OUR STORY

We help families discover their innate ability to flourish through the ever-changing journey of parenthood.

We Believe…

001.

Every Family is unique

Every baby, child, and family ecosystem is unique, there is no “one size fits all” advice that is true. Babies are whole people, each with different needs.

002.

POstpartum requires prep

Every postpartum requires preparation and support in place before you have your baby. Whether it is your first birth, 10th baby, a loss, a surrogacy, or adoption this is a new postpartum journey and you need planning and support.

003.

Education Empowers

We train in different modalities and bring in specialty experts to ensure we’re sharing from an educated space in our effort to eliminate the “I wish I knew” sorrow so many families feel.

Seen In …

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Yay, you’re here!

I’m’ Shari, the founder of Navigating PArenthood and …

A neurodivergent mom of soon-to-be 6 (many ND) kiddos with a passion for helping families transition through postpartum and into the early years of parenthood using evidenced-based, biologically normal functional whole-care practices. With 10+ years of experience in education, content & event creation, and support for families I am a functional baby & parent wellness practitioner. (Basically, saying I’m a postpartum educator & doula, infant/pediatric and adult craniosacral therapist, breastfeeding specialist, infant massage instructor, baby-led sleep & wellbeing specialist, mother warmer, and MyoMunchee & MyoMunchee Bebe practitioner with additional training in oral ties, primitive reflexes, feeding & development, and somatic release is too much to say when introducing myself. PS I’m currently training in myofunctional therapy too!)

I created Navigating Parenthood to save families from learning about important information “too late. ” Some of what you’ll learn from Navigating Parenthood is from my experience as a parent and an expert with the very same parenting obstacles that you may be navigating right now, others are created as I learn WITH you on my own ever-changing parenting journey.

The Navigating Parenthood logo was created with the different family ecosystems and seasons of parenthood in mind — no single one is the same and so the letters in “parenthood” change color to represent that.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

Postpartum in the ER

Savvy Every Day — a lifestyle site for parents — transformed into Navigating Parenthood in 2017 after my first natural birth experience. No one shared what to expect in postpartum with different birth experiences. Even the hospital staff needed all day to diagnose my issues as “normal postpartum.” I trained as a postpartum doula, CEIM, LEC, mother roaster, and CST in order to learn more about postpartum and share knowledge with families through courses, events, and services.

During this time, I learned about Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMAD) and was able to label what I had battled with alone (like many mothers) for over 6 years. I volunteered to help other moms experiencing PMAD. I learned about oral ties and how they affected my own dental health and what my own babies may need to prevent the same outcomes. I learned about birth trauma. About healing modalities. About sleep disorders. The list keeps growing and I’m so glad to share this information with you here at Navigating Parenthood.

Some of our training…

IFP Course Alumni Seal
beames cst logo
LER CBS seal
Infant Massage USA logo
Newborn Mothers Postpartum Professional seal
MyoMunchee Certified Seal

new around here?

Congratulations! Navigating Parenthood was created to ensure you feel prepared and supported in the fourth trimester and beyond by working on what you need to know BEFORE your baby arrives. We offer both in-person and virtual services tailored to your needs where we do everything from helping with the baby registry and nursery room to finding resources, helping with your lactation and feeding goals, and infant massage and craniosacral therapy. We also offer on-demand courses and highly recommend them to help you prepare for postpartum at your own pace, learn what to expect for breastfeeding after birth, and learn some infant massage for when your baby is born (trust me, you will these tips when he/she is gassy and crying).

First, I am SO happy that you made your way here. Since Navigating Parenthood started as an editorial website we have a LOT of great articles about the postpartum period (which to us is at least the first 2 years after birth) that include breastfeeding, relationships, birthday parties, family travel, and family home care & design, and more! I also highly recommend our Navigating Nurturing Touch infant massage course and FamSummit event replays for this part of your parenting journey. I’m also available for virtual parenting consults for postpartum support, lactation support, help with weaning from pacifiers, and more!

Happy to help you find some things to read and watch! Check out our Instagram for videos, our blog for late-night reads, or visit our Threads for entertainment.

Sorry I couldn’t answer your question! Fill out the Contact form below to reach out! There’s also more information about partnerships and contributing to the website below our contact form.

We love working with others to create events, products, and other offerings! Feel free to email [email protected] to discuss more. If you’re interested in promotion of your company, check out our Media Kit for more details.


get to know me

FAVORITE PLACE TO VISIT

Any good restaurant. Also Ireland.

favorite tv show to binge

Only Murders in the Building

MY birth chart

↑ Leo

SECRET TALENT

Generating ideas for people

I’D SPEND my whole paycheck on

Better Health

drink order

Oatmilk chai latte or Pink Drink

MY HAPPY PLACE

Cuddled up in bed, surrounded by redwoods, or dreaming by the ocean

Favorite blog post

Men Do Babywear and Tatted for Love (great oldies on the site)

forever ON REPEAT

Elizabeth Mitchell’s You Are My Little Bird (because, kids)

CURRENTLY READING

The Dental Diet (Amazon affiliate)

LET’S WORK TOGETHER