Thriving Parent-ing

Airway health is one of those invisible pieces of the parenting puzzle that can quietly shape everything, from feeding and sleep to behaviour, development, and long-term health. In this episode of Thriving Parenting, Jen dives into what many parents are never told to look for early on: the spectrum of airway dysfunction that often starts long before a child would ever be diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnoea.Jen is joined by Dr Shereen Lim, a pioneer in dental sleep medicine and author of Breathe Sleep Thrive, whose work centres on early intervention and helping families understand how breathing, feeding, tongue function, and jaw development are all deeply connected.If you’ve ever wondered why your baby mouth breathes, snores, struggles to feed, seems restless at night, or avoids chewing, this conversation will help you connect the dots in a way that finally makes sense.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why obstructive sleep apnoea is often the tip of the iceberg, and what can show up years earlierThe early signs of airway dysfunction that can be easily missed, especially in infancyWhy mouth breathing is never “normal”, and how early awareness can change a child’s long-term health trajectoryThe powerful “rapid growth window” in the first year, and why jaw and facial development matters for the airwayHow modern feeding patterns (purees, pouches, processed foods) can keep kids stuck in the “suck phase” and reduce jaw strengthWhat parents can do if breastfeeding didn’t work out (without guilt), including practical ways to support oral function and chewing from six monthsWhat to look for if your baby is snoring, noisy breathing, or sleeping with an open mouthA grounded, individualised take on tongue ties, why release isn’t a magic fix, and why support matters before and afterRed flags beyond sleep, including feeding struggles, “reflux-like” symptoms caused by air intake, picky eating, gagging, speech delays, and teeth grindingWhy airway issues aren’t only an ENT problem, and how adenoids and tonsils can be a symptom, not the root causeWhat “good sleep” should actually look like: silent, still, mouth closed, and truly restorativeBook: Discover How Airway Health Can Unlock Your Child’s Greater Health, Learning, and PotentialWould 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 93 Show NotesAnd I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Come and connect with me on Instagram at...

Welcome back, Thrivers, to another baby bite-sized episode. This short and gentle conversation is for the parents who don’t often feel seen in baby sleep spaces. The ones whose babies settle well with space, sleep independently, and don’t always need to be held to drift off, yet somehow feel guilt or quiet shame because of it.In this episode, we explore why it’s not only possible, but completely healthy, for some babies to feel safe and secure outside of arms. We unpack the many reasons this can happen, from early exposure to multiple safe sleep spaces, emerging self-soothing skills, and temperament, to regulation, responsiveness, and the emotional tools parents bring into the relationship.This episode gently challenges the belief that secure attachment is measured by exhaustion, constant proximity, or how much a baby needs you at night. Instead, it reframes attachment as responsiveness, trust, emotional availability, and meeting needs when they arise, not forcing closeness when it isn’t needed.If you’ve ever felt triggered by online conversations about baby sleep, questioned yourself because your experience looks different, or wondered whether you’re doing it wrong because things are actually going well, this episode is for you.You’re not doing something wrong. You’re responding to your baby.And that matters more than the noise.Inside this episode:Why some babies genuinely sleep better with spaceHow temperament and regulation influence sleepThe hidden identity shifts that come with easier sleepWhy secure attachment isn’t about where or how your baby sleepsLetting go of guilt and trusting your baby as your guideBook: Discover How Airway Health Can Unlock Your Child’s Greater Health, Learning, and PotentialWould 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 93 Show NotesAnd 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 grounding and deeply validating episode, Jen unpacks one of the most misunderstood parts of modern parenting: the difference between co-regulating and controlling. On the surface, our responses can look the same, but underneath, the energy is completely different — and it’s often our own nervous system, not our child’s emotions, driving the moment.Jen walks you through why young children cannot regulate on their own in the early years, what true co-regulation looks like, and the subtle ways we may accidentally slip into control when our own triggers, childhood patterns, or overwhelm take over.Inside the episode, you’ll learn:Why co-regulation was never meant to burn you outHow generational patterns shape the way you respond to cryingWhy trying to “fix” emotions actually makes things harderWhat your child really needs during big feelings (hint: not perfection)Five simple, practical ways to support emotional regulation without losing yourselfJen also explores how our instinct to stop tears — in children and adults — often interrupts the emotional release our bodies are designed for. She shares how shifting from fixing to anchoring can change the entire experience for both you and your child.This episode is full of compassion, clarity, and real-world tools to help you respond with presence rather than pressure, attunement rather than anxiety, and confidence rather than exhaustion.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 92 Show NotesAnd 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 deeply honest and emotional episode, Jen sits down with mindset coach and soon-to-be mum, Breanna May, to unpack the side of IVF that doesn’t make it onto the glossy brochures. From being labelled “high risk” after multiple cervical procedures, to navigating distrust in the medical system, fear of needles, and the grief of failed transfers, Breanna takes us inside the reality of trying to conceive when it wasn’t supposed to be this hard.Breanna shares how she moved from resisting IVF to finally surrendering to support, the mental gymnastics of reframing daily injections as “baby juice,” and the moment everything changed during her second transfer – from a shooting-star embryo on the screen to reading “pregnant” on a test while camping with her husband. She also reflects on how IVF impacted her identity, body image, relationship, and ultimately, her belief in her own body again.In this episode, you’ll hear:Breanna’s journey from “I’ll fall pregnant easily” to years of unexplained infertilityHow past cervical surgeries turned her pregnancy into “high risk” and complicated embryo transferThe mindset shift that helped her finally accept IVF and reframe injections as an act of lovePractical tips to survive the wait after transfer (and why staying busy matters)The power of surrender and belief: “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.”If you’re walking the IVF path, feeling like you “shouldn’t” be here or wondering how much more you can take, this conversation is a tender, validating reminder that you’re not alone – and that hope can still live inside a really hard story.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 91 Show NotesAnd 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 baby bite-sized episode, Jen breaks down one of the most common modern parenting dilemmas: “Does that quick car nap actually count—and what should I do next?”If you've ever rushed home for nap time only to face a failed transfer, a full-blown nap protest, or a suddenly wide-awake baby, this episode gives you the clarity and calm you need.Jen explains why on-the-go dozes and mini car snoozes can completely reset sleep pressure—especially for babies under six months and why heading straight to the bedroom often backfires. Instead, she guides you through what actually works: slow transitions, gentle interaction, and watching for fresh sleep cues rather than watching the clock.You’ll learn:Why a 10–15 minute car nap can wipe out more sleep pressure than you thinkWhen a transfer might work—and when it absolutely won’tHow to create a short “adjustment window” at home so your baby can reset before the napWhat to do differently if they only dozed off versus slept for 20+ minutesHow to honour your baby’s nervous system and your own, so naps feel less stressful for everyoneWhy flexibility and compassion matter far more than perfect timingJen also shares her own relatable “please don’t fall asleep yet!” car moments because we’ve all been there, and gives you permission to adapt, reset, and trust the process.You’ll walk away knowing exactly what to do after an on-the-go snooze, how to prevent a nap battle, and how to stay grounded when routines don’t go to plan.A gentle reminder to take with you:A short car nap doesn’t always mean an easy transfer. Give your baby time to adjust, follow their cues, and trust your own instincts. You’re not failing—you’re finding your rhythm.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 90 Show NotesAnd 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