Surviving Tiny Humans: 10 Minute Triage for Newborns & New Parents

Recommended: Surviving Tiny Humans https://a.co/d/07faXLvVA quick one this week, but still just as practical. This week, we're talking about baby butts! Okay, not really. But we're talking about diaper rash so... close enough. We also break down the similarities and differences between the two most common rashes -- diaper rash and eczema -- so yo know how to manage both at home without needing to see your doctor any more than is necessary.

Guides & Tools: Safe Sleep Without Shame: https://www.vitalswithdrbuller.com/safe-sleepThe Nightshift Playbook: https://www.vitalswithdrbuller.com/nightshift-playbookYou’re home. The nurses are gone. The visitors haven’t arrived yet. Or they have, and somehow that’s also exhausting. And nobody gave you an instruction manual.The first two weeks are survival mode, and that’s not a failure — that’s just the reality of bringing a brand new human into the world while your body, your hormones, and your sleep are all doing completely different things at the same time.This episode is the honest guide to what’s actually happening, what actually matters, and what you can safely ignore.What we cover:What the first few days actually look like — day by day, from the sleepy first 24 hours through the Day 3 hormone crash and out the other sideThe only three questions that tell you if things are going okay — and why everything else is noiseWhat doesn’t matter as much as the internet makes it sound — the schedule, the bassinet, the bonding timeline, the laundryWhat activities are actually appropriate for a newborn — and why you don’t need a curriculum, classes, or anything that takes more energy than you haveHow to manage the house, the help, and the mental load when you’re running on nothingHow to split nights with a partner so both of you get a real stretch of sleepThis is Part 2 of the Life With a Newborn series — a stage-by-stage guide through the first year. The real version, not the highlight reel.For more support, whenever you need it, check out my guides and tools: Safe Sleep Without Shame: https://www.vitalswithdrbuller.com/safe-sleepThe Nightshift Playbook: https://www.vitalswithdrbuller.com/nightshift-playbook

The first few moments to hours after having a baby can be a real whirlwind. And we don't do a very good job of giving anyone a heads up about what to expect. In this episode, we cover the real first 24 hours -- the things that happen before anyone has a chance to give you any instructions. Resources Discussed: Surviving Tiny Humans: The Messy Truth About Parenthood and Your Guide to Baby's First Year Available here: https://a.co/d/0hmLNIwSWhat we cover: - what's actually going to happen in those first few moments after birth- the decisions that get made about Vitamin K, erythromycin, and newborn vaccines - what to expect in terms of bleeding, pain and function - the emotional reality: shaking, bonding, or lack of it - what to ask and take before you walk out that door And, at the end, we discuss the sad but real truth about where our village has gone -- and what to do about it.

Nobody really teaches you about formula. You get a crash course in breastfeeding and then if formula enters the picture — whether it’s day two while you’re waiting for your milk, or month two because breastfeeding just isn’t working — you’re standing in the grocery store staring at a wall of cans with absolutely no idea what you’re looking at.So let’s fix that.In this episode, I break down everything you actually need to know about formula: which one to choose (spoiler: almost any of them are fine) what the different types of preparation mean and when they matterhow to store it safelyhow to clean bottles without losing your mindand how to know when it’s time to size up the nipple.And at the end, we’re talking about paced feeding — a simple bottle feeding technique that reduces gas, cuts down on spit up, and helps your baby start to learn their own hunger and fullness cues. You can use it with formula or expressed breast milk.No shame. No pressure. Just the information you needed someone to give you a long time ago.Grab a copy of Surviving Tiny Humans to get all of this (and way more!) to help you survive that first year with your baby. You can find it here: https://a.co/d/06q6EWNGOr check out the Formula Flowchart Quick Tool linked below — it walks you through choosing the right formula for your baby in about 30 seconds.https://www.vitalswithdrbuller.com/formula-flowchart

If you’re breastfeeding and even considering sleep training, this fear can feel overwhelming:What if sleep training harms my milk supply?What if my baby stops nursing?What if I ruin something that was already hard enough?In this episode of Surviving Tiny Humans, Dr. Kailey Buller carefully separates fact from fear.She breaks down:The difference between sleep training and night weaning (they are not the same thing)How you can teach sleep skills without removing feedsWhat healthy sleep fundamentals look like at different stages of developmentHow supply is established—and when longer stretches overnight are safeWhy reducing unnecessary overnight feeds doesn’t mean harming breastfeedingWhat changes once baby is established on solidsWe also talk about how chronic sleep deprivation affects stress—and how better sleep can improve your breastfeeding relationship.And at the end, Dr. Buller shares a fascinating fact about breastfeeding moms and overnight wake-ups that explains why this fear feels so intense in the first place.Key takeaway:Sleep training does not automatically mean fewer feeds.Night weaning is a separate decision.And once breastfeeding is established, healthy sleep and breastfeeding can absolutely coexist.You don’t have to choose between your baby’s sleep and your breastfeeding journey.If this episode helped, you’ll find a more comprehensive sleep roadmap linked below—so you can decide what works for your baby, your body, and your sanity.And be sure to follow the show so you don’t miss the next triage!

When parents hear “sleep training,” many immediately think one thing: cry it out.But are sleep training and "cry it out" really the same thing?In this episode of the Surviving Tiny Humans podcast, Dr. Kailey Buller breaks down one of the most common misunderstandings in baby sleep.We unpack:Why sleep training became synonymous with cry-it-out in the first placeThe difference between extinction, modified extinction (Ferber), and total extinctionWhy night weaning and sleep training are not the same thingParent-present methods like pick-up/put-down, the sleep ladder, and the Sleep Lady ShuffleWhy some crying is often part of learning—but that doesn’t mean neglectHow temperament and family capacity matter more than internet opinionsThis episode also introduces a flexible, customizable approach Dr. Buller calls the “Block Method”—a simple, developmentally appropriate system that allows you to choose: how long you might expect baby to go between feeds how much reassurance you provide and how much independence you’re ready forBecause sleep training isn’t one rigid method. It’s a spectrum of tools—and some families truly need those tools.Key takeaway:Sleep training is optional.Cry-it-out is one method—not the definition.And you’re allowed to choose the approach that protects both your baby’s sleep and your sanity.If this episode helped, take a look at the Sleep Quick Tools linked here: https://www.vitalswithdrbuller.com/sleep-quicktoolsThese are easy-to-implement supports that can helpdecipher night wakings navigate sleep regressionscreate a sustainable (and fair) overnight planOr, for more guidance on what to know and how to start supporting sleep, download the free “7 Lies You’ve Been Sold About Sleep Training” guide:https://www.vitalswithdrbuller.com/sleep7And, as always, be sure to follow so you don't miss the next episode!

Does sleep training harm your baby’s attachment… or their brain?If you’ve ever heard “crying raises cortisol, cortisol is the stress hormone, so sleep training is harmful” and felt completely uneasy about the idea of prioritizing sleep — this episode is for you.In this 10-Minute Triage, Dr. Kailey Buller slows the fear down and breaks it apart with calm, evidence-based clarity. We’ll cover what secure attachment actually is (and what it isn’t), why cortisol gets misunderstood online, and what high-quality research shows about sleep training and long-term outcomes — including when there’s some crying involved.You’ll also hear what is associated with harm (hint: chronic stress, severe sleep deprivation, and untreated parental distress matter), why short stress isn’t the same as trauma, and when sleep training might not be the right move right now.If you’ve been stuck in the exhausted-anxious loop, afraid to make any change in case you “do damage,” consider this your permission to be precise — not dramatic.Grab the “7 Sleep Training Lies” guide linked here: https://www.vitalswithdrbuller.com/sleep7Next up: Sleep training doesn’t have to mean cry-it-out — we’ll talk options and how to choose a method that fits your baby and your nervous system.

One of the most common pieces of sleep advice parents hear is this:“You shouldn’t sleep train before one year old.”But is that actually true—and could waiting sometimes make things harder?In this episode of Surviving Tiny Humans: 10-Minute Triage for Your Baby, Body, and Mind, Dr. Kailey Buller breaks down where this belief comes from, why it persists, and what the evidence actually says.We talk about:Why sleep skills are regulation skills, not advanced cognitive tasksHow babies begin learning sleep fundamentals from the very beginningWhat can happen when parents delay all sleep teaching out of fear or guiltWhy gentle, age-appropriate sleep teaching is often easier earlier, not laterWhat sleep teaching does (and does not) look like in young babiesHow sleep needs—and appropriate strategies—change from newborns to 4–5 months and beyondThis episode walks through practical, developmentally appropriate approaches by age and explains how consistency, environment, routines, and small pauses can support healthier sleep without harming attachment or connection.Dr. Buller also shares her own experience navigating severe sleep deprivation—and why, for some families, structured sleep training can be safer and healthier than the alternative.Key takeaway:Sleep skills don’t suddenly become “safe” at one year old.There are ways to support healthy sleep—gently and responsively—much earlier than that.And sleep training is optional, but sleep deprivation doesn’t have to be the cost of avoiding guilt.Download the free “7 Lies You’ve Been Sold About Sleep Training” guide linked here: https://www.vitalswithdrbuller.com/sleep7And follow the show so you don’t miss upcoming episodes breaking down sleep methods, night feeding, and how to protect connection while teaching sleep.

Is breastmilk really better than formula?And if it is… why does this question feel so loaded?In this episode of Surviving Tiny Humans: 10-Minute Triage for Your Baby, Body, and Mind, Dr. Kailey Buller—physician, mom of two, and author of Surviving Tiny Humans—breaks down the medical reality, the emotional weight, and the systemic pressures behind infant feeding decisions.We talk honestly about:The actual medical differences between breastmilk and formulaWhy, for most healthy babies, those differences are smaller than you’ve been led to believeThe most common barriers to breastfeeding—and why they’re usually systems failures, not personal onesWhy “fed is best” often gets said… but not truly supportedThe benefits and trade-offs of both breastmilk and formulaWhy feeding doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing (hello, combo feeding and expressed breast milk)This episode also tackles the myth that not breastfeeding is a personal failure—and why praising breastmilk without supporting women (paid leave, access to lactation care, partner support, realistic workplaces) misses the entire point.Key takeaway:Feeding your baby is not a morality contest.You don’t owe anyone an explanation.Your job is to nourish your baby and protect your family system.Whether you breastfeed, formula feed, pump, combo feed, or change plans along the way—you are doing your job.If this episode helped, hit subscribe and join me for the next dose of sanity.

Few parenting topics carry as much confusion, fear, and guilt as sleep training. Is it cruel? Does it harm attachment? Should you avoid it completely—or is avoiding sleep help actually making things worse?In this episode of Surviving Tiny Humans: 10-Minute Triage for Your Baby, Body, and Mind, Dr. Kailey Buller—physician, mom of two, and author of Surviving Tiny Humans—kicks off a new mini-series called “7 Myths”, starting with the myths that keep parents stuck and exhausted when it comes to baby sleep.We reframe “sleep training” as sleep teaching—a skill that can be taught in many developmentally appropriate, responsive, and loving ways—and break down what the evidence actually says.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why sleep training isn’t automatically harmful or cruelWhat research says about attachment, brain development, and cryingWhy chronic sleep deprivation matters more than most parents are toldThe difference between responsive waiting and neglectWhy there’s no single “right” method—and how to find what fits your familyYou’ll also hear a practical, no-pressure starting point for what to do tonight—without becoming a sleep expert or making drastic changes.Key takeaway:Sleep is not a luxury. It’s a biological need—for babies and parents.And there is no prize for suffering.Download the free companion guide “7 Lies You’ve Been Sold About Sleep Training” here: https://www.vitalswithdrbuller.com/sleep7And subscribe so you don’t miss the next episode—where we dive deeper into the myth that trips parents up the most.

If you're a new or expecting parent wondering what actually matters -- and what you can safely ignore -- you're in the right place. Parenting today comes with an overwhelming amount of advice: social media reels, late-night Google searches, well-meaning opinions from everyone you know... and somehow the pressure to do everything perfectly (including baking sourdough bread). In this podcast, physician and mom Dr. Kailey Buller offers practical, evidence-based, guilt-free triage for your baby, body and mind. We'll talk newborn sleep, feeding, postpartum recovery, hormones, mental health, relationships, and the many things that are surprisingly normal -- but rarely talked about. Most parenting decisions aren't black and white. There's more than one way to be a great parent. And you don't need to have it all together to be a loving, capable keeper of tiny humans. If you're looking for advice that feels grounding instead of overwhelming, hit follow. You're not meant to do this alone. Let's survive these tiny humans -- together.