We are Joyce Sikking and Suzanne Kuiper-Ruardi.

Our friendship began in 2024 during a gathering where we were asked to look at another person without speaking. Our eyes met, and without exchanging a single word, our souls connected. From that moment on, our friendship continued to grow stronger. A few months later, Joyce became Suzanne's maternity nurse during the first week after the birth of her son. Sharing such an intimate and vulnerable period deepened not only our friendship but also the bond with Suzanne's partner and, of course, their newborn son, Loef.

Unfortunately, life after the maternity week did not unfold as they had hoped. During the day, Loef was a calm and happy baby, but whenever it was time to sleep, he cried inconsolably for reasons no one could explain. As they searched for answers and support, they were often met with closed doors, conflicting advice, and a lack of understanding. Although they were surrounded by loving family and friends who wanted to help, the ongoing exhaustion became overwhelming.

After three months Suzanne collapsed, and after six months so did her partner. Little Loef was still crying inexplicably. Their search during Loef's first year of life gave them a lot of experience with the current existing care and a good insight into the problems. As a maternity nurse, Joyce also recognized the problems of families with inexplicably crying babies. It broke her heart that it was such a difficult road for everyone and a traumatic experience for many. Joyce herself also experienced postpartum depression after her pregnancy. Which means she knows better than anyone how intense this period can be, whether you have a crying baby or not. Suzanne and Joyce decided to tackle this topic together and look for a solution, also for other families with babies who cry inexplicably. After three months, Suzanne reached a breaking point. Three months later, her partner did too. Meanwhile, little Loef was still crying inconsolably, and no clear explanation had been found. Throughout Loef's first year, their relentless search for help exposed them to the realities of the current healthcare system. They gained firsthand experience of both its strengths and its shortcomings, as well as a deep understanding of the challenges faced by families with babies who cry excessively without an identifiable cause. As a maternity nurse, Joyce had witnessed many of these struggles herself. Time and again, she saw families navigating an exhausting and often traumatic journey with far too little guidance or support. Joyce also experienced postpartum depression after the birth of her own child, giving her a profound understanding of how emotionally and physically demanding the postpartum period can be—whether a baby cries inconsolably or not. Together, we realized that these experiences were not isolated. We decided to combine our personal and professional perspectives to search for better solutions—not only for our own families, but for every family facing the overwhelming challenge of an inconsolably crying baby.