Sharon Mazel is a name many parents recognize and trust in the world of parenting and pregnancy. With over 25 years of experience, Sharon is a highly regarded expert, author, journalist, speaker, and parenting coach. She’s the mind behind the acclaimed book Bite-Sized Parenting: Your Baby’s First Year and has co-authored several volumes in the renowned What to Expect When You’re Expecting series. Sharon’s insights reach over 300,000 parents through her popular social media channels, coaching, and courses, making her one of the “Most Educational IG Accounts” and one of the “Best Instagram Accounts for New Moms.”
Sharon’s advice is featured in numerous respected publications, including WhatToExpect.com, EverydayHealth.com, Parenting Magazine, BabyTalk Magazine, and The Washington Post. She earned her undergraduate degree from Barnard College, Columbia University, and a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. To delve deeper into her work, visit her website at sharonmazel.com or follow her on Instagram @sharonmazel.
Finding Your Parenting Purpose
Q: Sharon, what would you describe as your purpose and how do your passions drive you?
My mission as a parenting expert and author is to empower parents of young children to parent in the way they feel is best for them and their children. I do this by providing evidence-based, digestible tips and strategies (on social media, on my website, through my parenting courses and e-guides, and in my book Bite-Sized Parenting) that help reduce the stress and overwhelm new parents feel.
The Motivation Behind Bite-Sized Parenting
Q: What was your primary goal in writing Bite-Sized Parenting?
If there’s one truth about being a parent it’s that it’s overwhelming. As a mom of four I can certainly relate. You’re handed your baby immediately after birth and then you’re set free, to go home and “parent”. You’re determined to be the best possible parent you can be and so you start down the rabbit hole of over-sized parenting books, online blogs, social media posts, Dr. Google, and more . . . but instead of getting the reassurance you need and the simple answers you seek, you’re bombarded with conflicting, confusing, and oftentimes scary parenting advice, leaving you more overwhelmed, more unsure, and more stressed.
What I’ve learned in my more than 25 years as a parenting expert and author is that when there is too much information, there is, in effect, no information at all. And that’s not helpful to parents. In Bite-Sized Parenting I have set out to change that dynamic by cutting through the cacophony of conflicting parenting advice, reducing information overload, and empowering instead of frightening. Bite-Sized Parenting offers simplified, practical, evidence-based answers to the most important parenting questions in a digestible month-by-month format that is actionable and easy to understand, with exactly the information parents need to make the best parenting choices for them and their baby.
Tailoring Advice for Modern Parents
Q: How does the information in your book cater to modern parents who are often strapped for time?
In Bite-Sized Parenting, you won’t have to read endless paragraphs to get to the bottom line (because, let’s face it, what new parent has time for that anyway?). You’ll get the strategies and tips you need for each topic in a beautifully illustrated infographic—a visual learning aid that makes it easy to remember what you need to know. And if that’s all you want or have time for, that’s great. But when you’re ready or interested to learn more, you’ll be able to turn to each topic’s “A Closer Look” section for a deeper dive into the content, with additional nuance, information, and guidance.
And because the book is organized month-by-month, you can read each chapter as your baby grows, giving you the freedom to enjoy every precious moment as it comes instead of stressing about topics that aren’t applicable yet. Or you can choose to read ahead and get an early start on what to know for the months to come.
In short, you get to choose how to consume the evidence-based material in Bite-Sized Parenting—and what to do with that information after you’ve acquired it. Which is exactly what you’ll be doing as a parent—making choices for you and your family based on what works for you and on your instincts.
The Impact of Early Childhood on Emotional Health
Q: How do infancy and early childhood influence a child’s emotional health, and what tips do you have for parents to ensure long-term well-being?
I always like to remind parents that there’s no one parenting path that every parent will travel, no singular answer to every parenting challenge, no one approach that will feel on target to every mom or dad. In other words, there’s no “perfect” way to parent. Aside from abiding by safety recommendations (such as those about medical care or the safest sleep position), whatever and however you choose to parent, you aren’t going to get it wrong. Parenting isn’t black and white, and most of the choices you’ll be making won’t have one “perfect” answer. Which means that however you choose to soothe your crying baby, whether you decide to sleep train or not, which method you opt to start solids with, or which toys you break out to entertain your little one, you and your baby will not only survive, but—with the confidence that comes with a little expert guidance—thrive.
Does that mean nothing will have a long-lasting effect on your child’s wellbeing? Of course not . . . but it’s usually not the things that parents tend to perseverate over (like some of the things I mentioned above). The most important things a parent can do for a child is to love them, to be there for them, to create a caring environment where a connection naturally grows and strengthens, to establish limits and boundaries while also allowing for exploration and learning from mistakes, to be a good role model for the values you want to impart, and to be a listening and empathetic ear. These are the bedrocks of a healthy childhood with long-lasting implications.
Preparing for the Journey of Motherhood
Q: What is the best advice you can give to someone who is about to become a new mother? How can someone mentally prepare for this life change?
Becoming a parent is life-changing . . . it’s extraordinary . . . it’s glorious . . . and it’s hard.
So first, I would recommend that parents-to-be learn. Find a trusted source or two (a reliable expert, a book that’s evidence-based, a pediatrician, a family member who is up to date on the latest recommendations) and learn what you can about caring for your new arrival, before the baby arrives. This way you’ll be armed with the information and strategies about best practices, latest recommendations, how to care for your baby, and what you should anticipate in the year(s) to come. Having knowledge at your fingertips will make parents feel less overwhelmed and more empowered to face the challenges that lie ahead (and there will be many).
Second, I recommend that parents lower their expectations. Yes, it stands to reason that you’ll love new parenthood and be on cloud nine each day with your new baby. But there will also be times when you can’t figure out how to soothe your screaming baby and you’ll end up crying over the crib yourself (believe me, I’ve been there!). And that’s okay. There will be fumbles and moments of dissatisfaction and despair. And that’s okay. There will be poop blowouts and dinner messes and tantrums and sleepless nights, and it won’t always be easy. Being a parent is the hardest job you’ll ever have, and it’s hard enough without the added pressure placed on new parents (by themselves, by others, by family members) that everything should seem effortless and enjoyable. So lower the bar. Don’t feel guilty if you feel overwhelmed or don’t fit into what society’s idealized version of parenthood looks like. Remind yourself that you’re doing a great job no matter what your parenthood journey looks like. And remember that for every moment of difficulty, there’s an equal moment of reward, and pretty soon those rewarding parts of parenting will outweigh the challenging ones.
Sharon Mazel’s approach to parenting emphasizes clarity, compassion, and practical wisdom. By cutting through the clutter and offering concise, actionable advice, she helps parents navigate the early years with confidence and ease. For more tips and insights, visit Sharon’s website and follow her on Instagram for your daily dose of parenting wisdom.