Praise and Parenting
Do you praise? Can you imagine not praising your child? Here's the research on the effects of praise on our children and why we may want to reconsider how we try to build up our kids' self-worth.
Are We Setting Up Parents to Sleep Train?
In pondering the use of CIO and CC further, I start to wonder if those of us who speak out against sleep training may be inadvertently setting families up to fail. Hear me out…
The Child and the Angry Thoughts
We have it in our heads that children should not feel angry, and especially not violent. We worry and panic when they show signs or any violence. But are we doing more harm than good?
Does Your Child Need a Regular Bedtime?
Recently, news reports are making the rounds suggesting that the lack of a set bedtime in children 3 to 7 is associated with greater behavioural problems. Parents are getting panicked if their child doesn’t go to sleep at the exact same time every night... but should they?
Homebirth Risks in the News Again
All over the news a few weeks ago (I’ve been busy) was news that homebirths increased the risk of an Apgar score of 0 10-fold. Doctors were out in force saying this is why homebirth should not be allowed (really via not allowing midwives to practice homebirth) or ethically promoted. But what does the research really tell us?
The Language of Breastfeeding
How we speak about breastfeeding and other parenting issues is incredibly important. We have to be aware of the language we use and what it means. But does it mean that we can never use the terms that anger us so?
The Human Rights and Parent Issue of Circumcision
Today is Blog Action day and the topic is Human Rights. It seems the perfect day to announce on EP that I have taken up a new role: I am now a member of the Advisory Board for the Children’s Health and Human Rights Partnership.
Gentle Sleep Resources
Often when I write about crying-it-out or controlled crying, I get comments from people who have done it asking what else they should have done in their sleep deprived state. The question concerns me because it highlights not only how mainstream the idea of leaving a child to cry has become, but also about how ignorant society is as a whole about the alternatives to sleep training.
Why Ending the “Mommy Wars” is Misguided and Dangerous
Do you think the world would be a better place without the "mommy wars"? That we need to just support one another and accept that every choice is valid and equal? I call bullshit on the whole thing.
Thoughts on Sleep Training, Promotion, and Parents
The recent piece on sleep training sparked what I believe to be misguided outrage in many people. I want to address some of the issues that were brought up and speak generally about the importance of what we promote to families.