The truth is, early parenting choices, like sleep training and letting babies cry it out, can affect how their brain and body develop for years to come. Many well-meaning parents follow these popular methods, only to see their kids later struggle with anxiety, depression, or behavioral issues that seem to come out of nowhere. That’s because early attachment and nervous system development shape a child’s mental health in ways we don’t always see.

Everything that happens in the first years of life, from how you respond to your baby’s cries to how connected they feel, helps build their brain, nervous system, and their ability to feel safe and calm. Even common parenting habits can create hidden stress, making it harder for children to grow into resilient, emotionally healthy adults.

In this episode, Dr. Darcia Narvaez joins Dr. Aimie to talk about what babies really need for healthy brain development, emotional safety, and attachment. You’ll also learn how parents and practitioners can begin to repair early childhood trauma and help heal the nervous system, no matter the age.

You’ll hear about:

• How sleep training and crying it out disrupt a baby’s developing nervous system
• The link between early separations and anxiety, depression, and attachment issues later in life
• How your own childhood experiences influence your health, relationships, and parenting style
• Practical ways to rebuild connection and help your child’s nervous system heal
• Why the vagus nerve is essential for emotional regulation in children
• How common newborn medical procedures can cause lasting trauma
• Why children need love and connection, not constant performance for approval

Whether you’re a practitioner wanting to understand how early attachment trauma affects adult clients, or a parent looking for nervous system regulation techniques and coregulation strategies to support your child, this episode offers science-backed insights and practical tools you can use right away.

 

Dr. Darcia Narvaez is a Professor of Psychology Emerita at the University of Notre Dame. She is the co-founder of the public and professional educational outreach project the Evolved Nest Initiative whose nonprofit mission is to share her science research into developing appropriate baselines for lifelong human wellness and providing guidelines for fostering full human potential.

 

Guides, Tools & Resources:

• Attachment Trauma Healing Roadmap - Learn how your nervous system affects your ability to form secure attachments. Discover simple steps to rewire your nervous system for better relationships and overall health
• Biology of Trauma book - how the body experiences and holds fear, pain and overwhelm, and how to heal. Pre-order now and, at the time of this recording, you’ll get over $400 in bonuses included! Those bonuses are only for the pre-order window which goes until Sept 22, 2025. When you’ve already pre-ordered it on Amazon head over here to receive your bonuses.
• The Foundational Journey - a 6 week program as the place to lay the foundation for all the phases of the healing journey explained in The Essential Sequence guide. If you are looking for emotional and nervous system regulation and changes in your physical health without a pill, this is for you. If you are a practitioner - this is where it all starts with the year certificate training program to become a Biology of Trauma professional. 

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 14: How To Not Traumatize Your Infant With Common Parenting Practices With Bette Lamont, Part 2
• Episode 92: How Chaos of Early Childhood Trauma Affects Our Adult Nervous System with Dr. Tian Dayton

 

Related Youtube Videos: 

• True Stories Of Parents Repairing The Effects Of Adverse Childhood Experiences | Dr. Aimie Apigian

 

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical, psychological, or mental health advice to treat any medical or psychological condition in yourself or others. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your own physician, therapist, psychiatrist, or other qualified health provider regarding any physical or mental health issues you may be experiencing. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use or misuse of the content provided in this podcast.