Modern Nurture

Jess
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Engineer turned Mama, Jess, meets mothers at the intersection of instincts and evidence to cut through the noise of parenting and wellness advice. On Modern Nurture, we’ll look to experts in thought provoking interviews, we’ll look to our biology to unpack the instincts and processes we’ve forgotten in the modern era, and we’ll have heart to heart conversations with real moms from every background as we seek to build a community where every mother and mom-to-be can find relatability and support. I am really excited about a segment of this show, called moms on the ground, where we’ll play real stories and clips from audience members. If you find yourself scanning reddit at 3am, or scrolling through of page 75 of google search results, this show is for you. Whether you're seeking answers on conception, childbirth, toddler nutrition, sleep routines, creating a toxin free home for your babies, or even how to nurture yourself - I’ve got you. I promise you insights, aha moments, and a community that understands. Tune in, and let's rediscover the joy in and power of motherhood together. You can find us on instagram @ModernNuturePod, and listen where ever you get your podcasts.

  1. 15H AGO

    When Do Tantrums Stop? What Changes in the Brain From 1–5

    Send me a Text Message, for free! I'd love to hear from you. Most parents ask the same question: When do tantrums stop? But that question leads to the wrong answer. Tantrums don’t suddenly disappear at a certain age. What actually changes between ages 1–5 is your child’s brain development—specifically the balance between the emotional (limbic) system and the regulatory (prefrontal cortex) system. In this video, we break down: What a tantrum actually is (biologically)Why toddlers have meltdowns (it’s not defiance)How brain development affects emotional regulationWhy tantrums peak around ages 2–3Why 4- and 5-year-olds still have meltdownsThe role of co-regulation in early childhoodHow sleep, nutrition, and overstimulation impact behaviorWhat actually reduces tantrums over timeIf you’ve ever thought: “Why is my 4-year-old still having tantrums?” or “My child is so smart—why can’t they control their emotions?” —this will reframe everything. 👉 Tantrums are not a discipline problem. They are a nervous system event in a developing brain. Instead of asking “When will tantrums stop?”, the better question is: How can I support my child’s ability to regulate? In the next video, I’ll walk through the exact systems we use in our home to reduce tantrums—based on biology, not just behavior. 🔔 Subscribe for science-backed, practical parenting rooted in child development and nervous system regulation. 0:00 - Introduction: The Tantrum Question 1:28 - What is a Tantrum Biologically? 2:41 - Ages 1-2: Explosive Growth, Minimal Control 4:39 - The Power of Co-Regulation 5:22 - Ages 2-3: Awareness Outpaces Regulation 6:43 - Ages 4-5: Progress with Setbacks 8:47 - Why Development Isn't Linear 9:32 - The Physiology of Regulation 10:18 - When Do Tantrums Actually Stop? 11:28 - Next Steps

    12 min

  2. MAR 10

    Feeding Makes It Worse? The 60-Second Hunger Test

    Send me a Text Message, for free! I'd love to hear from you. If your baby seems hungry in the evening but feeding makes the crying worse—arching, popping on/off, spit-up, gas, or waking 20 minutes later—you may not be looking at true hunger. You may be looking at arousal / dysregulation that mimics hunger cues. In this video I explain false hunger vs real hunger and walk you through a simple 60-second hunger test using: WHEN they last ate (timing) HOW they feed (organized vs frantic) WHAT happens AFTER (settles vs escalates) You’ll learn: Why hunger cues can overlap with stress cues (rooting, hand-sucking, frantic searching) How “feed-to-soothe” can backfire by adding air swallowing, digestive load, gas, and discomfort How to tell metabolic hunger from arousal-driven feeding What to do tonight: downshift first (dim lights, containment, rhythm, boring sound), then feed only if baby can coordinate the feed This is a biology-first, practical framework to help you stop guessing and choose the right lever in the moment. Disclaimer: Educational only, not medical advice. If your baby has fever in a young infant, breathing difficulty, dehydration, lethargy, persistent vomiting, or poor feeding/weight gain, contact your pediatrician. If your newborn baby seems hungry all evening, but feeding actually worsens things, you might be looking at arousal, not true hunger. This video helps you distinguish between actual baby hunger cues and other sources of distress in under 60 seconds, so you can stop feeding the problem. Learn parenting tips for managing crying baby situations and providing appropriate care during feeding baby times.

    5 min

  3. MAR 3

    Colic vs. Dysregulation: The 60 Second Test

    Send me a Text Message, for free! I'd love to hear from you. Colic vs. Dysregulation: The 60 Second Test If your baby cries for hours and nothing seems to work, you've probably been handed labels like "colic" or "reflux." But here's a better framework: Learn the difference between common crying, dysregulation, and red flags—and discover what to do about it tonight. In this video, I'll give you a 60-second triage system that tells you which bucket your baby's crying falls into and exactly what lever to pull to help them calm down. 📌 TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Introduction: The 60 Second Test 0:25 - The Problem with Labels Like "Colic" 0:26 - The Three Buckets of Crying 0:47 - Bucket 1: Common Crying 1:15 - Bucket 2: Dysregulation 2:20 - Bucket 3: Red Flags 2:16 - Understanding Dysregulation Biology 3:08 - The Developmental Piece Most People Skip 3:40 - Why Reflux & Gas Are Often Misdiagnosed 4:00 - The 60 Second Triage 4:45 - What To Do Tonight 4:58 - Step 1: Notice If Less Is More 5:05 - Step 2: Containment 5:25 - Steps 3-5: Rhythm, Sound & Strategic Feeding 🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS: ✓ Colic is a pattern label, not a diagnosis ✓ Dysregulation = stuck arousal system ✓ Learn to read state, not chase labels ✓ Use the 60-second triage to identify your baby's crying type ✓ Apply tonight's 5-step action plan

    6 min

  4. FEB 24

    Why Your Baby Wakes Up Screaming 15-40 Minutes After Falling Asleep

    Send me a Text Message, for free! I'd love to hear from you. Does your baby fall asleep… then wake up screaming 20–40 minutes later? This “false start” is one of the most common infant sleep struggles — and it’s often misunderstood. In this video, I explain why babies wake crying shortly after bedtime, what’s happening in the nervous system during early sleep cycles, and why this usually isn’t reflux or a “bad sleeper.” You’ll learn: • Why the first sleep cycle is fragile  • The difference between exhaustion and true sleep readiness  • How overstimulation and high alert states affect baby sleep  • What a state transition failure is • Why the second attempt at sleep often works • How to help your baby downshift before bedtime Baby sleep isn’t just about schedules and wake windows.  It’s about nervous system regulation. When you understand the biology, sleep struggles start to make more sense — and feel less scary. If your baby wakes crying soon after falling asleep, this video will help you understand why and what to do next. Chapters: 0:00 The Problem: State Transition Failure 0:38 Why Exhaustion Doesn't Equal Sleep Readiness 1:15 The 15-40 Minute Wake-Up Explained 1:58 The Solution: Calming Before Sleep

    2 min

  5. FEB 17

    Why Pushing Sleep Backfires (Overtired vs. Overstimulated)

    Send me a Text Message, for free! I'd love to hear from you. Does bedtime turn into a battle even when your baby is clearly tired? Many parents assume bedtime struggles mean their baby is overtired — so they push sleep earlier or try harder routines. But biologically, needing sleep and being able to fall asleep are not the same thing. In this video, I explain why babies can look exhausted yet fight sleep, how overtired vs overstimulated states differ, and why pushing sleep can backfire by increasing nervous system activation. You’ll learn: Why babies fight sleep even when tiredThe difference between sleep pressure and sleep readinessHow overstimulation blocks sleep access in infantsWhy bedtime routines sometimes make crying worseWhat bedtime battles actually signal about a baby’s nervous system This video is a biology-based explanation of infant sleep, nervous system regulation, and why many common baby sleep strategies fail — especially in the evening. If your baby resists naps or bedtime, cries when you try to put them down, or seems tired but can’t settle, this framework will help you understand what’s really happening

    4 min

  6. FEB 10

    Baby Seems Hungry But Feeding Makes it Worse?

    Send me a Text Message, for free! I'd love to hear from you. If your baby clearly wants to eat — but feeding keeps falling apart — this can feel incredibly confusing. They latch, pull off, cry, try again… and the feed just gets worse. Many parents assume something is wrong with the milk, the latch, or reflux. But when feeding quality changes from one feed to the next — especially later in the day — that pattern is telling you something important. In this video, we look at: • Why feeding sometimes soothes and sometimes escalates • What variability across feeds actually points to • Why hunger and feeding readiness aren’t always the same thing • What feeding requires biologically — beyond milk alone This isn’t a how-to or a list of fixes. It’s a framework for understanding what’s happening before you try to change anything — so feeding stops feeling random. 🎥 Related video mentioned: The Real Reason Babies Cry Every Night (It’s Not Colic) https://youtu.be/E5i7iXidk6c 0:00 - Introduction: The Coordination Problem 0:34 - The Strongest Clue: Variability 1:03 - Why Feeding Should Be Comforting 1:33 - The Missing Piece: Nervous System Organization 1:59 - When Coordination Breaks Down 2:48 - Other Feeding Issues Are Real 3:10 - What to Look For Instead 3:30 - The Key Question 3:36 - Call to Action

    4 min

  7. FEB 3

    The Real Reason Babies Cry Every Night (It’s Not Colic)

    Send me a Text Message, for free! I'd love to hear from you. Most parents are told witching hour crying means something is wrong—overtired, colic, bad habits. That misunderstanding creates panic fast. You’re not failing. Your baby isn’t broken. Evening baby crying is often a nervous-system state, not a missing fix. By the end of the day, your baby’s biology is overloaded, and the signal gets louder. This video explains what’s being misread, why infant crying looks different at night, and why responding first—then interpreting—matters more than fixing. 📍 Timestamps 0:00 What is witching hour? 0:32 The biology behind it 2:11 Baby nervous system overload 3:28 When tools work—and don’t 6:06 Why this isn’t your fault 🔗 Related videos:  https://youtu.be/ZSZNnHtHRrs?si=47-WYQSHXlFQDPK_ https://youtu.be/FEFzYY8bmw0?si=LWu-gMwVRCyG6fGd

    7 min

  8. JAN 27

    Wake Windows: Why This Stresses New Moms (and What Actually Helps)

    Send me a Text Message, for free! I'd love to hear from you. Wake windows are often presented as rules — and for many new moms, they create more stress than sleep. In this video, I explain what wake windows actually measure, where they come from, and why they work for some babies but completely fall apart for others. If you’ve ever found yourself watching the clock instead of your baby, fighting naps that “should” be working, or wondering why your baby doesn’t fit the chart — this video is for you. We’ll talk about: •What wake window charts are based on (and what they’re not) •Why averages get mistaken for rules •How infant sleep readiness is influenced by more than just time awake •The role of regulation, stress, and developing circadian rhythms •Why variability in baby sleep is normal — not a failure Wake windows can be a helpful reference for some families. But when they increase anxiety, create constant nap battles, or make you feel like something is wrong with your baby, it’s worth stepping back and re-examining the framework. Your baby isn’t broken. And average was never the goal. 00:00 Introduction to Wake Windows 00:06 Personal Experiences with Wake Windows 00:58 Understanding Wake Windows 02:10 The Science Behind Wake Windows 02:55 The Limitations of Wake Windows 04:53 Practical Advice on Using Wake Windows 05:22 Conclusion: Trusting Your Instincts ⸻ Sources & Further Reading Systematic review of infant sleep–wake behavior (observational data, wide variability): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29356197/ Normative infant sleep development across the first year (large cohort data): https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1389945720300381 Developmental neuroscience of infant sleep and wake regulation: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4062979/ Development of circadian cortisol rhythms in infancy: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9109407/ Caregiving context and infant cortisol regulation: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4170024/ Sleep quality and stress physiology in early development: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4385227/ Are wake windows evidence-based? (parent-facing synthesis): https://parentdata.org/are-newborn-wake-windows-real/ Neurodevelopmental perspective on infant sleep and regulation: https://possumssleepprogram.com/baby-sleep-0-12-months/

    6 min
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Trailer

About

Engineer turned Mama, Jess, meets mothers at the intersection of instincts and evidence to cut through the noise of parenting and wellness advice. On Modern Nurture, we’ll look to experts in thought provoking interviews, we’ll look to our biology to unpack the instincts and processes we’ve forgotten in the modern era, and we’ll have heart to heart conversations with real moms from every background as we seek to build a community where every mother and mom-to-be can find relatability and support. I am really excited about a segment of this show, called moms on the ground, where we’ll play real stories and clips from audience members. If you find yourself scanning reddit at 3am, or scrolling through of page 75 of google search results, this show is for you. Whether you're seeking answers on conception, childbirth, toddler nutrition, sleep routines, creating a toxin free home for your babies, or even how to nurture yourself - I’ve got you. I promise you insights, aha moments, and a community that understands. Tune in, and let's rediscover the joy in and power of motherhood together. You can find us on instagram @ModernNuturePod, and listen where ever you get your podcasts.

Information

  • Creator
    Jess
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    31
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Modern Nurture
  • Show Website
    Modern Nurture