Beth Dewing, RN, IBCLC, Paediatric Continence & Sleep

Beth Dewing, RN, IBCLC, Paediatric Continence & Sleep Maternal & Child | Women's Health
Little ones: feeding, sleep + toileting
Women's Health Coordination.
🌸 🩺
Holistic care. Evidence-based solutions.

Heading back to work and wondering what to do about breastfeeding?You do not have to stop overnight.Weaning is simply th...
29/11/2025

Heading back to work and wondering what to do about breastfeeding?

You do not have to stop overnight.

Weaning is simply the process of your babe getting milk or food from places other than you. For many families, that looks like a gentle shift from breastfeeds to a mix of solids, cups, bottles or nothing extra at all, depending on age and growth.

A gradual approach often feels kinder on everyone:

First, track feeds for a few days and notice which ones are shortest or least important

Start by dropping just one of those feeds and wait 3–7 days before changing anything else

Offer something in its place, like a cuddle, snack, playtime or a bottle/cup, depending on your child’s age and nutritional needs

Lots of parents keep the bedtime feed the longest, because it feels emotionally significant. You are absolutely allowed to do that.

If your breasts feel full or uncomfortable, you can hand express just enough to soften without fully emptying.

You have not failed if you choose to wean because of work, your mental health, or simply because it feels like the right season. Feeding is one beautiful way you love your baby, not the only way.

If you are staring down the return to work date and feeling stuck on feeds, bottles or weaning plans, I can help! Pop “WEANING” in the comments and I’ll send through my package details 💛

If you are scooping up a clingy, glassy-eyed toddler at 5 pm and wondering how you will make it to bedtime, you are not ...
26/11/2025

If you are scooping up a clingy, glassy-eyed toddler at 5 pm and wondering how you will make it to bedtime, you are not alone.

Childcare is a big change for little nervous systems. New people, new routines, new environment, plus naps that are often shorter or lighter than at home. Their brain has been “on” all day, so by pick-up they are running on empty.

In the first few weeks (and sometimes up to a month), you might notice:
💤 Extra tiredness and crankiness in the late afternoon
🤍 More clinginess and “I just want you”
😴 A few more night wakes while their body clock adjusts

On daycare days, bringing bedtime about 30 minutes earlier can make a real difference. Overtired kids actually find it harder to fall and stay asleep. An early night is not missing time with them, it is protecting their little body and brain.

Keeping evenings calm, offering an easy dinner and a simple, predictable wind-down routine can really smooth this season.

You are not doing anything wrong if your kiddo is exhausted after daycare. Their body is just learning a new rhythm, and it will get easier with time.

Save this for those “everyone is fried” weeks and tag a parent who is deep in daycare adjustment. 💛

“Separation anxiety” is not just tears at the daycare gate.Sometimes it looks like:🤍 A shadow following you from room to...
24/11/2025

“Separation anxiety” is not just tears at the daycare gate.

Sometimes it looks like:
🤍 A shadow following you from room to room
🤍 A child who suddenly will not sleep unless you are right there
🤍 “My tummy hurts” every morning before drop-off
🤍 Big feelings the second you walk in the door in the afternoon

This is not a “naughty” child or “bad behaviour”. It is a small nervous system trying to make sense of a big change and looking for safety in the person they trust most.

While your kiddo adjusts, try carving out 10 minutes of one to one connection as part of your evening wind down routine. Just 10 minutes of undivided attention can make a big difference to how safe and settled they feel.

If this is what your afternoons and mornings look like right now, you are not alone and you are not doing anything wrong. With time, consistent routines and plenty of connection, their brain will catch up with the change.

Save this for the hard days, and tag a parent who needs to hear it today. 💛

Constipation affects anywhere between 3–30 percent of children at some stage during their childhood.So if you have 3 kid...
24/11/2025

Constipation affects anywhere between 3–30 percent of children at some stage during their childhood.

So if you have 3 kiddos, it is very possible that one of them may experience constipation at some point. (I know I have 2 (out of 4) kiddos who do 🙋‍♀️)

Constipation can look like:
💩 Not going to the toilet often enough
💢 Straining or discomfort when passing a poo
🚽 Withholding or avoiding the toilet
🕒 Passing large, hard, or painful poos

Most kids should open their bowels every day or every second day.
If your child is only going every 3–4 days, then they may not be going often enough.

And here’s the tricky part:
If your child takes themselves to the toilet independently, it can be hard to know what their bowel habits are like. Kids often do not realise they are constipated, and often parents only find out when symptoms become more obvious.

Regular, comfortable poos keep the bladder and bowel working well together. 💩

If you are unsure what is normal, or something feels “off,” support is available.

Sleep isn’t just about how long they stay in bed it’s also about how they function the next day.Here are some signs your...
23/11/2025

Sleep isn’t just about how long they stay in bed it’s also about how they function the next day.

Here are some signs your child had restorative, quality sleep:
✅ Wakes happy and calm
✅ Fewer mood swings
✅ More flexible and cooperative
✅ Plays creatively and independently
✅ Can focus longer on tasks
✅ Solves problems with less frustration
✅ Speech and communication feel clearer
✅ Less clingy, more confident
✅ Appetite is stable (not overly hungry or picky)
✅ Moves through the day with better coordination

These are subtle (but powerful) clues their brain and body got what they needed overnight. 🧠💤

If you’re not seeing many of these right now, you’re not alone and small changes to sleep timing, environment, or rhythm can help.

Save this checklist to use as a daily guide. And let me know: which signs are strongest for your child?

REM sleep might look like a quiet brain but it’s actually one of the most active times for memory building and brain dev...
21/11/2025

REM sleep might look like a quiet brain but it’s actually one of the most active times for memory building and brain development.

🌙 During REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, your baby’s brain is processing emotional experiences, learning patterns, and sensory input from the day. It’s like overnight filing for everything they’ve absorbed.

👶 For babies and toddlers, this is especially important. Their brains are growing rapidly, and REM sleep helps consolidate everything from visual tracking to language exposure and social interactions.

🧠 Research shows that infants spend more time in REM sleep than adults because their brains are literally shaping structure and function every night.

💤 Protecting overnight sleep and ensuring naps are long enough to allow full sleep cycles gives their brain time to do this essential work.

Whether it’s a new sound, a face, or a skill REM sleep helps it stick.

Save if your child is in a big learning phase. Sleep is their brain’s best teacher!

Ever heard of sleep spindles? These tiny bursts of brainwave activity occur during stage 2 of non-REM sleep and they’re ...
21/11/2025

Ever heard of sleep spindles? These tiny bursts of brainwave activity occur during stage 2 of non-REM sleep and they’re crucial for memory, learning, and brain development.

🧠 Spindles act like the brain’s highlighters: helping it decide what information to keep, strengthen, and store.

✨ Fascinating fact: The more your child engages in new learning (like crawling, babbling, or problem-solving), the more spindles their brain produces that night. It’s how their brain locks in the day’s progress.

💤 Sleep isn’t just rest. It’s when real growth happens, especially in the early years when spindle activity is at its peak.

🌙 Nurturing healthy, uninterrupted sleep supports this natural process. And when sleep is fragmented or too short, spindle activity can be reduced, affecting how well children retain and build on new skills.

Save this if you’re supporting your little one’s learning leaps!

If your kiddo is “holding on” during the day, you’re not alone — and it’s more common than many families realise.Kids of...
19/11/2025

If your kiddo is “holding on” during the day, you’re not alone — and it’s more common than many families realise.

Kids often ignore their bladder signals because they’re busy, distracted, worried about missing out, or unsure about using certain toilets (especially at school).

Over time, holding can lead to:
🚽 Urgency
💧 Leaks or damp un**es
🦠 Higher risk of urinary infections
💥 Bladder overactivity

Signs your child might be holding include:
👣 Standing on tiptoes
🤸‍♀️ Jiggling or doing “the wee dance”
🖐 Hand between legs
🪑 Sitting in unusual postures to keep urine in

A simple step to help:
✨ Regular, relaxed toilet opportunities every few hours — without rushing or pressure.
This supports healthy bladder emptying and reduces accidents over time.

Bladders thrive on rhythm and predictability, just like kids do.

Sleep isn’t just rest - it’s emotional reset. During deep (non-REM) sleep, the brain processes the day’s experiences, re...
19/11/2025

Sleep isn’t just rest - it’s emotional reset. During deep (non-REM) sleep, the brain processes the day’s experiences, restores regulation circuits, and strengthens the pathways kiddos use to manage frustration, transitions, and big feelings.

Research shows that poor sleep is linked to increased irritability, impulsivity, and mood swings in young children.

If your toddler’s emotions feel “extra big” after a rough night, it’s not just your imagination.

😌 A consistent, calming bedtime routine supports healthy sleep cycles — and a more emotionally balanced day to follow.

Save this post if you’re navigating toddler tantrums and tears! 💛

Toileting takes time — and that’s ok. 💛Kiddos learn to tune into their body’s signals when toilet time feels calm, predi...
17/11/2025

Toileting takes time — and that’s ok. 💛

Kiddos learn to tune into their body’s signals when toilet time feels calm, predictable, and pressure-free.
Gentle reminders and encouragement help build confidence far better than stress or strict expectations.

Try:
✨ Quiet praise for effort — not just for “success.”
✨ Using a timer or short story to make toilet sits feel relaxed.
✨ Normalising that every child learns in their own time.

When kids feel safe and supported, their bodies can relax — and that’s when real progress happens. 🌱

There’s something powerful about a baby’s tiny hand wrapped around yours. In those quiet, gentle moments, trust is built...
17/11/2025

There’s something powerful about a baby’s tiny hand wrapped around yours. In those quiet, gentle moments, trust is built, safety is felt, and love is silently spoken.

Every touch, every cuddle, every handhold helps your baby feel connected, secure, and calm — laying the foundation for a lifetime of emotional wellbeing. Whether it’s during feeding, snuggles, or just being close, your presence is everything.

You’re their whole world. And that little grip? It’s their way of holding onto you — and all the love that comes with it. 💕

I am all about responsive parenting. From feeding right through to sleep and beyond..

Connection and trust are everything.

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