First Time Mum's Chat

The dark thoughts that often accompany becoming a mother are often kept private and not discussed. Many prefer to put on a brave face and find it challenging, openly discussing dark or negative thoughts or seeking help. In this episode I speak with Kaila Maguire who talks about her journey as a first time time mum and the challenges she faced with postpartum issues and depression.

As a mum, there's nothing more upsetting than watching your baby suffer with skin conditions such as eczema or diaper rash, right? In this episode I speak with Bekah Shephard the author of 'A Nurse in Your Purse' and you'll hear some great tips on how to feel more empowered and prepared to care for your baby with their skin problems. Bekah is a pediatric nurse and has seen what wor...

I am so excited to be speaking with Onnie Michalsky who is a licensed therapist and wellness coach for busy moms who desperately need a break but refuse to take one. Onnie shares some strategies about how to handle the inevitable worries that accompany becoming a parent. It's not unusual for feelings of inadequacy to arise when you bring home a new baby and as you face each new stage of develo...

In this episode I discuss ways to encourage your baby to crawl and activities you can do with them to help make it fun and inviting. Crawling is an important milestone in your baby's development and it prepares them for walking, running and jumping. Topics discussed include:- The benefits of crawling The different ways you can entice your baby to crawl Ways to engage your baby when they are cr...

It is important to remember that young children need to be treated with courtesy and respect. They are less experienced in interacting with others and work things out very differently. In this episode I share some tips on how to communicate with your child to encourage positive behaviour. You'll find out about:- the importance of connecting with your children. the importance of mutual respect....

In this episode you'll hear all about the wonderful world of baby yoga. I must admit that I had always thought that baby yoga was little more than just laying your baby on the floor and doing some exercises. How wrong I was! As Jessica Barnaschone, a London based baby yoga instructor explains in this episode, it is a very much baby led activity involving singing and it's loads of fun for b...

As a new mom, there's always lots of demands on your time, making it really easy to neglect your own self care. It's important that you always ensure you take care of yourself so that you are able to provide your little one with the best care possible. In this episode I speak with Rebecca Jean Baptiste, a life strategist, certified coach and mother of 4 about the importance of taking time...

Your baby is crying and you can't work out what's wrong! There's times when you just want them to tell you, right? Wouldn't it be great to know what your baby is trying to tell you. If you're looking for the code to this secret language then you're going to learn lots in today's episode. DBL helps you to identify a number of different cries so you don’t have to keep gue...

Being a new parent is stressful enough without having to check on your baby every few minutes! Knowing your baby is safe gives you that peace of mind and a baby monitor can provide that extra pair of hands and ears. In this episode, I share some ideas on what to look out for when selecting a baby monitor. You'll hear information on:- video/audio only monitors, video only monitors, and smart mo...

It’s a huge relief when your baby starts to sleep soundly through the night, and an opportunity to regain some normality with your own sleep opportunities! So what do you do when baby sleep regression occurs and your baby, who’s been sleeping well, starts to refuse to settle? If your baby’s sleep pattern suddenly changes, then there’s no need to stress, it’s actually a healthy sign. In this episod...

Returning to work after maternity leave is a stressful time for many mums. You not only need to factor in how to juggle your working life with your home life. You've now got your little bundle of joy to factor into the equation and this can be a difficult time with many adjustments. In this episode I speak with Millie Malum, a mother of two who has been through this, juggling a career with her...

When I ask parents about their experiences with tummy time, their reaction is often negative with comments such as “they don’t like it” or “they only want to remain on their tummy for a few seconds”. In this episode, I’ve shared tips including some natural activities you can use to inspire your baby.

Including tummy time in your daily routine is a great way to give your baby a great start in life and there are many benefits in doing so. This includes assisting their development in lots of areas including crawling and hand-eye coordination whilst helping to strengthen their head and shoulder muscles. In this episode, you'll find out all about tummy time including:- How to get started. Tips...

I'm often asked by mums for advice on when to start brushing teeth for their babies. Many parents take the view that there is no need to worry about their baby's oral health prior to teething starting. In this week's episode, I discuss a number of areas including:- When to start brushing your baby's teeth. When to introduce your child to toothpaste. The importance of getting into a...

Newborn sleep training is a controversial topic that I’m often asked about by mums with many differing opinions. This week I was excited to speak with Catherine Thompson, an expert in the area. Catherine is a Sydney based baby sleep consultant and we discussed baby's sleep patterns over the first four months. You'll hear suggestions including:- Accepting that every baby is unique and the i...

When I teach parents how to massage their babies I always urge them before massaging their little one to be extremely cautious when it comes to their choice of massage oils. So I was very excited this week when I interviewed Ruth Casper, who is a qualified aromatherapist and reflexologist. I made the most of the opportunity and quizzed Ruth on various topics including essential oils and when it is...

I know from questions that I regularly receive from parents that many find storytelling challenging. In this episode I spoke with Arona Gibbins, a mum of 5, who has a wide ranging background including teaching. Arona's background also includes training in the Rudolf Steiner approach to education. Arona shares some great ideas around the use of language and literacy and how to encourage childre...

When it comes to bottles, there is a lot of debate around the best bottles for colic and reflux and parents are always asking me for recommendations. It's been a while since I did any research on what's available, so this week, I spent some time looking at 10 popular bottles for colic and reflux. I then refined this down to a final list of 5 that stood out for me and in this episode I go t...

As a parent, one of the most important milestones you will face is how to potty train toddlers. Potty training is a huge step for any child and for their parents and often feels like a hard task. It causes a lot of stress for parents and there is a lot of peer pressure to potty train toddlers quickly. In this episode I answer the commonly asked question "at what age should I start potty traini...

For first time parents, childcare is a hot topic with a number of possible options available. In this episode I discuss the pros and cons of finding a nanny vs daycare. The topics discussed include:- what to look for when choosing a child care centre what to look out for when choosing a nanny what kind of questions you need to ask a nanny or a childcare centre when you are evaluating them.

If you're breastfeeding then what you eat is incredibly important! After all, getting this right will give your baby a great start in life. It is also really important when it comes time for them to start on solids. There is often a misconception that introducing your child to healthy food is expensive. In this episode, I interviewed Lydia Nuttall, a food and lifestyle consultant who is passio...

There are lots of myths surrounding the terrible twos that I am constantly reminded of by parents. Many of the parents that I meet view the terrible twos as some sort of stage or milestone that they will inevitably face and be challenged with! I've worked with numerous babies and toddlers over many years and I can assure you there is no magical behaviour change that occurs when that clock stri...

During my many years working in childcare and more recently with baby massage I've noticed many changes in the way people bring up their children. Many of these trends are of course due to people being time poor, with both parents needing to work full-time in many households. I am very concerned with a lot of the trends I see and I've dedicated this episode to this topic, since I feel very...

I'm regularly asked by parents for advice and suggestions when it comes to their choice of nappies. I always try to do the right thing by the environment so topics such as cloth versus disposable nappies are often on my mind. In this episode I cover topics including:- Different types of nappy. Cloth versus disposable nappies. The fit and comfort for your baby. What suits you and your lifestyle...

Baby massage is a great way to help your baby and bond with them. In this episode I share the benefits of baby massage, what oils to use when massaging your baby and more. I also caught up with and had a chat with Michelle who attended my baby massage course and has incorporated the techniques into her daily routine to help her two grandchildren. You will hear about her experiences, how it has ben...