Motheroo Podcast

Around the time most first-time mums hit the twelve-month mark, the questions start. When are you stopping? Doesn't a child only need it for one year? In this episode, the research behind extended breastfeeding is unpacked plainly, including what the WHO, NHMRC, and a 30-year cognitive development study actually show, and why the cultural pressure to wean at one often gets ahead of the evidenc...

Most parents have been told picky eating is just a phase or a personality thing. Sometimes it is, but research points to something quieter going on too. This episode looks at how zinc shapes a baby's taste, appetite, and willingness to eat, and why the first 12 months of solids are the window that matters most. Read the blog post: ⁠⁠⁠MotherooHQ.com⁠⁠⁠ Follow us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/mo...

Most first-time parents have been told to talk to their baby, but rarely told what actually matters most. This episode walks through the original word gap research, what newer brain studies have since revealed about back-and-forth conversation, and the small everyday moments that genuinely shape a baby's language development. A calm, practical listen for anyone who's ever felt awkward narr...

Most first-time mums spend the early years carrying their baby through every part of the day, then one morning the child wanders off to play. This episode looks at why the clingy years are not slowing independence down, and what attachment research actually says about how those early months of closeness shape the years that come after. Read the blog post: ⁠⁠⁠MotherooHQ.com⁠⁠⁠ Follow us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

If your toddler keeps doing the same thing over and over, lining up the cars, dropping food off the high chair, wrapping themselves in every blanket in the house, this episode is for you. We unpack what play schemas actually are, why the repetition matters more than it looks, and how a small shift in how you respond can make the early years feel quieter. Calm, evidence-based, and grounded in what...

In this episode, we dive into groundbreaking new research showing that a mother’s brain doesn’t just change once – it changes with every pregnancy, and it changes differently the second time around. Drawing on recent MRI studies, we unpack how your brain is quietly rewiring itself to care for more than one child, why grey matter loss is actually a form of specialisation, and how these changes conn...

In this episode, we unpack the popular claim that daycare “better socialises” young children, through the lens of Dr Gordon Neufeld’s attachment-based model. Drawing on current research about cortisol, stress, and peer attachment, we explore what’s really happening in group care settings and why a child who stops crying at drop-off isn’t always a success story. You’ll walk away with practical stra...

We used to wonder if the blocks and magnetic tiles scattered across the lounge room were actually doing anything, or if we should be reaching for flashcards instead. In this episode, we look at what the research actually shows about open-ended toys and early maths skills, and why the play already happening on the rug matters more than any worksheet. Read the blog post: ⁠⁠⁠MotherooHQ.com⁠⁠⁠ Follow...

Most first-time mums have heard about unicorn babies, the ones who self-settle and sleep long stretches early. What gets talked about far less is the koala baby, a baby who sleeps just as well, but only close to a caregiver's body. In this episode, we unpack what the research actually says about infant sleep biology, why constant waking and needing contact isn't a sign anything is wrong, a...

Many first-time mums hear it a lot. The baby is too clingy. The toddler should be more independent by now. This episode looks at what attachment research actually shows about babies who seek closeness, and why that closeness builds independence rather than delaying it. Read the blog post: ⁠⁠⁠MotherooHQ.com⁠⁠⁠ Follow us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/motherooHQ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/motheroopodcast⁠⁠⁠...

Many first-time parents feel pressure to start formal maths early, flashcards, drills, apps promising to teach toddlers their times tables. This episode looks at what actually builds strong number sense in the early years, and why it has almost nothing to do with worksheets. Read the blog post: ⁠⁠⁠MotherooHQ.com⁠⁠⁠ Follow us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/motherooHQ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/motheroopodc...

Most first-time mums are told to avoid soft cheese and deli meats during pregnancy, but far less is said about what sits on everyday produce. This episode walks through what the research actually shows about prenatal pesticide exposure, and the small, practical swaps that lower it without an overhaul of the weekly shop. Read the blog post: ⁠⁠⁠MotherooHQ.com⁠⁠⁠ Follow us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.c...

Most of us reach for the pram without thinking twice, it's just the default for a walk, an errand, or any moment we need a free hand. In this episode, we unpack what actually happens when babies spend most of their day in containers like prams, capsules, and bouncers, and what floor time, tummy time, and babywearing do instead. You'll hear where the research draws the line, plus small shifts that...

Most first-time parents planning a home birth spend their energy on logistics: where the pool goes, who's in the room, what's in the hospital bag. In this episode, we look at what actually protects labour and the hour after birth, and why the environment matters more than most people realise. Read the blog post: ⁠⁠⁠MotherooHQ.com⁠⁠⁠ Follow us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/motherooHQ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠...

Many first-time mums worry about how to handle labour pain, but the fear itself can be part of what makes pain worse. In this episode we unpack the fear-tension-pain cycle, how unaddressed fear tightens the body and intensifies contractions, and the evidence-backed ways to interrupt that loop well before labour begins. Read the blog post: ⁠⁠⁠MotherooHQ.com⁠⁠⁠ Follow us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.co...

Feeding a baby or toddler at the breast while pregnant again can leave you wondering why the tiredness feels so much heavier than it used to. In this episode we walk through what's actually happening in the body when lactation and pregnancy run at the same time, and the small, practical things that make the load easier to carry. It's the kind of episode you'll want on while you're...

Most pregnancy advice about swimming stops at swelling and sore hips, but there's more happening under the surface than most first-time mums realise. In this episode, we look at what time in the water actually does for the nervous system, the breath, and the body's quiet preparation for a physiological birth. Listeners will come away understanding why the calm we practise in the pool might...

Most first-time parents have seen the claim that it takes 400 repetitions to build a brain connection, but only 10 to 20 through play, and quietly wondered if unstructured play is really doing enough. In this episode, we look at where that viral stat actually came from, what the real research on play-based learning shows instead, and why following your toddler's lead with something as simple a...

Every parent knows the moment. Clean paints go down in front of a toddler, and within minutes it's all one murky brown. This episode looks at why that puddle of brown is not a ruined activity but a sign of real learning, and what to do instead of stepping in to "fix" the colours. Read the blog post: ⁠⁠⁠MotherooHQ.com⁠⁠⁠ Follow us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/motherooHQ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠instagr...

In this episode of Motheroo, we unpack the big question behind all those paint-splattered tables: should kids’ art be about the process or the product? Drawing on early childhood research and real-life examples, we explore how open-ended “messy” art supports brain development, emotional regulation, creativity, and confidence — and where more structured, product-style crafts can still have a place....

You have heard the term "living books" thrown around in homeschool circles and nodded along without really knowing what it meant. This episode breaks down what a living book actually is, how it is different from a spine book, and the simple test you can use to tell if a book is worth putting in front of your child. You will walk away knowing exactly how to start building a book-based lea...

Most of us grab an alphabet chart and start at A. It feels like the obvious way to teach a child their letters, but the order most of us default to was never actually built for reading. This episode walks through why the alphabet song order and the best order for learning to read are two different things, and what the research says should come first instead. Read the blog post: ⁠⁠⁠MotherooHQ.com⁠⁠...

Motherhood without your own mother beside you is one of the quietest, least-named postpartum experiences — but research shows it has a very real impact on mental health. In this episode, we explore what happens when you step into motherhood without maternal support due to loss, illness, distance, or estrangement, and why the absence of a maternal grandmother is more than “just” emotional. Drawing...

Tandem feeding — breastfeeding a newborn and a toddler at the same time — is one of those topics everyone has an opinion on, but few people have solid information about. In this episode, we unpack what the evidence actually says about nursing two children in the same season of motherhood, including milk supply, safety, and how your body adapts. You’ll hear practical strategies for protecting your...

In this episode of Motheroo, we unpack what’s really happening when you feel “too much” in the heat of the moment. Instead of labelling yourself as overreactive or oversensitive, we explore how your nervous system is quietly scanning for danger, comparing the present to everything it has ever lived through. You’ll learn what a trigger actually is, why motherhood can re-activate old wounds, and how...