In this episode, Lauren and Gabrielle discuss the recent BBC investigation into the sleep industry and the growing calls for regulation. While both agree that dangerous advice should be addressed, they explore the potential unintended consequences of broad regulation and ask an important question: who gets to decide what constitutes the standard of care?

The conversation expands into informed consent, behaviorism, safe sleep, bedsharing, medical advocacy, cognitive dissonance, attachment, and the role sleep professionals can play in helping families identify underlying factors that impact sleep and wellbeing.

Topics discussed include:

• The BBC sleep industry investigation
• Regulation vs. oversight
• Safe sleep and bedsharing education
• The role of behaviorism in parenting culture
• Medical red flags that impact sleep
• Low ferritin, airway concerns, sensory differences, and neurodivergence
• Why parents often need advocacy support
• Cognitive dissonance and sleep training
• Informed consent in parenting and healthcare
• Why one-size-fits-all approaches fail families

• Dr. Greer Kirshenbaum
• Dr. Tracy Cassels
• Spoil Your Baby Episode

Instagram: @earlyneuroco

Website: earlyneuroco.com

Instagram: @nurtured.mom.nurtured.baby

Website: gabrielle-ferrara.com

The information shared in this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or replace individualized medical advice.

Welcome to IDK Who Needs to Hear This... — the podcast for parents who are done with one-size-fits-all advice.

Hosted by Lauren Sloan and Gabrielle Ferrara, this podcast explores the realities of early parenting, child development, sleep, neurodiversity, attachment, maternal wellbeing, and everything beyond and in between. Through honest conversations, personal stories, research, and practical strategies, we challenge conventional parenting narratives and empower families to trust themselves, support their children, and think critically about the advice they're given.

Whether you're navigating sleep challenges, sensory differences, feeding concerns, developmental questions, or simply trying to make sense of your parenting journey, you're in the right place.

Lauren Sloan, RN-BSN, CLC, is the founder of The Early Neurodiversity Company and specializes in sleep, early neurodiversity, sensory processing differences, nervous system regulation, and helping families access support earlier.

Instagram: @earlyneuroco

Website: earlyneuroco.com

Gabrielle Ferrara, LCSW, PMH-C, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Perinatal Mental Health provider, Nurture Neuroscience Practitioner, and mom. Through both professional expertise and lived experience, Gabrielle supports families through the realities of early parenthood, infant sleep, attachment, maternal mental health, and child development using a responsive, relationship-centered approach.

Instagram: @nurtured.mom.nurtured.baby

Website: gabrielle-ferrara.com

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