Parenting Unpacked

Welcome back to parenting unpacked! In this episode we chat about our unplanned Season 1 Wrap  and what has been happening since then in our lives as parents. From our kids asking for a younger sibling (yikes!), to toilet training, weaning and much, much more, we give an overview of some of the topics we'll be diving into later in the series.

Helloooo parenting unpacked crew and welcome back. This week we talk about a bunch of the science behind spanking. Specifically whether there is any scientific support for spanking. To cut to the chase... yes, there is. But it's not that simple. And there is a very big reason why it is now illegal in over 50 countries. Listen along and hear all about the science.

TW: Termination of Pregnancy, Childhood Sexual Assault and General Crime Hello and welcome back to parenting unpacked! Today we cover our new research currently in preparation, whether science be all end all of parenting (hint: it's not) and another round of good old TikTok drama raising some seriously concerning questions about gentle parenting, minor attracted people and the issue of consent. Have a listen, let us know your thoughts by sliding into our DMs but please use sentence case rather than because we're not about virtual yelling. Thank you in advance!

Welcome back crew! This week we chat about yelling at our kids. Is all yelling equally bad? Is some yelling worse than other yelling. Stay tuned to find out!

Helloooo and welcome back to parenting unpacked. This week we chat all about skin to skin contact, why its the best thing ever to hold your baby and it won't ruin them. We've also got a new segment called recommendations because parents deserve to consume recreational media that has nothing to do with their kids sometimes and that's what we're bringing you.

Welcome back! We accidentally had easter off because Kristyn got lost to the joy of taking a break and forgot to put an episode up (sorry!) so we're back with a vengeance for a super cool episode (in our opinion). We chat how to raise gender positive kids with a cameo from Molly Speechly, a PhD student at Griffith University currently research the development of gender diverse identity. We also talk about how to raise body positive kids, because honestly, all children need as much positivity as we can give them!

Welcome back to parenting unpacked! This week Siobhan unveiled something truly shocking about Kristyn which isn't actually shocking at all. Siobhan discovered Kristyn has DMER aka Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex and let me tell you, it is a WILD ride to have DMER and be breastfeeding a toddler. I'm still questioning whether it's a good decision (hint: it's not, but making big changes like weaning is hard and I'm just not ready for it yet). So if you've ever felt undeniable rage, a sense of impending doom or another unpleasant emotional response that seems to coincide with breastfeeding or your let down, welcome to the club. I'm so sorry your here, but hopefully this episode will give you words to your experience because as we should all know 20 episodes deep into a parenting podcast, knowing and understanding something is more than half the battle. You got this. (p.s. yes we know that this episode is a little bit out of sync. We had some little (massive) tech issues but we've got our fingers crossed it doesn't happen again, thanks for hanging in there with us!)

Hey folks, welcome back. This week we chat about the trials and tribulations of reward charts for toilet learning as well as a brief overview of separation anxiety disorder. We had planned to cover typical separation anxiety in more depth in this episode (well, as much as we really plan anything so take that statement with a grain of salt) but technological issues led to the episode we have rather than the one we wanted and if that isn't an exceptional metaphor for adjusting your parenthood expectations I don't know what is. But hey, the audio sounds a little bit better this week and we're uploading it on time (i.e., 6 hours before launch) so I'm calling that a win! (p.s. I know the video is chaos and all out of sync, but only 3% of you watch on YouTube and we can blame Riverside.fm for ALL the issues we've had, video and audio).

Welcome back to parenting unpacked! This week we tackle the worst parenting debates of all time, sensationalised by none other than social media (cue massive eye roll). We set the record straight with no small amount of sass and a decent amount of swearing, so little ears should be warned. Have you heard any of these awful myths touted as facts designed to make other parents feel inferior?

Welcome back to parenting unpacked! This week we're talking about a topic that is a little bit different. We're talking about religion, child development and parenting. We'll bring some research in, talk about different religions, how religion emerges in geographically isolated places and why it is pervasive across many generations. This is a topic that we talk about from a unbiased perspective. If there's something in this episode that you don't agree with or that doesn't mesh with your own religious beliefs, that is okay. Everyone all around the world have different beliefs and experiences of the world. We'd love to hear your experiences growing up and parenting under your religious beliefs, so please slide in to our DMs on instagram!

Welcome back folks! Today's episode hits on something a little bit different than our usual parenting content, but between Siobhan and Kristyn, their propensity towards anxiety and their psych degrees, chatting all about the nervous and how to hack it seems right on brand. Yes, our audio quality is trash right now. Promise we are working on it. We're still learning the ropes and we want to keep showing up for you, despite the chaos that is learning to podcast. New mics are on the way. Thanks for hanging in there with us! Email us at parentingunpackedau@gmail.com to suggest a topic you want to know more about or a guest you want us to interview! Stay sane!

Welcome back to parenting unpacked. This week we cover everything around moving houses with small children including the science behind it. You know who we are. Everything we do has usually got us doing a quick google scholar search or trying to figure out the theoretical underpinnings or certain approaches over others. Yes, thinking this hard about life simple decisions is exhausting, but that's why we're here, exhausted, so that you don't have to be. Enjoy and see you next week!

Welcome back to parenting unpacked! This week we do Kristyn's favourite thing which is talk about contentious topics with no filter while marvelling at Siobhan's well balanced and level headed answers. Kristyn's... not so much, but she's learning so we'll take it. We hit all those chaotic, guilt inducing, social media viral, judgemental parent topics that you've probably always been curious about the science behind. I hope you enjoy and feel a little less guilty, a little more confident in your parenting decisions and get a giggle somewhere along the way. Catch you in the next one!

Well, as per usual, Kristyn speaks before she thinks through things too thoroughly (to be fair... I get excited about things I'm passionate about and don't always evaluate every single implication of such things). Recently Kristyn made all her content free and kept banging on about how she doesn't believe parenting should be paywalled, completely ignoring the fact that her co-host, Siobhan Kennedy-Costantini, charges for her evidence based parenting resources. Tune in to listen to the awkward (yet, honestly not at all awkward) conversation Kristyn and Siobhan dive into as they talk about how they navigate different pay structures in the parent education space, how on earth they ended up in the social media space despite spending the majority of their careers in academia and more. We hope you love this episode and the chattier style we're moved into lately. Catch you next Tuesday for your next listen!

Welcome back to parenting unpacked! Today's episode is a little bit of a hot mess because we were just enjoying catching up and let our conversation take us wherever it wanted. It took us to chatting all about daycare drops and how our littles went from crying at every drop to not giving a f*#$ about even saying goodbye, which is a beautiful bittersweet thing. This is a quick episode today, so I hope you enjoy the lighter content!

Welcome back to parenting unpacked! This week we're talking about the different schemas of play. The content was a little dry so we spiced it up with some accidental TikTok drama which had interesting ramifications for Kristyn and her content creation (but at the same time not really). Siobhan is currently doing a series on schemas of play over on instagram so jump over there to check it out. ALSO Siobhan has a fact pack on Play (as well as Breastfeeding and Starting Solids) which is chock full of evidence based information to help you make informed parenting choices and she has given podcast listeners a massive 50% discount. So run, don't walk, to scienceminded.org and use discount code PARENTINGUNPACKED This podcast is also sponsored by Page & Pine, a family owned Aussie business that brings you wooden toys and personalised decor. Use code PARENTINGUNPACKED for 20% the entire store now!

Welcome back to parenting unpacked! We're tackling a topic that is the source of infinite mum guilt, screen time. We're talking all things cocomelon and whether it's addictive, what harm befalls your child by letting them watch TV and whether children can actually learn anything from what they watch. We hope you enjoy this weeks episode!

Welcome back to parenting unpacked! This week we're celebrating the start of the Australian school year by covering a topic many parents are faced with: after school restraint collapse. We cover what after school restraint collapse is, what causes it, how to navigate it in the moment, how to reduce the frequency of it and how to connect with your children through it all. This episode is for parents of every child from toddlerhood to the teenage years.

Welcome back to parenting unpacked! This week we're digging into one of the fundamental theories around raising children. Attachment! Attachment theory, attachment parenting, circle of security, secure attachment, insecure attachment. We hit that many buzz words in this episodes because this is one of our longest episodes to date and we still didn't cover everything we could have. Listen in as we talk about what the leading scientific thought is on attachment theory and how to help foster a secure attachment with your child. And while you're at it, I hope it takes a load of your shoulders and assures you that you are already doing all the things you need to do to create a secure attachment. You've got a lucky kid so be kind and compassionate to yourself and that will permeate the attachment relationship with your child. For more information on attachment, head to our favourite source for all things attachment: Circle of security

Welcome back to Parenting Unpacked! This week we interviewed Candace St John. Candace St. John is a mom of one and a public health practitioner who studies the effects of equity, social determinants of health, & adverse childhood experiences and trauma on lifetime health. Upon having a baby in June 2020, she was taken aback by the unsubstantiated evidence behind most mainstream parenting ideals. She took to social media to bust myths & support parents to make the best informed choices for their children to thrive. Candace strives to weave in her public health expertise for advocacy and educational purposes, and is excited to work 1:1 with families. We talked with Candace about the role of public health in parenting, the lack of evidence based information prolific in the health care sector as well as normative parenting resources. We also talked through biologically normal infant sleep, bedsharing and ACEs (adverse childhood events). You can find Candace at her website, instagram and TikTok. Links to things we discussed this episode: https://numberstory.org https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/index.html

This week's episode is designed to help you breathe easier and know that you are an exceptional parent despite the little things that go wrong and the big things that overwhelm you. This week we touch on the idea of the good enough parent and how this permeates everyone's lives (yes, even the insta-perfect mums). We also tackle tantrums for the very first (but not last!) time and we talk about how tantrums appear very similar to a panic attack and give you some useful insights into how your child might be feeling in the midst of a tantrum. We also give you some tips and tricks for how to reduce the frequency and severity of those tantrums by using some child mindfulness strategies and co-regulation techniques. For Kristyn's video about the dysregulation rainbow, find it here For Siobhan's post on "the good enough parent", find it here For Siobhan's post on time as panic attacks, find it here

Welcome back to another episode of parenting unpacked where Dr. Siobhan Kennedy-Costantini and Dr. Kristyn Sommer (PhDs in child development) chat all things parenthood and child development. This weeks episode follows episode 3 and 4 which touched on both Kristyn and Siobhan's Postnatal Anxiety and Depression journeys and ties up the 3 episode series with information on how we recovered, and not only survived the postpartum period, but thrived past it! If you are looking for resources on postnatal depression and anxiety and getting better visit https://www.panda.org.au This is our last episode for 2021. Happy Holidays and we look forward to seeing you on the 4th of January 2022 as we bring you our next episode of Parenting Unpacked!

Welcome back to parenting unpacked. This week's episode comes with a trigger warning. Siobhan goes in depth into her experience with perinatal anxiety and depression during the first year of her son's life. Siobhan details her experience having a baby with GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) whom struggled considerably with sleep for the first 10 months of his life. Siobhan touches on some very challenging but important topics such as intrusive thoughts and suicial ideation. This episode has a lot of hard moments, but also a shining light at the end of the tunnel, which is the promise and proof of not only surviving perinatal anxiety and depression, but thriving in the year following a serious nervous breakdown. Please join us next week as we delve into how we recovered and where we are now! If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the symptoms discussed in this episode, please visit the following resources for support and further information: PANDA: https://www.panda.org.au COPE: https://www.cope.org.au GIDGET: https://www.gidgetfoundation.org.au

Welcome back to parenting unpacked where you're guaranteed to find evidence, empathy and common sense. This week's episode is heavy on the empathy side but also comes with a trigger warning. Kristyn goes in depth into her experience with perinatal anxiety and depression, both during pregnancy and in the first year after birth. This episode has a lot of hard moments, but also a shining light at the end of the tunnel, which is the promise and proof of not only surviving perinatal anxiety and depression, but thriving in the year following a serious nervous breakdown. If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the symptoms discussed in this episode, please visit the following resources for support and further information: PANDA: https://www.panda.org.au COPE: https://www.cope.org.au GIDGET: https://www.gidgetfoundation.org.au

Happy December Everyone! And with December comes the festive season for so many of us. As new parents still grappling with our own experiences as children, it can be tricky to navigate whether you will do the festive season the same or different to your own parents. We've fielded quite a few questions lately about how parents can navigate the lie that is Santa and whether they even should. In today's episode, Siobhan and Kristyn share their personal takes, what they will be doing with their own children, why they will be doing it, and what science they're leaning on to make those tricky decisions. We hope you love this episode and we can't wait to see you back here next Tuesday when we return to our regularly scheduled programming. Music from bensound.com

Welcome to Parenting Unpacked. A podcast for parents seeking evidence, empathy and common sense. Hosted by Child Development PhDs Dr. Siobhan Kennedy-Costantini and Dr. Kristyn Sommer. As experts in children's cognitive, social and emotional development, we understand how children learn and grow. We're here to help you unpack the science of parenting and to find the beauty in the grey. In this episode we talk about a recent Parenting Course Kristyn took where the speaker uttered the phrase “Praise is Poison”. Siobhan and Kristyn share their hot takes on this idea and how praise can be a wonderful tool when used effectively. We also talk about why Siobhan was drawn to study psychology and what piqued her interest in child development. We talk about our different feelings on lying to children and how parenting has changed the way we view academia. Find Siobhan's website here and Kristyn's website here. Music from BenSound.com

Welcome to Parenting Unpacked. A podcast for parents seeking evidence, empathy and kindness. Hosted by Child Development PhDs Dr. Siobhan Kennedy-Costantini and Dr. Kristyn Sommer. As mums we know how hard parenting is. We also know how much conflicting information exists out there in the parenting space. As experts in children's cognitive, social and emotional development we're here to help you unpack the science of parenting and to see the beauty in the grey. Join us every week as we bring you content from the science of parenting, with a good dose of empathy and common sense. We'll cover topics from tackling toddler tantrums postpartum anxiety and depression, gentle parenting, lying to your kids and everything in between. Find Siobhan's website here and Kristyn's website here. Music from BenSound.com