“Harmonious Parents”: Is This the Missing Link for Gentle Parents?
For too long, families practicing gentle parenting have struggled in feeling like they may be permissive. However, it may be that they have just been "harmonious" all along.
CIO and Attachment: Is This What We Should Be Looking At?
Most people worry about sleep training affecting their attachment, but we don't see the in the literature. Why is that? And is that even what we should be concerned with?
What Are the Effects of Maternal-Neonate Separation?
We often suggest separation of neonate and mother, even for small periods, but this isn't how we evolved and thus counters our biology. Research explored herein helps us better understand what the effects of that may be.
Impact vs. Intent in Parenting
When we accidentally harm our children, we often invoke the, "I didn't mean to!" in our defence instead of providing them with the acknowledgement of hurt and support they need.
Bedsharing and Later Mental Health: Cause for Concern or Not?
One article suggests a possible link between persistent bedsharing and worse mental health outcomes for children. Does it really say that? What does this data tell us and should parents be concerned? (Hint: no concern needed.)
When Our Kids Lie
Why do our kids lie and what can we do to avoid it happening too much?
Extinction Sleep Training: The Role of Distress
The premise behind extinction sleep training is that infants (and toddlers) are being taught to "self-soothe"; however, this ignores key points of what self-soothing abilities can be expected from children and how distressed they are at the time of separation. Instead of focusing on these extinction methods, gentler methods that respect where the child is developmentally should be considered.
The Power of Co-Regulation
Too often people think the key to learning self-soothing is to be left to experience distress, but science actually tells us it's the opposite: we need co-regulation.
The Expectation of Happiness
Too often we expect our kids to be happy about what we need them to do instead of allowing them to experience their emotions as they need to.
“It’s MINE!”: Sharing In Young Childhood
The issue of sharing is one that many parents struggle with. Do we need to force our kids to share? Will they learn it on their own? How to handle other parents?