Unsettled Infant and Parent Mental Health Masterclasses

Up to 38% of parents report infant sleep problems in the first months of life.

Sleep training (or first wave behavioural approaches) are commonly recommended, but studies show that sleep training does not decrease the frequency of night-waking and exacerbates parental anxiety.

The latest research in neuroscience and attachment psychology demonstrates the importance of responsive care for optimal developmental outcomes.

About 20% of families in the first few months of life report infant crying problems, but most health professionals don’t feel adequately trained to manage this presentation.

Parents of crying babies are at increased risk of postnatal depression, yet receive a great deal of conflicting advice when they seek help, which worsens anxiety.

Cry-fuss problems are not as benign as previously thought but are associated with increased risk of child abuse, premature cessation of breastfeeding, and behavioural and developmental challenges in later childhood.

Importantly, both infant regulatory problems and breastfeeding difficulty have bidirectional relationships with postnatal anxiety and depression and constitute critical modifiable risk factors for maternal mood disorders and later child development problems.

This course helps you:

• apply The Possums Baby and Toddler Sleep Intervention, our internationally groundbreaking method for supporting parents as they create enjoyable nights and days without leaving baby to cry
• apply the 5 domain NDC approach to management of cry-fuss problems
• apply focused strategies from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Self-Compassion Therapy, adapted for time-constrained consultations in the perinatal period
• avoid unnecessary diagnoses and treatments
• understand the underlying research

What's involved?

The NDC Unsettled Infant and Perinatal Mental Health Masterclasses are delivered over a 6-week period throughout the year. They alternate with the NDC Breastfeeding Masterclasses.

You can take up to 12 months to complete the NDC Unsettled Infant and Perinatal Mental Health Masterclasses.

The Masterclasses are held live online (Zoom) at 7 pm AEST on Wednesday nights. You can join flexibly from whenever you register or view the content online.

Register

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