dr. Meghan Owenz, researcher and founder of Screen-Free Parenting.  She sifts through the research so you can get a better idea of the nuances in the findings, but also helps highlight ways families can move away from the dependence so many of us - myself included - have on our technology.  As is so often the case, the reality is far more interesting that what we have been fed in the mainstream.

Dr. Meghan Owenz: https://berks.psu.edu/person/owenz-meghan
Screen-Free Parenting: https://www.screenfreeparenting.com/
Spoiled Right: https://stores.praeclaruspress.com/spoiled-right-delaying-screens-and-giving-children-what-they-really-need-by-meghan-owenz-1/

Ep. 52: How does media use affect our kids and what can we do about it?

For ages, policy makers have been pushing earlier education for children.  In many previous studies, these have been found to be very helpful for families that are disadvantaged, but yet the research on them has been short-lived since states of taken on the role of overseeing these programs.  Of course, if a program can help a family or child, it should be available, but what if it doesn't?  Joining me today is Dr. Kelley Durkin whose career focuses on children's education and how we can help children's learning.  Working in the State of Tennessee, she is able to assess their state-wide pre-K program to see how these children fare in the long-term, and most recently published the findings of her most recent analysis.  With a focus on what is happening, but also what might be done in the future, her insights are much-needed for all who care about the education of children.

Dr. Kelley Durkin: https://peabody.vanderbilt.edu/bio/kelley-durkin
Articles of Interest:
https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2022-18712-001
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0885200618300279
https://my.vanderbilt.edu/tnprekevaluation/files/2021/09/SREE-TVPK-presentation-2021.pdf

Ep. 56: What are the long-term outcomes associated with a state-run pre-K program?

Welcome back after our break and I hope you enjoyed the last few weeks and maybe even used that time to check out some of our older episodes that always stay relevant for families!  This week, we're back and talking about the transition to parenthood.  
In the transition to parenthood, many of us realize that who we are is going to fundamentally change.  We don't know how, we don't know how we're going to cope with it, but we expect a change.  What we don't often think about is the effect on our relationship if we happen to be entering parenthood as a team.  How we relate to our partner can shift fundamentally and often the first few years post-parenthood is a tumultuous time for couples and results in a higher than usual rate of separation.  Why does this happen?  What can couples do to help prevent this and stay together?  Joining me this week is Nora Wright, couples therapist and founder of The Family Hive where she teaches Gottman's Bringing Baby Home program to help parents adapt to the transition to parenthood without wanting to kill each other.  If you feel that your relationship has suffered or you're anticipating a new arrival and worried about how that will change the dynamic of your relationship, don't fret - things can always change.  

About Nora and The Family Hive (in person and virtual courses): https://www.familyhivewc.com/
Emotionally Focused Therapy certified couples therapists can be found through ICEEFT: https://iceeft.com/
A complete listing for the Bringing Baby Home workshop internationally:  https://www.gottman.com/parents/new-parents-workshop/

Ep. 57: What happens to the couple when they become parents?

When it comes to parenting, there are thousands of books with myriad bits of advice for soon-to-be-parents and those who are already parents and facing some kind of struggle.  Sometimes it can feel overwhelming when we think of all the bits of advice out there.  One would think we don't need more, right?  But what if you are a parent who just can't see yourself in any of these books or pieces of advice?  What if you just aren't represented?  This has been the reality for many LGBTQ+ parents and hopeful parents when they browse the books that are incredibly heteronormative.  And as we all know, when you aren't represented, it's hard to know where to turn or to feel like you're even supposed to be a parent.  Joining me this week is Dr. BJ Epstein Woodstein to discuss her new book "We're Here: A Practical Guide to Becoming a LGBTQ+ Parent" where she not only offers advice for those who have not be previously represented, but also advice for the rest of us on how we can support everyone in their parenting journey.  

Dr. Epstein Woodstein: https://www.bjwoodstein.com/
We're Here, the book: https://stores.praeclaruspress.com/were-here-a-practical-guide-to-becoming-an-lgbtq-parent-by-b-j-woodstein/
The Newman Goldfarb protocol: https://www.asklenore.info/breastfeeding/induced_lactation/protocols4print.shtml
A list of some LGBTQ+-relevant parenting books (some better than others): https://mombian.com/product-tag/parenting-guide/

Ep. 58: How can we support LGBTQ+ parents?

External validity.  It's a topic that many of us don't really talk about.  It's the idea that certain research findings only apply to certain groups.  In sleep training, most people assume the research is applicable to all families, but is this the case?  This is the question that Dr. Levita D'Souza and I examine this week as we talk about the research that provides us information on who takes part and who doesn't, and what this means for our understanding of the research in broader terms.  

Dr. Levita D'Souza: https://www.centreforperinatalpsychology.com.au/psychologists/levita-dsouza/
Relevant Research:
https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article/43/4/zsz268/5611128?login=false
https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article-abstract/130/4/643/30241/Five-Year-Follow-up-of-Harms-and-Benefits-of

Ep. 59: Does the Sleep Training Research Apply To All?

Raising good humans is hard.  We all worry about if we're doing best and we don't always know how to do it.  This is especially true when we start touching on topics we may not have experience with, like racism.  Many of us may think that we can just try to raise kids who aren't racist and that will be enough.  But it's not.  We need to actively work to change the ingrained racism in our society and our children can lead the way if we help them get there.  This is where help is needed and I was thrilled to be able to speak to educator and author Britt Hawthorne about her new book, "Raising Anti-Racist Children".  She's the help we need to change the world one child at a time.

Britt Hawthorne: https://britthawthorne.com/
Speak Up from the Southern Poverty Law Center: https://www.splcenter.org/20150125/speak-responding-everyday-bigotry

Ep. 60: How can we raise anti-racist children?

Bedtime.  It's one of the biggest struggles parents face.  Everyone is tired, we just want our kids to calm and go to sleep.  But how does our bedtime affect their sleep?  Often we hear that we need our kids to be independent at bedtime, do things on their own, that that will lead to a good sleep.  The problem is that there hasn't really been any research on how these actions affect bedtime... until now.  This week I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Lauren Philbrook who is with me to talk about her new research looking at the question of how parental presence and contact as well as calming activities at night influence children's stress levels and quality of sleep.  If you've bought into the idea that parents need to separate themselves at bedtime, you might want to hear what Dr. Philbrook has to say.

Dr. Lauren Philbrook: https://www.colgate.edu/about/directory/lphilbrook 
Research Articles of Interest
https://doi.org/10.1002/dev.22322:
https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0001027
https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsz078
https://doi.org/0.1002/dev.21442

Ep. 61: How does parental presence and contact affect children's stress and sleep?

As we know, sleep is one of the most talked-about topics for new parents.  None of them are getting enough, and everyone is worried about it.  In Western cultures, parents are often made to feel that the only way to get sleep is to leave their baby to cry to learn to sleep alone, something called 'crying it out'.  This can be modified slightly where parents leave their child for intervals of time, often called 'controlled crying' or 'controlled comforting'.  Importantly, the age at which we recommend this to families has gotten younger and younger over the years, and even who we recommend it to has changed.  Whereas it was once recommended for families with severe problems, it's now recommended as a preemptive move parents should take to avoid problems.  But what does the research say about these changes?  Do they support the use of this type of sleep training?  Joining me to discuss this is Macall Gordon, a researcher specializing in infant mental health who has reviewed the research in depth and is here to share these findings.  Whether you're surprised or not, the findings are ones that should be more widely discussed for they have major implications for all families.

Thank you so much for listening, that's it for this week.  I hope if you're one of those families who has felt pressure to sleep train but it isn't for you or you don't even feel there's a problem, you can feel better about saying no.  And if you are struggling, I would add that there are other methods you can use that do not require you to leave your baby to cry and I would strongly recommend starting there, especially as we discussed here - often there are underlying issues that should be examined.  Until next time, stay safe and happy parenting.

Macall Gordon, M.A.: https://www.antioch.edu/faculty/macall-gordon/
Relevant papers to the discussion:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352721822000778
https://connect.springerpub.com/content/sgrcl/13/2/65.abstract

If you are struggling with your child's sleep and want to find out if something may be underlying the problem, you can try the Brief Infant and Toddler Sleep Screen, something I devised to help families determine what - if anything - is affecting their child's sleep: https://evolutionaryparenting.com/test/bitss/

Ep. 62: What do we really know about Crying It Out?

Our understanding and acceptance of Autism has evolved over the years towards a greater awareness of what we call neurodiversity - broadly, the idea that each brain is unique and what used to be considered "disorders" are not at all, but rather reflections of these uniquenesses with their own strengths and weaknesses.  At the same time, we have also learned how valuable early intervention is for longer-term outcomes.  But how can this be?  If we aren't "fixing" anything, why the need for this intervention?  Joining me is Dr. Lauren Franz, the Associate Director of Duke University's Center for Autism and Brain Development, for what I hope you will find to be an enlightening and important conversation.

Dr. Franz: https://globalhealth.duke.edu/people/franz-lauren 
Focus article: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/2794074
Programs and articles discussed in the interview:
On Naturalistic Developmental Behavioural Interventions:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4513196/pdf/10803_2015_Article_2407.pdf
On Early Start Denver Model:
https://autismcenter.duke.edu/news/online-caregiver-coaching-modules-based-early-start-denver-model
Lancet Commission report: https://www.thelancet.com/commissions/autism
Open Access Book "Autistic Community and the Neurodiversity Movement": https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-13-8437-0
Meta-Analysis of interventions: https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fbul0000215

Ep. 63: How do we reconcile early intervention for Autism with neurodiversity?

Normalizing breastfeeding is an ongoing battle in some Western cultures.  Even when someone starts out breastfeeding, many report not being able to meet their goals or face various obstacles in trying to nurse their children.  One part of the equation is how breastfeeding is represented in these cultures.  Is it accessible through various media?  How is it perceived?  Joining me today to help answer this question - and discuss the implications of it - is Dr. BJ Woodstein, author of the book The Portrayal of Breastfeeding in Literature.  Hopefully by understanding the power of how breastfeeding is portrayed, we can move towards creating a culture where breastfeeding families feel supported and seen.

Dr. BJ Woodstein: https://research-portal.uea.ac.uk/en/persons/bj-epstein
The Portrayal of Breastfeeding in Literature*: https://amzn.to/3kaUVYQ 
We’re Here!: A Practical Guide to Becoming an LGBTQ+ Parent*: https://amzn.to/3YVhWhm  

*Amazon affiliate link

Ep. 64: How Is Breastfeeding Portrayed in Literature in Different Cultures?

When we think about raising our children, we often all have ideas of what is best and what we want to do.  Not always are we able to achieve those goals – for better or worse.  But the early years, especially 0 to 3, are crucial in our children’s neurological development and knowing what can benefit them and how we can overcome adversity in that time is something all parents should know.  Returning to the show this week is Dr. Green Kirshenbaum, a neuroscientist, doula, and educator who is here to discuss her new book – The Nurture Revolution – and help families understand what’s going on in that crucial developmental period (and beyond) and how families can utilize the benefit of nurture to help facilitate this development.  Not just for new parents, this episode is one for anyone who is raising a child of any age and wants to know how we can best serve those little people we call our kids.

 

Dr. Greer Kirshenbaum: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/

Her book, The Nurture Revolution: https://amzn.to/3CFLsC3

Ep. 65: How can nurture transform your parenting and your child?

In this inaugural episode, Pinky McKay and I chat about an interesting question: Does breastfeeding on demand at night lead to the expectation of immediate sexual gratification in adulthood?  This was a question given to me by a reader who was told this would be the case by a close friend.  Sadly, too many people still link breastfeeding or nursing with sex and think that allowing a child to feed on demand leads to entitlement.  Nothing could be further from the truth and Pinky and I discuss these misconceptions.  
If you want to read up some more on topics related to this, you can read the following pieces by Pinky or myself:
Does your breastfed baby really need night feeds? http://www.pinkymckay.com/breastfeeding-does-your-baby-really-need-night-feeds/ 
Does co-sleeping mean a better sex life?  http://www.pinkymckay.com/co-sleeping-does-it-mean-a-better-sex-life/  
What is the link between breastfeeding on demand and self-regulation? http://evolutionaryparenting.com/the-role-of-breastfeeding-in-self-regulation/ 
Can things like nursing at night, co-sleeping, and so on harm our children?  http://evolutionaryparenting.com/what-children-dont-need/

Ep 1: Does breastfeeding on demand lead to expectation of immediate sexual gratification in adults?

When do our children's needs morph into wants?  How are we supposed to be responsive without "giving in"?  These are some of the questions that I talk about with a mother looking for answers about how to be a loving, responsive, and sensitive parent without harming her child's budding independence.

Ep 2: Responsive Parenting - When Needs Become Wants

This episode I interview Carly Grubb, the amazing founder of the Beyond Sleep Training Project and the charity Little Sparklers, based in Australia.  We talk about all we can relating to her work, sleep training, orchid kids, and the struggles facing so many families today!

Ep 3: What are the sleep struggles facing families today?

In this interview, I talk to the founder of the Gentle Mama, Halyley Bukhamsin.  She is a UK ex-pat living in Dubai and trying to help families move towards a more gentle response to their child's sleep.  Most interesting to me is the cultural variety in Dubai and the unique circumstances that poses for someone working across so many cultures.  I hope you enjoy this as much as I did and I thank Hayley for coming on, especially as she was at the tail end of fighting Covid!

Ep 4: How do we move towards gentle parenting across cultures?

In this episode, I had the chance to chat with Dr. Gerald Giesbrecht of the University of Calgary about a recent study looking at the factors associated with and outcomes of delaying our responsiveness to our babies cries.  Is this something that is beneficial?  What are the nuances in the research that often don't get the space in mainstream science reporting?  We go into all of this here.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Ep 6: How does sleep training in infancy impact infant behaviour at 1 year?

Why does research not find a relationship between sleep training and attachment?  Isn't the idea that we need to be responsive regularly to foster secure attachment?  And isn't sleep training the opposite of that?  This week, Dr. Levita D'Souza, a counselling psychologist and attachment researcher, joins me to discuss the many reasons why we may not find a relationship in the research.  Or at least not as it's been studied.  

To learn more about the Evolutionary Parenting Podcast visit https://evolutionaryparenting.com/evolutionary-parenting-podcast-2/

Ep. 9: Does sleep training affect attachment?

It seems like you can't talk to anyone about your baby and their sleep without being told that you have to cry it out or use a modified version, like controlled crying.  In our culture, it's the go-to for all sleep problems or even pre-emptive sleep problems.  How did we get here?  In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jennie Rosier, a professor at James Madison University and my co-author on a paper in the Journal of Family Issues on the same topic.  How we got here is an interesting story, albeit one that has nothing to do with science.

Dr. Jennie Rosier: https://www.jmu.edu/news/media/faculty-experts/experts/rosier-jennie/
The Relationship, Love, Happiness Project: http://www.relationshipslovehappiness.com/
Love Matters Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2NrlJggsXrfVNgp5Ycu1JY
Jennie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/relationshipslovehappiness
Jennie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RelationshipsLoveHappiness
Our Academic Paper: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0192513X20949891

To learn more about the Evolutionary Parenting Podcast visit https://evolutionaryparenting.com/evolutionary-parenting-podcast-2/

Evolutionary Parenting Podcast

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