THE MILK

Sleep training might be one of the most controversial topics in motherhood — but does it really mean shutting the door and letting your baby cry until they fall asleep? Spoiler alert: no.
This week, I’m sitting down with pediatric sleep consultant Iliana Pineda, who has personally helped our family through multiple stages of baby sleep, to break down everything you actually need to know about sleep training.
We’re talking Sleep Training 101: what it really means to teach your baby independent sleep, the biggest misconceptions (including the dreaded “cry it out” debate), how to know when your baby is ready, and the different methods you can use depending on your baby’s temperament and what feels right for your family.
Iliana also breaks down the science behind baby sleep in a way that actually makes sense — from wake windows and sleep pressure to circadian rhythm, short naps, early morning wake-ups, and that infamous four-month sleep regression.
And because every exhausted parent has found themselves Googling a VERY specific sleep question at 2 a.m., we end with a rapid-fire listener Q&A covering some of the most common baby and toddler sleep struggles.
In this episode, we get into:
What sleep training actually is — and what it isn’t
The biggest myths and misconceptions surrounding sleep training
The four common methods: extinction, check-ins, chair method + pick-up/put-down
How to figure out which approach may work best for your baby and your family
When babies are developmentally ready for sleep training
Wake windows, sleep pressure + circadian rhythm explained
Why sleep can suddenly fall apart around four months
How daytime activity and schedules can impact nighttime sleep
The benefits of independent sleep for babies, parents + the entire family
Why consistency is one of the biggest pieces of successful sleep training
Early morning wake-ups, short naps + overnight feeds
Babies who only want to sleep while nursing or being held
Toddler sleep struggles + needing a parent in the room
Transitioning from the Snoo to a crib and from a swaddle to a sleep sack
Teething, regressions + what to do when life inevitably throws off the schedule
Whether you’re considering sleep training, currently in the thick of it, or just trying to understand why the heck your baby won’t sleep longer than 30 minutes, this episode is packed with practical information you can actually use — without the judgment or one-size-fits-all advice.
And if you decide to reach out to Iliana for some extra sleep support, make sure to tell her you heard her on The Milk or found her through me!
Reach out to Iliana:
Email: ncsservices2019@gmail.com
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Sleep training sounds great in theory… until you’re sitting outside your baby’s room on night one, realizing just how hard it is to watch them learn a brand-new skill, while the “oh my gosh, what have I signed up for?!” thoughts start creeping in. Spoiler alert: a few days later, I couldn’t believe the difference — and for us, it was SO worth it.
In this episode, I’m taking you through our real, unfiltered experience sleep training Scarlette at 15 weeks old — from a brutal first night to the moment everything finally started to click.
I’m breaking down exactly what happened night by night and nap by nap: how long she cried, how often she woke up, the methods we used to comfort her, the little schedule changes that made a surprisingly big difference, and the moment we realized she was actually learning how to put herself to sleep.
Because even when you feel confident in your decision, sleep training can still be hard. Learning any new skill comes with an adjustment period, and for us, those difficult first few days were worth it when we saw the end result: a happier, more rested baby who had learned a new skill — and a much calmer household because of it.
This isn’t a “how-to” guide or me telling you how to sleep train your baby. It’s simply our diary: what worked, what didn’t, what surprised me, and what I wish I knew before night one.
In this episode:
 • Why we decided to sleep train at 15 weeks
 • Our approach to “gentle” sleep training and timed check-ins
 • The full play-by-play of nights 1, 2 & 3
 • The crying, wake-ups and moments that were the hardest
 • Nap training + the tiny schedule tweak that changed everything
 • The sleep habits we had to break along the way
 • When we first saw Scarlette start to self-soothe
 • What her sleep and schedule look like now
 • Why those difficult first few days were so worth it for our family
If you’re in the thick of baby sleep, considering sleep training, or just wildly curious about what those first few nights actually look like — this one’s for you.

Follow The Milk Podcast on all platforms for weekly episodes that remind you you're not alone, you're not crazy, and you're doing way better than you think.
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Twelve weeks postpartum is supposed to feel like a turning point, but what if it feels… weirder? I’m officially past the “fourth trimester,” and I still don’t feel magically restored. My hormones are doing their own thing, my anxiety flares when I try to control the uncontrollable, and just when I think our routine is set, my baby changes the rules again. If you’ve ever wondered why postpartum recovery doesn’t come with a clear end date, you’re going to feel seen here. I share what’s hard right now, what’s getting better, and the mindset shifts that help me stop racing my own recovery. 
I talk honestly about the pressure to bounce back and why I don’t buy the idea that postpartum is a competition. We get into the real factors that shape healing, including birth recovery, mental health, and baby temperament. I also share my decision to stop breastfeeding and pumping at eight weeks, how a cow’s milk protein allergy influenced that choice, and the practical antibody insight that helped me release a ton of feeding guilt.
Then we zoom into the day-to-day: inconsistent newborn sleep, developmental leaps, treating reflux, nap refusal, babywearing exhaustion, and the comparison trap when other babies “sleep through the night.” I also tell the story of flying alone with my newborn, what I packed, what surprised me, and why traveling with a baby can actually build confidence. If you’re in the messy middle of postpartum anxiety, body changes, and identity shifts, hit play, then subscribe, share with a mom who needs it, and leave a quick review with your biggest 12-week postpartum surprise.

More Of What's Discussed:
• redefining postpartum as a long season, not a deadline 
• letting go of bounce back pressure and postpartum comparison 
• stopping breastfeeding at eight weeks, processing mom guilt, choosing what works 
• navigating cow’s milk protein allergy, pumping and storing milk for antibodies, leaning on formula 
• newborn sleep reality, leaps, reflux symptoms, and what changed after medication 
• crib nap refusal, babywearing fatigue, and why “sleep when the baby sleeps” can feel impossible 
• flying solo with a baby, what helped, and how people actually respond 
• the 12-week “in between” stage: not survival mode, not fully yourself 
• body changes, body indifference, postpartum workouts for strength, and shifting personal style 
• healing not being linear, and celebrating the wins you’ve already earned 

As always, DM me with any questions, anything you want to hear about on the podcast, any special guest you want to hear from. xo Tayla
Follow The Milk Podcast on all platforms for weekly episodes that remind you you're not alone, you're not crazy, and you're doing way better than you think.
Follow & Subscribe For More:
YouTube: @TheMilkPodcast
Instagram: @TheMilkPodcast_@TaylaBurke
TikTok: @TheMilkPodcast @Tayla_Burke

Two hours of sleep will tell you the truth faster than any journal ever could. At eight weeks postpartum, I’m sharing where I’m actually at: exhausted, deeply in love with my baby, and fully aware that having three kids four and under is stretching me in ways I didn’t expect. If you’re in the newborn trenches, I want you to hear this clearly: struggling can exist right next to gratitude, and you don’t have to pretend you’re fine to be a good mom. 

We get into the hard logistics and the emotional weight of postpartum life with a baby who has reflux, fights naps, and prefers contact naps in the carrier. I talk about learning Scarlette has a cow’s milk protein allergy, the trial-and-error of finding a formula that works, and trying reflux medicine while we wait for real relief. I also share the not-talked-about-enough stuff: newborn gas around weeks six to eight, the “newborn bubble” popping after the first month, and why simply getting out of the house can be a mental health lifeline during postpartum recovery. 

Then we pivot to two stories that sum up motherhood perfectly: my chaotic attempt at newborn photos in San Diego, and our first family-of-five trip to Mexico, which was going great until Scarlette spiked a 103.8 fever overnight. I walk through the fear, the decisions, and how much more confident my mom instincts feel the third time around. We also touch on the six-week postpartum checkup, pelvic floor weakness after returning to workouts, and the constant anxiety of older siblings bringing home germs from school. 

If any of this hits home, listen all the way through and share it with a mom who needs a reality check and a little hope. Subscribe to The Milk, leave a review, and tell me what part of postpartum feels hardest for you right now.
Follow The Milk Podcast on all platforms for weekly episodes that remind you you're not alone, you're not crazy, and you're doing way better than you think.
Follow & Subscribe For More:
YouTube: @TheMilkPodcast
Instagram: @TheMilkPodcast_@TaylaBurke
TikTok: @TheMilkPodcast @Tayla_Burke

What if postpartum recovery started with food? We sit down with Holly Stein, founder of Restorative Roots, to talk about the part of postpartum care that too many of us never get taught: food that actually supports healing, digestion, hormones, and mood after birth (and the ones that DO NOT).
Holly shares how her first postpartum left her depleted and struggling, then explains what changed when she discovered the “First 40 Days” framework rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda. We get specific about what warm, easy-to-digest meals do for a postpartum body, why bone broth shows up in so many traditional cultures, and which nutrients moms are commonly low in after delivery, including iron, omega-3s, magnesium, B vitamins, and collagen-building amino acids.
We also talk practical postpartum meal prep, comforting freezer-friendly options, and the reality that recovery still matters even if you are months postpartum and feel like it is “too late.” If you’re pregnant, planning a baby shower gift, or craving a postpartum redemption, this conversation will help you build a plan that feeds the mom first, without guilt.

More Of What We Cover:
• Holly’s first postpartum experience and what felt missing  
• Why warm soups and stews matter in early postpartum recovery  
• How Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda frame the first 40 days  
• Key postpartum nutrients and how depletion can affect mood and energy  
• Bone broth, healthy fats, organ meats, and warming spices as recovery staples  
• Herbal tea blends for replenishment and daily support  
• Meal prep ideas like breakfast burritos and energy balls for the freezer  
• How Restorative Roots ships frozen postpartum meals nationwide  
• The mental load of motherhood and why planning postpartum changes everything  

Check out Restorative Roots for your own postpartum healing or to gift a friend for theirs!
www.restorativeroots.com
Use discount code: TAYLABURKE10

Subscribe for more honest motherhood conversations, share this with a friend who is pregnant or newly postpartum, and leave a review so more moms can find the support they deserve.

Follow The Milk Podcast on all platforms for weekly episodes that remind you you're not alone, you're not crazy, and you're doing way better than you think.
Follow & Subscribe For More:
YouTube: @TheMilkPodcast
Instagram: @TheMilkPodcast_@TaylaBurke
TikTok: @TheMilkPodcast @Tayla_Burke