Hi Nappers,

Quick question: Have you ever been up at 3am Googling "can babies choke on spit-up" or "signs of allergic reaction"?

Yeah. Me too.

Here's the thing nobody tells you about starting solids: it's not just your baby who's going through a transition. You are too. And if you're already exhausted from months of sleep deprivation, adding safety anxiety into the mix can completely derail your sleep.

This week I sat down with Eliza Leslie, who's both a practicing paramedic and a mother. She founded Baby Safe Basics specifically to teach first aid in a way that builds confidence instead of adding to the fear spiral.

And we got real about the intersection between safety anxiety and sleep—both yours and your baby's.

You'll learn:

• Why gagging is loud, messy, and completely normal (while choking is silent)

• How parental hyper-vigilance at night affects everyone's sleep

• The actual first aid skills you need (spoiler: you can learn CPR in 5 minutes on YouTube)

• Why starting solids around 6 months often triggers sleep regression

• What "back is best" actually means for choking fears

Here's what stood out for me during this conversation: knowledge actually reduces anxiety. It's not about being prepared for every worst-case scenario. It's about understanding what's normal versus what's an emergency, so you can stop lying awake catastrophising.

Eliza's philosophy is "first aid made fun and free from fear." And honestly? That's what every exhausted parent needs to hear.

If you're about to start solids, or you're in the thick of it and feeling anxious, this episode is for you. Listen now, and forward this to the parent who's been putting off starting solids because they're terrified of choking:

Listen (and subscribe!) on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Watch on YouTube:

This is the second episode in our "Meet the Village" series, conversations with experts whose work intersects with baby sleep.

Next week: I can’t wait to bring you my chat with the wonderful Betsy Westcott on when sleep problems aren't just sleep problems.

With you in the trenches, Sally 💤 

P.S. Eliza offers free downloadable guides on starting solids and recognising when babies are unwell. You can find them at www.babysafebasics.com.au