Thriving Parent-ing

Overtiredness has become one of the most talked-about explanations for baby and toddler sleep struggles, but is it really the cause of every difficult nap, early wake-up, or bedtime battle?

In this Baby Bite-Sized episode, Jen unpacks the truth about overtiredness, why it's often misunderstood, and how the fear of getting sleep "wrong" can leave parents feeling anxious, exhausted, and stuck. You'll learn why true overtiredness is usually the result of accumulated sleep debt over time, what signs to look for, and why factors like under-tiredness, overstimulation, development, and changing sleep needs are often overlooked. This episode encourages parents to step back from rigid sleep rules, trust their child's resilience, and focus on understanding the bigger picture rather than stressing over every missed nap or shifted routine.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• What overtiredness actually is and why it's often misunderstood
• Why one missed nap or late bedtime is unlikely to cause long-term sleep issues
• The difference between overtired, under-tired, overstimulated, and under-stimulated behaviours
• How to identify genuine signs of accumulated sleep debt in babies and toddlers
• Why sleep resistance doesn't always mean your child has been awake too long
• How to move away from fear-based sleep decisions and build confidence in reading your child's needs

Would like to access tailored 1:1 sleep support but don’t know where to start? Jump on a FREE sleep clarity session with Jen here https://sleepthrivegrow.com/

For more information on this topic, head to the show notes: Episode 117 Show Notes

And I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Come and connect with me on Instagram at @sleep_thrive_grow.

And click the +Follow button to never miss an episode. New episodes are released every Tuesday!

To find out more about how I can support you, visit my website here.

Until next time, Thrivers

In this episode of Thriving Parenting, we dive into why so many parents are struggling with self-doubt in today's world of sleep apps, parenting experts, developmental checklists, and endless online advice. When we're constantly looking outside ourselves for answers, it's easy to lose confidence in our own ability to understand and respond to our children. Through a powerful client story, we explore how modern parenting culture can unintentionally undermine parental confidence and why rebuilding trust in yourself is one of the most important gifts you can give both yourself and your child. You'll discover how confidence grows not from getting parenting "right," but from tuning into your child's unique cues, embracing uncertainty, and strengthening the relationship that matters most.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why modern parenting culture is contributing to increased self-doubt and anxiety
• How constant access to parenting advice can make it harder to trust yourself
• The ways sleep apps, schedules, and tracking tools can disconnect you from your baby's individual needs
• The difference between instinct, intuition, and external guidance in parenting
• Why your baby's behaviour is communication rather than a problem to solve
• How to recognise when you're relying more on rules than on your relationship with your child
• The role of safety, connection, and nervous system regulation in infant sleep
• Why trying to control sleep outcomes can often create more stress for both parent and baby
• How observation and curiosity can help you better understand your child's unique temperament and needs
• Practical strategies for rebuilding confidence and trusting your parenting decisions
• Why making mistakes is a normal and necessary part of becoming a confident parent
• How strengthening your connection with your child can help you feel more grounded, capable, and secure in your parenting journey

Would like to access tailored 1:1 sleep support but don’t know where to start? Jump on a FREE sleep clarity session with Jen here https://sleepthrivegrow.com/

For more information on this topic, head to the show notes: Episode 116 Show Notes

And I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Come and connect with me on Instagram at @sleep_thrive_grow.

And click the +Follow button to never miss an episode. New episodes are released every Tuesday!

To find out more about how I can support you, visit my website here.

Until next time, Thrivers

Motherhood can leave many women feeling stuck in survival mode—constantly rushing, reacting, and carrying the invisible mental load of family life. In this heartfelt conversation, breathwork facilitator and mind-body coach Tash Forbes shares how chronic stress, anxiety, and a dysregulated nervous system can keep mums trapped in fight-or-flight without even realising it. Tash explains the powerful connection between breath and the nervous system, why so many women have forgotten what true calm feels like, and how simple breathing practices can help create more presence, patience, and capacity in everyday life. She also opens up about her own journey through postnatal anxiety, burnout, and healing, and how breathwork helped her move from merely surviving to genuinely thriving again.

Tash Forbes is obsessed with helping people stress less and live more. As the founder of Breathing Space, she uses breathwork and nervous system coaching to help people create more space within, because life feels a whole lot better when you're not constantly running on empty.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why shallow chest breathing can keep your body stuck in fight-or-flight mode
• How belly breathing signals safety to your nervous system and promotes calm
• The difference between functional breathwork and transformational breathwork
• Why many mums struggle to relax, even when they finally have time to themselves
• How chronic stress and unresolved emotions can be stored in the body
• Tash’s personal journey through postnatal anxiety, burnout, and healing
• The surprising link between self-worth, anxiety, and nervous system regulation
• How breathwork can help you respond rather than react during challenging parenting moments
• Why stillness can feel uncomfortable when your nervous system is wired for busyness
• Simple ways to weave breath awareness into everyday routines
• A practical breathing technique you can start using today to create more calm and clarity
• How becoming a more regulated parent can positively impact your children and relationships
• Why you don’t need to do more to feel better—you may simply need to reconnect with your breath

Connect with Tash Forbes:

Website: https://breathing-space.com.au

A 5-minute reset for when your body is tight and your mind won’t stop. https://breathing-space.kit.com/howtostopanxiety

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tashforbes_/ https://www.instagram.com/breathing.space_/

Book a breathwork: https://breathing-space.com.au/breathwork/

Whether you're feeling overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, or simply craving more calm in your day, this conversation offers practical tools and gentle encouragement to help you reconnect with yourself, one breath at a time.

Would like to access tailored 1:1 sleep support but don’t know where to start? Jump on a FREE sleep clarity session with Jen here https://sleepthrivegrow.com/

For more information on this topic, head to the show notes: Episode 115 Show Notes

And I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Come and connect with me on Instagram at @sleep_thrive_grow.

And click the +Follow button to never miss an episode. New episodes are released every Tuesday!

To find out more about how I can support you, visit my website here.

Until next time, Thrivers

“Why won’t my newborn just sleep properly?” If you’ve ever found yourself asking that question at 2am while bouncing, feeding, or googling wake windows in desperation, this episode is for you. In this honest and reassuring Baby Bitesize conversation, the host unpacks why newborn sleep feels so unpredictable in the early weeks and what’s actually biologically normal. Instead of chasing perfect routines or trying to “fix” sleep, this episode explores how feeding, nervous system regulation, connection, sensory nourishment, and developmental immaturity all shape your baby’s sleep in the beginning. Most importantly, it reminds parents that while you can’t control everything, there are gentle, supportive ways to work alongside your baby’s natural biology as it matures.

• Why newborn sleep feels chaotic and unpredictable
• The biggest misconception parents have about newborn routines
• How biology, feeding, and connection drive sleep in the early weeks
• Why trying to control newborn sleep can increase stress and anxiety
• What changes around the 8–12 week mark in your baby’s development
• How circadian rhythms and melatonin begin to mature
• The powerful role of morning sunlight in regulating sleep
• What “sensory nourishment” means and why it matters
• How under-stimulation can sometimes make babies more unsettled
• The balance between healthy stimulation and overwhelm
• Why connection and co-regulation are essential for healthy sleep foundations
• Gentle ways to support your baby’s nervous system and overall sleep development

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, confused, or like you’re doing something wrong because your newborn’s sleep isn’t “falling into place,” this episode will help you breathe a little deeper and approach this season with more confidence, flexibility, and compassion.

Would like to access tailored 1:1 sleep support but don’t know where to start? Jump on a FREE sleep clarity session with Jen here https://sleepthrivegrow.com/

For more information on this topic, head to the show notes: Episode 114 Show Notes

And I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Come and connect with me on Instagram at @sleep_thrive_grow.

And click the +Follow button to never miss an episode. New episodes are released every Tuesday!

To find out more about how I can support you, visit my website here.

Until next time, Thrivers

What if self-care in motherhood wasn’t a luxury, but a necessity?

In this heartfelt episode of the Thriving Parent-ing, the conversation explores a powerful reframe around self-care — not as something mums “earn” after everything is done, but as an essential form of stress management and nervous system regulation. Through relatable examples and practical insights, this episode unpacks why parenting overload can leave mums feeling reactive, exhausted, and disconnected from themselves, and how small, intentional moments of self-care can help restore calm, resilience, and emotional balance for both parent and child.

• Why self-care should be viewed as stress buffering, not selfishness
• How motherhood changes your nervous system load and emotional capacity
• The difference between fight-or-flight mode and a regulated nervous system
• Why your child “borrows” calm from your nervous system through co-regulation
• How small “boring” self-care moments can prevent emotional overwhelm
• Practical stress-buffering ideas that fit into busy parenting life
• Why traditional pre-kids self-care routines often need adapting in motherhood
• How to recognise when your emotional “cup” is overflowing
• Simple ways to regulate your nervous system in everyday moments
• How consistent self-care can help parenting feel calmer, steadier, and more enjoyable

Would like to access tailored 1:1 sleep support but don’t know where to start? Jump on a FREE sleep clarity session with Jen here https://sleepthrivegrow.com/

For more information on this topic, head to the show notes: Episode 113 Show Notes

And I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Come and connect with me on Instagram at @sleep_thrive_grow.

And click the +Follow button to never miss an episode. New episodes are released every Tuesday!

To find out more about how I can support you, visit my website here.

Until next time, Thrivers

Stepping from one child to two is one of the most emotional and identity-shifting transitions a parent can experience. In this honest and reassuring Baby Bitesize episode, we unpack the guilt, fear, and uncertainty that often arise before welcoming a second baby—especially the worry that your first child will lose something or that your love won’t stretch far enough. Through lived experience, this episode gently reframes those thoughts, reminding you that these feelings are not only normal, but part of the process. With practical insights and grounded reassurance, you’ll learn how to support your older child through the adjustment, release perfection, and trust yourself to navigate the unknown—one moment at a time.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why feelings of guilt, fear, and “not enough love” are completely normal when expecting a second child
• The concept of “good enough parenting” and why meeting every need perfectly isn’t required
• How to emotionally support your older child through the transition to becoming a sibling
• Simple language and reassurance strategies that help your child feel secure and loved
• Why lowering expectations can ease the pressure for both you and your children
• The importance of holding boundaries and preparing your toddler before the baby arrives
• How communication builds trust, cooperation, and connection during change
• Practical ways to manage two children’s needs without overwhelming yourself
• Why guilt and shame don’t serve you—and what to focus on instead
• How to trust yourself, adapt in real time, and confidently navigate life with two kids

Would like to access tailored 1:1 sleep support but don’t know where to start? Jump on a FREE sleep clarity session with Jen here https://sleepthrivegrow.com/

For more information on this topic, head to the show notes: Episode 112 Show Notes

And I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Come and connect with me on Instagram at @sleep_thrive_grow.

And click the +Follow button to never miss an episode. New episodes are released every Tuesday!

To find out more about how I can support you, visit my website here.

Until next time, Thrivers

If you've ever wondered why your child snores, breathes through their mouth, or struggles with crowded teeth, this episode is going to be a game-changer.

Jen sits down with Mel Van Schelven — Oral Health Therapist, Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist, and founder of The Face Place to unpack the often-overlooked connection between how our kids chew, breathe, and sleep. Mel shares why the mouth is truly the foundation of so much of our children's health, how our increasingly soft, processed diets are robbing kids of the jaw and airway development they need, and what parents can do right now — starting at the dinner table — to set their little ones up for a lifetime of better health.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why the bones of the mouth are literally the bones of the airway — and why oral function and sleep cannot be separated
• How our ancestors chewed up to four and a half hours a day compared to our modern average of just half an hour, and what that means for our kids' facial development
• The difference between crunchy and chewy foods, and why crackers and pouches aren't cutting it for jaw development
• Why "food before one is just for fun" could be doing more harm than we realise when it comes to chewing development and iron intake
• What Mel actually sees in clinic — from crowded baby teeth and open bites to mouth breathing and fussy eating — and how it all connects back to oral function
• How dummy and thumb sucking habits affect dental development, and the three key factors (intensity, frequency, and duration) that determine how much impact they'll have
• Why taking away a dummy or thumb isn't always the right first step, and when it's actually better to leave the habit alone for now
• The gentle, age-appropriate approach Mel used with her own daughter to navigate thumb sucking — without shame or pressure
• When to seek an assessment and who to see (hint: it's not always your GP or paediatrician)
• Why tongue ties and tonsils are the two most confusing topics Mel sees parents struggling with online — and how to cut through the noise
• The simple audit you can do of your child's diet today to understand whether they're actually getting the chewing practice their developing mouth needs
• Why the dinner table is one of the most powerful tools you have as a parent — for connection, modelling, and oral development

Connect with Mel:

📱 Instagram: @thefaceplace_oht

🌐 Website: thefaceplaceofm.com.au

🎓 Foundations for Growing Faces Masterclass: thefaceplaceofm.com.au/foundations-for-growing-faces-masterclass

Would like to access tailored 1:1 sleep support but don’t know where to start? Jump on a FREE sleep clarity session with Jen here https://sleepthrivegrow.com/

For more information on this topic, head to the show notes: Episode 111 Show Notes

And I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Come and connect with me on Instagram at @sleep_thrive_grow.

And click the +Follow button to never miss an episode. New episodes are released every Tuesday!

To find out more about how I can support you, visit my website here.

Until next time, Thrivers

If your baby wakes up crying after every sleep, it can feel confusing, exhausting, and even like you’re doing something wrong—but the truth is, this behaviour is often completely normal.

In this Baby Bitesize episode, we unpack what’s actually happening beneath those tears, from sleep cycles and body clock misalignment to the powerful role of your response as a parent. You’ll learn why your baby’s reaction isn’t something you need to “fix,” but how small, intentional shifts in your approach—especially around calm, non-urgent responses—can significantly change how your baby experiences waking.

This episode reframes crying not as a problem, but as communication, and empowers you to focus on what you can control: your presence, your energy, and the message of safety you send.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why babies commonly wake up crying and what’s happening biologically
• How sleep cycles and overtiredness can affect your baby’s mood on waking
• The hidden impact of rushing in immediately when your baby wakes
• How your body language and tone shape your baby’s sense of safety
• A simple “pause and respond” approach to reduce waking tears
• What co-regulation looks like during wake-ups (without instantly picking them up)
• How to reinforce the cot as a safe and secure space
• The role of comforters and familiar cues in easing transitions
• Why you can’t control your baby’s reactions—but you can transform your response
• How small changes in your behaviour can lead to big emotional shifts for your baby

Would like to access tailored 1:1 sleep support but don’t know where to start? Jump on a FREE sleep clarity session with Jen here https://sleepthrivegrow.com/

For more information on this topic, head to the show notes: Episode 110 Show Notes

And I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Come and connect with me on Instagram at @sleep_thrive_grow.

And click the +Follow button to never miss an episode. New episodes are released every Tuesday!

To find out more about how I can support you, visit my website here.

Until next time, Thrivers

Even when you’ve slowed down, changed your approach, and feel like you’re doing everything “right,” your baby may still resist sleep—and it’s not because you’ve failed.

In this episode, Jen unpack the powerful role of your baby’s brain and how it predicts sleep based on past experiences, not just what’s happening in the moment. Drawing on insights from neuroscience, this conversation helps you understand why your baby reacts before anything even happens at bedtime, and how both your nervous systems are influencing each other. Most importantly, it reframes sleep struggles not as a behaviour problem, but as a pattern that can gently shift with consistency, safety, and new experiences over time.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why your baby reacts to sleep before anything actually happens
• How the brain uses past experiences to predict and prepare for bedtime
• What “miscuing” looks like and why it’s completely normal
• How your baby’s nervous system responds to previous sleep struggles
• The role your own nervous system plays in bedtime resistance
• Why consistency in how you show up matters more than strict routines
• How to create new, positive sleep associations over time
• Why change doesn’t happen instantly and what to expect instead
• How to shift your mindset from “fixing sleep” to creating safety
• Practical ways to help your baby feel calm, secure, and supported at bedtime

Would like to access tailored 1:1 sleep support but don’t know where to start? Jump on a FREE sleep clarity session with Jen here https://sleepthrivegrow.com/

For more information on this topic, head to the show notes: Episode 109 Show Notes

And I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Come and connect with me on Instagram at @sleep_thrive_grow.

And click the +Follow button to never miss an episode. New episodes are released every Tuesday!

To find out more about how I can support you, visit my website here.

Until next time, Thrivers

In this episode of Thriving Parent-ing, we explore why connection must come before correction, especially when parenting children with different neurological wiring. Joined by psychologist and parenting educator Leanne Tran, the conversation dives into how behaviour is often just a signal of deeper needs, not something to simply fix.

Instead of relying solely on rewards and consequences, this episode highlights the power of building trust, understanding, and emotional safety first. You’ll learn how connection strengthens cooperation, supports long-term mental wellbeing, and becomes even more essential when raising neurodivergent children.

This episode is a reminder that parenting isn’t about controlling behaviour—it’s about nurturing relationships that last a lifetime.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why connection is the foundation for effective parenting, not correction
• The hidden reasons behind your child’s behaviour (and what they’re really communicating)
• How connection builds cooperation, trust, and emotional safety
• The limitations of traditional behaviour-based parenting models
• Practical ways to connect with your child in everyday moments
• How to parent neurodivergent children with understanding and flexibility
• Why unmet needs—not defiance—often drive challenging behaviours
• The long-term impact of connection on your child’s mental health and relationships
• How to repair disconnection and rebuild trust after difficult moments
• Why supporting yourself as a parent is essential to supporting your child

Would like to access tailored 1:1 sleep support but don’t know where to start? Jump on a FREE sleep clarity session with Jen here https://sleepthrivegrow.com/

For more information on this topic, head to the show notes: Episode 108 Show Notes

And I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Come and connect with me on Instagram at @sleep_thrive_grow.

And click the +Follow button to never miss an episode. New episodes are released every Tuesday!

To find out more about how I can support you, visit my website here.

Until next time, Thrivers