If you've ever wondered why your child snores, breathes through their mouth, or struggles with crowded teeth, this episode is going to be a game-changer.

Jen sits down with Mel Van Schelven — Oral Health Therapist, Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist, and founder of The Face Place to unpack the often-overlooked connection between how our kids chew, breathe, and sleep. Mel shares why the mouth is truly the foundation of so much of our children's health, how our increasingly soft, processed diets are robbing kids of the jaw and airway development they need, and what parents can do right now — starting at the dinner table — to set their little ones up for a lifetime of better health.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why the bones of the mouth are literally the bones of the airway — and why oral function and sleep cannot be separated
• How our ancestors chewed up to four and a half hours a day compared to our modern average of just half an hour, and what that means for our kids' facial development
• The difference between crunchy and chewy foods, and why crackers and pouches aren't cutting it for jaw development
• Why "food before one is just for fun" could be doing more harm than we realise when it comes to chewing development and iron intake
• What Mel actually sees in clinic — from crowded baby teeth and open bites to mouth breathing and fussy eating — and how it all connects back to oral function
• How dummy and thumb sucking habits affect dental development, and the three key factors (intensity, frequency, and duration) that determine how much impact they'll have
• Why taking away a dummy or thumb isn't always the right first step, and when it's actually better to leave the habit alone for now
• The gentle, age-appropriate approach Mel used with her own daughter to navigate thumb sucking — without shame or pressure
• When to seek an assessment and who to see (hint: it's not always your GP or paediatrician)
• Why tongue ties and tonsils are the two most confusing topics Mel sees parents struggling with online — and how to cut through the noise
• The simple audit you can do of your child's diet today to understand whether they're actually getting the chewing practice their developing mouth needs
• Why the dinner table is one of the most powerful tools you have as a parent — for connection, modelling, and oral development

Connect with Mel:

📱 Instagram: @thefaceplace_oht

🌐 Website: thefaceplaceofm.com.au

🎓 Foundations for Growing Faces Masterclass: thefaceplaceofm.com.au/foundations-for-growing-faces-masterclass

Would like to access tailored 1:1 sleep support but don’t know where to start? Jump on a FREE sleep clarity session with Jen here https://sleepthrivegrow.com/

For more information on this topic, head to the show notes: Episode 111 Show Notes

And I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Come and connect with me on Instagram at @sleep_thrive_grow.

And click the +Follow button to never miss an episode. New episodes are released every Tuesday!

To find out more about how I can support you, visit my website here.

Until next time, Thrivers

If your baby wakes up crying after every sleep, it can feel confusing, exhausting, and even like you’re doing something wrong—but the truth is, this behaviour is often completely normal.

In this Baby Bitesize episode, we unpack what’s actually happening beneath those tears, from sleep cycles and body clock misalignment to the powerful role of your response as a parent. You’ll learn why your baby’s reaction isn’t something you need to “fix,” but how small, intentional shifts in your approach—especially around calm, non-urgent responses—can significantly change how your baby experiences waking.

This episode reframes crying not as a problem, but as communication, and empowers you to focus on what you can control: your presence, your energy, and the message of safety you send.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why babies commonly wake up crying and what’s happening biologically
• How sleep cycles and overtiredness can affect your baby’s mood on waking
• The hidden impact of rushing in immediately when your baby wakes
• How your body language and tone shape your baby’s sense of safety
• A simple “pause and respond” approach to reduce waking tears
• What co-regulation looks like during wake-ups (without instantly picking them up)
• How to reinforce the cot as a safe and secure space
• The role of comforters and familiar cues in easing transitions
• Why you can’t control your baby’s reactions—but you can transform your response
• How small changes in your behaviour can lead to big emotional shifts for your baby

Would like to access tailored 1:1 sleep support but don’t know where to start? Jump on a FREE sleep clarity session with Jen here https://sleepthrivegrow.com/

For more information on this topic, head to the show notes: Episode 110 Show Notes

And I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Come and connect with me on Instagram at @sleep_thrive_grow.

And click the +Follow button to never miss an episode. New episodes are released every Tuesday!

To find out more about how I can support you, visit my website here.

Until next time, Thrivers

Even when you’ve slowed down, changed your approach, and feel like you’re doing everything “right,” your baby may still resist sleep—and it’s not because you’ve failed.

In this episode, Jen unpack the powerful role of your baby’s brain and how it predicts sleep based on past experiences, not just what’s happening in the moment. Drawing on insights from neuroscience, this conversation helps you understand why your baby reacts before anything even happens at bedtime, and how both your nervous systems are influencing each other. Most importantly, it reframes sleep struggles not as a behaviour problem, but as a pattern that can gently shift with consistency, safety, and new experiences over time.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why your baby reacts to sleep before anything actually happens
• How the brain uses past experiences to predict and prepare for bedtime
• What “miscuing” looks like and why it’s completely normal
• How your baby’s nervous system responds to previous sleep struggles
• The role your own nervous system plays in bedtime resistance
• Why consistency in how you show up matters more than strict routines
• How to create new, positive sleep associations over time
• Why change doesn’t happen instantly and what to expect instead
• How to shift your mindset from “fixing sleep” to creating safety
• Practical ways to help your baby feel calm, secure, and supported at bedtime

Would like to access tailored 1:1 sleep support but don’t know where to start? Jump on a FREE sleep clarity session with Jen here https://sleepthrivegrow.com/

For more information on this topic, head to the show notes: Episode 109 Show Notes

And I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Come and connect with me on Instagram at @sleep_thrive_grow.

And click the +Follow button to never miss an episode. New episodes are released every Tuesday!

To find out more about how I can support you, visit my website here.

Until next time, Thrivers