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Evolutionary Parenting PodcastThe Evolutionary Parenting Podcast with Tracy Cassels, PhD focuses on topics and research relevant to parents today. Using developmental psychology, biology, anthropology, and evolution as a basis for all discussion, the podcast explores parenting issues Author: Tracy Cassels, PhD
Podcast by Tracy Cassels Language: en Genres: Kids & Family Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Ep. 66: Safe Sleep Education: Is Abstinence Only the Only Way?
Monday, 16 March, 2026
If you have listened to a lot of my podcasts, you know I like to talk about sleep. It's one of the biggest topics for parents today. And part of why we have to talk about it is because those of us is WEIRD countries - Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic countries - get a very specific sleep message when we have our kids and that message is: Do NOT sleep with your children or you risk killing them. I think every new parent has heard the fear-based messaging that tells us there is nothing we can do except avoid it. And if we don't? Well, then there's something wrong with us as parents, right? What if the problem isn't us, but instead lies with the messaging we're getting? Joining me today is one of my favourite people - Carly Grubb. Carly is a PhD student at the University of the Sunshine Coast and is the lead author of the research we'll be discussing, which looks at the safe sleep messages parents receive, how helpful these messages are, and what parents are actually looking for. She also comes to this research table from a place of advocacy. As the founder of the Beyond Sleep Training Project and Little Sparklers, Carly has heard from thousands of families around the world how hard navigating new parenting and sleep can be. Welcome back to the podcast as we dive into the touchy topic of abstinence-only sleep education. Here are the following links for anyone who is interested: Research Article - https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1629678/pdf The Beyond Sleep Training Project - https://thebeyondsleeptrainingproject.com/ Little Sparklers - https://littlesparklers.org/ Carly Grubb's Research Page - https://research.usc.edu.au/esploro/profile/carly_grubb Carly's Previous Episode with Me - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-3-what-are-the-sleep-struggles-facing-families-today/id1177835448?i=1000501408655
