Why does our society place more value on controlled baby sleep than on maternal support, proper feeding, or comfort?

Tracy Cassels began her influential work while pursuing her PhD in developmental psychology, coinciding with her pregnancy. She observed a profound contradiction between the widespread advice advocating for infant sleep training—even when pushed by some academics—and the robust findings found in developmental literature and her own research. This mismatch, which she initially felt was a foreign concept given her own background, became the critical momentum to start sharing her perspective publicly. This led to the launch of her extensive website, Evolutionary Parenting, roughly 15 years ago. This platform developed into an invaluable resource, providing detailed and thoroughly referenced information on nearly every topic related to infant brain development for parents. Tracy often interacts with families, some of whom bring along skeptical relatives or partners, seeking clarification on the evidence surrounding sleep practices. She approaches the topic by presenting an honest assessment of what the research confirms and what remains unknown, helping listeners discern the subtleties often missing from conventional advice. She argues that the findings against certain practices, such as sleep training, form an "incredibly strong circumstantial case" rather than a clear-cut legal link. Furthermore, Tracy contends that many sleep problems are misinterpreted as behavioral failures when they are actually symptoms of underlying issues like allergies, sleep apnea, or hormonal imbalances. Her most recent paper with Levita DeSousa advocates for researchers to adopt a much broader perspective, moving away from seeking a "one size fits all solution" and instead considering the full family dynamic, cultural influences, and health context when studying infant sleep.

Key Takeaways

● Sleep problems are often symptoms of underlying physical or psychological issues, not always primary behavioral faults of the baby or parent.

● The research focusing specifically on mothers and babies, particularly concerning clinical interventions and emotional connection, is significantly lacking.

● An overemphasis on controlled sleep in modern society leads parents to prioritize it over other critical nurturing components like love, comfort, and proper feeding.

● Some research proposes methods to help mothers suppress the natural anxiety they feel when hearing their distressed baby cry, counteracting an essential evolutionary response.

● Infant sleep should be viewed as a family dynamic influenced by culture, general family preferences, health issues, and the need for connection.

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Resources

● Tracy's Instagram: @tracycasselsphd https://www.instagram.com/tracycasselsphd

● Books by Tracy Cassels:

○ Finding Daycare: Navigating the Murky World of Child Care in Today's Society

○ https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Daycare-Navigating-Todays-Society-ebook/dp/B07PGDR6TC

● Evolutionary Parenting's website: https://evolutionaryparenting.com/ (Note: Some parts are currently missing due to a crash, but it will be restored soon).

Guest Bio: Tracy Cassels holds a PhD in developmental psychology and is the founder of Evolutionary Parenting. She co-authored a paper with Levita DeSousa, an attachment theory specialist at Monash University in Australia, focusing on how sleep training ignores the larger family dynamic. She is also a contributor to an upcoming academic book on sleep, edited by Jenny (who Greer has also written with), which includes chapters from Darshan Arves and LaVita DeSousa.

Ready to Connect with Greer?

"Nurture Neuroscience" Website: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgreerkirshenbaum/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greerkirshenbaum/

FREE GUIDE, "Nurture Your Baby's Stress": https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/nurture-your-babys-stress

FREE GUIDE, "Manage the Stressors & Triggers of Parenting": https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/manage-the-stressors-of-parenting

Order "The Nurture Revolution" Book: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/the-nurture-revolution

What happens when we spend our adult lives searching for a quality of maternal love we never received as a child?

Kelly McDaniel, a licensed professional counselor and author, introduced the concept of "Mother Hunger" in her first book, Ready to Heal. She identified Mother Hunger as an attachment injury stemming from maternal deprivation, noting that millions of women suffer a lifelong emotional burden that adversely affects self-worth, eating habits, and relational wellness. This profound attachment trauma, Kelly explains, is a neurobiological craving for unmet needs: nurturing, protection, and guidance. This "hunger" is often misunderstood and sought inappropriately from romantic partners, friends, or authority figures. Kelly's work illuminates how cultural forces, especially patriarchy, compromise a mother's capacity to provide a consistent, safe caregiving environment, leading to generational trauma that impacts secure attachment. Kelly published her second book, Mother Hunger, in 2021, compiling research since 2008 to explore how adult daughters can understand and heal from these losses. She emphasizes that while we cannot go back in time, neuroscience shows that our brains can change throughout life, offering hope and opportunity for repair. Her clinical approach helps adult daughters identify this craving, understand the truth of their pain, and become "cycle breakers" in their own families.

Key Takeaways

● Mother Hunger is a profound neurobiological craving for three essential elements of maternal care: nurturing, protection, and guidance.

● Unmet needs often arise from ancestral inheritance, cultural environments, and unhealed trauma, not necessarily a lack of maternal love.

● A mother can be physically present but emotionally absent due to unhealed trauma, leading to chronic, automatic dissociation.

● Healing Mother Hunger enables adult daughters to break epigenetic cycles of trauma, improving their self-worth and relational wellness outcomes.

● The spiritual component of mothering involves stretching our own capacity for love, loving unconditionally, and embracing personal growth.

Join The Nurture Neuroscience Practitioner Certification

Join our February 2026 Program:

https://nurture-neuroscience.com/professional-certification-sales-page

Resources

● Kelly's website: https://kellymcdanieltherapy.com/

● Books by Kelly McDaniel:

○ Ready to Heal: Helping Women Heal from Addictive Relationships.

○ Mother Hunger: How Adult Daughters Can Understand and Heal from Lost Nurturance, Protection, and Guidance (Hay House, 2021).

○ https://kellymcdanieltherapy.com/books/

● Contribution: Making Advances; A Comprehensive Guide for Treating Female Sex and Love Addicts. https://www.amazon.com/Making-Advances-Comprehensive-Treating-Addicts/dp/098574720X

● Mentioned in conversation: Mark Wolynn's book, It Didn't Start With You. https://a.co/d/3yJpvKw

Guest Bio: Kelly McDaniel, LCMHC, is an author and licensed professional counselor who developed the term "Mother Hunger" to identify an attachment injury related to maternal deprivation. She specializes in nurturing insecure attachment and healing addictive relational patterns in adult women. She holds an MA in English Literature from Georgetown University (1991) and an MA in Counseling from St. Mary's University (2004). Kelly is also a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT). She has devoted herself to this work since naming Mother Hunger in 2008.

Ready to Connect with Greer?

"Nurture Neuroscience" Website: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgreerkirshenbaum/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greerkirshenbaum/

FREE GUIDE, "Nurture Your Baby's Stress": https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/nurture-your-babys-stress

FREE GUIDE, "Manage the Stressors & Triggers of Parenting": https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/manage-the-stressors-of-parenting

Order "The Nurture Revolution" Book: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/the-nurture-revolution

What if the most crucial job we have in motherhood is learning to mother ourselves?

Dr. Gertrude Lyons, a master coach and thought leader, developed the "Rewriting the Mother Code" framework after conducting an in-depth doctoral thesis. Her purpose is to help women rewrite outdated narratives surrounding motherhood, self-worth, and identity. Dr. Lyons was prompted to begin this work after realizing that even as an established coach, she had lost herself in motherhood, stopped mothering herself, and experienced deep regret and remorse. This experience motivated her to investigate what is possible when women put themselves in the picture.

Her doctoral thesis centered on raising women's awareness of the possibility of personal growth and transformative experiences within motherhood. This included challenging personal norms. For example, when facing fertility issues, Dr. Lyons chose to listen to her intuition rather than immediately adopting the full medical model. By tuning in, she uncovered a deep, unconscious fear of being a mother and continuing generational trauma. Addressing this "unfinished business" proved to be a critical part of her healing journey.

Dr. Lyons emphasizes that motherhood, despite being painful or chaotic—described as the "caterpillar to butterfly gelatinous mass period"—is the ripest time for transformation and rewiring. She champions the idea that we all mother (ideas, careers, relationships), and the most important person we need to mother is ourselves.

Key Takeaways

● Recognize that the challenging, chaotic early phase of new motherhood is the ripest time for profound personal transformation and rewiring.

● Challenge the traditional view of motherhood as pure sacrifice and duty, and instead embrace it as an opportunity for self-realization.

● The deepest form of self-mothering is self-actualization and awareness, requiring ongoing internal work to truly know yourself.

● We all express "mother energy" by nurturing careers, relationships, ideas, and dreams, not just children.

● Approach pain as informative and a natural vehicle for wisdom and transformation, rather than something to numb or simply avoid.

Join The Nurture Neuroscience Practitioner Certification

Join our February 2026 Program:

https://nurture-neuroscience.com/professional-certification-sales-page

Resources

Guest Bio: Dr. Gertrude Lyons is a master coach, podcast host, and thought leader who helps women rewrite outdated narratives around motherhood and identity. She developed the "Rewriting the Mother Code" framework after completing an in-depth doctoral thesis. She offers retreats in Mexico and Ireland, and one-on-one immersive coaching experiences.

References and Resources:

● Book: Rewrite the Mother Code: From Sacrifice to Stardust, a Cosmic Approach to Motherhood https://a.co/d/b4MU6hl

● Website: https://www.drgertrudelyons.com (includes her TEDx talk)

● Podcast: Rewrite the Mother Code with Dr. Gertrude Lyons https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rewrite-the-mother-code-with-dr-gertrude-lyons/id1534581166

● Instagram: @drgertrudelions https://www.instagram.com/drgertrudelyons/?hl=en

Ready to Connect with Greer?

"Nurture Neuroscience" Website: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgreerkirshenbaum/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greerkirshenbaum/

FREE GUIDE, "Nurture Your Baby's Stress": https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/nurture-your-babys-stress

FREE GUIDE, "Manage the Stressors & Triggers of Parenting": https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/manage-the-stressors-of-parenting

Order "The Nurture Revolution" Book: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/the-nurture-revolution

Is it possible to improve our sleep and reduce anxiety, even when navigating the exhaustion of new parenthood? Talia Shapero's journey to becoming an adult sleep coach began with her own years-long battle with insomnia. This sleep struggle became significantly worse after the birth of her son. Even when her baby started sleeping through the night, Talia found she was unable to. This chronic lack of quality sleep severely impacted her cognitive, physical, and emotional health, leading to intense anxiety and a dysregulated mood. Fortunately, her medical practitioners were insightful, suggesting that addressing her sleep issues might alleviate her anxiety, recognizing the crucial bi-directional relationship between mood and sleep. Talia was diagnosed with true insomnia and underwent Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), which she describes as truly transformative. The treatment improved her overall well-being—she was feeling better, eating better, and became a more engaged partner and parent, gaining resilience, patience, and love to give to her family. Through this experience, she realized that many people lack knowledge about sleep and struggle silently. Motivated by her personal success and the universal need for solutions, Talia earned her certification to help others as an adult sleep coach.

Key Takeaways

• Focus on the quality of sleep as much as the quantity, and anchor your morning wake time for circadian rhythm consistency.
• When a full nap isn't possible, schedule "daily pauses" by lying down horizontally, screen-free, to refresh and restore your mind.
• Optimize your body's sleep-wake cycle by ensuring you receive bright light exposure in the morning and limit bright light in the evening.
• Develop a purposeful and relaxing wind-down routine before bed to signal to your brain and body that it is safe to relax and anticipate sleep.
• Aim for "good enough" sleep instead of seeking perfection every night, recognizing that sleep is not static and will fluctuate.

Join The Nurture Neuroscience Practitioner Certification · Join our February 2026 Program: https://nurture-neuroscience.com/professional-certification-sales-page Resources Talia Shapero is an Adult Sleep Coach. She can be found through her website, TaliaShapero.com, and on Instagram and Facebook at @TaliaShaperoSleep. Talia regularly posts tips and information, and she offers a free 20-minute, no-obligation call for those struggling with their sleep. ● Website: https://www.taliashapero.com/ ● Instagram: @taliashaperosleep https://www.instagram.com/taliashaperosleep/ ● LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/talia-shapero-7a5688a1/ ● Facebook: Talia Shapero Adult Sleep Coaching Services https://www.facebook.com/taliashaperosleep/ Ready to Connect with Greer?

"Nurture Neuroscience" Website: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgreerkirshenbaum/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greerkirshenbaum/ FREE GUIDE - "Nurture Your Baby's Stress": https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/nurture-your-babys-stress FREE GUIDE - "Manage the Stressors & Triggers of Parenting": https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/manage-the-stressors-of-parenting Order "The Nurture Revolution" Book: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/the-nurture-revolution

How do you turn a childhood of "low nurture" into a passion for helping other parents find confidence and joy in responsive motherhood?

Erin and Hayley are twins and the co-founders of The Nurture Duo. They shared their challenging upbringing, having grown up in a single-parent household with two older brothers. Due to circumstances including poverty, mental illness, and addiction, they experienced a "low nurture" background, though they are grateful their parents did the best they could. They always nurtured each other from the womb, leading to a strong bond. Their shared love of children led them to work in early childhood education for ten years. During their bachelor's degree studies, they took a course on infant mental health, which was eye-opening. They realized that many educational settings had high expectations for children's self-regulation, largely because professionals lacked sufficient knowledge about infant mental health. This realization was a driving force, making them passionate about helping parents because they recognized that the change needed to start there.

Their personal journey intensified when they both became pregnant with their first babies, whose due dates were two weeks apart. Motherhood, especially concerning sleep, was initially a shock. They were confused by the pervasive sleep training culture until they found a holistic sleep consultant (TikTok handle: raised to flourish). This consultant helped them trust themselves and their babies more, leading them to embrace responsive parenting practices like contact naps, feeding to sleep, and nighttime parenting. Feeling the transformative and healing power of this knowledge, they enrolled in the Nurture Neuroscience Practitioner course while pregnant with their second children. They launched The Nurture Duo by offering free workshops to build their community. They are now successfully running back-to-back, unique, in-person support circles where mothers feel safe and receive non-judgmental support, allowing them to connect with their own intuitive nurturing abilities and proudly bring the nurture revolution to their town.

Key Takeaways

• Recognizing previous challenges, like coming from a low nurturing background, can provide the drive needed to implement change for your own children and community.
• Trusting yourself and your baby allows you to lean into responsive parenting practices, transforming sleep from a managed problem into a source of joy and precious memories.
• Understanding infant mental health and brain development is critical for all professionals working with children, enabling the setting of appropriate expectations.
• Responsive parenting includes embracing contact naps, feeding to sleep, and nighttime parenting, offering a healing alternative to sleep training culture.
• In-person support circles create essential safe and non-judgmental spaces, allowing mothers to be vulnerable and connect deeply with their babies and peers.

Join The Nurture Neuroscience Practitioner Certification

• Join our February 2026 Program:

https://nurture-neuroscience.com/professional-certification-sales-page

Resources

● Instagram: @thenurtureduo https://www.instagram.com/thenurtureduo

● Facebook: The Nurture Duo https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572289780969

● Website: https://thenurtureduo.my.canva.site/

● Email: [email protected]

Guest Bio: Erin and Hayley are twin sisters and certified Nurture Neuroscience Practitioners who co-founded The Nurture Duo. They both previously worked for 10 years in early childhood education, holding a BA in Early Childhood Studies.

Their path was motivated by their own "low nurture" upbringing and a challenging start to motherhood, which led them to realize the importance of understanding infant mental health. After discovering responsive care practices that they found to be "very healing", they dedicated themselves to supporting families.

As practitioners, they focus on educating caregivers about nervous system care and biologically normal infant sleep to help them feel more confident and capable of providing responsive care. They currently run unique, in-person support circles for mothers that are described as non-judgmental and safe spaces.

Ready to Connect with Greer?

• "Nurture Neuroscience" Website: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgreerkirshenbaum/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greerkirshenbaum/
• FREE GUIDE, "Nurture Your Baby's Stress": https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/nurture-your-babys-stress
• FREE GUIDE, "Manage the Stressors & Triggers of Parenting": https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/manage-the-stressors-of-parenting
• Order "The Nurture Revolution" Book: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/the-nurture-revolution

Are you feeling conflicted because your mothering instincts feel right, but everyone around you insists you are doing it wrong?

Amanda Hadfield, who was previously working as a veterinary nurse, started maternity leave looking for self-discovery and a complete career change. While pregnant, she knew she was looking for something else. She faced a major challenge during this time: she felt deeply conflicted because everything she was doing felt right in her heart, yet she was under immense pressure from family, friends, and health visitors who told her she was mothering incorrectly.

Her path changed when a mother at her breastfeeding group recommended The Nurture Revolution by Greer Kirshenbaum. The book changed everything for her. When she received a newsletter announcing the certification program, she knew 100% that this was the path for her, manifesting getting into the limited spaces.

Amanda became the world's first Nurture Neuroscience Practitioner to certify. She launched her first circle in March 2025, initially expecting only two mothers but welcoming eight. The impact was profound, providing mothers with a space to be nurtured and find healing from issues like birth trauma or difficulty bonding with their baby. Amanda also experienced significant personal growth, moving from being "terrified" before her first class to gaining the confidence to lead circles and workshops. Her group fostered deep connections, with the first block of mothers continuing to meet up every week, forming a tight-knit group.

Key Takeaways

● Up until the age of three, your primary role is to spoil your baby with affection, attention, and protection.

● When women gather in person, magic happens, creating a supportive sisterhood and community that lasts a lifetime.

● The Nurtured Presence practice is highly emotive, centering on four questions that affirm to your baby, "I see you, you are enough".

● Inner child work involves holding your baby but answering the four natural questions as if you were addressing baby-you.

● Ambivalence can be practiced by holding two rocks to help you really feel two conflicting emotions at the same time.

Join The Nurture Neuroscience Practitioner Certification

Join our February 2026 Program: https://nurture-neuroscience.com/professional-certification-sales-page

Resources

● Amanda Hadfield´s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandabennison

● Amanda Hadfield´s website: https://northstarnurture.com/

● Amanda Hadfield's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/north.star.nurture

Guest Bio: Amanda Hadfield is the world's first Nurture Neuroscience Practitioner to certify in the certification program. Her business is North Star Nurture. She runs in-person circles every Wednesday at 9:30 AM in the Glencore Center in Scotland. Amanda also offers sleep consulting and is planning to team up with another practitioner, Gabrielle, for parental regulation support.

Ready to Connect with Greer?:

● "Nurture Neuroscience" Website: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/

● Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgreerkirshenbaum/

● LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greerkirshenbaum/

● FREE GUIDE, "Nurture Your Baby's Stress: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/nurture-your-babys-stress

● FREE GUIDE, "Manage the Stressors & Triggers of Parenting": https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/manage-the-stressors-of-parenting

● Order "The Nurture Revolution" Book: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/the-nurture-revolution

How does embracing neuroscience and genuine community support transform the challenges of early motherhood, especially when navigating conflicting advice on infant sleep?

We sit down with Linda, a Nurture Neuroscience practitioner, to discuss her incredible journey into supporting mothers. Originally from the Czech Republic, Linda moved to the United States and found that becoming a mother completely transformed her life. She experienced significant challenges early on, particularly facing conflicting advice regarding infant sleep. She was told she had to sleep train her son before he turned four months to avoid sleep regression, a suggestion that left her deeply conflicted so she searched everywhere for answers.

Her transformation began when she found a holistic sleep expert, which eventually led her to discover Greer's work. She was drawn to the professional training because it was grounded in neuroscience and research, which made the information digestible and true. Linda's initial goal was clear: to support families with sleep and ultimately prevent sleep training by working with newborn and pregnant families. The course offered the direction, hope, and light she needed to launch her practice. She fought hard to build her circles, getting creative with marketing—including recording videos and drawing with chalk in front of playgrounds, grocery stores, and schools—to ensure everyone knew about the neuroscience circle. Now, Linda leads successful, intimate circles and one-on-one consultations, providing mothers with a vulnerable and safe space where they receive vital community support and knowledge based on science, ultimately changing lives.

Key Takeaways

● Preventing sleep training is best approached by working with newborn or pregnant families, as sleep training is often initiated very early on.

● When seeking parenting guidance, prioritize information and knowledge that is backed by credible research and neuroscience over popular myths.

● Community circles offer a safe and intimate space, allowing mothers to be vulnerable and receive deep emotional support and connection in real life.

● The work of a sleep consultant, focusing on finding alternatives to sleep training, can be a flexible job that allows prioritizing time with young children.

● Societal pressures often hide what mothers are missing; community circles help mothers realize they need to be surrounded by other supportive moms.

Resources

●Join the next Nurture Neuroscience Practitioner Certification: https://nurture-neuroscience.com/professional-certification-page

● Linda´s Instagram: @nurturewithlinda

● Guest Bio: Linda is a Nurture Neuroscience practitioner who leads in-person circles in Fairfax, Marin County, California. She never offers sleep training but finds different options to maximize family sleep and help with problems like frequent waking or night weaning.

Ready to Connect with Greer?

● "Nurture Neuroscience" Website: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/

● Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgreerkirshenbaum/

● LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greerkirshenbaum/

● FREE GUIDE, "Nurture Your Baby's Stress: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/nurture-your-babys-stress

● FREE GUIDE, "Manage the Stressors & Triggers of Parenting": https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/manage-the-stressors-of-parenting

● Order "The Nurture Revolution" Book: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/the-nurture-revolution

What if the key to maximizing bonding time with your newborn was created out of a moment of terrifying crisis?

Hayley Mullins, the founder of the Joey Band, shares the deeply personal and frightening experience that led to the development of her innovative product. When her newborn daughter, just two weeks old, startled and fell from her chest onto a hardwood floor, Hayley was devastated. After rushing to the emergency room, she learned that infant falls during skin-to-skin time happen often, even in hospital settings, occurring at an estimated rate of one in 165 births. Frustrated that existing baby-wearing products like wraps and carriers didn't offer the simple, soft support she needed while resting, she and her husband developed the Joey Band. This stretchy, yoga pant-material device wraps around the parent, securing the baby in a proper skin-to-skin position. This simple change transformed the practice, enabling comfortable, hands-free bonding time and mimicking the snug comfort of the womb. The Joey Band has become a game-changer in hospitals, particularly for C-section mothers, allowing uninterrupted kangaroo care right on the operating table, with one nurse noting it turns "a surgery to a birth". It has also been instrumental in NICU settings, helping vulnerable babies get home sooner by encouraging consistent kangaroo care.

Key Takeaways

● Skin-to-skin contact is crucial for brain development, temperature regulation, and nutrient absorption, which helps babies gain weight faster.

● Babies held skin-to-skin have been found in studies to cry 12 times less, offering enormous relief and increased confidence for new parents.

● The Joey Band is non-ambulatory and is meant to be used while sitting or reclining, helping parents slow down, recover, and focus on bonding time.

● The simplicity of the Joey Band makes skin-to-skin easier for non-birthing and adoptive parents, giving them confidence and growing the bond.

● For C-section moms, the use of the Joey Band reduces maternal anxiety and decreases the need for pain medication post-operation.

Resources

● Joey Band Website: https://joeyband.com/

● Hayley Mullins's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com

● Guest Bio: Hayley Mullins Inventor of the Joeyband Device & Infant Falls SME. Passionate about revolutionizing newborn care practices worldwide, she´s the visionary behind JoeyBand™, a globally patented medical device designed to elevate the crucial practice of skin-to-skin care. As the driving force behind this groundbreaking initiative, her responsibilities and achievements include spearheading a mission to redefine the standard of newborn care.

Ready to Connect with Greer?:

● "Nurture Neuroscience" Website: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/

● Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgreerkirshenbaum/

● LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greerkirshenbaum/

● FREE GUIDE, "Nurture Your Baby's Stress: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/nurture-your-babys-stress

● FREE GUIDE, "Manage the Stressors & Triggers of Parenting": https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/manage-the-stressors-of-parenting

● Order "The Nurture Revolution" Book: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/the-nurture-revolution

What happens when the thought of transitioning your baby to daycare brings anxiety and tears, but the reality turns out to be a surprising success story?

We sit down with Kelly as she shares her candid journey through the daunting process of transitioning her 10-month-old baby, Noa, into daycare. Kelly faced a non-negotiable deadline: returning to work in November. Because her chosen daycare was highly sought after and had firm start dates, she began the transition in September, two months before she needed to be back at work.

This forced early start actually became the best option, allowing for the slow, flexible transition Kelly desired, where she could spend time in the room or drop off Noa for short periods. Kelly details her initial fears, which centered on disrupting her hyper-focused, high-attachment "Greer's method" of parenting, including concerns about Noa crying alone, eating (as she was predominantly breastfed and had never taken a bottle), and sleeping (as she only napped on Kelly).

Despite these major worries, the transition moved much faster and smoother than Kelly anticipated. The daycare staff embraced the learning curve, successfully introducing a bottle and helping Noa transition from sleeping on a person to sleeping in a crib over the course of a week, without tears during the process. This unexpected success led Kelly to pivot her original plan, shifting from a part-time/nanny hybrid approach to confidently choosing full-time daycare, a decision she made by listening to her gut and observing how well Noa was thriving. Kelly's story offers reassurance that a successful and smooth transition is common when anchored by flexibility, trust, and a focus on building a strong relationship with the care provider.

Key Takeaways

● Trust your gut throughout the process and hold plans loosely; you can change your decisions and reassess as you go, based on your baby's experience.

● Prioritize finding a childcare setting or implementing a strategy that allows for forming a trusted, loving relationship between your baby and at least one caregiver.

● Encourage social referencing by spending time with the baby and caregiver, showing the baby through your calm nervous system that the caregiver is trustworthy.

● You do not need to change feeding or sleep routines at home (like breastfeeding or co-sleeping) before daycare; babies will typically adapt to new sleep methods in the new environment.

● Seek consistency of care in the schedule, as a baby better understands an every-day pattern (even short days) than inconsistent schedules like Monday, Wednesday, Friday.

Resources

● Lillio App: https://www.lillio.com/

● Guest Bio: Kelly Yefet is a strategic brand and growth marketer who specializes in identifying key business challenges to uncover innovative and data-driven solutions. Kelly is also a devoted parent to her baby, Noa and shares her personal journey of successfully transitioning Noa into daycare.

Ready to Connect with Greer?

● "Nurture Neuroscience" Website: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/

● Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgreerkirshenbaum/

● LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greerkirshenbaum/

● FREE GUIDE, "Nurture Your Baby's Stress: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/nurture-your-babys-stress

● FREE GUIDE, "Manage the Stressors & Triggers of Parenting": https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/manage-the-stressors-of-parenting

● Order "The Nurture Revolution" Book: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/the-nurture-revolution

Feeling overwhelmed by the thought of adding another baby to your family and wondering how everyone will ever sleep? We've got you covered!

In this episode of the Spoil Your Baby podcast, we connect with Rachel Shepard-Ota, the founder of Hey Sleepy Baby. Rachel shares her personal journey into the world of baby sleep, which began after a "horribly traumatic experience" with sleep training her first child. This pivotal moment led her to extensively research and discover attachment-focused sleep certifications, initially for her own benefit as she was on maternity leave with her second baby during COVID. What started as a personal quest and a potential "side hustle" quickly blossomed into Hey Sleepy Baby, a platform that took off, allowing her to leave her decade-long career as a special education teacher. Rachel is now dedicated to changing the narrative around infant sleep, moving away from sleep training as the default, especially in the US where lack of parental support adds extra pressure. Through her work, she aims to normalize sleep and support parents, offering alternatives and guidance to families seeking gentle, attachment-focused approaches.

Key Takeaways

● Remove the pressure to space children closely: Allow breathing room between babies to recover from tough sleep or deprivation

● Prepare for toddler regression: Have a flexible plan for how you'll tackle sleep in the night, as toddlers may regress with a new baby

● A two-year-old is still a baby: Avoid putting too much pressure on older children; they are still tiny and need support

● Implement a "divide and conquer" strategy: If two parents are present, one can take the toddler and the other the newborn for nighttime support

● Embrace flexibility: There's no single "right" solution in parenting, and acknowledging that everything is a phase helps manage expectations

Resources

● Guest's Instagram: @heysleepybaby

● Guest's Website: https://heysleepybaby.com/

● Guest Bio: Rachel Shepard-Ota is the founder of Hey Sleepy Baby, established in 2020. She was a special education teacher for about a decade before dedicating herself to attachment-focused baby sleep after a challenging experience with sleep training her first child.

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