Nurture Parenting

Nurture Parenting Nurture Parenting has created a world class online Nurture Sleep Program from newborn to five years o She has recently relocated back to the North of England.
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Nurture Parenting is an infant sleep, toddler behaviour, parent support education service. It was established in February 2011 by Karen Faulkner, a Registered Midwife and Community Specialist Practitioner/Child & Family Health Nurse. Karen emigrated from the UK in 2002 and gathered a heap of experience, skills and qualifications working in Community Health in Melbourne and Sydney. Our Mission
We want to help parents everywhere get more sleep and spread the love. Our Vision
Nurture Parenting wants to challenge and change the current parenting paradigm and treatment models of sleep training and introduce parents to baby sleep learning. And to inspire and provide confidence in all parents to become the best they can be. We help with children from newborn to 5 years old (0-5 years). Our sleep training methods are kind and based in attachment psychology. We believe in conscious parenting.

16/03/2026

.retinsky.mentor 💜🥺
A toddler was screaming on the asphalt in Shibuya district so loud my ears rang, but locals just stepped over him while his mother stood calmly checking her phone.

When I moved to pick him up, she stopped me with an icy stare and said a phrase that sounds like a death sentence to modern care: “Don’t dare. He is currently learning the most important skill in life — handling rejection.”

In Japan, this is the “Gaman” (patience) philosophy. Every time you dance around a screaming child with candy, pleas, or an iPad, you aren’t calming him; you are training him like Pavlov’s dog, firmly cementing the reflex: “Scream = Reward.”

You think you are saving his nerves, but actually you are crippling his psyche. Neurophysiologists confirm: if a child’s brain doesn’t learn to dampen a cortisol spike on its own at age 3, he will “break” at age 20 from the first strict boss or a rejection.

You aren’t raising a beloved son, but a professional terrorist who will manipulate you until old age, until life harshly puts him in his place.

Your pity is poison, and a tantrum is not pain, but a test of your boundaries. The Japanese mother doesn’t ignore; she creates a “container”: she is nearby, she sees, but she DOES NOT INTERFERE until the storm subsides. This is the highest form of love, accessible only to strong adults.

But how do you not snap yourself, and what exactly should you say when a child is convulsing? A tantrum is not extinguished by shouting or bribery, but by a correct algorithm.

I have a 4-step “Anti-Tantrum” strategy that works flawlessly. 👇 It may happen that you snap again tomorrow, so write “AI” in the comments — and I will send you this instruction via DM.

11/03/2026

💜🥺🌳🌲

I used to live for recess as a kid — so naturally, I fell in love with the Danish model… where recess is the whole day 🥰

My son attended a private forest preschool program (still government-subsidized — we paid about €250/month). We chose private because it was a smaller Steiner program, but we loved the public options so much too :). Around 10% of Copenhagen’s preschools are forest schools, fully part of the public system, and we felt so impressed by every one we visited.

The way sign up works is you join a central waitlist for your preferred forest school, and the city allocates spots as they open. Every morning, kids gather at pickup points across the city and take a little bus out to the forest 🧡

07/03/2026

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1️⃣ I spent a year living in Helsinki, watching Finnish parents interact with their children. What struck me wasn’t their warmth or strictness — it was something else entirely. Finnish children are taught something that would horrify most parents elsewhere: they’re encouraged to say “no” to adults. Not rudely. Not aggressively. Just calmly, clearly, without apology.

2️⃣ In most cultures, children learn early that saying “no” to adults is disrespectful. Parents correct it immediately. Teachers frown upon it. Society conditions children to comply, to please, to avoid conflict at all costs. But Finnish parents see it differently. They believe a child who can’t say “no” to adults will struggle to say “no” to peer pressure later.

3️⃣ Here’s how it works. When a Finnish child doesn’t want to hug a relative, parents don’t force it. When they don’t want to share a toy, parents don’t shame them. Instead, they’re taught to use words: “No, I don’t want to right now.” The adult is expected to respect that boundary — even if it feels uncomfortable. Even if it feels “rude.”

4️⃣ By the time these children reach their teenage years, something extraordinary happens. They don’t cave to peer pressure as easily. They don’t say “yes” to things that feel wrong just to avoid disappointing someone. They’ve spent years practicing the skill of setting boundaries — so when it really matters, they already know how to protect themselves.

5️⃣ Finnish educators told me this doesn’t create selfish children. It creates children who understand consent, autonomy, and self-respect. They’re polite — but they’re not people-pleasers. They help others — but they don’t sacrifice their wellbeing to do it. And by adulthood, they’re far less likely to end up in situations they didn’t choose, simply because they couldn’t find the words to say “no.”

👉 Don’t lose my account: — New posts every day
People don’t just read my posts; they start raising children who know their boundaries matter.

03/03/2026

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Little boys often bite, slap or push in rough play because their brains and bodies get flooded with excitement and they don’t yet have the brakes to match their big energy, not because they’re mean or broken.

For many boys this full on play is actually a primary way of connecting, releasing stress and learning limits, but it still needs clear, calm boundaries from adults.

Boys’ brain development is generally a bit delayed compared to girls’, especially in areas that help with impulse control and putting feelings into words, so the body often fires before the thinking and language parts come online.

When their nervous system is revved up by rough play, the stress chemistry and excitement often spill out through sudden big movements like hitting, biting, pushing or crashing into people. For a little boy who is deeply excited or overstimulated, biting or a hard shove is often just his body trying to cope with that internal charge, not a deliberate choice to hurt.

🌟The part you probably didn’t know: boys who hit, slap or kick with friends/family during play do so as a way of bonding and showing affection, not as true aggression. Unfortunately adults often misinterpret this playful physicality as intentional violence, when the underlying intention is usually fun and connection, even if the impact still needs firm boundaries.

💡Protect first and teach second: when biting or unsafe pushing happens, the adult calmly stops the game straight away, moves their body in close, and makes it clear that hurting is not okay. Use simple, firm language and a warm tone (for example, “Ouch, that hurt. I won’t let you bite. If we play rough, we keep teeth and hands gentle”) while physically containing the situation if needed.

I’m putting together a simple guide to help you channel your boy’s high energy so you can actually get through the afternoon witching hour without feeling broken and exhausted.

If you’d like it when it’s ready, comment BOYBRAIN and I’ll share the details as soon as it drops.

“Follow” me as a paeds social worker for more tidbits on child mental health and attachment-led parenting style that grow happy and capable kids 💙

25/02/2026

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Want your toddler to stop having meltdowns?

Start preparing them for what’s coming, instead of surprising them with the next activity.

When you take the time to prepare your kids throughout the day, they know what to expect and can go with the flow.

Kids crave structure and predictability. When they don’t get it, they can get dysregulated and upset. But when they have it, they can work with you instead of melting down.

Here’s how it works:

1. Preparation: Talk to your child about what’s going to happen next. Whether it’s getting ready for a trip to the store, transitioning from playtime to dinner, or preparing for bedtime, let them know what to expect.

2. Environment: Set up a home environment that’s organized and predictable. A space where toys have designated places, routines are clear, and daily activities follow a consistent pattern helps children feel secure.

3. Time: Allow extra time for transitions. Rushing can create stress and frustration for both you and your child. With extra time, you can approach each change with calmness and patience, reducing the likelihood of meltdowns.

By preparing your child, creating a supportive environment, and allowing enough time for transitions, you’ll find that daily tantrums diminish, and your toddler will navigate their day with more ease and joy. It’s all about helping them feel secure and understood, so they can be engaged in what’s happening instead of dysregulated by it!

18/02/2026

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I used to think a child comforting a parent was evidence of emotional intelligence.

But I learned it can also be a sign of emotional responsibility. When we let our kids soothe our distress, even gently, their nervous system can wire a belief: “If I can make Mom happy, I’m safe.”

They’re not just being empathetic, they’re managing the environment. So now I do it differently.

When my child notices I’m sad, I receive their kindness… but I separate caring from fixing: “I’m having big feelings, but I’m taking care of them. Thank you for noticing. What about you, how are you?”

Then I regulate with tools that belong to me, a walk, music, breathing, calling a friend. And the shift has been huge:
my child relaxes, stops monitoring my face, and starts sharing their own emotions instead of holding mine.

This isn’t about hiding feelings, it’s about showing kids that adults have adult tools.

✨Here’s how that sounds at different ages:✨

🧡4–7:
“Mom’s having big feelings, but I’m taking care of them. It’s not your job to fix it. Want to build something?”
🧡8–12:
“I’m stressed about grown-up things, and I’m handling it. You don’t need to worry or solve it. How’s your day?”
🧡Teen:
“I appreciate you noticing. I’m working through it in my journal and talking to Dad later. You don’t need to manage it.
How are YOU feeling?”

Kids can be compassionate without feeling responsible. That’s the boundary that protects their nervous system.

Were you a child who was responsible for an adults feelings? How did it make you feel? 🫶

I’ve grown this account from 200 to almost 10k in 2 months, comment ‘GUIDE’ if you want to learn how I did it!

16/02/2026

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1. In Swiss schools, teachers start the day with one simple routine: a 90-second emotional check-in. It’s not a talk and not “share your feelings.” Each teen just marks their current state — with a gesture, a card, or a single word.

⚽️ Once an emotion is named, it stops looking for someone to explode on.

2. Teachers use these 90 seconds to spot what’s hidden: who is tense, who is overwhelmed, who is agitated. A teen who is “boiling inside” becomes visible before they take it out on someone weaker.

⚽️ It’s easier to defuse a storm before it becomes a conflict.

3. The key detail is that teens know their state will be noticed, but not mocked. This breaks the core mechanic of bullying: the aggressor loses ground because the teacher has already seen the tension and is watching.

⚽️ Bullying thrives in silence, not in attention.

4. In those 90 seconds, teachers adjust seating, pairings, and tasks to avoid collisions between tense teens. It sounds small, but these micro-shifts eliminate most spikes of aggression.

⚽️ The right pairings solve more problems than lectures about kindness.

5. And the most important part: the teen feels that their inner world matters. When a person feels seen, they don’t need to assert themselves by hurting someone else.
⚽️ Respect begins where attention appears.

👉 Bullying doesn’t disappear on its own — the environment that feeds it disappears.

✨ Follow for more — I break down the systems and daily habits that actually change teen behavior, not just sound good on paper.

mancityfc bullyingatschool

10/02/2026

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1. A child psychologist who’s treated over 3,000 kids in the last decade said what no parenting influencer will: children raised with zero consequences, endless validation, and negotiation for everything are collapsing the moment life says “no.” She calls them “emotionally incapable” — terrified of discomfort, failure, and any authority that won’t bend.

2. Here’s what she sees daily: 19-year-olds having panic attacks over minor criticism. College students calling parents to fight their battles with professors. Young adults who’ve never been told “you’re wrong” now crumbling in workplaces that don’t care about their feelings. This isn’t mental health awareness — it’s weaponized fragility.

3. The brutal truth: parents who refuse to discipline aren’t raising confident kids — they’re raising tyrants who can’t handle a world that won’t worship them. Real confidence comes from surviving consequences and learning limits exist. Fake confidence comes from participation trophies and parents who treat boundaries like abuse.

4. She said the saddest part is parents know it’s failing. They watch their teenagers manipulate them, throw tantrums at 16, and demand everything while contributing nothing. But they’re too terrified of being called “toxic” to actually parent. So they enable and call it love.

5. One camp defends gentle parenting as evolution and believes any form of discipline damages children while producing adults who can’t function without external validation. The other knows respect is earned through structure and consequences, not endless coddling. One group raises children who collapse under pressure. The other raises adults who withstand anything. What will your kid do the first time someone tells them “no”?

👉 I drop insights daily. 97% scroll & stay stuck. 3% follow & level up. Choose!

07/02/2026

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1. She said the red flag isn’t crying, aggression, or shyness — it’s when a child never initiates. Not play, not questions, not choices. “If a five-year-old waits for adults to start everything,” she said, “the world will shape them instead of them shaping the world.”

2. A child-development researcher explained why: at 5, the brain builds its initiative circuitry — the part that says “I’ll start,” “I’ll try,” “I’ll go first.” If a child always waits for permission, the brain wires for reactivity, not agency. Later in life this shows up as hesitation, people-pleasing, and fear of taking opportunities.

3. The teacher gave a brutal example: two boys were equally intelligent. One always asked, “Can I draw?” The other simply began. Ten years later, the first boy avoided difficult tasks unless instructed; the second took leadership without being asked. Same IQ — different wiring.

4. She said parents accidentally train the “wait” reflex by over-directing: “Sit here,” “Do this,” “Not like that,” “Let me help.” The child stops initiating because initiation gets interrupted. “When a child learns adults will take over, they retire early,” she said.

5. Her fix is shockingly simple and works instantly: Give a 5-year-old one daily moment where they choose the start. “Where should we sit?” “What should we draw?” “You decide the first step.” The brain expands the circuitry of agency through tiny acts of choosing. Initiation isn’t a personality trait — it’s a muscle. If they don’t use it at 5, they’ll chase permission for decades.

‼️ Drop «family» in the comments, and I’ll show you how to rebuild a child’s inner drive so their day stops revolving around waiting, how their confidence grows through tiny choices without pushing them, and how their initiative starts showing up naturally with no pressure on anyone at home.

03/02/2026

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a This common “comfort” phrase is actually shutting your child down

When your child is upset, it’s natural to want to help them feel better fast. But phrases like “You’ll be fine”—though well-meaning—can make them feel like their emotions don’t matter.

Instead, use words that show empathy, validate their feelings, and help them build emotional resilience:

1️⃣ “It’s okay to feel upset right now. I’m here with you.”
2️⃣ “This feels hard, but you’re stronger than you think.”
3️⃣ “Let’s take a deep breath together and figure out our next step.”
4️⃣ “It’s normal to feel this way. Tell me more about what’s on your mind.”
5️⃣ “You’ve handled tough things before. What do you need from me to help this time?”

When we change our words, we’re not just calming them in the moment—we’re teaching skills they’ll carry for a lifetime.

✨ Want more practical, heart-centered ways to build your child’s emotional resilience? Follow for daily tips and strategies.

growthmindset emotionalresilience mentalhealthmatters parentingsupport childdevelopment

30/01/2026

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1. At 13, Swedish girls aren’t lectured about morality or “being modest.” They’re taught boundaries — clearly, directly, without shame. “Your body isn’t a thank-you.” “You don’t owe anyone for their attention.” They learn to say “no” without excuses. Meanwhile, in many other countries, “I just don’t want to” is still seen as rude. By adulthood, Swedish women live in their bodies — ours often live despite them.
2. Schools give them tools for self-protection: role-plays, open talks, and support when they choose not to be “nice.” A girl who says “don’t touch me” isn’t scolded — she’s praised. That rewires something deep: self-preservation stops being defiance and becomes instinct. Confidence isn’t learned later — it’s built into the nervous system.
3. A psychologist once told a story about a Swedish exchange student who refused to hug everyone at a party. She calmly said, “I’m not comfortable with that.” The room froze. She didn’t flinch. For her, comfort isn’t a privilege — it’s a baseline. That’s the difference: she grew up knowing that respecting her limits isn’t rebellion — it’s normal. And that kind of permission is priceless.
4. The biggest shift is shame. In many places, “no” means coldness or arrogance. In Sweden, it means honesty. That single difference shapes everything — relationships, careers, friendships. A woman practicing self-consent since 14 doesn’t build from fear or duty. She builds from choice.
5. The real divide isn’t geography — it’s body memory. Their bodies remember: you have a right. Ours remember: don’t upset anyone. That fracture ripples into adulthood — how we love, speak up, and protect ourselves. A woman’s future isn’t defined by success, but by whether she still feels safe in her own skin.

Did anyone ever tell you — you have the right to boundaries, not just silence?

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Our Story

Are you looking for support with your baby or toddler sleep and behaviour issues? Our approach is unique, focused on baby sleep learning® rather than sleep training. My methods are cue-based and gentle with no controlled crying or cry it out. Most of all, they proven to work. Everything we do combines evidence-based research, formal medical training and Karen’s 30 years of practice.

You can access my baby sleep expertise via my the online Nurture Sleep Program https://nurtureparenting.com.au/nurture-sleep-program/

Nurture Parenting was founded in 2011 by Karen Faulkner, a Registered Midwife, Child & Family Health Nurse, Registered Baby Sleep Consultant and hold a degree in Psychology. In 2002 she emigrated from the UK to Australia and gained extensive experience and skills working in Community Health in Melbourne and Sydney.

Our passion is helping families through what we know can be a very challenging and emotional time.