Irene Smalls Irene Smalls is the mother of three children and grandmother to three grandchildren. She has a master’s degree in behavioral science and is the award-winning author of An Affirmation NiteBabynite. The book is the first in a series of sleep-training positive affirmation bedtime baby books for children of color. Experience Irene Smalls is the mother of three children and grandmother to three grandchildren. She has a master’s degree in behavioral science and is the award-winning author of An Affirmation NiteBabynite. The book is the first in a series of sleep-training positive affirmation bedtime baby books for children of color. Education Irene Smalls has a master’s degree in behavioral science. About Parents Parents, a Dotdash Meredith Brand, is an award-winning online resource for trustworthy, empathetic, and supportive information and inspiration for your families. We reach 9 million readers a month. Our content is written by experienced journalists, fact checked, and reviewed by our Expert Review Board for accuracy. Learn more about us and our editorial guidelines.