The Gentle Cosleeper

On this weeks episode, Alexis discusses the dynamics of friendships and relationships after motherhood and what is the difference between Momships and friendships. She candidly discusses the ebbs and flows of friendships that have come and gone based on a few things that she shares with her listeners. She uses a article written by Medela, that discusses 10 ways we might be mom-shaming to acknowledge and take inventory so that our Momships, friendships, and relationships thrive and not falter because we are moms. Sources mentioned in episode: @destni.Ann @peanut https://www.medela.us/breastfeeding/articles/mom-shaming-10-ways-you-might-be-doing-it

In this week's episode Alexis takes to the mic solo to tell her story how she began her cosleeping journey and how she wound up safely bedsharing with her 2 under 2. She candidly discusses the rocky road to creating her safe sleep space as well as a PSA to society at the end of the episode that you don't want to miss! Follow Alexis on Instagram @thegentlecosleeper for more one bedsharing, cosleeping, and following that power motherly intuition. Accounts mentioned: @joolsannie @cosleepy

This week we are debuting Alexis' newest co-host: Josephine Wade. She's a hard-working military, attached, cosleeping mama that has a wealth of knowledge and testimony to share. Josie talks about navigating her challenges she's faced and compromises she's had to make due to her career and being head-of-household. She adds a new spin and perspective to The Gentle Cosleeper Podcast that proves to be invaluable to our community. Although the duo has had to do things differently, there is one thing that they have in common: to raise independent, emotionally resilient humans. The pair talks about colseeping with two, discussing with our partners our attached and Cosleeping journey, and how deeply circumstances change the dynamic of our motherhood. Josie is a moderator for our Village on Facebook, and the pair cannot wait until you hear what she has to say! Join our group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2268622339957946/

This week's episode Alexis is joined by Libby Ward of The Diary of an Honest Mom. The pair discuss what martyrdom in motherhood looks like and ways we can celebrate ourselves without sacrificing what we need and want. Libby goes to shares her vulnerable journey of comparison and how we can focus on connection. Alexis discusses the difficulties she's faced comparing herself to the mother she was with her first and the two talk about why it was so hard the second time around when their other children were born. Libby shows us all the acknowledging our imperfections and honing in on what is important to us and our family is how we find peace and balance in our lives and in our parenthood and how we consume social media can play a big part in our habit of setting unrealistic expectations. You can find Libby on Instagram and TikTok @diaryofanhonestmom https://diaryofanhonestmom.com

On this week's episode Alexis is joined by Danielle Facey of The Breadtfeeding Mentor. The pair discuss taking the ownship back to our bodies. Danielle explains how our sexuality and our breastfeeding journey don't have to be mutually exclusive as well as covering her journey as a mother breastfeeding her toddler. Danielle's confidence and perspective is infectious and this episode is a must-listen! Follow Danielle @thebreastfedingmentor and purchase her book at https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B09QLDV6X5&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_16JC07FVRPT27V4PP29Q

On this week's episode, Alexis is joined by Reflux Rescue's Vanessa, Certified Baby Reflux Specialist. The pair discusses how anatomy as well as diet can play into the factor of our babies reflux. Alexis shares her very personal journey through her oldest son's ongoing issues with silent reflux and the effects it's had on her son and her family. Vanessa showcases the wealth of her knowledge about symptoms, causes, and reflux management in this entire episode. Need a consultation with Vanessa? Here is her website to book your 1-1. https://www.refluxrescue.net/ @refluxrescue

Buckle up your seatbelts, ya'll. Because this episode packs a whole full course meal + dessert!! For one, I am blown away with @mrchazz articulation and understanding of the importance of parenting the next generation!

This week on The Gentle Cosleeper Alexis interviews Rachael, Infant Sleep Specialist and creator of Hey, Sleepy Baby. While Alexis considers night weaning, Rachael talks about the most reasons Mom's want to night wean as well as her own story. Alexis asks how did night weaning in the beginning, make Rachael feel. Rachael shares real, raw testimony about the emotions the night wean stirred up and gives us mommies a helpful tip to get through those tough moments. How do we know when the baby's cries are too much? And can you night wean successfully by yourself?? Give this amazing episode a listen and visit @heysleepybaby to learn more about night weaning in Rachael's Night Weaning Workshop.

In this Episode, Alexis interviews Terra De Mama's Jamilia Shani-Beasley, Birth and Postpartum Doula and Infant Sleep Consultant. The pair discusses how sleep regression does not exist; it is your children progressing in their growth and development. . Jamilia gives tips on how we can support our littles and ourselves through their progressions focusing on attachment and self-care. . Alexis states the first question someone might ask themselves before giving unsolicited advice and how the infant sleep industry is big business. . Jamilia talks about her passion of being a woman's hype-woman, the importance and roles of a doula, and how to obtain one with limited resources. . Alexis and Jamilia come to an ah-ha moment at the end regarding postpartum and share their postpartum experiences! . Follow Jamilia @terrademama . And visit her website to get her eBook and book a 1:1 consultation: https://www.terrademama.com/instagrambio

In this episode Alexis interviews actress and YouTube superstar Kaitlin Becker. They are also joined by Alexis' oldest son Benjamin, as he was sick and attached to her hip. After 4 years starring on Sunny Side Up on the Sprout Network, Kaitlin's newest venture is playing Blippi's bestie Meekah on Blippi's Treehouse and his adventures. They discuss Kaitlin's acting journey, where she caught the “acting bug”, and the adventures of her current opportunity . Alexis and Kaitlin talk about screen time and how hard it is to balance that especially in the pandemic. The essence of this entire episode is balance and prioritizing yourself to be the best for yourself and your kids. They cover the importance of Kaitlin's representation in the black and LGBTQ communities and how to ask for help. Kaitlin discusses what she would say to herself as a first time mom if she could go back. This conversation is inspiring to all moms looking to accomplish anything outside of their motherhood. Don't forget to follow her on instagram @kaitlinbex, download the Blippi Treehouse music on Apple Music and Spotify, and catch her on YouTube and Amazon Prime on Blippi's Treehouse.

The host Alexis Honey and guest Licensed Clinical Social Worker Jennifer Lusinger talk about unpacking trauma with the ACE (adverse childhood experiences) at the heart of their conversation. The pair discuss how trauma is felt by marginalized communities and how we can prevent a high ace score in our children lives. They also discuss how the pandemic has unveiled the need for mental help. Jennifer goes over how we need to normalize the benefits of therapy. Alexis and Jennifer reveal their perfect ace score and how they work through that. The two go over societal pressures to stay busy and the involuntary responses to trauma. Jennifer touches on how being responsive and securing an attachment to our littles changes their response to trauma and how we can avoid perpetuating generational trauma while Alexis addresses the importance to treat our children with respect and reflects on her childhood and how she remembers her feelings being invalidated. This episode is full of testimony and resources so we all can begin to bring that perfect ACEs score down. Resources cited in the episode: BOOKS ON TRAUMA: The Body Keeps the Score, bessel vanderkolk In the realm of hungry ghosts, Gabor MATE WAKING THE TIGER, PETER LEVINE ACE's score: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/index.html https://www.ted.com/talks/nadine_burke_harris_how_childhood_trauma_a ffects_health_across_a_lifetime?language=en http://www.odmhsas.org/picis/TraningInfo/ACE.pdf ADDICTION: Everything you think you know about addiction is wrong. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY9DcIMGxMs&feature=youtu.be What causes addiction. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbQFNe3pkss ATTACHMENT: LOVE SENSE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyCHT9AbD_Y EMDR: https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/ RESEARCHERS: Brene Brown Nadine Harris-Burke Dan Siegel Bruce Perry Gabor Mate Peter Levine Susan (Sue) Johnson The GOTTMAN INSTITUTE

This week's episode will cover Alexis' personal journey through her motherhood and the challenges it brings being a woman of color in America. She covers her struggle to get medical attention postpartum due to a serious condition and how that has shaped her as a mother today. Alexis also covers the African American woman archetypes and how they effect the growth and healing the Gentle Black Mother needs to grow and raise her kind humans to contribute to the positive change the world is in desperate need of. Articles cited in this episode: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5096656/#__ffn_sectitle https://www.wusa9.com/amp/article/news/investigations/mothers-matter/dc-most-dangerous-place-to-give-birth-in-the-us-for-black-women/65-605243922 https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/mental-health-among-african-american-women?amp=true

*TRIGGER WARNING: SIDS and Infant Passing* On The Gentle Cosleeper's premiere, host Alexis Honey dives in, feet-first, on the topic of how to eliminate the risks associated around bed sharing formula babies. Beginning with a funny story about what her eldest did this week and how she began her bed sharing journey, she expresses her passion to inclusive to all gentle, responsive, conscious, attached parents; formula not being the exception. Citing science-based research from doctors, La Leche League, and Alaska's Department of Public Health, Alexis lays out a plan for formula families so that they can more confidently make the decision on whether or not bed-sharing is right for them. Articles cited in episode: https://www.llli.org/breastfeeding-info/sleep-bedshare/ https://www.llli.org/the-safe-sleep-seven/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2693166/ https://evolutionaryparenting.com/bedsharing-and-formula-feeding/