The Follow-Up: Sleep Cultural Barriers

In this Follow-Up episode, Dr. Mona revisits the conversation about the role culture plays in sleep practices for our kids. Joined by certified sleep consultant Diana Martins, the episode shows parents how to navigate cross-cultural and cross-generational expectations - like dark rooms, early bedtimes and crying it out - while staying true to their own parenting choices and maintaining boundaries with family.

We discuss:

- How to get your whole family aligned before starting a sleep plan

- The way to shift the mindset around crying

- The importance of parents learning to calm themselves during the sleep-training process

- Balancing structure with one-off cultural gatherings or light night family events by planning ahead

- Strategies for handling disagreements with grandparents or joint family members

- Acknowledging that previous generations parented differently and we have now learned new ways to help children thrive

Want more? Listen to the full, original episode.

Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠.

Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Shop Dr. Mona’s favorite products: https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk (paid link)