Free Resources - Just chill baby sleep

There are some fabulous free resources out there to support you in your parenting journey, here are a few of our favourites:|

The Lullaby Trust – They do amazing work to provide expert advice on safer sleep for babies and raise awareness of sudden infant death syndrome

NHS Start4Life – NHS guidance and advice for pregnancy, babies and toddlers – from weaning to activities

NHS – A trusted source of information for you and your whole family, covering all aspects of your health and wellbeing

British Red Cross First Aid – A go to resource for First Aid information, includes a wealth of online material and guidance for courses

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We can do better... #blackouttuesday 🖤

We can do better... #blackouttuesday 🖤

Hello you lovely lot. Isn't this phrase just the t

Hello you lovely lot. Isn't this phrase just the truth? Motherhood is the best thing in the whole world, but also the hardest at times.⠀
You know what I think?! I think we are allowed to moan sometimes without someone telling us we should do it differently. Sometimes its just helpful to share. I love that my page is a little community - being here, you are not alone, and it’s the right place to come for guidance (if you want it!) ⠀
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Those who are new to Just Chill Baby Sleep I wanted to wish you a warm welcome but also let you know how you can get sleep support from us:⠀
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❤️YouTube - check it out! Its in my highlights. I have loads of informative videos on there. There's one on dummies coming really soon!⠀
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❤️My regular Q&A's (some of these are saved on highlights)⠀
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❤️Our online courses - self guided, informative, practical guides to help you with sleep (toddler one coming really soon!) ⠀
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❤️1:1 sleep consultations. You can see more info on the 'packages' page on the website. I have myself and two other lovely sleep consultants who can help you with 6 months - 6 years old. ⠀
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Any questions?!!! ⠀

#AD⠀ ⠀ If you only follow one sleep tip from m

#AD⠀
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If you only follow one sleep tip from me, it’s to put in place a great bedtime routine. This video is a little glimpse into our bedtime world at home, to give you an idea of what it could look like for you! My girls have always loved bedtime, it’s such a special time for us.⠀
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Doing things in the same order leading up to bedtime really helps prepare our bodies and our brains for sleep. It also makes our little ones feel safe, loved and secure. (Babies like to know what is coming next!)⠀
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As well as a sleep consultant, I am also a baby massage teacher. When we massage our babies, it releases the love hormone oxytocin, which helps us feel calm and ready for sleep.⠀
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I’m so excited to be working with @johnsonsbabyuk who have come up with a simple 3-step routine that is clinically proven to help your baby fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. I love their bath, massage, cuddles and quiet time advice! You can also use this in advance of nap time – I love a pre-nap wind-down.⠀
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Our top tips!⠀
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💜Give a bath, but don’t make it too long so that it’s overstimulating – around 15 minutes is perfect.⠀
💜 Baby massage! It may only be a few minutes, or little longer- judge it on the baby. Use a gentle but firm touch, in a rhythmic motion with a baby friendly oil such as the JOHNSON’S® Baby Bedtime Oil. Whenever you are massaging the tummy always use a clockwise motion to move with the direction of your baby’s digestive system.⠀
💜Quiet time. This could be a quiet lullaby or reading a book – it’s never too early! If you have a small baby they will love listening to the sound of your voice even if they don’t understand the words.⠀
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As I always say, you are your baby’s expert, so what are your top tips for bedtime? What works for you? We would love to hear! #choosegentle⠀

I love all the time we are spending together as a

I love all the time we are spending together as a family, but some days are so intense. With no school or nursery to rush out for we seem to have found ourselves running on a later schedule. That combined with the warm weather I feel like I'm fighting to get an evening to myself. I love my girls to the moon and back, but I really treasure our evenings. I love their cheeky little laughs, but my god isn't it a relief when you put them to bed and their angelic faces are fast asleep?! ⠀
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We have been working on our toddler course (19 months - 4 years) Its coming really soon I promise! Its really common that this age group test boundaries. You give them an inch and they literally take a mile. Don't be disheartened though, its never too late to work on bedtime boundaries and how they fall asleep. ⠀
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My top tips! ⠀
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🌸Regular routine. Kids thrive on it. ⠀
🌸Cover all bases before bed (drink, wee, story etc), so that any extra requests you can stay firm on! ⠀
🌸Let them choose the story or two bedtime stories that you read - stick to that number too! Giving them some input really helps.⠀
🌸When struggling to get pyjamas on - give them a choice of two pairs, get them involved in what is happening.⠀
🌸Hold hands or cuddle and try some deep breaths together before bed. I love the 'flower breath,' - imagine smelling a beautiful flower, breathe in through the nose and out of the mouth. Stop and smell the roses or daisies or any other flower they imagine. This helps release tension and calms the mind before bed - also really helpful for parents! ⠀
(don't forget to save this post to remember these tips!)⠀
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Who is interested in our new course? Do you have any questions about this age group?

Nature vs nurture..🌍🧠?? ⠀ 👶🏼Here is

Nature vs nurture..🌍🧠??
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👶🏼Here is my beautiful, delicate flower Daisy a couple of years ago. She was a terrible sleeper early on (that’s how I got into this biz!) …. BUT…. As soon as we worked on her sleep age 6 months, slap, bang, it was sorted, there was no looking back. We never had any ‘blips’ with her. She has always loved being in bed, she has already started telling me she wants to be left alone to have a lay in, haha.⠀
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👶🏼I would classify her as a sensitive baby (she never wanted to leave my side), but she responded SO well to ‘sleep teaching.’ It was like she was born to sleep well, but somehow we had missed the boat. All the things I was doing to ‘help’ her sleep, were actually stopping her. Endless walks trying to get her to nap, but actually she wasn’t ready (I was waaaaay off with her awake windows)… I used to rock her and she would literally punch and push me away, (she was basically telling me to stop!)…⠀
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👶🏼Lola is an extrovert – fiercely independent, sociable, cheerful, happy to meet new people… BUT she is the one with whom we experienced ‘sleep blips.’ We have been through a few periods in her life where sleep has taken a turn for the worse, but we have always got back on track. She was the one who launched herself out of her cot super early (Daisy, it didn’t ever cross her mind)! ⠀
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👶🏼The evidence tells us that some babies are more likely to ‘signal,’ to us than others. I.e call out to us between sleep cycles…. BUT I believe we can work with biology. I think ALL sleep can be improved, it’s just that some babies are born with a pre-disposition to be more likely to get themselves back to sleep. Don’t assume that a ‘sensitive baby’ is unteachable, and don’t assume that an outgoing ‘easy’ baby won’t have sleep blips. And of course, there are our own personalities to throw into the mix! Let’s work with what we have!⠀
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❓❓❓Is your baby sensitive or outgoing? Do you think it’s nature or nurture that makes a good sleeper?

I’m going to let you into a little secret though

I’m going to let you into a little secret though…. If your baby is content and seemingly comfortable after a feed, you don’t necessarily need to do anything. They all get wind (we are all humans and it happens to us all!), but some babies suffer more with wind than others, and in some cases it can effect sleep quality.⠀
If your baby is unsettled or in pain from wind, here are my tops tips:⠀
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💨1. My absolute top (not so secret now) tip is…. The side tilt! Basically you gently tilt them onto their LEFT side. The reason this is helpful is because the opening of the stomach is slightly over to the right-hand side… therefore this helps release trapped wind at the top of the stomach. You can also focus on the left-hand side of baby’s back if you are gently rubbing it.⠀
💨2. If your baby has reflux, avoid any winding positions where there is direct pressure on the stomach, or where their stomach is in a folded position (its more likely to make them sick) – try to keep their bodies in a straight line.⠀
💨3. Don’t bother with gripe water – it is a very old-fashioned remedy and in my experience really doesn’t help (it’s just flavoured water I am afraid).⠀
💨4. Baby sling/carrier – these are so helpful for windy babies who have fallen asleep on a feed. Carrying baby upright against your body keeps their digestive system straight, calms them, and can dislodge a burp with minimal handling.⠀
💨5. Baby massage! You may know I am qualified to teach it (we have a section in our 0-5 months course!) Massage your little one’s tummy in a clockwise direction – to follow the digestive system and release wind.⠀
💨6. In MOST cases when BF your diet is unlikely to be the cause of wind. There are always some exceptions though (allergy/intolerance). Always seek medical advice if your baby has other symptoms that are concerning you.⠀
💨 7. Listen to YOUR baby. They are all different and need different levels of intervention. Don’t be worried that your friend’s baby brings up loads of wind and yours doesn’t. We don’t get an exam in winding at the end of parenthood 😉⠀ ⠀
❓❓❓Does your little one suffer from wind? What helps you? Please share x

🌼It’s time to talk about gut health! Since ha

🌼It’s time to talk about gut health! Since having babies I have always taken a live bacteria supplement, and have given them to my girls since they were tiny.⠀
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🌼A live bacteria supplement (friendly bacteria,) can help maintain a healthy, balanced digestive system. In my experience some babies suffer sleep disturbances due to constipation, diarrhoea and wind. This is where baby massage is really helpful, but I have always relied on a live bacteria supplement too!⠀
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🌼Bio-Kult Infantis includes all important Vitamin D3, (from birth all breastfed babies should have a vitamin D supplement, if formula fed, they only need one if they are drinking less than 500ml per day as formula is fortified). It also contains all important Omega 3 (great if your baby doesn’t eat fish!) It comes in powder form so you can put straight onto the nipple for breastfed babies, or you can mix with milk or put it into food.⠀
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🌼A balanced gut flora can also help support our immune system – this is something I have been thinking about a lot with a possible return to school and nursery coming up. We want to support our immune systems so they can function at their best. Reducing stress, taking regular exercise and having a healthy gut can keep our immune systems working well.⠀
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🌼I always like to fact check the products we use and I love that @biokult__uk is backed by clinical research. We have it in our yoghurt with breakfast, (Dan and I have the adult version).⠀
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**If you or your child have any medical conditions please consult your doctor before taking any food supplement**⠀
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❓Have you tried a live bacteria supplement for you or your little one? I would love to know if this has helped with sleep! ⠀ ⠀
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#ad #biokult #guthealth #infantis #whatsyourgutfeeling

Need I say more?! In all seriousness, we do need t

Need I say more?! In all seriousness, we do need to make sure that our kids are getting enough physical activity in order to be able to sleep well at night. It’s been really challenging for everyone during lockdown.
Top tips to wear them out:

1) when you go for a walk and baby is of walking age make sure they get out of the buggy for a bit!
2) creating a ‘baby obstacle course’ at home is great exercise!! For older kids building a den is good too.
3) dance, dance, dance! Get some of your favourite music on and dance it out.
4) I love baby yoga, and kids yoga. There is quite a bit out there. (It would actually be great if you could tag online kids / baby yoga resources that you’ve found). I hope you all survived today 🥴🤪❤️
Tag your mama friends 😂

Loads of love xx

Throwback .... Ibiza last year. ❤️ I wish I wa

Throwback .... Ibiza last year. ❤️ I wish I was there.
I don’t look like this currently.
Lockdown + a miscarriage and general weirdness of the world has resulted in me moving less and eating more. I’ve put on weight.
I want to assure you that this is normal. There might be loads of people out there who now have pots of time to work on fitness, but the reality is that most of us at home with kids don’t. There are great ways to incorporate exercise into our days, and healthy eating, but right now I think the most important thing to do is to survive, stay as happy as possible - for ourselves and our kids.
Please don’t beat yourself up if you aren’t feeling like yourself. Also, it’s really normal for your body to change after you’ve had a baby. It’s not easy, but embrace your body for the amazing machine that it is - it moves and works and carries us our whole lives. It deserves respect.
Just like sleep, it doesn’t mean you can’t work on it if you want to, but please don’t feel like you are failing if you aren’t jumping out of bed wanting to do a workout.
I also want to address sleep - because it’s linked to everything right?!!! Lack of routine (erm hello?! Yes ours is off!), late nights, tiredness.... it messes with our hunger hormones. Being tired can make you crave stodgy foods, sweet foods etc. I know that with a good routine and getting my days on track helps so much. Late night eating is unlikely going to be a kale smoothie 😂
I think we all need to be a little kinder to ourselves. No-one is perfect, there’s no such thing. No perfect bodies, no perfect parenting.
I can also assure you that when your babies look into your eyes they think you are utterly amazing, the centre of their universe. You are doing a great job!
Has anyone else gained weight? Any tips for moving more during lockdown?

I wish we still had nap-time 😂😂😂😂 I ho

I wish we still had nap-time 😂😂😂😂 I hope you are all coping ok with naps today. I wanted to reassure you that it’s really normal for naps to be suffering as a result of lockdown. Babies and toddlers aren’t necessarily getting as much stimulation or exercise as normal.

My tips to help are:
1.❤️Try to get out for some fresh air/natural light with baby at least once a day.
2.❤️Give your little one some time on the floor. Even small babies need the space to move their limbs around. Also a great opportunity to practice tummy time!
3.❤️For babies on the move create a ‘baby obstacle course’ in your home. This could be sofa cushions, other safe things for them to explore. This helps them be physically tired for a nap.
4.❤️Watch for their awake windows and try to work on creating a regular routine for their day.
5.❤️Include a ‘pre-nap wind down.’ Taking them into their room, a cuddle, a story, drawing the curtains, singing a lullaby. Prepare them for their nap.
6. ❤️Don’t panic if they do a short nap, keep practising on settling and they will get there. Sometimes they only need a short nap.
7. ❤️Don’t worry about them not seeing other people outside your family unit - YOU are the centre of your baby’s universe and they don’t get bored of you.
How are your naps going in lockdown?

Black out!!!! It’s so helpful for all of us when

Black out!!!! It’s so helpful for all of us when we sleep, but especially little ones fighting sleep at bedtime and waking up super early. Melatonin our sleep hormone is released in our pineal gland in response to darkness. It’s very clever and has the nickname - the ‘Vampire hormone!’
I’ve had SO many of you asking about black out blinds since my Q&A Stories last night and so many of you have recommended products to me, too many to share.
I would love it if you could share your favourite black out solutions on this post for everyone to see.
Thank you so much!
My cheap and cheerful solution is tin foil - any other ideas? Share away guys! And save this post so you don’t forget x ( this is Daisy when she was little with her fave @jellycat_official, and spare behind her!haha)

Last night’s announcement sent me into a bit of

Last night’s announcement sent me into a bit of a spin, but I’ve calmed down today. Letting yourself feel is good. It’s ok to get upset. It’s ok to get angry. I think as most of us do, I would love some clarity to know how we move forward in a safe way.
For now, it’s pretty much more of the same. Working from home with two lovely little people by my side (and Dan! 🤣)
We have found a balance. It’s kind of working... for now.
BUT I’m longing for my own space right now. Im fantasising about a whole day to myself. I think it’s what I’ve struggled with the most during this lockdown period. Space to think, to breathe, to let the creative juices flow!

My personal targets for this week are:

1. Make sure we read with the kids everyday.
2. Follow my own advice with sleep and cut my screen time before bed! I’m an absolute terror for scrolling in bed ! (I know 😳🤭)
3. Don’t go mad.
4. Stay alive.😂 .
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What have you struggled with most?
What are your goals for this week?

As we reach the end of #maternalmentalhealthweek I

As we reach the end of #maternalmentalhealthweek I wanted to share this post.
I remember this day so clearly. This is me with my first baby, Daisy. She had a sickness bug here and we had been watching Peppa Pig for hours. It was a heatwave too so we were boiling hot, but all she wanted to do was lay on mama.
It’s hard sometimes, for all of us. We have the ups and downs, it’s so true. Nothing seems to be linear with parenting. You feel like you’ve nailed it and then something throws a spanner in the works.
We give all of ourselves for our children, and rightly so, BUT we need to leave a little for ourselves. You matter too.
You can be grateful for your baby and still suffer from sadness, anxiety, depression and sometimes more serious issues.

Sleep deprivation plays a big part in maternal mental health. Having a baby is a big life event. It can be such a shock to us, in every way. It is normal to not feel happy all the time.
If you are finding things difficult, it is important to know that having these feelings is not your fault. Always ask for help or support if you are struggling.
Your GP or health visitor is a good starting point, or emergency services for very urgent life saving help.
There are several charities who provide support. I’m tagging them in this post. You are not alone, you are not failing.
@pandas_uk @mindcharity @homestartuk @family_action @samaritanscharity ❤️
If you know any other resources to help those reading please leave them in the comments.
Thank you x

I think many of you reading this will have had som

I think many of you reading this will have had someone say this, or very similar to you at some point. 🍏Its National Weaning Week this week, which has got me thinking all about the relationship between starting solids and how our babies sleep. I'm often asked if weaning will help with sleep, but its not a straight forward answer. I have written a blog on this which you can find on our website, and in my stories.
🍏The UK's department of health (DoH) recommends introducing solids around the age of 6 months. The key point here is 'around the age of.' We should be looking for signs that our babies are ready (holding their head steady, good eye-hand coordination, absence of the tongue thrust).... We shouldn’t be introducing solids before 17 weeks, and definitely not with the hope of it improving sleep (if you are ever unsure always ask an expert!) Sleep is a complex system - there are so many reasons that a baby will wake during the night, aside from hunger. Too hot, too cold, dirty nappy, wanting a cuddle, stirring between sleep cycles, the list goes on. There is a common misconception that if we 'fill babies up,' that they will sleep longer and deeper. In fact, overloading the digestive system often results in the opposite effect...
.🍏Some babies naturally ‘sleep through’ quite early, long before they have started solids, and many take a lot longer.
.🍏Milk and solids feeds are intrinsically linked to sleep, but rarely the cause of very disturbed nights. There are occasions where I’ve seen older babies, ready to start solids whose sleep has benefited from starting, but on the whole it is down to the other factors involved (the key is that they are ALL different). You are their expert, but if you want to learn more about how babies sleep, our online courses or free material might be a good place to start. So next time your auntie or neighbour tells you that weaning is the magic pill to make your baby sleep just smile, nod and tell them you are doing just fine. Mama knows best ❤️.
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🍏Did starting solids improve your baby's sleep? Have you been told to start and you feel your baby isn't ready?

NOW CLOSED 📵
It’s COMPETITION time!!!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 It’s high time I did another give away....😁 I’m offering the chance to speak to me 1:1 about your sleep struggles. .
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WIN a 30 minute call with me.
To ENTER:
🤞🏼Follow me
🤞🏼Like this post
🤞🏼Tag a friend (the more you tag the more entries!)
🤞🏼Comment with your baby’s age & brief description of your issue..
🤞🏼SHARE on your stories and tag me for a bonus entry. .
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Winner will be announced Sunday the 10th of May.🥳
*this competition is by no means endorsed or sponsored by Instagram *

Good luck! 🍀

My life right now. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a

My life right now. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a terrible and very difficult time for so many, but it doesn’t mean your struggle is any less valid.
I seem to spend a lot of time searching for really specific things 🤣🤪🙃
My marbles being one of them..... I’m so looking forward to some sort of normal when the time comes. 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼 Lots of love to all of you!!💞

Are you thinking about taking one of our courses?

Are you thinking about taking one of our courses? Check out this video to get a feel of how they work!
I’m so excited to tell you that our adult sleep course ‘How to sleep better,’ has just launched, this afternoon!! It’s is available to buy via the link in my bio... 🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀 it’s currently at the introductory price of £19.50 until the end of May.
I want to thank amazing @saving_grace_wellbeing & @psywilliamson for contributing ❤️ with their amazing, life changing information..
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All of our courses are packed with information to help you understand sleep and to empower you to solve your sleep challenges. The courses are designed for you to complete at your own pace.
Do you have any questions about how they work? Who is signing up to ‘How to sleep better.’ ?????

You really do deserve to have the life that you wa

You really do deserve to have the life that you want. The sleep that you need. Sleeping well and spending time on improving sleep is not selfish, it’s not decadent. It’s something that we desperately need. Sleep helps us stay healthy. Mental health can be severely impacted by lack of sleep. Relationships suffer, work is impacted, we can feel distracted, frustrated and sometimes numb. We need sleep for our immune system to function at its best, to regulate our appetites, to learn, to focus... the list is endless. But I don’t need to sell you on this stuff right?! We all want more of it, so how do we get it you ask me?!
A plan... a good plan. Actionable ideas... a great routine, and consistency. These things take time. Some of those who have done our sleep courses get instant results but many don’t. It takes time, dedication and some babies just take longer. They might need a more gentle approach - this means taking your sweet time.
Working on adult sleep is the same - we need to really dedicate time to work on creating new habits, to learn how to truly relax and switch off. This is why we are launching our adult sleep course tomorrow ‘How to sleep better.’ I’m really excited to share it with you all.
We have some amazing experts who have contributed:
@saving_grace_wellbeing
@psywilliamson
GP - Dr Robert Davidson
And my team!
Do you struggle with your own sleep?? What’s the most difficult thing? Getting to sleep at night or staying asleep? Maybe you can’t get back to sleep after a night feed?
I would love to hear your thoughts.❤️

Instagram post 18059614612216044

Instagram post 18059614612216044

My kids, like many others, have select hearing....

My kids, like many others, have select hearing.... honestly they caught me eating one of their Easter eggs from the next room! 😂
But when it’s time to tidy up I’m met with sweet silence (or squabbling from the other room and purely just ignoring me). I’m so proud of my girls and how they are dealing with being away from their little mates and being with mum & dad 24/7.
I guess it’s normal to have selective hearing - I actually still think I do this with my own mum thinking about it 😂😂😂😂
(Quote from unknown source)

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