Sense by Meg Faure: Real Life Parenting

What if one of the most powerful things you can do for your child happens around the dinner table?
In this episode of Sense by Meg, Meg Faure is joined by early childhood educator and parenting expert Sue Atkins to explore why family mealtimes matter far more than we might realise. From language development and emotional connection to building lifelong family rituals, they unpack how everyday moments around the table can help children feel that they belong.
They also discuss the impact of screens on mealtimes, how to navigate resistance when changing established habits, and simple ways to make eating together more enjoyable, from toddlers to teenagers.
No perfect parenting required. Just small, intentional moments that help families reconnect.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN
Why family mealtimes support language, listening, turn-taking, emotional expression and a sense of belonging.

How to introduce shared mealtimes from an early age without creating pressure around food.

What screens can take away from family meals, including conversation, connection and opportunities for children to tune into their hunger.

Practical ways to make mealtimes playful, relaxed and engaging for children of different ages.

How to transition away from screens at the table without turning it into a battle.

Conversation starters that encourage children to share more than a one-word answer about their day.

Why consistent family rituals can help you stay connected to your children, even through the teenage years.

How to build better habits without guilt, perfectionism or a complete family routine overhaul.

CHAPTERS
00:00  Meet Sue Atkins: Parenting, Education and the Moments We Remember
01:37 The Golden Moments of Childhood
03:35 What Screens Take Away from Family Mealtimes
05:36 When Should Children Start Eating with the Family?
06:57 How Small Mealtime Rituals Become Lifelong Memories
09:15 Screens at the Table: What Are Children Missing?
11:51 Making Mealtimes Playful, Social and Enjoyable
12:59 Practical Mealtime Ideas for Babies, Young Children and Teens
15:49 Why Family Meals Matter During the Teenage Years
17:09 Start Small: Why Consistency Beats Perfection
18:10 How to Break the Screen-at-Mealtime Habit
20:01 From Distraction to Connection: Practical Ideas That Work
21:18 Conversation Starters That Get Children Talking
22:51 Sue Atkins' Parenting Resources and the Digital Jungle
24:35 Just One More Snake: Helping Children Navigate Screen Time
27:08 Autoplay, Online Safety and Protecting Childhood
29:00 Mindful Parenting Without the Guilt
29:58 The Takeaway: Be a Real Parent, Not a Perfect One
ABOUT THE GUEST
Sue Atkins is an experienced educator, headteacher and parenting expert with more than 22 years of teaching experience. Passionate about protecting childhood while helping families navigate an increasingly digital world, Sue creates practical resources that help parents turn research and good intentions into everyday action. Her work includes Navigating the Digital Jungle and Just One More Snake, her children's book addressing autoplay and the challenges of screen use.
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗦𝘂𝗲 𝗔𝘁𝗸𝗶𝗻𝘀:LinkedIn | Website | Podcast: Listen to Navigating the Digital Jungle

ABOUT THE SENSE BY MEG PODCAST
Sense by Meg is a weekly podcast for parents who want evidence-based, compassionate guidance. Hosted by OT, author and parenting expert Meg Faure, each episode brings together expert insight and real-world experience to help parents feel informed and supported. The podcast is proudly associated with Parent Sense, the all-in-one parenting app for routines, sleep, nutrition and expert advice.
Parent Sense App: Your all-in-one baby care app for routines, nutrition, and expert advice. ⁠⁠⁠Download it here⁠⁠⁠ and use code SENSE50 for 50% off.⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠

FOLLOW US
Meg Faure 
⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠
Parent Sense 
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In this special episode of the Sense by Meg Faure, Meg takes us behind the scenes of Parent Sense. Why she created it, the problem she set out to solve, and how the business has evolved from a direct-to-parent app into a B2B2C platform reaching parents through employers, healthcare providers, insurers and other trusted partners.

Joined by Tové de Chazal Gant and Ashleigh Bouguenon, Meg explores the gaps in modern parenting support, the idea of “care deserts”, why digital care can help fill the spaces between healthcare appointments, and how Parent Sense measures whether it is genuinely making a difference in parents’ lives.
The team also discusses trust, engagement, preventative care, maternal mental health, employee wellness and the ambitious goal of reaching one million parents.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN
Why Meg first created Parent Sense and the surprising conversation that prompted her to move from books into an app.

What “care deserts” are and why there are huge gaps between formal healthcare touchpoints.

How digital care can support parents between appointments and reach families who struggle to access traditional healthcare.

Why Parent Sense shifted from a direct-to-consumer model to a B2B2C model through trusted organisations.

How partnerships with medical insurers, employers, brands and other organisations can put parenting support directly into parents’ hands.

Why trust and safety are fundamental to Parent Sense.

Which metrics matter when measuring the impact of a parenting support platform.

How engagement data can become meaningful intelligence about parent behaviour, confidence and healthcare needs.

Why supporting parents is a long-term investment and why the benefits aren't always visible in a current financial year's budget.

What Parent Sense hopes to achieve next, including expanding employee wellness support and reaching underserved parents globally.

Meg's North Star goal of reaching one million parents.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Welcome to a very different Sense by Meg episode

00:36 Why Parent Sense needed to exist

02:15 The problem Meg wanted to solve for parents

03:49 What are “care deserts”?

08:21 What does access for all parents really mean?

09:44 From B2C to B2B2C
12:24 Meet Ashleigh: Taking partnerships to the next level

14:00 How partnerships multiply impact
17:22 The trust circle

19:24 How do you measure success?

21:50 From engagement to preventative healthcare

24:13 Turning data into intelligence

27:52 Why isn't every organisation supporting parents?
33:29 Where is Parent Sense going next?
36:09 The A-team behind Parent Sense

ABOUT THE GUESTS
Tové de Chazal Gant is COO & Co-Founder of Parent Sense. She has played a key role in developing Parent Sense's B2B2C model and its partnerships with medical insurers, employers and other organisations. She is passionate about using data and preventative care to improve outcomes for parents and families.
Ashleigh Bouguenon is Client, Operations & Partnerships Lead at Parent Sense. Ashleigh leads partnerships at Parent Sense, working across the business to build collaborations that benefit parents and families. She connects parents with trusted organisations, products, services and experts, while helping partners reach the families who need them most.

ABOUT THE SENSE BY MEG PODCAST
Sense by Meg is a weekly podcast for parents who want evidence-based, compassionate guidance. Hosted by OT, author and parenting expert Meg Faure, each episode brings together expert insight and real-world experience to help parents feel informed and supported. The podcast is proudly associated with Parent Sense, the all-in-one parenting app for routines, sleep, nutrition and expert advice.
Parent Sense App: Your all-in-one baby care app for routines, nutrition, and expert advice. ⁠⁠Download it here⁠⁠ and use code SENSE50 for 50% off.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠

FOLLOW US
Meg Faure 
⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Website⁠⁠
Parent Sense 
⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Website⁠⁠

Same mum. Same home. Same breast milk. So why did one of Dr Nellie Balfour's boys turn away from the breast within weeks, while his little brother won't let go?
The answer has nothing to do with the milk, and everything to do with your baby's sensory personality.
In this episode, Meg Faure catches up with paediatrician and mum of two Dr Nellie Balfour as her second baby, Uyakile, turns three months old. What unfolds is a fascinating look at feeding, development and immunity through the eyes of a doctor who is also living it at home.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN
Why slow-to-warm-up babies often pick the bottle, and why social butterflies may prefer the breast

The ingredient in breast milk your baby can't digest at all, and why scientists now believe it matters so much for gut health and immunity
The "falling in love" milestone around three months, and the simple sign that shows it's happening 
Why bringing two tiny hands together is one of your baby's first calming strategies 
How Nellie's newborn stayed well while his big brother brought every bug home from school
Government vs private vaccine schedules in South Africa: what's actually different, and does the timing change?
Whether you're breastfeeding, bottle feeding or doing a bit of both, this episode will change how you see your baby's choices.
Want to know your baby's sensory personality? Find out on the Parent Sense app. Download it here and use code SENSE50 for 50% off.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Welcome back & meeting Dr Nellie Balfour
01:32 Three months with baby Uyakile
02:23 Combo feeding: breast and bottle
04:02 What are HMOs? Meg explains human milk oligosaccharides and their role in the baby's gut microbiome.
06:43 Why Nellie chose her formula Nellie explains what caught her attention when choosing a formula
07:33 Why some babies prefer the bottle Meg explores feeding preferences through a sensory lens and compares Nellie's two babies.
10:35 Baby milestones at three months Smiling, cooing, eye contact, following and bringing the hands to midline.
12:29 Understanding social-emotional milestones Meg explains the developmental trajectory behind early social connection.
14:48 Falling in love with your baby What happens as babies begin developing preferences for their significant people.
16:22 From connection to communication Meg explains how object permanence, pointing and early social development eventually lay foundations for language.
17:52 Why bringing the hands to midline matters How this movement can become an important calming and soothing strategy.
19:44 Immunity, illness & vaccinations Nellie shares how her baby has managed while his older brother has been exposed to bugs at school.
21:29 Government vs private vaccinations in South Africa Nellie explains the difference between the government EPI schedule and additional private vaccines.

ABOUT THE GUEST
Dr Nellie Balfour is a paediatrician and mother of two. She returns to Sense by Meg Faure for the 6-week update, following her earlier appearances during her pregnancy and the unexpected birth.
Follow ⁠Dr Nellie Balfour on Instagram⁠

ABOUT THE SENSE BY MEG PODCAST
Sense by Meg is a weekly podcast for parents who want evidence-based, compassionate guidance. Hosted by OT, author and parenting expert Meg Faure, each episode brings together expert insight and real-world experience to help parents feel informed and supported. The podcast is proudly associated with Parent Sense, the all-in-one parenting app for routines, sleep, nutrition and expert advice.
Parent Sense App: Your all-in-one baby care app for routines, nutrition, and expert advice. ⁠Download it here⁠ and use code SENSE50 for 50% off.⁠ ⁠

FOLLOW US
Meg Faure 
⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠Website⁠
Parent Sense 
⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠Website⁠

#BabyDevelopment #BabyMilestones #Breastfeeding #ComboFeeding #BottleFeeding #BabyFeeding #BabyHealth #BabyImmunity #Vaccinations #SensoryDevelopment #NewbornBaby #ThreeMonthOldBaby #ParentingPodcast

Sam Smith returns to Sense by Meg Faure to share the next chapter of her extraordinary journey: the birth of her four babies at just over 31 weeks and their first four weeks in the NICU.
Sam shares the emotional reality of her delivery, from her waters breaking in the middle of the night to a C-section involving a team of more than 20 medical professionals, followed by the weeks in the neonatal ICU.
Joining Meg and Sam is Professor Welma Lubbe, a neonatal nursing expert and Parent Sense advisor, who explains how prem babies experience the world through their senses, the importance of skin-to-skin contact and how parents can support their babies as they develop.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN
What happened when Sam’s waters unexpectedly broke at just over 31 weeks pregnant

What a planned C-section for premature quads looks like

What to expect when their babies are admitted to the neonatal ICU

Why the period between birth and being able to hold your baby can be so emotionally difficult

How skin-to-skin contact supports bonding, breastfeeding and regulation

What premature babies need from their sensory environment

Why light, sound, touch, smell and temperature matter so much for prem babies

How parents can recognise signs that their baby is becoming overwhelmed

How smell can be used to create familiarity and comfort in the NICU

How breastfeeding and expressing can work when babies are too premature to feed fully at the breast

What parents can do to prepare prem babies for the transition from tube feeding to breast or bottle feeding

What factors doctors consider before a premature baby is ready to go home

Why parents' confidence and readiness are also important parts of the transition home

CHAPTERS
00:00 Welcome back, Sam
01:04 Meet Professor Welma Lubbe
03:43 The night Sam’s waters broke
05:08 Arriving at hospital and preparing for delivery
07:30 The quads arrive at just over 31 weeks
08:33 Inside the operating theatre: a team of more than 20
13:33 The first days in the NICU
15:30 The emotional experience of not being able to hold your babies
18:22 Skin-to-skin, cuddles and the first breastfeeding attempts
21:55 Sam’s breastfeeding and expressing journey
26:18 Understanding the sensory world of premature babies
27:58 Using smell to comfort and prepare babies for feeding
28:28 Touch, sucking and creating a womb-like environment
30:22 Learning to read your premature baby’s signals
31:46 When illness enters the NICU journey
35:29 The incredible NICU team behind premature babies
39:01 What premature babies need before leaving hospital

ABOUT THE GUEST
Sam Smith
Sam is a Cape Town-based mum mom of five including her quadruplets. She previously joined Sense by Meg to share her pregnancy journey.
Follow Sam Smith on Instagram | ⁠@samsmithofcapetown⁠
Professor Welma Lubbe
Prof Welma is a professor of nursing at the North-West University and a specialist voice in the field of neonates and premature babies. She is also an advisor to the Parent Sense app in the neonatal and premature-baby space.
Follow Prof Welma on LinkedIn

ABOUT THE SENSE BY MEG PODCAST
Sense by Meg is the parenting podcast from occupational therapist, parenting expert and Parent Sense founder Meg Faure.
With more than 20 years of experience in occupational therapy and a special focus on infant regulation, sensory processing, attachment and early relationships, Meg brings together leading experts, researchers and parents to explore the science behind raising happy, healthy and resilient children.
The podcast is part of Parent Sense, a science-backed parenting solution designed to help parents understand their children and feel more confident in their parenting journey.
Parent Sense App: Your all-in-one baby care app for routines, nutrition and expert advice.

Download the Parent Sense app⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code SENSE50 for 50% off.

FOLLOW US
Meg Faure
⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠ ⁠

Parent Sense
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Crawling is about so much more than getting your baby from A to B. In this episode of Sense by Meg Faure, Meg and Parent Sense COO Tové de Chazal Gant dive into why crawling is such an important developmental milestone and why parents shouldn’t be too quick to rush their baby towards walking.
Meg explains how crawling supports muscle tone, vestibular and proprioceptive development, bilateral coordination, fine motor skills, spatial awareness and problem-solving. They also explore how your baby’s sensory personality can influence when and how they crawl, what parents can do to encourage crawling, and what it means if a baby skips crawling altogether.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN
Why crawling is considered a developmental “superfood”

Why the sequence of sitting → crawling → walking matters

When babies typically start crawling

How crawling supports muscle tone, sensory development and coordination

How your baby’s sensory personality can influence crawling

How tummy time prepares babies for crawling

What to do if your baby skips crawling

What parents should know about baby walkers, walking rings and jumpers

How crawling may support later fine motor, spatial and problem-solving skills

Simple ways to encourage your baby to crawl through everyday play

CHAPTERS
00:00 Why is crawling a developmental “superfood”? Meg explains why crawling is much more than a milestone in itself and why so many later developmental skills are built on it.
02:18 Why crawling can be harder than sitting Why crawling is a complex developmental skill
03:42 Why parents shouldn’t rush towards walking Meg explains why crawling deserves more time and attention before your baby gets upright.
06:13 When should babies start crawling? The typical range for crawling and why the sequence of milestones may be more important than the exact age.
07:47 Crawling, the vestibular system and muscle tone How movement stimulates the vestibular system and contributes to the muscle tone babies need to work against gravity.
10:21 Proprioception: your baby’s internal body map How crawling helps babies understand where their body is in space.
12:23 Bilateral integration and brain development Why reciprocal crawling matters for coordinating the two sides of the body.
12:42 Your baby’s sensory personality and crawling How sensory-sensitive, sensory-seeking, slow-to-warm-up and settled babies may approach crawling differently.
16:42 How to encourage your baby to crawl Practical ways parents can adapt the environment and support their baby according to their sensory needs.
19:27 What if your baby skips crawling? Meg explains why some babies go from sitting to walking and what parents can do if crawling is missed.
21:49 Why are more babies skipping crawling? The impact of the Back to Sleep campaign, tummy time and the modern “container culture” on opportunities for movement.
23:50 Baby walkers, walking rings and jumpersMeg shares what parents should consider when using developmental equipment and why movement on the floor matters.
26:20 Can crawling affect later skills?How crawling may support fine motor control, bilateral integration, spatial awareness and problem-solving.

ABOUT THE SENSE BY MEG FURE PODCAST
Sense by Meg is the parenting podcast from occupational therapist, parenting expert and Parent Sense founder Meg Faure.
With more than 20 years of experience in OT and a special focus on infant regulation, sensory processing, attachment and early relationships, Meg brings together leading experts, researchers and parents to explore the science behind raising happy, healthy and resilient children.
The podcast is part of Parent Sense, a science-backed parenting solution designed to help parents understand their children and feel more confident in their parenting journey.
⁠⁠⁠Download the Parent Sense app⁠⁠⁠ and use code SENSE50 for 50% off.

FOLLOW US
Meg Faure
⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠

Parent Sense
⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Website⁠