Spoil Your Baby

What if "spoiling" your baby with affection, attention, and protection is actually the best path to their long-term mental health and success?Tracy Gillett, a natural parent, felt alone in her early parenting choices like full term breastfeeding and bed-sharing. This led her to create the Raised Good summit, offering a community where parents find confidence, education, and support. The summit highlights research and experts, empowering parents to trust their intuition and parent consciously.Key TakeawaysSpoil babies with affection, attention, and protection for long-term mental health.Natural parenting, backed by science, empowers trusting your intuition and conscious choices.Find confidence and community through events like the Raised Good online summit.Understanding a child's nervous system helps interpret behavior and promote healthy development.Extended breastfeeding offers immense benefits; let go of societal expectations and embrace it.THIS EPISODE REVISITS THE KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM OUR EPISODE 33 - Conscious Connections: Holistic Baby Care & Family Bonds, with Tracy Gillett - Go listen to the full episode if you want to learn more.ResourcesRaised Good online summit: https://raisedgood.comGuest Bio: Tracy Gillett is the founder of Raised Good and hosts its sixth annual online summit. As a natural parent, she started the summit to build a community for parents seeking confidence, education, and support in their alternative parenting choices.Ready to Connect with Greer?"Nurture Neuroscience" Website:https://www.nurture-neuroscience.comInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/drgreerkirshenbaumLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/greerkirshenbaumFREE GUIDE, "Nurture Your Baby's Stress":https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/nurture-your-babys-stressFREE GUIDE, "Manage the Stressors & Triggers of Parenting":https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/manage-the-stressors-of-parentingOrder "The Nurture Revolution" Book:https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/the-nurture-revolution

How do the first impressions of birth and early infancy shape our nervous systems and relationships for a lifetime?Annie Brook is a somatic psychotherapist and educator who helps families understand the profound impact that birth and early caregiving have on lifelong wellbeing. Growing up as a premature baby herself, Annie spent time in an incubator and later navigated infant depression and sensory-motor difficulties. Her personal journey of healing led her to discover that the body holds memories of birth trauma long after they are "forgotten" by the conscious mind.In this episode, Annie explains that babies have no context for medical interventions or difficult births, which can leave deep impressions on the primitive brain, showing up as fears of abandonment or invasion. Through her work, she helps children and adults tell their "birth story" using somatic tools, play therapy, and movement. By unwinding these early impacts, parents can move from guilt to understanding, allowing for a fresh approach to behavior and deep relational healing.Key TakeawaysBirth is an impactful memory phase that shapes the nervous system, even if the conscious mind doesn't remember the event.Difficult behaviors in children, such as hypersensitivity or being "clingy," are often communication of a buried birth story.Somatic psychotherapy helps adults and children access and release early trauma by focusing on the "felt sense" of the body.Birth trauma often affects the "relational field," influencing how we connect with parents and partners throughout our lives.Healing begins with non-judgmental listening and helping the "baby self" know it is no longer alone. ResourcesAnnie Brook's Website: https://www.anniebrook.comThe Brook Institute on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebrookinstituteAnnie Brook's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anniebrooktherapyAnnie Brook's YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@thebrookinstitutewithannie9097Guest Bio: Annie Brook, Ph.D, LPC, MSME (ISMETA), is a therapist, author, and educator in the somatic community. She founded the Brook Institute for Somatic Studies and Psychotherapy in 2001 and specializes in helping adults and children get to the roots of difficult behaviors by unwinding the impacts of birth on the nervous system. Ready to Connect with Greer?"Nurture Neuroscience" Website:https://www.nurture-neuroscience.comInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/drgreerkirshenbaumLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/greerkirshenbaumFREE GUIDE, "Nurture Your Baby's Stress":https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/nurture-your-babys-stressFREE GUIDE, "Manage the Stressors & Triggers of Parenting":https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/manage-the-stressors-of-parentingOrder "The Nurture Revolution" Book:https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/the-nurture-revolution

How does a mother’s internal world during pregnancy shape a child’s lifelong mental health?Dr. Catherine Monk began her career as a clinical psychologist driven by a deep interest in development. She wanted to understand how our early backgrounds shape who we become as adults. This curiosity led her to the epigenetics revolution, where she discovered that experiences actually get embedded into our biology. Her personal journey was also shaped by seeing her own mother struggle with significant postpartum depression. This experience fueled her passion to become a pioneer in the field of maternal mental health.She faced the challenge of a medical system that traditionally focused only on a baby’s anatomy rather than their brain development. Dr. Monk worked hard to bridge the gap between psychology and obstetrics to show that the fetus is not passive. Her key transformation involved proving that the womb is truly the first influential home. She emphasizes that maternal well-being is the foundation for a baby’s stress and emotional regulation systems. Today, she helps parents find their own agency through simple buffering tools. Her goal is to ensure that the next generation gets the best start possible through science and compassion.Key TakeawaysThe fetus is an active participant in development, responding constantly to the mother’s internal biological and emotional signals.Incredible brain activity occurs in utero, with 40,000 new synapses forming every second during the peak of the third trimester.Maternal stress can alter the connectivity between the amygdala and prefrontal cortex, affecting a child's future emotional regulation.Unpredictable or chaotic maternal mood signals in pregnancy can prime the fetus’s sensory systems to be overly vigilant.We can buffer stress by practicing mindfulness, using a worry book for sleep, and focusing on our capacity to be alone. ResourcesDr. Catherine Monk at Columbia University: https://www.columbiapsychiatry.org/profile/catherine-e-monk-phdPerinatal Pathways Laboratory Website: https://www.perinatalpathways.orgDr. Catherine Monk's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-monk-1956473Guest Bio: Catherine Monk, PhD, is the inaugural Diana Vagelos Professor of Women’s Mental Health in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Professor of Medical Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and Research Scientist VI at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. Dr. Monk is also the founding director of Women’s Mental Health @Ob/Gyn. Ready to Connect with Greer?"Nurture Neuroscience" Website:https://www.nurture-neuroscience.comInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/drgreerkirshenbaumLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/greerkirshenbaumFREE GUIDE, "Nurture Your Baby's Stress":https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/nurture-your-babys-stressFREE GUIDE, "Manage the Stressors & Triggers of Parenting":https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/manage-the-stressors-of-parentingOrder "The Nurture Revolution" Book:https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/the-nurture-revolution

Why is the way we connect with our babies at birth so vital for our long-term relationship?Stefanie Antunes began her journey as a doula and educator over twenty years ago after the birth of her second son taught her the true value of preparation and support. She is now a visionary in the field, training thousands of doulas and helping families navigate the intense transition into parenthood. Stefanie believes that birth is an embodied experience that acts as a gateway to our emotional world. She has seen how modern hospital practices often disturb the natural hormonal flow that nature designed for safety and bonding.A major challenge she addresses is the pressure for parents to follow "head-based" information instead of trusting their own inner landscape and instincts. She transformed her practice by focusing on helping people connect with their heart and gut before the "noise" of the world takes over. Stefanie advocates for a return to our mammalian roots, emphasizing that we aren't meant to parent in isolation. She encourages us to reject the myth that we should know everything automatically and instead surrender to the community support we deserve. By prioritizing skin-to-skin contact and planning for postpartum care, she helps families create a foundation of connection that lasts a lifetime. We believe this conversation is a beautiful reminder to look inward and trust the wisdom of our bodies.Key TakeawaysEarly connection at birth is deeply rooted in our mammalian biology and sets a vital foundation for the lifelong parent-baby relationship.Learning to distinguish between anxiety in the head and instinct in the gut helps parents make better decisions for their families.Modern hospital disturbances, like early inductions, can disrupt the essential hormones that nature provides for a safe and bonded birth experience.The "nuclear family lie" makes us believe parenting should be easy, but we actually need a village to thrive in the postpartum period.Planning for postpartum support through exercises like the "four circles" helps families navigate the intense changes in time and energy after birth.ResourcesDoula School Canada's Website: https://doulatraining.caDoula School International's Website: https://doulaschool.comStefanie Antunes's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefanieantunesGuest Bio: Stefanie Antunes has been a Lamaze® Educator and doula since 2002, after the birth of her second son showed her just how valuable it is to be prepared for birth and to have good support around you. Stefanie is a visionary in the childbirth field. Her commitment to the profession has been exemplary. She founded Ontario’s first doula agency, helping to obtain insurance for the doula industry, creating the Birth Doula Program, Ontario’s first and only hospital doula program, and more! Stefanie is the director of public relations for the Association of Ontario Doulas, former Public Relations Director and Treasurer for DONA International and sits on many local boards and coalitions to improve our communities.Ready to Connect with Greer?"Nurture Neuroscience" Website:https://www.nurture-neuroscience.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgreerkirshenbaumLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greerkirshenbaumFREE GUIDE, "Nurture Your Baby's Stress": https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/nurture-your-babys-stressFREE GUIDE, "Manage the Stressors & Triggers of Parenting": https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/manage-the-stressors-of-parentingOrder "The Nurture Revolution" Book: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/the-nurture-revolution

How can writing and community help us navigate the beautiful, scary, and opposing feelings of motherhood? Hannah Rosenberg is a poet and mother who uses writing as a vital tool to process the intense emotions of parenthood. Her journey into public writing began as a way to capture the duality of grief and joy that often defines the mothering experience. During the episode, she reflects on the "overpowering and scary" realization of her own mortality that came with having children, leading her to write about generational love and the legacy of care we leave behind. A major challenge Hannah addresses is the modern pressure to be independent and parent in seclusion. She admits to feeling guilty about needing help with her first child but underwent a transformation with her second, learning to surrender to the support of her village. She now advocates for rejecting the "modern lie" that we can handle everything on our own. By sharing her poems, Hannah helps us see that even our strangest fears are shared by others. She encourages us to prioritize deep friendships and community, reminding us that being a good mother includes taking care of our own well-being and staying connected to the world. Key Takeaways Motherhood is full of opposing feelings like grief and joy, and it is normal to experience both at the same time. The idea that we should parent in total independence is a modern lie that often leads to burnout and unnecessary isolation. Nurturing our children creates a beautiful cycle of generational love that changes their biology and stays with them for a lifetime. Prioritizing friendships is not a luxury but a necessary part of modeling well-being and healthy social connections for our children. We can build community by letting go of the need for a perfect house and inviting others into our real, messy lives. Resources Hannah Rosenberg's Website: https://www.hannahrowrites.com Hannah Rosenberg's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahrowrites Hannah Rosenberg's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-rosenberg-8103861a Guest Bio: Hannah Rosenberg is a poet whose writing touches on womanhood, marriage, friendship, and motherhood. She started sharing her writing regularly online in 2020 and has since developed a special community of readers. Hannah is the author of the book of poems, Same. 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

Why is "normal" infant sleep so often labeled as a problem needing medical intervention? Gabrielle Ferrara began her professional life dedicated to mental health counseling and social work, holding a Master's in Social Work and licensure as a clinical social worker in both New Jersey and Florida. She initially planned to return to her full-time therapy job after having her son, never anticipating motherhood would completely uproot her career path. When her son's personal sleep journey began to get "a little hairy" at four months old, she discovered Greer's work. Listening to the resources gave her the language and the tools to quiet the intense pressure and noise she was receiving about sleep training, allowing her to trust her intuition about what her baby needed. This transformative personal experience motivated her to enroll in the first cohort of the Nurture Neuroscience practitioner program. She saw this as an opportunity for self-education and to be among other like-minded professionals and parents with similar values, with the hope of translating the knowledge into a professional career. In her consults, she found her primary job was offering education and reassurance to parents who constantly ask, "Is what my baby doing normal?". Her own path has been challenging, as her son has nearly every medical red flag or sleep disruptor, including reflux, oral ties, low ferritin, and snoring. She has faced significant pushback from the medical system, which often promotes a medicalized behaviorist approach, prescribing "self soothing" even when physical symptoms are present. Gabrielle emphasizes that for families facing complex sleep issues, responsive co-sleeping or bedsharing is often the only way to get enough sleep to function. She uses her combined therapeutic and personal experience to help parents navigate these complexities and balance their child's medical needs with their nurturing needs. Key Takeaways ● The majority of consult work involves reassuring parents that their baby's needs and behaviors are developmentally normal. ● We must reject the overwhelming mainstream messaging that sleep training is the only viable solution for infants. ● It is crucial to normalize the grief parents feel when the reality of infant sleep doesn't match cultural expectations. ● Some families rely on responsive co-sleeping or bedsharing as the only practical solution while addressing underlying health issues. ● Parents need support to stand confidently in their attachment-based choices against external pressure and medical pushback. Join The Nurture Neuroscience Practitioner Certification Join our February 2026 Program: https://nurture-neuroscience.com/professional-certification-sales-page Resources ● Website: https://www.gabrielle-ferrara.com ● Instagram: @nurtured.mom.nurtured.baby https://www.instagram.com/nurtured.mom.nurtured.baby Guest Bio: Gabrielle Ferrara is a Nurture Neuroscience Practitioner and Consultant. She holds a Master's in Social Work (MSW) and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in New Jersey and Florida. 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 optimal breathing and jaw development impact your child's sleep, mood, and ability to thrive? Dr. Shereen Lim, originally a general dentist for 26 years, first delved into the world of sleep apnea due to her husband's persistent snoring. Her initial focus was on dental devices for adults, but this quickly shifted when she wondered why children's jaws weren't helped to grow properly from the start. She came across research indicating that palate expansion could reduce snoring and obstructive sleep apnea in children. This led her to pursue early interceptive orthodontics. However, when she spoke to a pioneer in sleep medicine about palate expansion, she was told she was too late, which prompted a critical realization: form follows function. Her attention then shifted entirely to the earliest years of life, focusing on how to ensure a child's tongue and other oral muscles work well to promote optimal jaw development. Dr. Lim stresses that good airway health is defined by nasal breathing 24/7 and optimal jaw development, which serves as the foundation for thriving health and vitality across the ages. She emphasizes that sleep and breathing problems should be viewed as family health issues, often leading to attachment difficulties in infants and behavioral problems in older children, ultimately impacting the entire household. Key Takeaways ● Airway health is defined as promoting nasal breathing 24/7 and optimal jaw development through effective oral function. ● Snoring, mouth breathing, and a lack of silence during sleep are signals that airflow difficulties may be present, leading to unrestorative sleep. ● Breastfeeding, with optimal latch mechanics, is crucial because it acts as nature's palate expander, helping develop the jaws forward and wide. ● We must consider the outer borders of the airway—the jaw structures—not just tissue removal, to increase airflow and space for the tongue. ● Poor breathing quality during sleep can increase the risk of behavioral, learning problems, anxiety, and separation anxiety in children. Join The Nurture Neuroscience Practitioner Certification Join our February 2026 Program: https://nurture-neuroscience.com/professional-certification-sales-page Resources ● Book Breathe, Sleep, Thrive. https://breathesleepthrivebook.com ● Website: https://www.drshereenlim.com.au ● Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drshereenlim ● Instagram: @dr.shereenlim https://www.instagram.com/dr.shereenlim Guest Bio: Dr Lim is a Perth, Australia, based dentist with a postgraduate diploma in dental sleep medicine from the University of Western Australia. She has been involved in the team management of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea for over a decade. Dr Lim is dedicated to promoting airway health from infancy as an alternative approach to minimize the development of these problems, and is author of the book "Breathe, Sleep, Thrive: Discover How Airway Health Can Unlock Your Child's Greater Health, Learning and Potential." Her work in private practice is restricted to tongue tie management from infancy to adulthood, early interceptive orthodontics and myofunctional therapy. 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

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. Join The Nurture Neuroscience Practitioner Certification Join our February 2026 Program: https://nurture-neuroscience.com/professional-certification-sales-page 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 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

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: thenurtureduo@gmail.com 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

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 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

What if "spoiling" your baby with affection, attention, and protection is actually the best path to their long-term mental health and success? Tracy Gillett, a natural parent, felt alone in her early parenting choices like full term breastfeeding and bed-sharing. This led her to create the Raised Good summit, offering a community where parents find confidence, education, and support. The summit highlights research and experts, empowering parents to trust their intuition and parent consciously. Key Takeaways Spoil babies with affection, attention, and protection for long-term mental health. Natural parenting, backed by science, empowers trusting your intuition and conscious choices. Find confidence and community through events like the Raised Good online summit. Understanding a child's nervous system helps interpret behavior and promote healthy development. Extended breastfeeding offers immense benefits; let go of societal expectations and embrace it. Resources Raised Good online summit: https://raisedgood.com/ Guest Bio: Tracy Gillett is the founder of Raised Good and hosts its sixth annual online summit. As a natural parent, she started the summit to build a community for parents seeking confidence, education, and support in their alternative parenting choices. 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/ FREEBIES for Parents https://nurture-neuroscience.com/Freebies-For-Parents FREEBIES for Professionals https://nurture-neuroscience.com/Freebies-for-Professionals Order "The Nurture Revolution" Book: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/the-nurture-revolution