Things Nobody Tells You

Immunisations are one of those big early milestones - not just for your baby, but for you. The tiny body, the sting, the cry, the weight of knowing you're doing the right thing while also wishing you could take the discomfort away.

In this episode, Emmy brings together three trusted voices to give you a truly holistic view of how to navigate immunisations with confidence - from preparation and emotional support, to managing pain, fever, and everything that comes after.

First up is Gen from Connected Parenting, who walks through how to prepare your child (and yourself) before the appointment, what to do during those big feelings, and how to support them afterwards - with real scripts, play-based prep ideas, and a reminder that connection is everything.

Then Chris Minogue, Mothercraft Nurse and the original baby whisperer, steps in to unpack what actually happens after immunisations - the irritability, the sleep disruptions, the feeding changes - and why most of it settles within 48 hours. She also shares when to watch, when to wait, and when to check in with your GP.

Finally, Dr Michaela Sorenson braks down the different types of pain our little ones experience - from teething and earaches to fevers, headaches, growing pains, and post-immunisation discomfort. With clear advice on what to look for, how to treat it, and when to seek help, this is the kind of practical, reassuring information every parent needs.

Whether it's your first baby or your fourth, this episode will help you feel more prepared, more informed, and more confident in supporting your child through one of the most protective things we do as parents.

Big feelings in little bodies can feel huge for parents too – especially when you’ve got a child who’s extra sensitive, struggles with drop-offs or seems to fall apart the second they’re back in your arms.

In this episode of Things Nobody Tells You, Emmy sits down with clinical psychologist and mum of three, Jacquie Ward, to unpack what’s really going on for our highly sensitive kids – and why it’s not about “bad behaviour” or you doing it wrong. They chat about why sensitivity is a biological trait (not a parenting fail), what’s normal clinginess versus separation anxiety, and how to think differently about tantrums, meltdowns and those impossible transitions out the door.

Jacquie also shares how our own nervous system, stress levels and upbringing shape the way we respond to our kids, and why getting support for you can be just as powerful as a strategy for them. This is a grounded, honest conversation for any parent who’s ever wondered, “Is this normal… or is it just us?”

Birth advice is everywhere, but what actually helps is the stuff that makes the intense parts feel normal and the choices feel clearer. In this episode, we chat with Lauren Severiano, a registered nurse and doula who has supported more than 300 births.

With Lauren’s background across both medical and holistic care, we go beyond the textbook to unpack how birth is approached from a provider’s perspective, how hospital language and timelines can shape decisions, and how to use a birth plan without rigidity.

We also demystify the messy but common realities; pooing, shaking, vomiting, delivering the placenta, delayed cord clamping, skin-to-skin, newborn quirks, and recovery.

This is a grounded, judgment-free chat for anyone preparing for birth, with simple ways to balance preparation and flexibility, protect your headspace, and find your voice. Real talk, real examples, and reassurance you can carry into the birthing suite.

Crying is one of the most primal sounds in parenting - and also one of the hardest to sit with. From that first night home to the peak of the witching hours, it can feel like your job is to stop the crying, fix the problem, and prove you've got this. But what if we've misunderstood what crying actually means?

In this episode, Emmy sits down with Genevieve Muir, a social worker, parenting educator, author, and mum of four - to unpack the truth about baby cries. Not just the physical needs like hunger or sleep, but the emotional release, the developmental leaps, and the moments when your baby is simply having a cry because that's how they lower their cortisol.

Together, they explore why crying makes us feel so distressed, what to expect during that brutal 6-8 week peak, why some babies settle better when you put them down and how every child teaches you something completely different.

They also talk about the stuff that actually helps in those early weeks: self-compassion over self-care, tapping out instead of competing over who's more tired or the power of saying no to visitors.

With real talk on parenting styles that don't fit, the myth of the 'good baby,' and why your baby's cortisol drops just hearing your voice - this is a grounding, honest conversation for anyone in the thick of those early days.

You don't need to fix every cry. You just need to keep showing up.

Sleep training. The phrase alone can make a new parent's heart race - conjuring images of crying babies, rigid schedules, and guilt-laden choices. But what if the real question isn't whether you're sleep training your baby... but whether your baby is sleep training you?

In this episode, Emmy sits down with Chris Minogue, a Mothercraft Nurse and the original baby whisperer who's been supporting families for decades. Together, they unpack what sleep actually looks like in those early months, why awake windows matter more than you think and how to create a framework that works for your family without losing yourself in the process.

They talk about the pause - that moment before you rush in that changes everything. The feed-bath-feed that becomes your anchor point when the day feels chaotic. Why babies don't sleep through at 12 weeks and why comparing notes online will only make you feel worse. And the truth that sleep isn’t something babies do naturally.

Whether it's your first baby or your fourth, this episode will help you feel less alone, more informed, and ready to trust yourself through the sleepless nights and the tiny victories that follow.