-1.JPG?itok=-TtYnEZB "Remember to have fun with your new baby.")
Baby Triple P to help first-time parents
Helping new parents give their babies the best start in life is the focus of a program developed by 宅男导航’s world-renowned Triple P – Positive Parenting Program.
宅男导航 Triple P founder and Parenting and Family Support Centre Director Professor Matt Sanders said the program responded to a clear need in the community.
“We found 85 per cent of parents of a three-month-old were not confident they were doing the right thing for the health and wellbeing of their baby,’’ he said.
Baby Triple P provides practical ideas and ongoing support to help first-time parents deal with everyday situations that can lead to parenting stress.
The program teaches parents a variety of skills such as settling and helping babies sleep, interpreting babies’ cues, learning to promote babies’ development and how to recognise developmental milestones.
Baby Triple P will be available exclusively through 宅男导航’s Parenting and Family Support Centre clinic while it undergoes further research and evaluation.
Professor Sanders said Baby Triple P built on the proven strategies of the Triple P - Positive Parenting Program, which is now used in 25 countries and fosters realistic expectations about infant behaviour and development.
Program developer Dr Carmen Spry said Baby Triple P would help parents teach their babies new skills, such as learning to sleep independently, learning to feed themselves and learning to crawl or walk.
“Crawling and walking are obviously things that come naturally but what we can teach parents is how they can create an environment that’s more conducive to that natural skill developing in their child,’’ Dr Spry said.
“For example, a baby who is carried all day long is not going to develop the skills to learn to crawl as quickly as a baby who is put on the floor for regular periods of play time.”
The researchers found a common mistake parents made was devoting everything to the needs of a newborn while neglecting themselves.
“When parents don’t look after themselves and their relationships with others they can become less sensitive to their baby’s needs because they are so worn out,’’ Dr Spry said.
Baby Triple P is an eight-session program that begins on 22 April. It can be done in one full day or spread out over several weeks.
Full dates and times are available .
Top tips for parenting a newborn
- Take care of the relationships with people who are important to you to ensure you have a strong support network of people who can offer practical and emotional support.
- Don’t get caught up in the day-to-day slog. Remember to have fun with your baby.
- Develop a flexible routine so the baby knows what’s going to happen next. Try to do things you do every day at the same time to help the baby settle.
- Take some time out to reflect on how things are going overall. If things aren’t working, try a different approach.
Media: Paddy Hintz, 0431 706 822,
Helen Burdon, 0412 744 437, h.burdon@uq.edu.au.
