The Natural Parent Magazine 59 - Winter 2025 Back Issue

It is often during pregnancy that you experience a shift in the way you think about health, connection and the kind of parent you want to become. Gentle parenting often begins with this mindset. It’s about building a relationship with your child based on respect, empathy and clear, age-appropriate boundaries. Rather than focusing on control or quick discipline, it prioritises connection, emotional safety and understanding your child’s needs. Dr. Laura Markham shares some great advice about turning tough conversations into learning opportunities. She talks about the importance of controlling your own emotions and keeping the conversation safe, explaining that “Starting out on the offensive will only slam shut the doors of communication”. Annaliese Jones talks about the health benefits of magnesium for mums (and the whole family), signs and reasons that your levels might be low, and suggestions for supplementing: “Whether you’re a sleep-deprived, breastfeeding mama running on fumes, a stressed-out partner juggling work and dinner duty, or a growing teen, you will be burning through magnesium like crazy”. Tracy Gillett poses the question: “What if, instead of fighting against our babies’ natural sleep patterns, we understood why they might actually be protecting our children — and supporting our own wellbeing in ways we haven’t considered?”. She explains that when we stop fighting our babies’ natural sleep, we discover that those nighttime moments are opportunities to connect with our babies, meet their needs and realise the profound trust they place in us. Wishing our wonderful readers happiness and good health on your parenting journey. Love from the TNP Team xxx