When every expert says “it’s normal,” but nothing is working

I want to share a struggle a client of mine, Nadia, recently reached out to me about.

She texted me in a “You probably can’t help me… but I need help" sorta way.

How could I help her?

I didn’t even know what was wrong, only that she did sound like she needed help. So of course, I said "Yes, let’s connect asap.“

She was exhausted and on the verge of breaking down when we talked. Her daughter is 6.5 months old and has recently started teething.

She attributed all the issues to the teething. But, this is a tricky time in baby-life, right? Teething, unpredictable sleep, growth spurts, and very aware of the world… sometimes more than they can handle.

Nadia shared that for several days her daughter had been:

• sleeping poorly
• super fussy at the breast
• clingy but not soothed
• upset when held and upset when put down

You know the phase, the “nothing feels right” days. It felt like this would be forever. She felt guilty for not being able to soothe her daughter, for being upset, and for failing to meet this moment.

And she had already tried asking for help.
She reached out to her lactation consultant, who reassured her about teething and gave a few tips.

She asked her postpartum doula, too, who offered the same soothing tips.

She asked the pediatrician and nurse what to do, and they both assured her this was normal and would pass quickly.

She felt unsupported. She wanted to understand her daughter and to help her. But it felt like no one was sure what to make of this mix of clinginess, crankiness, and sensory overwhelm.

She wanted a partner, someone who would listen, empathize with her, and brainstorm with her.

This is where she reached out to me. Not really believing I could help her, but desperately wanting help.

She’d been babywearing, of course, some anyway.
 But the baby was still arching, fussing, twisting away, unhappy in every direction. So babywearing wasn’t really helping.

And the reason it wasn’t working wasn’t the carrier.
 It was the developmental moment.

Once we talked through the big picture, we switched a few simple things:
 from the start to the end of that call, it was a night-and-day difference in her.

We discussed pain management, created a wearing plan, and brainstormed a few more baby comfort measures. On top of this, we talked about stimulation reduction and movement pacing.

And almost immediately, Nadia was less stressed.

And that’s exactly why I’m rebuilding Progressions.

Parents like Nadia need wrap-around support.

Someone who can help them understand these stages.

Someone who can step back and look at the big picture,

Someone who knows the developmental trajectory,

Someone who offers real, grounded, ongoing support and guidance that helps them navigate the day-to-day realities of life with a baby.

They need YOU.


Not just as a babywearing educator who shares fit check advice and new techniques.
 But as someone who understands sensory systems, behavioral states, attachment, prosocial development, infant sleep, stress resilience, and how carrying intersects with all of it.

Progressions helps you become the person families turn to when their lactation consultant, their doula, and sleep consultant can only help with one piece of the puzzle. When the pediatrician says “it’s normal,” but they’re still overwhelmed, confused, and exhausted.

If you want to create wraparound support for families— for the moments that matter most—Progressions is where your next level begins.

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