Episode 71: Temperament, "Livewire" Children, and Sleep Challenges with Macall Gordon

In this episode,, Rachael is joined by an expert to discuss one of her favorite topics- temperament and sleep. Macall Gordon is a sleep researcher and author, and today she and Rachael delve into the complexities of a little-known but hugely important factor when it comes to sleep, parenting, and more: Temperament. Specifically, Rachael and Macall discuss what Macall refers to as “Livewire” children- those who are more sensitive, more reactive, and in need of different supports particularly when it comes to sleep. Inside this game-changing episode: Macall shares her personal experiences with her 'livewire' child and discusses the importance of understanding different temperaments in your babies and children.  the signs of “high sensitivity”, the challenges of sleep for these children, and the limitations of traditional sleep training methods  the need for tailored approaches to parenting that consider a child's unique temperament and sensory processing needs. The realities of sleep training for babies and children, and what the research really says about it practical strategies for parents, including establishing consistent bedtime routines and recognizing the signs of overtiredness.  encouragement to exhausted parents, highlighting the non-intuitive nature of parenting and the need for self-compassion.  Macall has a B.S. in Human Biology from Stanford University and an M.A. in Applied Psychology from Antioch University, Seattle. She has conducted and presented research worldwide on sleep training advice, parenting, and the effect of temperament on sleep. She is also a certified Gentle Sleep Coach in private practice as well as with the women’s telehealth platform, Maven Clinic and has just published a book on sleep and temperament called "Why Won't You Sleep?! A Game-changing Approach for Exhausted Parents of Nonstop, Super Alert, Big Feeling Kids." She comes to this work because she had two of these children, and didn’t sleep for 18 years. Mentioned in this episode: Rachael's free sleep guides Rachael's next TEMPERAMENT + SLEEEP WORKSHOP is June 3! Sign up here http://www.littlelivewires.com  http://www.whywontyousleep.com Take the Temperament Quiz Macall’s new book on Amazon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices