Sleep Training Research: What Most Experts Won’t Tell You (w/ Macall Gordon)

In this episode of Mothering From Within, host Kaili Ets sits down with McCall Gordon, a researcher with a background in human biology and applied psychology, as well as a certified gentle sleep coach. Together, they uncover the surprising gaps in sleep training research and discuss how temperament plays a crucial role in baby sleep.

McCall challenges mainstream sleep training advice, explaining why popular methods—like Ferber—fail to account for more alert, sensitive, and intense babies. She also sheds light on why sleep research is often misleading, how it impacts parents, and why a one-size-fits-all approach to sleep isn’t the answer.

This conversation is essential listening for parents who have ever wondered:

• Why doesn’t sleep training work for my baby?
• What does the research actually say about baby sleep?
• How can I trust my instincts and make informed choices?

Join Kaili and McCall as they debunk myths, expose flaws in common sleep advice, and empower parents to embrace responsive, instinctual caregiving.

00:03 – Meet McCall Gordon: Researcher & Gentle Sleep Coach
01:35 – The Challenges of Conducting Sleep Research
02:38 – Why Most Sleep Training Advice Fails to Consider Temperament
05:53 – The Impact of Misinformation on Parents
11:55 – How Temperament Shapes Sleep Patterns
16:16 – Why Many Sleep Training Methods Don’t Work
18:06 – Final Thoughts & Encouragement for Parents

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To learn more about the parenting programs & support that Macall's offers:

• Macall's Website
• Grab Her New Book Here
• Macall's Instagram

  

Stay in Touch With Kaili

• Kaili's Website
• Kaili's Instagram
• Book a Right Fit Call with Kaili

  

If today's conversation sparked something inside you and you're eager to dive deeper, my book "Mothering From Within" is waiting to take you on that journey. Like a good friend, therapist, and mentor, this book offers guidance and support to help you navigate motherhood with intuition, grace, and yes, a bit of humor. It's full of evidence-informed, developmentally appropriate, attachment-focused information on developmental milestones, baby sleep, reflux, feeding, mama mental health, and so much more. To grab a copy just head over to Amazon, www.kailiets.com/book, or your favourite online bookstore.

 

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