Is gentle parenting a trend? How social media is letting parents down with Essential Parenting's Helen Davies

Sleep like a baby?

Helen Davies is a health visitor, PICU nurse and sleep specialist as well as a mother of four. She has 22 years of parenting experience and also runs the very funny, very real Instagram account @Essential_Parenting.

TW: domestic abuse and mental illness

In this week's episode Helen shares her story of overcoming a toxic relationship and mental health challenges. With such generous (and often hilarious) honesty, she talks about how these things have shaped her professional life - having now worked with thousands of families - as well as her mothering and personal healing experience.

We reflected on how the social media worlds of both 'gentle parenting' and sleep training can have a negative impact on new parents today with such unrealistic standards being touted as normal.

Helen and I also asked:

• Why do people say it's a trend to respond to and treat babies with respect and compassion?

• Does this age of information make us feel like bad parents when we do inevitably feel overwhelmed or burnt out?

For more about Helen her website is https://essentialparenting.co.uk/

If you're affected by any of the issues we discuss, the following links may be helpful:

• Women's Aid

• Refuge

• UK Government website

• Samaritans

• Pandas Foundation (postnatal depression awareness and support)

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If you're interested in the upcoming Night Weaning Webinars, see here:

Breastfed babies: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=22681540&appointmentType=38787046

Bottlefed babies: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=22681540&appointmentType=38787155