Why You Can’t Spoil Your Baby: The Science of Nurture and The Truth About Sleep Training with Greer Kirshenbaum

“You’re holding your baby too much.” “Just let them cry it out.” “You’ll spoil them if you respond every time they cry.”

If you’ve ever heard these words—or wondered yourself whether nurturing your baby too much could backfire—you’re not alone. But the science is clear: responding to and connecting with our babies doesn’t spoil them; it builds their brains for lifelong emotional resilience and mental health.

In this episode of On Health, I’m joined by neuroscientist, doula, and infant sleep specialist Dr. Greer Kirshenbaum, author of The Nurture Revolution: Grow Your Baby’s Brain and Transform Their Mental Health. We’re diving into:

• Why babies need co-regulation, not early independence
• The neuroscience behind sleep training—and why much of it conflicts with infant brain development
• How small, intentional nurturing acts can buffer against stress and even heal intergenerational trauma

And because so many parents today are raising children without the village we deserve, we’ll also talk about what it means to nurture our babies—and ourselves—sustainably.

If you’ve ever felt torn between instinct and conventional parenting advice, this episode will give you clarity, confidence, and science-backed reassurance. Tune in now.

Links and Resources

• Greer’s book, The Nurture Revolution 
• Greer Kirshenbaum’s website
• Greer’s workshops, resources, and coaching for parents and professionals
• Safe cosleeping guidelines from the Mother-Baby Behavioral Sleep Lab at University of Notre Dame 
• Aviva’s podcast on colic in babies 
• Join The Mama Pathway, Aviva’s complete pregnancy, postpartum, and new mama journey 

Looking for supplements for yourself and your family, including some of those I talk about in episodes? You can find those - and your 15% discount on every order here: avivaromm.com/supplements

The Mama Pathway is not your average childbirth education program. It's a powerful virtual membership community and online education experience where traditional midwifery wisdom and modern medicine meet to support you on your most empowered path through pregnancy, birth, and beyond. Go to avivaromm.com/mama-pathway to learn more

Mentioned in this episode:

The Mama Pathway is not your average childbirth education program. It's a powerful virtual membership community and online education experience where traditional midwifery wisdom and modern medicine meet to support you on your most empowered path through pregnancy, birth, and beyond. Go to https://avivaromm.com/mama-pathway to learn more

Looking for supplements for yourself and your family, including some of those I talk about in episodes? You can find those - and your 15% discount on every order here: avivaromm.com/supplements