This episode of The POPPED Podcast, kicks off a five-part deep dive into baby sleep. Dr. Emily Muery reframes the way parents think about newborn rest, showing why short stretches, frequent waking, and contact naps aren’t problems to fix — they’re exactly how babies are designed to sleep. Instead of chasing impossible expectations, this episode helps parents understand what’s normal, what’s not, and how to find support through the intensity of the newborn stage.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why newborn sleep cycles are biologically short and fragmented.
• How REM sleep fuels brain growth and protects infants.
• What’s developmentally appropriate in the first 0–3 months.
• Why “independent sleep” is more cultural than biological.
• How to respond to outside pressure and reframe sleep “success.”
• Practical ways parents can find rest, support, and perspective.

This conversation is your permission slip to stop blaming yourself and start trusting that your baby’s sleep is working exactly as nature intended.

This episode is sponsored by The Final Punctuation

Visit thefinalpunctuation.com