Feed Play Love
1,887 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 6 ratingsFrom nurturing newborns to taming toddlers, we unravel the art and science of parenting with real-life stories and expert advice. The hilarious to the humbling and all the nitty gritty in between.
Produced and presented by mum of two and journalist, Shevonne Hunt.
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Episodes
Choosing safe tech toys for kids this Christmas
December 09, 2019 19:00 - 15 minutes - 14.6 MBWhat was the techy-est toy you received as a kid? You may have had a Speak and Spell or a handheld Donkey Kong game. There was no internet or "smart" technology. These days many of the toys we buy are connected. eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant takes us through what toys we need to look out for this Christmas, and how to make sure we're keeping our kids safe. The Office of eSafety has a full Christmas gift guide on their website as well as details on how to keep kids safe on tablets. S...
Are family meals as important as we're told?
December 08, 2019 19:00 - 10 minutes - 9.87 MBNutritionists will tell you that eating as a family is a fundamental building block for good eating habits in your family. It's a time and place for connection at the end of a busy day. But Professor of Sociology at Monash University Jo Lindsay says that getting together for dinner isn't realistic for most families. She also argues that the messages being sent around dinner are not always backed up with evidence. Jo talks about her findings, and why she thinks parents and carers should relax ...
New reproductive technology could eradicate disease, but should we use it?
December 05, 2019 19:00 - 23 minutes - 22 MBRight now in Australia, there are discussions about the future of reproductive technology. In particular, whether or not we should start using three strands of DNA for fertility treatments. The debate is balanced between the benefits, such as potentially eradicating mitochondrial disease, and the physical and ethical risks of tinkering with DNA. Ainsley Newson, Associate Professor of Bioethics at Sydney University, and Sean Murray, CEO of the Mito Foundation, break down the pros and cons of t...
Play in peril: how much should our kids be playing?
December 04, 2019 19:00 - 17 minutes - 16.3 MBThe world has changed a lot since parents today were children. There is more technology, more families have both parents working and there seems to be less time for children to play. Brendon Hyndman is a child development expert and Senior Lecturer in Personal Development, Health & Physical Education at Charles Sturt University. Together with IKEA, he researched how much children are playing today and the ideal amount of time they should be playing. Brendon explains why children aren't playin...
Helpline: Early risers, night feeding, night waking and day naps
December 03, 2019 19:00 - 26 minutes - 24.4 MBParenting a small child can be challenging, particularly when you can't work out why they aren't feeding or sleeping properly. Then there are the behavioural hurdles (toddlers not getting in car seats, throwing food on the floor etc). Mothercraft nurse Chris Minogue is here to help you navigate the early years. She has over thirty years experience and knows how to help you make a few tweaks to set you back on the right path. On this episode of her advice covers: A six-month-old early riser, ...
Simple steps to be ready for pregnancy
December 02, 2019 19:00 - 15 minutes - 14.1 MBThe best way to get ready for pregnancy is to maintain a healthy lifestyle.But what are the things that will help couples fall pregnant? And where are we at with alcohol consumption and different vitamins? Dianne Zalitis is a Midwife and Clinical Lead of Pregnancy, Birth and Baby, a national Australian Government service providing support for expecting parents. She breaks down everything you need to know about giving pregnancy your best shot. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why all children deserve praise
December 01, 2019 19:00 - 10 minutes - 10.1 MBCritics of modern parents will have you believe that we are raising a generation of self-entitled prats. But positive affirmation, or praise, is a really important part of parenting our children to be healthy, well-adjusted adults. Associate Professor Julie Green, Executive Director of Raising Children Network, explains what positive affirmation looks like for different ages, and why we need to give it to our kids. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Surrogacy: A story of cystic fibrosis, surrogacy and survival
November 28, 2019 19:00 - 22 minutes - 20.3 MBEllice Mol was born with cystic fibrosis. In her mid-20s, newly in love, she went through a double lung transplant. Two years later one lung was rejected, which meant she had lost almost half of what she had gained through the transplant. All of this meant that Ellice would not be able to carry her own baby to term. And so she and Rhys started looking into surrogacy. Ellice talks about her path to motherhood (amid gurgles and coos from her baby Franklin). See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...
How we can help our children be school-ready by early next year
November 27, 2019 19:00 - 20 minutes - 18.4 MBAs the end of the year approaches, some children will be attending their last weeks of pre-school care. Many will be looking forward to "big school" and some (including their parents), will not. Anthony Semann is an Early Learning Educator with Semann and Slattery. He gives some practical tips on how we can help our children be school-ready by early next year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Helpline: Three-month-old sleeping patterns, settling babies, day naps and more
November 26, 2019 19:00 - 44 minutes - 40.9 MBMothercraft Nurse Chris Minogue is back after a short break and has answered a stack of questions that were waiting for her return. Chris is a mothercraft nurse with over 30 years of experience helping families with their small children. In this episode of she tackles: Three-month-old sleeping patterns, day sleeps for a seven-month-old, a three-month-old losing their appetite, how to drop breastfeeds for a 14-month-old, a three-and-a-half-year-old struggling with jet lag, a two-year-old who ...
How to pack a first aid kit for an overseas holiday
November 25, 2019 19:00 - 10 minutes - 9.8 MBWhen you plan a holiday overseas, chances are you're consumed with thoughts about what clothes the kids will need and how you will all survive the flight. Sarah Hunstead from CPR Kids has thought about what you need to pack in terms of first aid so that you don't need to. Sarah gives us the rundown on what we need organise before we leave Australia and what to bring in our carry-on luggage. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Flexible work: How it works for you and your employer
November 24, 2019 19:00 - 12 minutes - 11.5 MBParenting and work life don't often coexist comfortably. Especially not when parents are locked into inflexible hours and days. Stephanie Reuss and Victoria Stuart founded BeamAustralia after finding that having children stunted their own career opportunities. Stephanie and Victoria explain the different ways that employees can work flexibly, and how those options can work for employers as well. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Emotion coaching 101
November 21, 2019 19:00 - 11 minutes - 10.7 MBRepeat: Emotion coaching for children helps them learn how to self regulate, which is what any parent wants (especially when children can be prone to tantrums). Lyn O' Grady is a psychologist and an expert in children's mental well being. Lyn explains the basics of emotion coaching, so that you can help your child learn how to self regulate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What vitamins and medications can you take during pregnancy?
November 20, 2019 19:00 - 7 minutes - 6.51 MBWhen you fall pregnant you become very conscious of what you're putting in your body. There are all kinds of warnings about what you can and can't eat. But what are the guidelines when it comes to vitamins and medications? Dr David Addenbrooke is an obstetrician and co-author of 9 Months, The essential Australian guide to pregnancyHe breaks down the most recent advice about what you can and can't take.. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Helpline: Daycare sleep, wetting the bed, weaning off night feeds and more
November 19, 2019 19:00 - 32 minutes - 30.1 MBRepeat: While Chris Minogue is away (she'll be back next week), we've pulled out one of our most popular episodes. In this episode, Chris helps parents with day sleeps for a 14-month-old who goes to daycare and dropped from two day sleeps to one, helping a three-year-old who will hold onto their poos and not go to the toilet, stopping a 13-month-old from hitting their baby cousin, finding the reason a four-year-old wets the bed overnight and doesn't wake to use the toilet, troubleshooting sl...
Maggie Dent: Managing sibling rivalry
November 18, 2019 19:00 - 11 minutes - 11 MBRepeat: Children can get so much from having a sibling. Another child to play with, to talk to and grow up with. But siblings can also fight. A lot. Which isn't great for parents who are trying to teach them to share and respect one another. In one of Feed Play Love's favourite episodes, parenting educator Maggie Dent brings her legendary common sense and compassion to the issue of sibling rivalry. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How mediation works when families separate
November 17, 2019 19:00 - 18 minutes - 16.8 MBNo one starts a family thinking that one day they will live apart. But for many couples, separation happens. Most parents want the best for their children. When a family separates mediation is there to get them to a safe place, and to avoid lengthy and expensive court proceedings. Danielle Jaku-Greenfield is a mediator who has helped many families. She explains how the mediation process works, and the different ways families can come to a satisfactory arrangement. For more information on how ...
The keys to your toddler's future success
November 14, 2019 19:00 - 15 minutes - 14.3 MBRepeat: Toddlers can be mercurial, joyful and therefore both a delight and frustration to their parents. But did you know that there are things you could be doing with your toddler now, that will help them be successful adults? Dr Laura Jana is the author of The Toddler Brain: Nurture the skills today that will shape your child's tomorrowShe explains what we can all do to tap into our child's potential.. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What is attachment parenting really about?
November 13, 2019 19:00 - 16 minutes - 15.2 MBThese days every kind of parent is labelled with a style: helicopter, free range, lawnmower.None of these so-called styles are helpful, but there is one style of parenting that has been found to be beneficial to kids. Chances are you already apply some of its techniques. It's called attachment parenting, and it's not what the media has led many to believe. Psychologist and mum Rachel Bridge explains the history of attachment parenting, and why it's so good for kids. Rachel is also working on ...
Helpline: One-year-old tantrums, premmie twin sleep, pinching and more
November 12, 2019 19:00 - 39 minutes - 36.4 MBRepeat: In one of our most popular Helpline episodes this year, mothercraft nurse Chris Minogue tackles:A one-year-old (and youngest of four children) throwing almighty tantrums when mum tries to get chores done around the home, Whether it's normal for three-and-a-half-year-old and 14-month-old siblings to not get along, and will there be a time when they stop fighting? Is an attachment to mum (over dad every time) healthy for a 16-month-old and will they grow out of it? Is it possible for a ...
Why labour pain is all in your head
November 11, 2019 19:00 - 12 minutes - 11.3 MBYou could talk to a dozen women about childbirth and they will all have different experiences of labour pain. Physiotherapist Dr Laura Whitburn from La Trobe University was fascinated in the variety of experiences when it came to childbirth, and so she conducted research with new mums in Melbourne in an effort to determine why women experience labour pain differently. What she discovered is that there's often a number of factors that contribute to the way a woman perceives pain.Laura explains...
Justin Coulson on raising a resilient child
November 10, 2019 19:00 - 17 minutes - 16.2 MBRepeat: One thing we all want is for our children to be able to bounce back. We want to know that they have the emotional skills to deal with the times that life doesn't go their way. Parenting educator Justin Coulson from Raising Happy Familiesgives his tips on how to raise a resilient child. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What's the right amount of extracurricular activities for kids?
November 07, 2019 19:00 - 12 minutes - 11.1 MBExtracurricular activities can be a challenge for some parents. There is research that says learning a musical instrument will help your child's brain grow. Other parents may tell you that learning a team sport will help your child socialise and develop resilience. And then someone will go ahead and say our kids are overscheduled. You can't win! Anthony Semann is an Early Learning Educator at Semann and Slattery. He explains how you can judge whether your child is overscheduled, and the best ...
Kaz Cooke: Demystifying modern birth
November 06, 2019 19:00 - 11 minutes - 10.5 MBKaz Cooke's enormously popular Up the Duff, the real guide to pregnancyhas turned 20 years old!And while in that time some things have stayed the same, there are many aspects of modern birth that have changed. Kaz talks about the modern aspects of birth that can be confusing, and she explains why remains relevant and unbiased for expecting parents.Up the Duff See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Helpline: Juggling three kids under four, early rising babies and fussy eaters
November 05, 2019 19:00 - 33 minutes - 30.3 MBAll children are different, so even if you've had a baby before, it doesn't always mean you'll know what to do when your second (third or fourth) will only catnap during the day. Mothercraft nurse Chris Minogue has seen thousands of baby over her 30 years of helping families navigate raising children. In this episode of she tackles: Juggling three children under four, early rising ten-month-old twins, a 22-month-old who is very attached to their dummy, a two-year-old who has started sleeping ...
Why one-year-olds are at the greatest risk of drowning
November 04, 2019 19:00 - 8 minutes - 7.77 MBWith the weather heating up, Royal Life Saving Australia has a warning for parents, particularly those with toddlers. According to their research, nearly 50 percent of the drowning deaths in children under five in Australia are one-year-olds. It's a statistic that Alison Mahony, National Manager of Research and Policy at Royal Life Saving Australia, says we can change. Alison explains why toddlers are such high-risk and what parents can do to protect their children. See omnystudio.com/listen...
Gentle techniques to help a baby sleep
November 03, 2019 19:00 - 11 minutes - 10.5 MBHelping a baby learn to sleep better can be a challenge for parents.Particularly if you co-sleep with your child, or you don't want to use the "crying out" method. Veena Parry is a paediatric sleep consultant and founder of Sleep Sweet Sleep DeepShe believes that it is possible to use gentle methods to get babies to sleep better. Veena explains why parents don't have to use settling techniques that upset them, and why she believes gentle settling techniques are the way to go.. See omnystudi...
Why we need to let our children take risks
October 31, 2019 19:00 - 16 minutes - 15.4 MBIt goes without saying that it's a parent job to raise and protect our children.But how much protection is good, and when does it cross over into holding our children back? CEO of CPR Kids Sarah Hunstead is a former paediatric nurse and mother of two. She believes that risk is an essential part of childhood, but as parents we need to know how to patch them up. Sarah explains some basic first aid skills we all need, and where the line in the sand exists between 'good' and 'bad' risk. See omny...
Why the six-week check up is not all about the baby
October 30, 2019 19:00 - 9 minutes - 8.96 MBWhen you're new to parenthood, you're often hyper aware of your baby's health. How she's growing, feeding, pooing - and the six-week check up is where most of us get the reassurance that everything is going okay. There is also the six-week check up for mums, and Dr Elysia Thornton-Benko says that's a great time to look at all aspects of health (not just your physical recovery from labour). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How to empower your children and keep them safe
October 28, 2019 19:00 - 12 minutes - 11.7 MBWhen it comes to protecting our kids from sexual abuse, the dominant conversation tends to be about the perpetrators. Parents today grew up with warnings about 'stranger danger', but it turns out that we need to be more wary of adults our children know and trust. So how do parents and carers keep their children safe? Lily Isobella is the CEO of The One a Day Project.She explains why parents need to be empowering our children instead of focussing on perpetrators. See omnystudio.com/listener f...
Everything you need to know about your baby's skin
October 27, 2019 19:00 - 13 minutes - 12.4 MBWhen we bring our new babies home they are so small and fragile. Their skin is super soft, and often super sensitive. All kinds of rashes and skin afflictions can have you rushing to your local GP. Dr Leona Yip is a dermatologist and mum who knows about baby skin. She talks about bathing, soaps and moisturisers, and everything you need to know to be ready for summer.a lot See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Lynley Dodd: A life creating stories about clever dogs and sneaky cats
October 24, 2019 19:00 - 14 minutes - 13.1 MBOnce you start reading books to your kids, it doesn't take long to decipher your favourite authors.Some books just stand out beyond the rest. It could be that the illustrations blow your mind, or that the words are fun to speak out loud. Over the last 30 years, Dame Lynley Dodd has managed to create picture books with both of these qualities. Her series featuring Hairy Maclary, Scarface Claw and Slinky Malinky have delighted readers, both young and old. She talks about what inspired her to st...
How to choose the safest bassinet for your baby
October 23, 2019 19:00 - 10 minutes - 9.31 MBIt may surprise you to know that bassinets in Australia are not assessed for their safety. Kim Gilmour is the team leader of the Household Department at CHOICE Australia. She explains why bassinets don't have to adhere to a safety standard, and what to look out for when you're choosing one. For more information on choosing a safe bassinet head to CHOICE Australia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Helpline: Regulating day sleeps, weaning toddlers off bottles and more
October 22, 2019 19:00 - 30 minutes - 27.7 MBWhen it comes to raising children, the early years can be very confusing. Instead of the English language, you're trying to decipher different kinds of cries and grunts to determine what is happening for your child. Mothercraft nurse Chris Minogue is the ultimate baby whisperer. She understands what's going on from all the different things your baby or small child is doing, and she knows how to set you all on a better path. This week on she deals with the following concerns: How to regulate ...
Finding your peace in parenting - Part 2
October 21, 2019 19:00 - 14 minutes - 13.2 MBToddlers are not the most peaceful creatures (apart from when they're asleep). They've got energy, big emotions and not a lot of development to deal with all of those things. Trying to respond to your toddler (or child) with calm can be challenging at times. In this second interview with author of The Art of Peaceful ParentingSharon Turton, we discuss how being present with a tantruming toddler can actually help you stay on an even keel and why empathy and forgiveness are the key to it all. ...
Finding your peace in parenting - Part 1
October 20, 2019 19:00 - 17 minutes - 15.7 MBThere are many times as a parent when one feels less than peaceful. In fact, there are many times when you can feel like your head is about to explode. Peaceful parenting may sound like an oxymoron, but Sharon Turton is an author and counsellor who believes that peaceful parenting is not only achievable, but it will change your life. In the first of this two-part interview, Sharon explains the simple power of breathing in order to deal with some challenging emotions, and how accepting those e...
Say Hello: How parents can help children understand difference
October 17, 2019 19:00 - 36 minutes - 33.3 MBCarly Findlay is a writer, podcaster and activist. She’s written a memoir before hitting forty, but she’s got a lot to say. It’s a book for those who are disabled, and those who are not. It’s an attempt to get people to understand words like “micro aggression” and what it means to be subjected to them, day in and day out. But it’s also a manifesto on difference and self-love. Carly talks about growing up with Ichthyosis and explains how parents can help their children understand facial differ...
What is tongue tie?
October 16, 2019 19:00 - 9 minutes - 8.3 MBTongue tie can have a big impact on how your baby feeds, and how it feels when you breastfeed your baby. Dr Elysia Thornton-Benko explains what tongue tie is, and how it’s corrected. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How to get your partner to do their share of the housework
October 15, 2019 19:00 - 15 minutes - 14.2 MBIn 2019 women are still doing the majority of the domestic work at home, regardless of whether they’re working outside the home or not. Eve Rodsky is an organisational specialist who believed that she was in an equitable relationship. Then she had kids and discovered that she was bearing the majority of the burden. Her solution was to invent a game, called and she’s written a book to help couples everywhere play it.Fair Play, Eve explains how to get your partner to sign up to the game, and th...
Understanding the impact of baby loss
October 14, 2019 19:00 - 23 minutes - 21.2 MBTraditionally, women have been encouraged to keep their pregnancy a secret until three months, given that the first three months are when many miscarriages happen. But such secrecy doesn’t help those who experience pregnancy loss, nor the wider community in how to support and care for someone whose child has died. Annabel Bower is a mother of three, and owner of the catering company Food By AnnabelShe explains what her experience of pregnancy loss, and what kind of support helped her the most...
Helpline: Fussy eating toddlers, night-wandering three-year-olds and more
October 13, 2019 19:00 - 29 minutes - 26.6 MBMothercraft nurse Chris Minogue brings over 30 years experience to help parents with their babies and small children. Chris answers questions about sleep, feeding and behaviour. This episode of includes: A three-and-a-half-year-old who wants to sleep with her parents, a fussy eating 22-month-old and an equally fussy two-year-old, a four-month-old who was sleeping brilliantly and now is waking through the night and when to drop a bottle for a nine-month-old.Helpline See omnystudio.com/listen...
How to talk about loss with children
October 10, 2019 19:00 - 32 minutes - 29.6 MBMel Greenhalgh is a grief educator. She’s experienced just about every kind of loss in a short period of time. Her mum, her sister and the loss of her house to fire. She’s also been diagnosed with cancer and has taken in her children’s kids and raised them alongside her own. She has had many conversations about loss and discovered a lot along the way. Mel talks about the best way to talk to kids about loss, both sudden and impending. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How to set good sleep foundations from the beginning
October 09, 2019 19:05 - 20 minutes - 19.3 MBMany midwives will tell you that babies are born to feed not sleep. Most parents will understand the truth of that, but paediatric sleep consultant Veena Parry says there are ways to set up good sleep foundations for the future. Veena gives her tips for how to start up a good sleep routine for your baby, so that when they are ready to sleep through you’re starting from a strong base. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Life with 16 children: How this mum runs a large family
October 09, 2019 19:00 - 12 minutes - 11.6 MBThese days you’ll find a lot of articles about whether you should go from one to two kids and three children is considered a large family. But Jeni Bonell and her husband decided to really buck the trend and have sixteen children. Jeni answers all the questions about how she runs such a large family (including doing all the washing!) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kaz Cooke on managing domestic drudgery after babies
October 08, 2019 19:05 - 24 minutes - 22.4 MBI love being a domestic slave! Said no woman ever. Kaz Cooke has just released an updated edition of Up the Duff20 years after the original was created. In this edition, she provides a list of things you should talk about with your partner before the baby comes, things that would be difficult to even conceive without guidance from someone who’s been there. Kaz talks about the things we forget to talk about, and why they can make so much difference to household harmony once the baby arrives., ...
The aches and pains of pregnancy (and what to do about them)
October 08, 2019 19:00 - 5 minutes - 5.38 MBBabies take up a lot of room and can cause some discomfort as they grow. Dr David Addenbrooke is an obstetrician and co-author of 9 months, The Essential Australian Guide to Pregnancy. He talks about the most common pains that can occur during pregnancy, and ways of alleviating them. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How to get your brain ready for a baby
October 07, 2019 19:05 - 11 minutes - 10.4 MBWhen you’re pregnant there are a lot of things going on. Sometimes you have terrible morning sickness, and the world is a very grey place indeed. Other times you’re worrying about what will happen when you go down to one income while you’re on maternity leave. There are a lot of things that can affect your mental health.Dianne Zalitis is a midwife and Clinical Lead of Pregnancy, Birth and Baby. She gives some advice on how to get your brain ready for your coming baby, so that you’re in the be...
How to protect your kids from online porn
October 07, 2019 19:00 - 14 minutes - 13 MBMany parents are worried about their child stumbling upon online porn but are unsure what to do about it. Dr Katrina Lines is the Executive Director of Act for Kids, a non profit organisation, who says that parents need to be aware of the dangers online, but also how to tell if their child has inadvertently seen something disturbing.She talks about how parents can spot problematic behaviours and what action they can take. For more information on how to deal with online porn, check out the eSa...
Helpline: Attached four-year-olds, dropping day naps, sleep routines and more
October 06, 2019 19:00 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MBIf you're looking for some tips to cut through the fog of sleeplessness, mothercraft Nurse Chris Minogue is your woman. Chris is here to help you see the bigger picture, and navigate your way to a better night's sleep (or less conflict at mealtimes, better ways to get a toddler in the car etc). Having helped parents for over 30 years, there are few questions she can't answer. On this episode of she tackles: Getting a 19-month-old off their milk bottles, helping a six-year-old with ADD sleep, ...
Gabrielle Jackson: Why women need to know their bodies better
October 03, 2019 20:00 - 12 minutes - 11.9 MBIf you’ve ever referred to your vagina as a “front bottom”, “hoo hoo” or “vajayay”, you need to listen to what Gabrielle Jackson has to say. Having grown up using the first euphemism until a boyfriend laughed himself silly at her, she soon realised that there are significant historical reasons why women rarely use the correct term for their anatomy. In her groundbreaking book Pain and PrejudiceGabrielle uncovers this history and argues why all women need to know their bodies better. Gabrielle...