What were we thinking! promote confidence and reduce distress in parents with a first baby

FAQs

 

What is What Were We Thinking! (WWWT)?

WWWT is an evidence based, face-to-face program designed to promote confident parenting and support emotional wellbeing. The program aims to teach parents of newborns practical skills for settling their baby and ideas to help them adjust to changes in their relationships during the first six months of parenthood.

The content of the program was derived from research evidence, clinical experience and wide consultation with new parents, child and family health nurses, clinical and health psychologists, general practitioners, paediatricians, lactation consultants and parenting educators – all of which was conducted by researchers Professor Jane Fisher and Dr Heather Rowe.

Why were the WWWT app and blog developed?

While in some parts of Australia parents with new babies can take the WWWT program, a one-day group session with trained child and family health nurses, it became obvious that this simply isn’t an option for some people (because of proximity or life with a newborn getting in the way!). In order to share the information of the WWWT program to a wider audience, the blog and app were created. The two free resources are accessible from anywhere, day or night, making them invaluable tools for new parents.

What is the difference between the program, app and blog?

The original format delivers the skills and learning opportunities of the WWWT program face-to-face. Whether this is done in a group setting with a child and family health nurse or via videoconference with a WWWT trained expert, parents with newborns will gain confidence and receive timely reassurance and advice on infant crying and settling techniques along with ways to manage adjustments in the relationship.

The app provides access to the skills and learning opportunities of the WWWT program direct to your mobile device. This useful delivers the WWWT content from anywhere, at any time, for parents on the go.

The blog delivers the skills and learning opportunities of the WWWT program via an interactive online platform. This valuable resource allows users to access, contribute to and learn from WWWT content and expert contributions, from anywhere and at any time.

What makes this blog different from other parenting blogs?

What makes the WWWT blog different from other parenting blogs is that all posts are moderated and checked by a qualified child and family health nurse before they are published. This ensures that what is published is factually accurate, not misleading or offensive, or could cause harm to readers or their infants.

What also makes the blog unique from other parenting blogs is that each entry from a parent blogger is personally responded to by one of our experts (a child and family health nurse trained in the WWWT program). Not only are they able to impart their wisdom and experience to new parents through their responses, they are also able to deliver skills and learning opportunities from the WWWT program directly to the parent blogger.

How trustworthy is the information I find in the app and on the blog?

While there is a risk in new parents turning to online platforms for advice and information on their newborns (anyone can create a website these days, with or without skill or expertise!), new parents can rest assured that all posts are moderated and checked by the WWWT team and, as needed, a qualified child and family health nurse before publication. This ensures that blog content is factually accurate, not misleading or offensive, or could cause harm to readers or their infants.

The face-to-face WWWT program was developed with support from the Australian Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs while the WWWT blog and app were developed by funding from the Australian Government.