20: Newborn Sleep Prep for Expecting Moms | Should I Do an Eat Play Sleep Routine, Can I Contact Nap Before Returning to Work, and Navigating Toddler Sleep Transitions With a New Sibling

In this episode of the Postpartum Prep Podcast, Ceridwen sits down again with Katie from Sleepy Starts to answer real listener questions about preparing for newborn sleep.If you haven’t listened to the full episode released right before this one—Baby Sleep Safety Guidelines—add it to your queue next. That episode lays the foundation for everything you’ll hear today, especially around what's normal for baby sleep and why babies like to be held while sleeping.Today, we dive into some common concerns expecting moms have about newborn sleep:1. Should I do an eat play sleep routine with my baby?Katie shares why this popular routine is rooted in sleep-training culture, how it often pulls parents out of tune with their baby’s true needs, and why feeding and sleep are biologically linked—especially for breastfeeding dyads. Ceridwen adds a lactation lens, explaining how feeding on demand supports milk supply and strengthens motherbaby connection.2. Will contact napping create "bad habits" for when I go back to work?We discuss what contact napping really is, why it’s normal for babies to want to sleep on a caregiver, and how to prepare for future childcare without sacrificing the closeness that supports regulation, bonding, and safe sleep. Katie breaks down “matchmaking childcare,” secondary attachment figures, and how temperament (orchid vs. dandelion babies) influences transitions. You’ll also learn why babies often nap totally differently with other caregivers - and why that’s not a sign you did anything wrong.3. How do I prepare for newborn sleep when I'm already bedsharing with a toddler?Katie walks through practical, safe options for families welcoming a new baby while supporting a bedsharing toddler—whether that means adjusting sleep positions, adding a separate toddler sleep surface, or gently shifting a toddler into their own space with attachment-preserving transitions. We cover the cuddle-curl cosleeping position, safe separation between toddlers and newborns, temperament considerations, and the crucial role of support people during this major shift.If you’re pregnant or preparing for postpartum and wondering how to navigate newborn sleep in a way that protects bonding, supports breastfeeding, and honors both your baby’s needs and your own - this episode is for you.Find Katie's resources at sleepystarts.com or on Instagram @sleepystarts.About today’s guest: Katie Fridge is a certified Baby-Led Sleep & Well-Being Specialist and mom who helps families find rest without sacrificing connection. Through her business, Sleepy Starts, she supports parents in understanding normal infant sleep, promoting healthy brain development, and addressing root causes to sleep challenges. Katie’s attachment-focused approach empowers families to create safe, responsive sleep environments while strengthening the parent-child bond and fostering confidence in the early years.Katie's links⁠Instagram⁠⁠Blog⁠⁠Free Bedsharing Guide⁠⁠Free Stretches⁠⁠Chest Sleeping Guide⁠⁠The Connected Sleep Foundations Bundle⁠⁠Sleep & Development Toolkit⁠The Postpartum Prep PodcastFree Postpartum Prep Checklist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pinterest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://motherbabywellbeing.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SHOW NOTES⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get 10% off nursing bras, breastfeeding clothes, and more from ⁠The Little Milk Bar⁠ with code MOTHERBABYWELLBEINGThank you for joining us on the Postpartum Prep Podcast. If you found this episode helpful, please share it with a pregnant friend, and be sure to leave a review!