Ep 60 Your Baby Isn’t Giving You a Hard Time - They’re Having a Hard Time with Monique Christidis
Conversations with KristiShow Notes
In this episode of Conversations with Kristi, Kristi is joined by Monique Christidis - registered nurse, child health nurse of 30+ years, and founder of BaaBaa Baby - for a grounded, compassionate conversation about infant development, sleep, regulation, and the foundational role of connection from birth.
Monique brings a wealth of clinical expertise alongside deep empathy for parents navigating the often overwhelming early years. Together, Kristi and Monique explore how babies communicate through behaviour, why crying is not manipulation but communication, and how understanding brain development can radically shift the way parents respond to sleep, distress, and big emotions.
This episode gently challenges outdated behaviourist approaches to parenting and sleep, unpacking why concepts like “self-soothing” and “cry it out” can be misunderstood when we don’t fully understand infant brain development. Monique explains how safety, consistency, and presence support a baby’s nervous system - and how regulation always begins with the adult.
Kristi and Monique also discuss the immense pressure placed on modern parents, the loss of the “village”, and how comparison culture and unrealistic expectations can leave parents feeling isolated, guilty, and exhausted. The conversation reinforces that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to parenting - and that learning to trust your intuition is a powerful protective factor for both parents and children.
This is a reassuring, science-informed, and deeply validating episode for parents, carers, and professionals - reminding us that connection, not perfection, is what children need most.
Key Themes Covered
Infant brain development and why the first years are about safety and survival
Why babies cry - and why it’s communication, not manipulation
The role of connection and co-regulation in sleep and emotional development
How outdated parenting narratives can undermine parental intuition
The impact of parental exhaustion, isolation, and comparison culture
Why self-care and regulation in adults directly supports children
Understanding sleep without shame, fear, or rigid rules
Supporting children through distress rather than withdrawing connection
Why there is no “one size fits all” approach to parenting
How early connection builds resilience, confidence, and self-esteem
Why This Conversation Matters
Babies and young children rely entirely on safe, attuned adults to help them regulate, feel secure, and make sense of the world.
When parents are overwhelmed, unsupported, or unsure - often due to conflicting advice or unrealistic expectations - it can erode confidence and connection. This episode reframes parenting through a trauma-informed, developmentally accurate lens, offering reassurance that responding with presence, curiosity, and compassion is not “spoiling” a child - it’s building safety.
By understanding how children’s brains develop and how behaviour communicates need, parents can move away from fear-based approaches and toward connection-led care that supports both child wellbeing and parental mental health.
About Monique Christidis - BaaBaa Baby
Monique Christidis is a registered nurse and child health nurse with over 30 years’ experience supporting families. She is the founder of BaaBaa Baby, a private child health service in Western Australia, where she provides individualised support for families from birth to five years.
Monique specialises in infant development, sleep, emotional regulation, and early attachment, offering practical, compassionate, and evidence-based guidance tailored to each family’s unique needs.
Learn more about Monique and BaaBaa Baby: https://www.baabaababy.com.au Instagram: @baabaababy
Practical Support & Resources
If this episode has raised questions about infant sleep, regulation, or building stronger connection with your child, Kristi offers trauma-informed education and practical resources for parents and carers.
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