Welcome to Practical Research Parenting.
I am a Mum, and a Psychologist. If your kids were born, or will be born after 2011, I am writing, and talking to you. I am researching common parenting challenges as they arise for me, and sharing what I find. Please join me on this amazing journey of discovery.
Sleep
What I have learned about baby and toddler sleep so far…
Podcast
My podcast introduces the practical tips we can learn from parenting science. Learn while you do your chores…
About Me
I want to help parents, including myself, to enjoy parenting, to form strong, loving relationships with their children, and to raise happy, well adjusted children…
Why children ask why
Alex is just entering the "why" phase. His version is "Mummy tell you what that means" (he hasn't quite got pronouns yet). Like many parents, I have started to wonder why children ask why, and what answer are they looking for? I have heard Psychology referred to as...
read morePR-P004: Bed time routine modelling (and other uses of modelling)
Show Notes: Bed Time Routine Modelling This episode introduced a couple of ways that I have used modelling to familiarise my kids with a new bed time routine. I then present modelling principles based on Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory. Finally, I touch on some...
read moreHow to potty train without the power play
I realised that in my last potty training post I focused on the physical aspects of potty training and neglected the psychological, motivational aspects - which is silly given that is one of my areas of expertise. Apart from the sickness that put Alex in hospital for...
read morePR-P003: 5 Research-based Sleep Training Methods
Cry it out and controlled crying are commonly recommended for addressing sleep problems. There are alternative sleep training methods. Mindell and colleagues (2006) reviewed research on 5 approaches (including cry it out and controlled crying). They concluded that...
read morePR-P 002: Sleep Associations
Show Notes: Sleep Associations In this episode I examine sleep associations in the context of classical conditioning. I argue that the terms “dysfunctional associations", "inappropriate associations", "negative associations", and "bad sleep habits” are unhelpful and...
read moreKind and Firm, Consistent and Responsive, is it possible?
A big challenge for me is when parenting values conflict. I want to be consistent and responsive, but sometimes they seem to guide me in opposite directions. I started thinking about this because of bedtime routines. On one side we have people who argue that...
read morePR-P 001: Baby sleep (or lack of). Research findings for normal 0-12 month olds.
Show Notes: Baby sleep or lack of This is the first Practical Research Parenting podcast. I introduce myself then dive right into the research. In this episode I explore what is normal for baby sleep in the first year. This podcast is most relevant for parents who are...
read morePractical Research Parenting – Best of 2014
Thank you for joining me on my parenting adventure in 2014. Here is 2014 in review. Top 5 Practical Research Parenting Posts from 2014 My 5 most popular posts were: Feed your baby to sleep - The possums sleep intervention new recommendations The possums sleep...
read moreHelp your baby to sleep, guilt free
Does this sound familiar? With Alex, after a calming bed routine I'd put him down, he would cry. I'd rock him until calm, put him down - he'd cry. Take him for a walk - put him down - he'd cry. After an hour or two, I'd "give in" and feed him to sleep, crying about my...
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