Hidden Gems: Meet Julie Wright of The Wright Mommy and Me, and The Happy Sleeper

Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Wright.

Hi Julie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
As I was studying and training to become a psychotherapist, I had the unique opportunity to focus on infancy, early childhood and parenting. At the same time, I became a mom.and experienced firsthand, the challenges and isolation that accompanied the joy and the awe. I also learned that, as humans, our natural state is to live in a clan or extended family, I was motivated to help parents with new babies come together to build community, explore the world of babies and get expert support

I started leading Mommy and Me classes for new moms, during baby’s first year. I added in dads and couples in my weekend classes, I developed a 40 week curriculum that follows babies’ and parents’ developmental path. My groups became popular and I began to form a team of remarkable class leaders, who were also specialized therapists and early childhood experts. I established two locations, in Santa Monica and Sherman Oaks. A friend of mine told me I should name my program, The Wright Mommy and Me, which would never have occurred to me! I never envisioned myself an entrepreneur, so am still amazed to this day, that, with the support of my village, I was able to create the kind of sanctuary I dreamed of for parents and their babies.

It’s palpable how much better parents feel when helping arms reach out to hold their babies, listen to their fears and smile knowingly into their tired eyes. There’s nothing more comforting than a bunch of nodding heads when a mom says she dreads the 3 hours before bedtime or a dad confesses he misses his life before baby.

We are not meant to raise our children alone. It’s hard to imagine a time in our lives when we need the camaraderie and friendship of others like us more than when we become new parents. We are social creatures who thrive in tribes, clans and extended families. But, in today’s society, we have moved away from this natural source of support and joy.

We live isolated lives alone in our homes with our baby. Our culture often makes us feel that we are supposed to do this parenting thing pretty much on our own. I mean, how hard could it be? It’s so easy to fall into a belief that there must be something wrong with us, that it feels so difficult. Does anyone else feel this way? Am I just a failure at this?

One of the most challenging adjustments for parents is being abruptly thrust into a world where nothing is certain. Is my baby wet, tired, bored, in pain, sick . . . what does she want? Does she like big movement or small, is it time for a nap or a feed, or is she just crying because she’s a baby? The questions without answers are endless and for most of us, this is a brand new feeling and not a good one. We are used to solving problems, knowing what to do and feeling capable. This dreadful sense of self-doubt is made much worse when we’re alone. As soon as we enter into a group discussion, and realize everyone feels the same way, the dread lifts, the humor helps. and there is light at the end of the tunnel.

The information overload in today’s digital world doesn’t help. In our classes, we help parents tease out the researched-backed suggestions that are helpful for them, while tuning out the noise and misinformation.

Along the way, I developed a developmental approach to teaching parents how to give babies space to access their natural ability to sleep well, while maintaining their secure bond, which I taught in the classes. This grew into the book, The Happy Sleeper., which has been popular since 2014. An updated edition came out in 2024. My coauthor, Heather Turgeon, and I also wrote Now Say This, an approach to empathic parenting in difficult moments, which I also developed while leading the Mommy and Me and Parent and Me classes. Writing and working with Heather has inspired me to keep learning and growing, with the goal of supporting parents with young babies and children. We wrote a third book, Generation Sleepless, about the crisis of teen sleep deprivation, what causes it and what can be done.

The approaches to sleep and empathic parenting, from The Happy Sleeper and Now Say This, are an integral part of our curriculum in The Wright Mommy and Me.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In the beginning, we had to find the ideal balance between education and connection. We facilitate discussion about a different topic each week, geared to the babies’ developmental stage. At the same time, we know how hungry our parents are for connection and time to talk and share with each other. We leave time each week for open questions, highs and lows and have learned how to help parents connect and support each other during the topic discussion.

Finding an ideal space for our classes has always been a challenge. We need an empty room, with a padded floor, that is cheerful and bright, which is surprisingly difficult to find. Our goal is to create a safe space so that, once our babies start crawling, they can explore the room freely. This baby-led play is like nutrition for their brains! Luckily, we finally landed in two of the most wonderful spaces, Not only do they meet our needs, they both include a warm and welcoming community, at The First School preschool, in Santa Monica and, Bini Birth, in Sherman Oaks.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Wright Mommy and Me, and The Happy Sleeper?
As a psychotherapist, author, sleep specialist and owner of The Wright Mommy and Me, I wear a lot of hats. This includes sharing The Happy Sleeper (sleep consults, classes, writing articles and blogs) with my coauthor, Heather Turgeon.. I’m forever in awe of babies and young children and love nurturing parents on their incredible and often challenging journey. I’m proud that our Mommy & Me and Parent & Me classes are known for being very warm and down to earth, while also providing a wealth of research based education.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I wouldn’t have been able to create this program without the support and encouragement from my village. My class leaders, my son, Heather, my family, and my colleagues and friends, all played a part I am forever grateful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wrightmommy.com
• Instagram: @thehappysleeper