Parenting with Ngala

"How will I ever love another baby as much as I love this one?" It is one of the most common worries parents carry into a growing family, and the answer is simple: love does not halve, it grows. In this episode, Jen and Hannah are joined by Nicola, who works at Ngala supporting families in Geraldton and is a mum to three teenagers, to talk about building families, sibling dynamics, and t...

Challenging toddler behaviours - or important steps in social and emotional development? Sure toddler ‘tantrums’ or ‘defiance’ can be tough to handle, but there’s always something underneath. In this episode, Jen and Hannah are joined by Helen, who has a degree in psychology and counselling and runs parenting workshops across the community to talk about social and emotional development in toddlers...

Independence isn't one thing, it's a puzzle made of many pieces. In this episode, Jen and Hannah welcome Kate, who brings almost ten years of experience working with children and families in the community, along with a psychology and early childhood background, to talk about toddlers and building independence, one of the earliest steps in preparing little ones for kindy, school and life. K...

"I don't even wanna tell you what I'm doing to get my toddler to sleep." If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you. Jen and Hannah are joined by Corina, a Mothercraft Nurse of more than 30 years who has spent 16 of them at Ngala on the parenting line, and a mum to three grown boys, to talk about the tender, tricky world of toddler sleep. Corina explains how toddler sleep d...

In this episode, Jen and Hannah welcome back Jill, a child health nurse of 25 years who has spent most of her career in the Wheatbelt and the last eight years with Ngala, to talk toddlers, mealtimes and nutrition, one of the topics parents ask about most. Jill explains why twelve months marks a real pivot, from milk as the main source of nutrition to family meals and the five food groups, and why...

All the (sometimes) messy details of toilet training or, as we prefer to call it, toilet learning. In this episode, Jen and Hannah sit down with Kat, who has spent ten years working with children and families, to reframe one of parenting's biggest milestones as a learning journey rather than a race, where mistakes and accidents are part of the process, not a problem to fix. Kat outlines the si...

Tantrums, big feelings, and why an incorrectly peeled banana can lead to armageddon. In this episode, Jen and Hannah sit down with Beth, a registered nurse on the Ngala Parenting Line with a background in perinatal and infant mental health, to reframe toddler tantrums as communication rather than defiance, and to reassure parents that a toddler's goal is never to make life hard, but to learn, expl...

Season three of Parenting with Ngala kicks off with a look at toddlerhood: those wild, wonderful years between twelve months and three years. Jen and Hannah dig into what is happening inside a toddler's brain, why meltdowns make total sense, and why toddlers might look like little people, but are nowhere near little adults. They cover language development in depth: why parents understand their tod...

When we hear the word "behaviour," we tend to think of toddlers, but babies are communicating from the very first weeks of life. In this episode, Jen and Hannah sit down with Carol, a child health nurse with 11 years at Ngala and a mother of three, to reframe what behaviour actually means in the first year Carol explains why there is no such thing as a naughty baby, how the iceberg analo...

S2Ep7: Play is the work of childhood but what does that actually look like in the first year of life? In this episode, Jen and Hannah are joined by Jane, a psychologist and mother of three at Ngala, to explore how babies play long before they ever pick up a Barbie or a dinosaur. Jane unpacks two powerful theories of play, Vygotsky's social scaffolding and Piaget's "little scientist" model, and exp...

S2Ep6: Sleep is the top priority for most new parents, but it can also be the most unpredictable part of the first year. In this episode, Jen and Hannah are joined by Beth, a parenting line practitioner and mother, to discuss the "wild ride" of infant sleep. We dive into the biological shifts behind the four-month sleep regression, the "rip off the bandaid" approach to unswaddling, and how to use...

S2E5 (3-12m) In this episode of Parenting with Ngala, child health nurse Jill, with over 20 years of experience, joins the conversation to discuss the essentials of starting solids. Moving beyond strict schedules, the discussion focuses on what babies truly need for a safe and healthy transition to food: physical readiness, core strength, and sensory exploration. Jill provides practical advice on...

As your baby grows, most parents experience a significant shift in identity, relationships, and daily routines. In this episode we discuss the challenges of 'managing the juggle' as life moves on and many of us need to return to work (and life). Often referred to as the "forgotten period," our guest, Child Health Nurse Penny explores the reality of the mental load and the common feeling of losing...

In this episode of Parenting with Ngala, we sit down with Darya, a Registered Psychologist, to understand social and emotional development in infants. While physical milestones like crawling often get the most attention, Darya explains that a baby’s emotional growth is the "foundation of everything", shaping how they learn, relate to others, and manage their feelings. The discussion focuses on the...

From the first time a newborn grips your finger to the complex coordination required to use a spoon, fine motor development is a fascinating journey of "brain-to-hand" connection. In this episode, Jen and Hannah sit down to explore how small movements in the hands and fingers lay the foundation for a child's independence. We discuss the transition from involuntary reflexes to "volitional" reaching...

Welcome back to Season Two of Parenting with Ngala! Join Hannah, a registered Occupational Therapist, and Jen, a Nurse and Midwife, as they discuss the challenges of the transition period between having a newborn to having a little person. In episode 1, we focus on Gross Motor Development, the big changes that happen as your baby begins exploring the world. From the "workout" of tummy time to thos...

In this episode of Parenting with Ngala, hosts Jen and Hannah speak with Keith from the Ngala DadsWA program on the important role partners play. We explore the significant role of partners in their child's development, both antenatally and postnatally. Keith discusses the importance of early involvement, the unique contributions Dads bring to parenting, and practical ways to support partners. The...

In this episode of Parenting with Ngala, hosts Jen and Hannah speak with Ngala clinical psychologist and mum, Divyah, to discuss the mental health challenges and adjustments that come with parenthood. Learn about the significance of understanding intrusive thoughts, balancing the invisible mental load, and the importance of self-care. Divyah shares practical tools for managing stress, grounding yo...

In this episode of Parenting with Ngala, join hosts Jen and Hannah as they speak with Charlotte, a Ngala Child Health Nurse and parent of three, to discuss the vital role feeding plays in bonding with your baby. The conversation covers the benefits of skin-to-skin contact for both mothers and fathers, the importance of trusting parental instincts, and the different ways to create a nurturing and d...

In this episode of Parenting with Ngala, join hosts Jen and Hannah as they speak with Angela, a seasoned Ngala Child Health Nurse and Midwife, to explore what crying means for babies, why it happens, and how parents can effectively handle it. Angela shares her in-depth knowledge and practical advice from 26 years of experience, discussing everything from the definition of 'sleeping through the nig...

In this episode of Parenting with Ngala, hosts Jen and Hannah are joined by Beth, a registered nurse with a background in perinatal and infant mental health. Together, they discuss the common challenges new parents face with newborn sleep. The conversation covers the lack of structure, the variability of newborn temperament, and practical advice for managing unsettledness and sleep routines. The e...

In this episode of Parenting with Ngala, hosts Hannah and Jen are joined by child health nurse Kate to discuss newborn sleep. They delve into common patterns and the variability of newborn sleep behaviour, emphasising the concept of the fourth trimester and the importance of creating a womb-like environment. The conversation covers effective settling techniques, the relevance of the circadian rhyt...

In this insightful episode, we dive deep into the world of infant mental health and parental wellness. Our guest, Darya, one of Ngala's registered psychologists and a mum, shares valuable knowledge and strategies for supporting the social and emotional development of babies. We explore the importance of bonding, attachment, and the role of parental well-being in raising mentally healthy children....

In this first episode, hosts Jen (RN and midwife) and Hannah (OT) discuss the challenges and expectations of becoming a parent. They emphasise the importance of being kind to yourself, recognising the stress of the early days, and developing a postpartum plan. They also cover the concept of parental instincts, the significance of being responsive to your baby, and the evolving nature of parenthood...

All parents want to do their best, but there’s so much contradictory, confusing and complicated info it’s hard to know what ‘best’ even means! Hosted by Jen (Registered Nurse & Midwife) and Hannah (Occupational Therapist) from Ngala - WA's Leading Parenting Organisation - each episode brings in a Ngala professional to share the latest evidence-informed parenting practices and offer practic...