Are you feeling anxious or even petrified about an upcoming flight with your baby or toddler? Perhaps you’re travelling with more than one child and the thought is already overwhelming. This episode is for you. Join us as we dive deep into the realities of flying with young children. I shared wealth of experience from years of travelling with three young children, often as a solo parent. From surviving long-haul flights to managing sleep schedules, snacks, and those unavoidable toddler...

Welcome to another insightful episode of Thriving Parenting! Today, we’re thrilled to have Dr. Bianca Mastromano, a clinical perinatal psychologist, joining us to talk all things parenting and emotional development. Dr. Bianca, also a mother of two, brings a unique perspective shaped by her extensive experience in clinical and forensic psychology. She shares her journey from studying forensic psychology to her current passion: supporting parents through the early stages of parenthood and...

Welcome back to Thriving Parenting! In this episode, I dive into a topic close to every parent’s heart – the power of connection. Through a personal journey, I share how embracing small moments of connection shifted my parenting approach and made a tangible difference in my relationship with my children. Key Takeaways:The Weight of the Invisible Load: Parenting comes with an immense invisible load that can feel overwhelming. As parents, we juggle endless responsibilities, from providing...

Welcome to another episode of Thriving Parenting! Today, we’re diving into something profound yet often overlooked: the will for change. Change is hard, especially in parenting, where our instinct to protect and sacrifice can sometimes overshadow our own needs. In this episode, I explore why finding the will to change is essential, especially when it comes to sleep and overall well-being. As parents, we’d do anything for our children, even depriving ourselves of sleep and comfort to keep them...

Welcome back to Thriving Parenting! I’m thrilled about today’s episode because we’re diving into such an important topic for all you parents out there—baby reflux. And I have a special guest joining me, the wonderful Brenda Munns! Brenda is the founder of The Gentle Village, where she and her team provide incredible pregnancy and postpartum care, helping moms with everything from breastfeeding support to transitioning babies to solids. In this episode, Brenda and I explore the topic of baby...

In this episode of Thriving Parenting podcast, I’m diving into part two of a conversation I started last week—three things I’m really glad I knew as a first-time mom that helped me navigate the early days of motherhood with a bit more ease. In this episode, I share personal insights from my journey, reflecting on how these realizations shaped me as a mom and helped me grow through the ups and downs of parenting. From learning to trust my child’s development to finding joy through play, these...

In this episode of Thriving Parenting, we delve into the emotional journey of becoming a parent for the first time. I shared three important lessons I wished I had known when I first became a mum, having now accumulated 12 years of parenting experience and reflection. The episode explores managing anxiety as a new parent, emphasizing the necessity of trusting oneself and the parenting process. It highlights how mistakes are not just inevitable but beneficial for growth, as they foster...

In this episode of Thriving Parenting, I address the fears that often drive parenting actions, particularly in the realm of baby sleep. I explain how such fear-based decisions can result in feelings of being trapped, stressed, and overwhelmed. Highlighting the differences between fear-driven and choice-driven parenting, the episode encourages parents to become more attuned to their motivations and to make decisions that truly align with their instincts and beliefs. Real-life examples from...

In this episode of the Thriving Parenting Podcast, I engage in a detailed conversation with Gen, a Social Worker, parent educator, founder of Connected Parenting, Author of the new parenting bible Little People Big Feelings, Co-host of Beyond the Chaos Podcast, and Mum to four boys. Gen shares her personal experiences of raising four boys, highlighting that the transition from one to two children is often the most challenging for parents. She explains the reasons behind this difficulty, such...

In this episode of Thriving Parenting, I explored effective communication strategies with toddlers, particularly around sleep times. Drawing insights from Simone Davies' Montessori approach and her toddler sleep ebook, she provides a deep dive into understanding toddler behavior and needs.  This episode's key topics include the necessity of movement and exploration for toddlers, the importance of consistent boundaries, and creating safe spaces for them to explore. The episode also covers the...

In this enlightening episode of the Thriving Parenting Podcast, I invited Steph Beers, a fellow motherhood coach, to explore the complex emotions that often accompany motherhood, particularly anger. We dive deep into understanding anger as a secondary emotion, commonly masking feelings like hurt, guilt, and overwhelm. Through personal anecdotes, we discuss the importance of self-awareness and emotional regulation in managing these intense feelings. Steph shares practical strategies,...

In this episode of Thriving Parenting, I discussed the importance of activity, bath time, nutrition, and sunlight in promoting better sleep for babies and toddlers. Each of the four key areas is explored in detail: I explained the importance of physical activity for children of all ages, emphasising how it helps maintain a healthy weight, build strong bones and muscles, improve balance and coordination, enhance mental and emotional well-being, and reduce the risk of injuries. I provided...

This episode of Thriving Parenting is not just an episode but a heartfelt pep talk aimed at parents, particularly mothers, to help them recognize and celebrate the immense responsibility and effort they put into raising their children. I emphasized the uniqueness of the parenting journey, highlighting that it's okay to feel overwhelmed and to have days where only the minimum is accomplished. I highlighted the importance of self-compassion, urging parents to accept life's inevitable...

In this episode of Thriving Parenting, I dive into the topic of understanding and managing stress, particularly for parents. I explained stress in simple terms, aiming to make the concept accessible to everyone. I highlighted the significance of recognizing stress triggers and how increased awareness can help in managing stress effectively. The episode covers the primitive brain's role in stress responses, often referred to as the 'lizard brain', and how it's designed for survival but can...

In this episode of Thriving Parenting, I dive into various parenting styles, with a special focus on understanding and mixing different approaches to create a balanced parenting experience.  The core discussion revolves around four main parenting styles—authoritarian, authoritative, permissive, and uninvolved—and how sub-styles like gentle, attachment, and mindful parenting can fit within these categories.  I highlighted the authoritative style as the most recommended due to its balance of...

In this episode of 'Thriving Parenting,' we explore the intricate balancing act of motherhood with insights from special guest Sarah Cremona, a somatic motherhood mentor and coach. The discussion delves deeply into the emotional journey mothers face, especially during times of growth and transformation. Sarah emphasizes the importance of self-care, not as occasional pampering but as daily practices of energy management and mindful presence. The episode offers listeners practical strategies...

In this episode of 'Thriving Parenting', I explored critical parenting topics including when to wake a sleeping baby and how to adapt sleep routines in households with multiple children. You'll gain valuable insights on breaking the 'never wake a sleeping baby' myth, understanding the importance of distinguishing day and night for newborns, and ensuring they get adequate daytime feeding to support their growth. For parents of toddlers, this episode provides strategies to manage daytime...

In this episode of Thriving Parent-ing, I introduced the power of the 'Pause,' a transformative parenting tool aimed at improving how parents react to their children's behaviors and emotions. The episode unpacked how taking a moment to pause rather than reacting impulsively can lead to more effective and compassionate parenting. I discussed the concept using various real-life examples, such as observing a child's exploration at the park and managing their discomforting behaviors like...

In this episode of Thriving Parent-ing, I explored the concept of 'catnapping' in babies, which refers to shorter naps usually lasting one sleep cycle of about 45-50 minutes. The discussion includes whether parents should be concerned about catnapping and various strategies to potentially extend their baby's naps. I explained the development of baby sleep cycles, from the early weeks to around six months, and how changes in sleep patterns can affect nap duration. Key topics include creating...

For this week's episode, I welcome Nicole Pates, a pediatric physio at Western Kids Health, to discuss baby development milestones. Nicole offers detailed insights into understanding what's normal in physical development and provides reassurance for concerned parents. They cover a range of key milestones such as rolling, crawling, sitting, and walking, explaining the broad timelines and variations that are normal for these developments. Nicole emphasised the importance of considering each...

In this second part of the previous episode, I delve into actionable steps parents can take to prevent their children's emotions from defining their parenting.  The episode begins by encouraging parents to reflect on their feelings, sharing practical ways to explore why certain child behaviors trigger deep emotional responses. Crying is highlighted as a common trigger, with suggestions for journaling to uncover underlying beliefs.  The importance of setting clear, loving boundaries to create...

In this episode of Thriving Parent-ing, I discuss eight critical signs that parents may be letting their children's emotions define their parenting abilities. I provided a compassionate approach, encouraging parents to allow themselves to feel and process these emotions. The episode covers the following signs: taking emotional reactions personally, creating inconsistent boundaries, overcompensating for the child's emotions, avoiding conflict, experiencing excessive guilt, constantly seeking...

In this enlightening and comprehensive episode of Thriving Parenting, I sat down with Caitlin Hosking, a renowned shadow work coach and trainer. Caitlin shares her expertise on shadow work, a practice that involves diving deep into the hidden parts of ourselves formed by societal conditioning and personal experiences. We discussed how these hidden 'shadows' can impact our behavior, particularly in parenting, and how recognizing and addressing them can lead to profound personal...

In this episode of Thriving Parenting, I unpacked the challenges of separation anxiety in young children. I highlight various aspects of the development stage, including its timing, common behaviours, and underlying causes such as stranger anxiety, object permanence, and physical development. I shared some practical advice that you can add to your toolbox as a parent on how to support children through this phase, including practising short separations, maintaining a calm and positive tone,...