Possums Clinic Brisbane, Level 1, 144 Indooroopilly Road, Taringa (2025)

22/08/2025

Some babies may be tired for an extended period of time before they’re actually ready to fall asleep. Just like some adults start feeling drowsy (and grumpy!) at 8pm but don’t fall asleep until midnight.

Our little ones can sustain a prolonged period of tiredness before their sleep pressure is actually high enough for them to be ready for sleep.

If you’ve been following us for a while, you will know we regularly talk about the biological drive for sleep— “sleep pressure”. Our little ones can only fall asleep when their sleep pressure is high enough.

So, while our little one may become cranky, irritable and fussy - that doesn’t always mean they’re ready for sleep.

This is why you will never hear us using the term ‘tired signs’ here because in reality, they encourage parents to read their babies’ behaviour through only a sleep lens which can lead us to miss other needs our baby may be communicating.

So next time settling feels impossible, ask:
✔️ Is this a cue for sleep or is it a cue for a need for stimulation (and a chance for adventure?)
✔️ Are they fussing because their sleep pressure simply isn’t high enough and I’m trying to put them down when they aren’t tired enough?

You can experiment with sensory-motor adventures to keep your little one calm until their sleep pressure peaks and their body is ready to naturally drift off to sleep.

Remember, some babies may seem tired long before enough sleep pressure has built up for them to actually fall asleep. Your baby’s brain needs enough biological sleep pressure to truly settle into sleep.

We hope this post helps in some small way. To help us get this information to more parents who need it, we’d love it if you’d SHARE this post to your story, SEND it over to your partner or mum’s group, and don’t forget to SAVE it to come back to later.

19/08/2025

There are many solids products available so let us help you filter through them all (through a Speech Therapists lens!)

HIGH CHAIR: Your tiny little one is going to grow, and grow, and grow some more in their highchair over a good few years to come - and so it needs to grow with them to offer postural support. Foot rests are a must! No one likes eating with dangling feet, and most especially not while learning the art of eating!

BIBS: I love these bibs because they keep shirts (and laps) clean-ish, allow you to scoop up and offer what they tried to save for later, but also allow easily-wipeable-at-the-end-of-mealtime hands and arms to get messy which is all part of the beautiful whole of a baby’s feeding experience.

BOWLS: Suction bowls set little ones up for success in working on one fine motor skill at a time: dipping, then scooping food out of a bowl - and to keep the bowl from cheekily skidding away. Note: silicone is best hand washed to reduce any soapy-flavoured residue from dishwashers.

CUTLERY: Flat and small shaped spoon “bowls” make it easier work for little ones to have success closing their own lips on the spoon and getting food off it! Shorter handles help with their handling success, and to reduce how deep they might put the spoon in their mouth while exploring…while not making it too short that they can’t figure out their own comfortable limits for themselves.

OPEN & STRAW CUPS: When learning how to drink from a straw, narrower gauged straws are important to not flood little ones’s mouths which will result in even more spitting out (and potentially, coughing) to begin with. I’m not in the camp of worrying about cutting off valves… some gentle squeezes on the Take and Toss might just help them get up and away with the concept of it all! Replacement BBox straw kits are also available!

So, we’ve covered the when and what of solids introduction - stay tuned for the HOW!

14/08/2025

You may have heard the term ‘low sleep needs’ and wondered - is this my baby?

Sleep needs are highly variable and it can be really normal for some babies to need HALF THE AMOUNT of sleep as others!

While we can’t change our little one’s hardwired sleep biology (and trying to get them to sleep more is likely to cause ongoing problems), we CAN creatively experiment with different ways to make the days feel as manageable as possible with a little one who simply doesn’t need much sleep (we have both clinical and personal experience in this department!)

So, here are some ideas on how to make the days feel more JOYFUL:

1) It’s really normal to find yourself watching the clock hoping your little one will go to sleep soon - particularly when you’re exhausted, but try not to!

2) Try to let go of tying your little one’s sleep to time for you to get tasks done. Bringing bub along for the ride will actually help to meet their sensory-motor needs!

3) Get really social! Call in the troops! Parenting with others really can make the days feel more manageable!

4) You may consider organising informal or formal childcare or some extra support earlier than planned to factor in some predictable rest time each week.

5) Avoid comparisons with other families.You can’t compare a baby with low sleep needs (or even average sleep needs) to a baby with high sleep needs. Instead, you might like to remind yourself that you can trust that your little one will take the sleep that THEY need - even if it’s a lot LESS than other babies! This helps set realistic expectations.

6) Consider whether it’s possible to organise more help during the day? Only you know what’s possible in your own unique family circumstances!

If you have a little one with low sleep needs, we see you, we (really) get it, and we hope this post helps in some small way. To help us get this information to more parents who need it, we’d love it if you’d SHARE this post to your story, SEND it over to your partner or mum’s group, and don’t forget to SAVE it to come back to later.

13/08/2025

Are you wondering when your little one is ready for solids? Here is everything you need to know!

Another cue often spoken about is waiting for when babies aren’t pushing food out with their tongue…however feeding is a complex sensory-motor skill that requires every single one of their senses AND that develops with practice.

This can take longer for some babies than others - and that’s a-okay - so long as youre little one (and you!) are happy and aren’t stressed or feeling discomfort.

It is important to reach out for support with a speech pathologist or feeding therapist that works with babies and toddlers early if you are feeling stressed or concerned about mealtimes, or your baby is:

🍗Showing signs of discomfort before, during, or after having solids
🍝Coughing, choking or gagging
🍳Falling asleep during solid mealtimes
Not tolerating certain textures

Wanting more on the how and what’s best to buy to have you well equiped? Stay tuned for upcoming posts!

06/08/2025

The mental load of feeding is not just the physical act of the feeding itself - it’s often invisible with the ongoing responsibility of thinking about what needs to be done, planning ahead, and making sure it all happens!

You can get quite creative and think outside of the box but here are some ideas!

Be sure to send this post onto anyone who is supporting you on your journey

04/08/2025

Spacing out feeds doesn’t mean more milk for baby. The biggest factor in total milk transfer? How much milk baby gets per feed - not how far apart the feeds are.

Some feeds will be long, others super short - both are normal and you will likely find the duration between feeds naturally lengthen as they age!

Feeding can also happen on the go - woven into a life filled with sensory motor adventures for your baby and meaningful activity for you!

At night, breastfeeding helps dial babies down - making wake-ups more manageable. Frequent night feeds aren’t bad habits and they’re usually not the cause of sleep issues (instead, generally stemming from sleep regulator disruptions).

We are here to support your family with any feeding concerns to unlock the amazing superpower that is frequent and flexible feeding!

03/08/2025

Looking for reliable resources to support your feeding journey?

Whether you’re pregnant and planning ahead, in the early days of feeding, wanting some reassurance or navigating challenges - we’ve gathered helpful tools and info to guide you!

30/07/2025

Ever wondered if a dream feed could help your baby (and you!) sleep longer?

While dream feeds won’t resolve excessive night waking, gently offering a feed before you go to bed can be worth experimenting with - but keeping it calm and low-pressure is the way to go!

28/07/2025

Postpartum exercise significantly influences maternal mental health outcomes, as found in a large systematic review from 2024.

The study found that, if commenced prior to 12 weeks postpartum, it reduces:
- The severity of postpartum depression by 45%
- The severity of postpartum anxiety by 45%
- The likelihood of developing postpartum depression by 45%

Yes, you read that right…45%!!!

This study is particularly valuable for many reasons but particularly because:
- 45% is such a considerable statistic in treating and reducing adverse mental health outcomes
- It’s achievable for most families - only 80 mins of brisk exercise across a whole week! You could break that into whatever works best for you (eg. 4 x 20 minute walks)
- You could bring your baby along (eg. on a walk in the pram or carrier) which we know can dial your little one down by contributing to their sensory motor nourishment

It’s important to think how this may work best for you, considering the context of your individual postpartum journey and physical recovery, while also focussing on what feels enjoyable!

24/07/2025

You’ve done the feed, the cuddle, the rocking… but they’re still not asleep!
“They’re fighting it!” - sound familiar?

But here’s the thing: babies and toddlers don’t actually fight sleep.

It’s all about working with sleep pressure — when it’s high enough, drifting off is easy. If they’re not nodding off, it’s more likely that they’re just not tired enough yet.

So next time you’re stuck in the “they’re fighting it” spiral, try moving on and sleep will come easier, later!

Possums Clinic Brisbane

22/08/2025

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