Bringing a newborn home can be a daunting experience, especially for first-time parents, and even for those with prior experience. Many parents anticipate sleepless nights and ongoing concerns about their baby’s well-being. Not anymore!
Founder of Gentle Giraffes Newborn Care & Family Services, Erin Carroll-Manning, embodies a compassionate and professional approach to childcare, with over 30 years of experience and a keen focus on the vital fourth trimester for the past decade. Her commitment to reshaping parental perceptions of parenthood shines through in her dedication to supporting newborns from day one. Erin empowers families by providing knowledge and practical guidance, equipping them to care for their newborns in ways that foster deep and secure attachments while promoting healthy, functional, and neurological development.
She skillfully highlights the importance of tuning into both verbal and non-verbal cues that infants use to express their needs. This understanding is crucial, especially in situations where a pediatrician may deem a baby “fine” based solely on weight gain. Erin’s holistic approach to infant care goes beyond mere numbers on a scale. Over the years, she has come to realize that weight gain should not be viewed as the ultimate goal, but rather as a fundamental necessity for survival.
Her perspective reflects a nuanced understanding of newborn developmental needs, emphasizing the importance of nurturing their overall well-being rather than focusing solely on weight. Thriving, in her view, encapsulates a holistic approach to health, acknowledging that emotional, physical, and social nurturing is essential for optimal growth and development.
Erin launched her business in 2017 after working in the field for several years with other companies. This experience provided her with valuable insights into what was missing in support for families, as many still struggled even with in-home private assistance, whether it was overnight care or around-the-clock help. Erin and her team empower parents, enhance newborn care standards, and champion the qualified professionals who make family wellness possible.
Erin began her career as a mother’s helper at the age of 11. She then transitioned into babysitting before becoming a professional nanny, eventually growing into a trusted Master Newborn Care Specialist, Newborn Sleep Specialist, and Oral Dysfunction Specialist. Her expertise has earned her recognition in Parents Magazine, Consumer Reports, the Boston Globe, and the Women’s Business League. She was a Top 5 finalist for INA’s Nanny of the Year in 2023 and has testified for the Massachusetts Domestic Workers Law. Her advocacy is contributing to shaping the way society values and respects private childcare professionals.
“Newborns are competent beings who communicate their needs effectively,” Erin says. “Adults need to slow down and listen instead of projecting what they perceive to be what the baby is saying.”
Erin Carroll-Manning: Improving a Profession
Erin shows that private childcare is not a mere service. This profession is built on skill, dedication, and education. Her leadership highlights this truth through:
- Training and Mentorship: After numerous trainings in Newborn Care, Erin completed a three-year mentorship with Newborn Care Solutions, setting a new bar for expertise.
- Public Advocacy: She co-hosted the domestic workers’ radio show NDR, trained as a mediator, and testified for workers’ rights.
- Industry Recognition: Erin’s work has been featured in NYWeekly, Next on Scene, CradleWise, and Women’s Business League.
- Clear Role Definitions: She educates parents about the differences between Newborn Care Specialists (NCS), Postpartum Doula (PPD), and Night Nannies, explaining why each role is essential.
- Professional Respect: Erin calls for society to value private childcare professionals with the same respect as doctors and executives.
According to Erin, supportive caregivers are critical to family health and social well-being. She says, “Hiring a qualified professional NCS or nanny is an investment in the child’s overall development and their family’s personal and career endeavors.”
Gentle Giraffes: A New Standard for Family Support
Gentle Giraffes is a community hub for families and professionals. Erin built the business to serve parents during a crucial stage of life while also supporting caregivers.
- Customized Care Plans: Each family is different. Gentle Giraffes provides live-in, live-out, overnight, and travel support for newborn singletons, twins, higher order multiples, and babies with health needs.
- Focus on Education: Parents learn about newborn sleep patterns, feeding cues, and brain development to create sustainable habits fostered in a secure attachment and healthy sleep that lasts a lifetime.
- Emotional Well-being: Erin’s approach addresses both parental mental/emotional health and newborn care.
- Support for Professionals: Gentle Giraffes hosts a business community for NCS, PPDs, Sleep Consultants, Chiropractors, Birth Doulas, Therapists, and other professionals who work with and in the pregnancy & postpartum industry to not only grow their services but to collaborate with each other for the greater good of the children and their families.
- Nationwide Reach: Based in Boston, Gentle Giraffes supports families across New England and the U.S.
Family wellness begins with understanding. By slowing down, families gain confidence and stability.
Why Erin’s Work Matters
Erin is impacting individual homes, yes, but more importantly, she is building a culture that respects caregiving as vital.
- Changing the Conversation: She challenges the idea that a baby’s weight alone defines health, emphasizing emotional, physical, neurological, and cognitive development.
- Listening First: By recognizing babies as competent communicators, Erin helps families respond with empathy rather than stress.
- Advancing Professionalism: Her business community promotes collaboration among birth workers, therapists, educators, and functional health practitioners.
- Raising Standards: Erin’s mentorship and training, which she organizes for professionals with the skills needed to deliver exceptional care.
- Inspiring Trust: Gentle Giraffes gives parents peace of mind during a vulnerable season, offering guidance that lasts well beyond infancy.
Carolyn says, “As a new mom, I am incredibly grateful to Erin and the Gentle Giraffes team. At first, my husband and I thought the primary benefit of their services would be getting more rest through overnight support. However, Erin quickly became someone I relied on for guidance on how to best care for my daughter. She provided options and recommendations that helped us create a developmental plan, establishing a healthy eating routine to ensure our daughter was gaining weight, and promoting sleep hygiene that led to longer, more restful nights. Erin even helped us find the safest, most effective swaddle, which greatly improved our daughter’s sleep quality.”
Conclusion
Erin Carroll-Manning honors newborns as intelligent, capable individuals and parents as resilient, capable caregivers. Gentle Giraffes Newborn Care & Family Services is a trusted source of education and support for families across the country. Erin’s influence reaches even further, uplifting the professionals who dedicate their lives to helping families thrive.
Pregnancy & Postpartum support is no longer an afterthought; it is a foundation for lifelong health and connection through adulthood. Erin is here to help you through it.
