Mothering From Within

🎙️ Episode 36: Why Your Baby Eats, Sleeps & Plays Differently—And What Human Design Can Reveal

In this illuminating episode of Mothering From Within, host Kaili Ets, pediatric occupational therapist and holistic baby guru, welcomes special guest Meg S. from Wholebeing OT—an occupational therapist and Human Design specialist—to explore a powerful new lens for parenting: Human Design.

Together, they dive deep into how Human Design...

Welcome to another episode of Mothering From Within with Kaili Ets—pediatric occupational therapist, holistic baby guru, and your go-to guide for intuitive parenting.

In this special episode, Kaili kicks off a brand-new mini-series on Human Design for parents. If you’ve ever wondered why one of your children needs constant motion to settle while another craves calm predictability, Human Design might just be the insight you've b...

Hey, mama! Struggling with baby sleep and wondering if there's a way to get longer stretches without sleep training? You’re not alone! In this episode of Mothering From Within, I’m breaking down baby sleep in a way that actually makes sense—no rigid rules, just real, practical strategies that work with your baby’s natural rhythms.

We’ll talk about:
 ✔️ The real reasons your baby might not be sleeping well (spoiler: it’s not...

In this episode of Mothering From Within, host Kaili Ets, a mom and pediatric occupational therapist, dives into the complex world of baby sleep. Kaili addresses common sleep challenges and their root causes—such as reflux, feeding issues, body tension, cranial nerve compression, sensory processing, temperament, and developmental progressions. She offers holistic solutions and emphasizes the importance of understanding your baby&ap...

In this episode of Mothering From Within, host Kaili Ets sits down with McCall Gordon, a researcher with a background in human biology and applied psychology, as well as a certified gentle sleep coach. Together, they uncover the surprising gaps in sleep training research and discuss how temperament plays a crucial role in baby sleep.

McCall challenges mainstream sleep training advice, explaining why popular methods—like Ferber—fail ...

In this episode of Mothering From Within, host Kaili Ets takes you on a deep dive into the history of sleep training—from its origins in the late 19th century to today’s evolving perspectives. You’ll learn about different sleep training methods like cry-it-out, controlled crying, and more gentle alternatives, while also uncovering the surprising roots of these approaches.

Kaili challenges outdated sleep training philosophies—many of...

You may have noticed that this episode is arriving a little later than planned. I had originally intended for it to air at the beginning of January, but life had other plans. I took the past month to navigate my father’s illness and passing, stepping back to process, grieve, and be present with my family. While the holidays are now behind us, I know many of you are still working on getting your baby’s sleep back on track—whether af...

In the final episode of 2024, Kaili Ets, occupational therapist and holistic baby guru, encourages mothers to trust their instincts and offers actionable tips for navigating motherhood with confidence. Reflecting on highlights from the 'Mothering From Within' podcast since its launch, Kaili shares advice on tuning out overwhelming parenting noise, making gentle changes, and finding the right support. Listen in as she empo...

In this episode of Mothering from Within, host Kaili Ets, a mom and pediatric occupational therapist, discusses five common reasons why babies struggle with sleep. She discusses underlying issues like reflux, body tension, sensory processing differences, overtiredness, and the reality of normal infant sleep patterns. Kaili emphasizes looking beyond traditional sleep training methods and understanding root causes to better support b...

In this  episode of the Mothering From Within podcast, Kaili Ets sits down with Dr. Greer Kirshenbaum, a neuroscientist, doula, and author, to explore the profound impact of early nurturing practices on children's brain development and mental health. 

Dr. Greer shares her personal journey, from her own high-needs babyhood to becoming an expert in infant sleep and brain growth. Through their in-depth conversation, list...

In this episode, Kaili addresses the immense stress that sleep issues can bring to early parenthood. She empathizes with the struggles of trying various sleep methods without success and offers reassurance by introducing a holistic approach to baby sleep. This approach focuses on connection, responsiveness, and meeting both the baby's and the parent's needs, without relying on traditional sleep training methods. Kaili sha...

In this special episode, host Kaili Ets revisits a deeply insightful conversation with her friend, colleague, and mentor, Meaghan Beames of My Baby CST. 

Together, they explore the gentle and transformative practice of craniosacral therapy, its origins, and its benefits for both babies and mothers. 

Meaghan shares her journey from being a registered massage therapist to a dedicated craniosacral therapist, and how ...

In this episode of 'Mothering From Within', host Kaili Ets uncovers the crucial topic of body tension in babies and its impact on their movement, sleep, and feeding. 

Learn what body tension is, how to identify it, and discover simple home strategies and professional interventions to help your baby thrive.

Tune in to understand how releasing body tension can support your baby's development and overa...

Join host Kaili Ets as she chats with Kelsey, an occupational therapist and founder of B.WellTOTs. Kelsey shares her inspiring journey from early intervention to specializing in pediatric feeding and tongue ties. Together, they discuss the holistic approach to pediatric care, the challenges of motherhood, and the nuances of oral dysfunctions, including tongue ties and torticollis. 

Learn about the interconnectedness of bod...

In this episode of the Mothering From Within podcast, host Kaili Ets, a pediatric occupational therapist, delves into understanding tongue ties, known as ankyloglossia, and their potential impact on breastfeeding, reflux, and overall baby development. Kaili emphasizes that a tongue tie release is not a quick fix, but part of addressing broader feeding and developmental challenges. Highlighting the importance of a holistic approach,...

In this episode of 'Mothering From Within,' Kaili Ets, a mom and pediatric occupational therapist, explores how understanding your baby's nervous system can help create a deeper sense of security and connection. She introduces the polyvagal theory, explaining the different states of the autonomic nervous system—green (safe and connected), red (fight or flight), and blue (shutdown). Kaili offers practical tips for hel...

In this episode, Kaili chats with Bethany, about tools to reduce and regulate the nervous system, especially for adults (that's you mamas!) experiencing sensory overwhelm.

They discuss practical methods like I AM statements, EFT tapping, and specific breathwork techniques to help mamas find calm and confidence amidst the chaos of early motherhood. This conversation is packed with actionable insights for moms looking ...

This episode (19) of 'Mothering From Within,' is part 2 of the interview with Macall Gordon, a seasoned expert with extensive research on temperament and sleep. 

Kaili and Macall discuss why high needs or intense children struggle with sleep and why "self-soothing" is not the goal for sleep. They emphasize that it's more about the child's unique system rather than a lack of skills. Macall intr...

In this episode of 'Mothering from Within,' host Kaili Ets chats with sleep expert and researcher Macall Gordon about how understanding your child's temperament can significantly impact their sleep patterns. 

Macall shares her journey into this field sparked by her own challenging experiences as a mother and then chats about the nuanced differences in a child's temperament, the impact these traits have ...