Podcast: Mom and Mind - Highly Sensitive Babies

I’m happy to share my interview with Dr. Kat Kaeni, on her podcast, Mom and Mind. We discussed highly sensitive babies and how best to support them. Listen below!

Show Highlights:

• How proper support in childhood can prevent symptoms of anxiety and depression in adulthood, but lack of support usually means increased symptoms

• What to look for in an infant (keep in mind that these indicators can show up differently):

  • Advancement in speech and language

  • Highly observant

  • Frequent overstimulation, with crying and meltdowns

  • Sensitive skin and frequent rashes

  • Prone to allergies and food sensitivities

  • Sensitivity to detergents and chemicals

  • Aversion to certain food textures and fabric textures

  • Strong reactions to being wet, dirty, and sticky

  • Preferences of adults with softer energy levels

  • Sleep sensitivities

  • Sensitivity to noise and temperature changes

  • Needing to be held a lot

• How we create more stress in the way we label HSP behaviors

• How our sensitivities go down when we are balanced and our needs are met

• How to support mom and baby if they both have HSP tendencies

• The HSP trait: it’s innate, affects 20% of the population, is equal in gender distribution, and 70% of HSP’s are introverts

• Why it’s recommended that HSP’s have 2 hours of alone time each day

• Changing the culture and helping new moms have “down time”

• An infant’s mirror neurons when mom is not balanced

• Recovery times that mom and baby need

• How the brain perceives anxiety---and how deep breathing can help

• Difficulties when mom and baby have the HSP trait

• The roles of sleep, sickness, stress--and how HSP’s are affected

• What can do to prevent overwhelm and overstimulation

• How a non-HSP parent can understand an HSP child

• Why it’s important to work with a good therapist

• The need for reducing and removing self-judgment

• The value of finding your tribe and feeling understood

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Explore other podcast episodes on parenting.

Want to live to your highest potential as an HSP? Do challenges hold you back from using your gifts? Learn how to create healthy boundaries, say no without guilt, get your needs met and feel more connected. The Empowered Highly Sensitive Person. Download your copy now

The following are so many important resources for you that I invite you to check out:

1. Join Julie and your HSP tribe in our new Sensitive-Empowerment Community!

2. Highly Recommended: Don’t miss out! Subscribe to my HSP blog for tools, tips, and support.

3. Read the recommended HSP books

4. Listen to these HSP podcasts

~Julie Bjelland is a Psychotherapist, host of The HSP Podcast, and Founder of the Sensitive Empowerment Community, whose mission is to create a paradigm shift where sensitivity is embraced, valued and honored. Get a free guide to calm your brain, a letter to give your medical and mental health practitioners about high sensitivity and take the Sensitivity Quiz at JulieBjelland.com ❤️🌈❤️ (she/her)