The Simple Science to Your Baby's Best Sleep (WITHOUT Sleep Training!!) with Dr Pam Douglas
What if everything you've been told about baby sleep is wrong and the real solution is already built into your baby’s biology?
Dr. Pam Douglas is the founder of the Possums Sleep Program, a science-backed, sanity-saving alternative to traditional sleep training.
In this myth-busting episode, she shares where so many of the things we think we know about sleep come from, why they often create sleep problems instead of solving them & how understanding your baby’s biology can change everything.
💡 You’ll learn:
Why “normal” baby sleep is wildly different than what you’ve been told
The two regulators that actually control sleep — and how to work with them
How common sleep advice is probably setting your family up to fail
Why “wake windows,” dark rooms and early bedtimes can backfire
The surprising truth about overstimulation, routines, and melatonin
📖 Chapter Timestamps:
00:00 – Peeking out of the trenches of year one
01:50 – Why sleep is one of the most distorted parenting topics
04:30 – How outdated health advice causes unnecessary distress
08:00 – What the research really says about night waking
11:25 – The myth of sleep training as “evidence-based”
14:30 – The massive range of biologically normal sleep
17:00 – Why wake windows don’t make sense
22:00 – The two real sleep regulators and how to use them
29:00 – Do you really need a consistent nap routine?
35:00 – Why stimulation at bedtime is a good thing
41:00 – Forget bedtime — it’s wake time that matters
46:00 – How to reduce early rising
51:00 – Transitioning away from co-sleeping (gently)
54:00 – What Dr. Pam most wants you to know🔗 Helpful Links:
Dr. Pam’s Book, The Discontented Little Baby Book
Possums Sleep Program
Find a Possums-accredited practitioner💌 Related episodes:
5 Helpful Things I Learned in My First Year of Motherhood📺 Watch & Subscribe:
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Say hi or suggest a guest: thatshelpful @ edstott.com
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Ed Stott & The Big Life Questions
One big question at a time. Explored, untangled, and (possibly) solved.
Self-improvement is everywhere but most of it’s overly simplistic, shouty, and backed by vibes, not evidence.
I’m Ed Stott, former BBC & ABC journalist turned independent audio doco maker, obsessed with figuring out how to live better. (That obsession once led to 50 stand-up gigs in 6 months… but more on that later.)
Each month, I tackle one big, messy life question like “What’s my purpose?” or “Should I quit my job?” and get real answers from the world’s sharpest minds.
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