Wouldn’t it be amazing to know what to expect, to have tools to deal with the changes, and to have time set aside to understand each other’s needs and feelings?

The Gottman Institute’s research-based Bringing Baby Home workshops prepare couples for life with a baby and help them be the best parenting team possible. In a relaxed and supportive environment, parents learn to strengthen their relationship and foster their baby’s development. They build on what Dr. Gottman and colleagues found is the best predictor of marital adjustment after a new baby arrives: the quality of friendship in the relationship.

When babies grow up in a home with a positive, playful parenting team, they feel safe and nurtured and available to learn. They cry less, they smile more, and their parents’ cooperation helps them to pay better attention during play time so that they get more out of it.

John Gottman describes the Bringing Baby Home program below.

Couples who have participated in the program…

• Were more satisfied in their relationship and were more likely to stay together
• Were better prepared to bring their baby home
• Were more able to work together in family play and in co-parenting, with greater father involvement and more secure father-infant attachment
• Had lower incidence and severity of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.

Benefits for children…

• Had stronger language skills and cognitive scores
• Smiled and laughed more during family play at 3 and 12 months of age

The workshop is best taken before or during pregnancy (preferably second trimester), but it can be taken any time after baby is born. Pre-crawling babies are welcome to face to face sessions.

When should we take the Bringing Baby Home class?

Bringing Baby Home classes are relevant to young couples and families in a variety of life stages—considering parenthood, expecting a baby, or with an infant or toddler at home.

Bringing Baby Home is focused on building rituals of connection that will last the lifetime. It is applicable whether it is your first baby, or you have other children at home. However, the earlier you take the class, the more time and energy you have to practice the material before you need it.

Register your interest to attend a Bringing Baby Home workshop below

Or phone Anne on 0432 99 88 31

The next Starting Strong with the Gottman Bringing Baby Home workshop is on Saturday 16th March at St Hilary’s Church, Kew

If you’re currently pregnant we’d love to know your due date

Contact Well Of Life for a fee schedule. You might also wish to discuss the possibility of rebates from your health insurance provider.

Even before Covid hit, studies on the effectiveness of counselling online or by phone had been conducted… and the good news is that telehealth counselling is just as effective as face-to-face therapy. In fact, there are some significant benefits of online and phone therapy. Not least is ease of access, particularly for those in remote or rural settings. Many clients also reported that benefits from the session transferred more easily to their usual environment when the session had been conducted virtually in that environment. From a practical point of view, many clients also appreciate saving travel time. An additional benefit of telehealth through covid has been continuity of therapy through lockdowns, isolations/quarantine and mild illness.  

At Well Of Life, individual sessions can be conducted either by secure video platform or phone. Couple sessions are conducted by video only. Good internet connection, along with suitable camera and microphone are required.