Episode 43: Safe Co-Sleeping Practices: Interview with Gail Root

In today’s episode, we are discussing safe co-sleeping or bed sharing practices. Our guest to discuss this topic is Gail Root. With a life devoted to teaching, counseling, and guiding new parents into their most important role as loving caregivers, Gail Root has the perfect combination of child development knowledge and Perinatal Psychology experience.I've heard it said before that co-sleeping is like teenagers having sex. We can tell them not to do it, but at the end of the day many of them are going to do it anyway, so you might as well teach them how to do it safely. In this episode we discuss: Questions to consider concerning sleep for your familyChild’s temperamentYour gut instinctHow you sleepAttachment Parenting: can mean many things, most consider it to be an approach to raising children by listening to the cues of your child and responding to those cuesBeing responsive and sensitiveNurturing child through touchHolding/carrying baby a lotCo sleeping/bed sharing: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) warns against bed sharing, but it has quadrupled in US in last 25 years. AAP position, understandably, seeks to keep babies as safe as possible, appears to emerge from an abundance of cautionBreastsleeping: coined by Dr. James Mckenna, PhD, Director of the  Mother-Baby Sleep Lab at University of Notre DameCuddle curl: breastfeeding parent lays on side with knees up and stacked with arm tucked under head and curled around baby to create a protected spaceSafe way to co-sleep/bed share: On a flat and firm surfaceWith blankets away from babyIn cuddle curl positionBreastfeeding parent must be free of mind altering substances (alcohol, etc.) and should have not smoked cigarettes eitherMoms with long hair should have their hair pulled back into pony tailEnsure there is no gap between the bed and the bed frameA dock-a-tot is not recommended/considered safeThis is a way that the nursing parent can nurse during the night in the side-lying positionGail’s Recommended Book List: Good Nights, the happy parents guide to the family bed (and a peaceful nights’ sleep) by Gordon & GoodavageSafe Infant Sleep, Expert Answers to your cosleeping questions by Dr. James McKennaManaging the mother load, a guide to creating more ease, space and grace in motherhood by BoruckiThe Bottom line for baby by BrysonWhat no one tells you, a guide to your emotions from pregnancy to motherhood by Sacks & BirndorfHow to connect with Gail: Website: www.rootsandwingsparentcoaching.comEmail: gail@rootsandwingsparentcoaching.com How to get in touch with me: Follow me on InstagramFind other episodes at: www.findingyourvillagepod.comEmail me at amanda@findingyourvillagepod.com Monthly Newsletter Visit www.keepsakecastle.com today!Support the Show.