Podcasts · The Family Tribe

124: Understanding Baby Sleep: Biology vs Sleep Training

6 Apr 2026 · 33 min · Explicit

“Sleeping like a baby” is one of the biggest myths in parenting.

In this episode, we strip back the noise around infant sleep and look at what the science actually tells us. From circadian rhythm development to night waking, we explain why babies don’t sleep the way we expect them to, and why that doesn’t mean anything is wrong.

We explore the full spectrum of sleep training methods, from cry-it-out to so-called “gentle” approaches, and break down what they are really doing: not changing biology, but changing behaviour.

We also examine the evidence behind sleep training, what improves (parent perception, sometimes sleep onset), what doesn’t (night waking), and why the conversation around “self-soothing” is often misunderstood.

Finally, we talk about the modern sleep industry, the rise of rebranding, and how vulnerable parents are being sold solutions to a problem that may not exist in the first place.

No guilt. No ideology. Just clarity.

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