What "Good Sleep" Really Looks Like for Kids with Rachael Shepard-Ohta

Is the "barometer" you use to measure a successful night of sleep actually just a social construct that is making you more stressed?

Sleep can feel overwhelming and deeply personal, especially when everyone seems to have an opinion about what you should be doing. In this episode, Melissa and Esther talk with Rachael Shepard-Ohta about why night wakings are normal, why crying isn’t automatically a problem to fix, how cultural expectations have shaped modern sleep pressure, and more.

Rachael Shepard-Ohta is the founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, a certified sleep consultant, podcast host, and mom of three who helps families navigate sleep with compassion, evidence, and realism.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

(02:28) How “sleeping through the night” became a misleading cultural benchmark.
(07:23) Why responding to night-time cries can matter just as much as daytime ones.
(13:21) How sleep associations help kids feel safe, calm, and ready for rest.
(19:03) What to check when bedtime takes too long or feels unsustainable.
(27:22) Why sleep is such a polarizing topic for modern parents.
(37:04) How mindset shifts and patience can make difficult sleep phases easier to endure.

Thank you to Rachael Shepard-Ohta for being on our show!
Learn more about Rachael and Hey, Sleepy Baby: https://heysleepybaby.com/

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We’re Doing Great is the parenting podcast that helps you navigate the hard stuff, savor the good stuff, and remember you’re not alone. Hosts and moms, Melissa Cash and Esther Huybreghts, team up with experts to share practical guidance on how to stay anchored when the waters get rough. Join us on the frontlines of modern parenting as we explore what it really means to be good at the hardest job on earth.

Pok Pok is on a mission to help raise the next generation of creative thinkers through non-addictive, digital tools that help them think outside the box and learn through play.

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This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/