Why Mind Body Bedtime Is Like Cake (and Just as Sweet)

Cake is the perfect treat …soft and sweet and rich…chocolate is my total fave.

For weeks, I have been wracking my brain, trying to find the right analogy for the many layers of wellness that Mind Body Bedtime brings to parents and kids. 
 
And then, after having cake instead of dinner last Tuesday night, (oops!) it came to me. Imagine my delight when I realized, mid bite, that my favorite dessert was a great analogy for my work! 

Mind Body Bedtime is just like cake.

Let me explain.

Layer One: The Frosting

This is the fun part.
The sprinkles, the cherries, the giggles at bedtime. These are the moments of joyful connection between you and your child—those little bursts of oxytocin (the bonding hormone) that reinforce your relationship and help your child feel safe and seen.

In child development theory, these are called “serve and return” moments—when your child reaches out (with a question, a cuddle, a silly face), and you respond warmly. These interactions shape the architecture of the developing brain, especially the circuits that manage social-emotional resilience.

We call this the frosting because it’s delightful. It’s what makes parenting feel rewarding, even during long days.

Layer Two: The Top Cake

This is where the deeper nourishment lives.

Here, you’re not just connecting with your child—you’re also teaching them skills for life.
Mind Body Bedtime practices build body awareness, support emotional regulation, and introduce calming tools like breath, movement, and imagination.

Research shows that self-regulation—the ability to manage one’s body, emotions, and behavior—is a better predictor of long-term success than IQ. When you help your child slow down, breathe, and recognize how their body feels, you’re helping build the prefrontal cortex—the brain’s "wise leader."

This is the rich, satisfying layer. You know these practices are doing good. You can feel it.

Layer Three: The Base

And then there's the base layer. The one we often overlook: what this practice does for you.

As a parent, you’re often juggling competing needs, stretched thin, and holding space for big feelings. Mind Body Bedtime isn’t just about calming your child—it’s about giving you tools to stay grounded, too.

When you practice with your child—breathing, visualizing, softening—you activate your own parasympathetic nervous system. You regulate yourself. And from that regulated place, you co-regulate with your child, creating a feedback loop of calm.

It's a beautiful reciprocity—what you give, you also receive.

So yes, cake for dinner may not be the best habit…but I recommend it when it feels right..

And as a metaphor for the layered, nourishing, joyful experience of mindful parenting?

It’s absolutely perfect.

Let’s dig in.