More than 1,000 Australian parents participated in an online survey about their child’s behaviour and development.
The survey revealed that:
- 1 in 3 Australian parents are reluctant to seek advice about their child’s behaviour and development for fear of being judged or seen as a failure.
- Sleep is the biggest concern for almost two thirds of parents (62%) during their baby’s first year.
- 38% of parents with toddlers are concerned about their child’s behaviour such as biting, hitting or tantrums.
- 38% of parents with babies are concerned about their child reaching milestones such as smiling, rolling, sitting up or crawling.
“If parents are concerned about their child’s behaviour, they should call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby. Our maternal child health nurses will be able to provide useful guidance, strategies and support to navigate through this challenging time,” said Dianne Zalitis, Clinical Lead of Pregnancy, Birth and Baby.
“Friends and family are an invaluable source of support for parents – but may not always have the most up-to-date and accurate information to answer the many questions and challenges parents face,” said Ms Zalitis.
“Speaking to a health professional can help provide parents with reassurance about what is typical for a child at various stages of their development, or when it might be appropriate to act on concerns,” said Ms Zalitis.
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby is a free Australian Government service available 7 days a week. Speak to a maternal child health nurse by calling 1800 882 436.