You may know hay fever as a seasonal annoyance. But its proper name — allergic rhinitis — signals something more significant: chronic inflammation of the nasal airway. In this episode, we look at what allergic rhinitis actually does to a child's development, and how to spot it.In this episode:Why "hay fever" undersells what allergic rhinitis is and doesThe impact on sleep, eating, mood, and regulationSigns and symptoms to look for in your childThe allergic march — how eczema, food reactions, asthma, and enlarged tonsils and adenoids connect to the bigger pictureWork with Mel at The Face Place:Nasal Breathing for Kids free guide: https://www.thefaceplaceofm.com.au/nasal-breathing-for-kids Oral Function Deep Dive: https://www.thefaceplaceofm.com.au/oral-function-consultationsFoundations for Growing Faces Masterclass: https://www.thefaceplaceofm.com.au/foundations-for-growing-faces-masterclassInstagram: @thefaceplace_oht

If your baby had a cow's milk protein reaction and you were told they grew out of it — this episode is worth a listen.This episode's guest is Laila Helena from Oh Healthy Baby, a Naturopath and Nutritionist who specialises in babies and infant gut health. Laila and I dig into a connection that we both see often: the link between early dairy reactions in babies and the enlarged tonsils and adenoids that show up a few years later.In this episode, we cover:What CMPI and CMPA actually are, and why babies are more vulnerableThe gut-immune connection that links early food reactions to later ENT issuesWhat gut repair looks like, and why the early years are so impactfulOther patterns Laila commonly sees alongside dairy reactions and enlarged tonsilsWork with Laila at Oh Healthy Baby: https://ohhealthybaby.com/ | @ohhealthybabyWork with Mel at The Face Place:Free guide written in collab with Laila: Infant Oral Health 101Book an Oral Function Deep Dive: https://www.thefaceplaceofm.com.au/online-oral-health-servicesFoundations for Growing Faces Masterclass: https://www.thefaceplaceofm.com.au/foundations-for-growing-faces-masterclassInstagram: @thefaceplace_oht

You've probably heard that resistive, chewy foods are good for jaw development. That's true — but it's not always that simple. In this episode, we talk about why chewing matters no matter what your child's diet looks like right now, and what you can do to increase their chewing, without changing what's on their plate.In this episode:• What thorough chewing does for digestion • Why chewing is a nervous system regulation tool • Practical strategies: modelling, slowing the meal down, and more• Signs that chewing difficulty might point to something structural worth looking intoWork with Mel at The Face Place:Oral Function Deep Dive: https://www.thefaceplaceofm.com.au/oral-function-consultationsFoundations for Growing Faces Masterclass: https://www.thefaceplaceofm.com.au/foundations-for-growing-faces-masterclassInstagram: @thefaceplace_oht

Tonsils and adenoids are often treated as just an ENT issue. But they can be part of a much bigger picture involving sleep, oral function, and dental development.In this episode, we’re looking at what tonsils and adenoids actually are, why they enlarge, and how to think about them more holistically.In this episode, we cover:What tonsils and adenoids actually areWhen it’s normal for them to grow in childhoodWhy they can become enlargedWhat a more holistic, team-based treatment approach can look likeWork with Mel at The Face Place:Foundations for Growing Faces Masterclass: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thefaceplaceofm.com.au/foundations-for-growing-faces-masterclass ⁠⁠⁠⁠Oral Function Consultations: https://www.thefaceplaceofm.com.au/oral-function-consultations Social media handle: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thefaceplace_oht⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Most people think crowded teeth are just genetic: something to deal with later. Something that ends in braces.In this episode, we’re looking at what crowded teeth actually reflect and why this often starts much earlier than people realise. If you’ve ever been told to “wait and see” or that your child will likely need braces one day, this episode will help you understand what might already be happening now. In this episode, we cover:Why baby teeth are meant to have spaces between them What crowded teeth can tell us about jaw growth The different ways misalignment can show up Why the “wait and see” approach can miss important early signsWork with Mel at The Face Place:Malocclusion Blog: https://www.thefaceplaceofm.com.au/blog/malocclusion-in-children Foundations for Growing Faces Masterclass: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.thefaceplaceofm.com.au/foundations-for-growing-faces-masterclass ⁠⁠⁠Oral Function Consultations: https://www.thefaceplaceofm.com.au/oral-function-consultations Social media handle: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@thefaceplace_oht⁠⁠⁠⁠

Many parents are told that jaw alignment and tooth position only matter once adult teeth arrive. But the foundations for how teeth align later are already being shaped much earlier.In this episode we talk about how breathing patterns, muscle function and jaw growth all work together during the early years.In this episode, we cover:Why baby teeth should have gapsHow breathing patterns influence facial developmentThe relationship between jaw size, airway space and sleep qualityWhy breathing, sleep and dental development should be considered togetherIf you’ve been told to simply “wait until the adult teeth come in,” this episode may help explain why early patterns are still worth paying attention to.Work with Mel at The Face Place:Malocclusion Blog: https://www.thefaceplaceofm.com.au/blog/malocclusion-in-children Foundations for Growing Faces Masterclass: ⁠⁠https://www.thefaceplaceofm.com.au/foundations-for-growing-faces-masterclass ⁠⁠Oral Function Consultations: ⁠⁠https://www.thefaceplaceofm.com.au/oral-function-consultations Social media handle: ⁠⁠⁠@thefaceplace_oht⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, we explore why nasal breathing is foundational to healthy sleep.Concerns around restless sleep, teeth grinding, night waking, and daytime behaviour are some of the most common reasons families come to see me. They are also some of the most misunderstood.Breathing, sleep quality, jaw development, and dental health are deeply connected. Yet they are often discussed in isolation.In this episode, we cover:Why nasal breathing mattersWhat mouth breathing during sleep may signalCommon airway contributors including adenoids, tonsils, congestion, and jaw structureHow facial development influences breathingSleep behaviours to look forWhy poor sleep quality affects regulation and behaviourFACES and SLEEPING SignsWork with Mel at The Face Place:Foundations for Growing Faces Masterclass: ⁠https://www.thefaceplaceofm.com.au/foundations-for-growing-faces-masterclass ⁠Oral Function Consultations: https://www.thefaceplaceofm.com.au/oral-function-consultations Social media handle: ⁠⁠@thefaceplace_oht⁠⁠

Most of the sleep, breathing and oral function concerns I see in older children didn’t begin at five. They began much earlier.In this episode, I’m connecting the dots between early feeding difficulties and later challenges such as:Sleep disordered breathing Mouth breathing Fussy eating Behavioural challenges Crowded teeth We explore why feeding is such a foundational developmental stage, how early patterns can influence growth, and why many signs don’t look connected at the time.Work with Mel at The Face Place:Foundations for Growing Faces Masterclass: https://www.thefaceplaceofm.com.au/foundations-for-growing-faces-masterclass Oral Function Consultations: https://www.thefaceplaceofm.com.au/oral-function-consultations Social media handle: ⁠@thefaceplace_oht⁠

Jaimee Stakelum earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Canberra in 2007 and graduated with distinction in Dental Hygiene from Curtin University in 2010. Jaimee then spent 12 years working as a Registered Dental Hygienist in a specialist orthodontic practice before discovering her passion for Orofacial Myology in 2020. Today, as the owner of Happy Faces Orofacial Myology in Canberra, Jaimee is dedicated to helping clients overcome orofacial dysfunction, supporting their long term health and well-being.We dive into:The impacts of teeth grinding during sleepThe causes of teeth grinding during sleepThe importance of multidisciplinary management Next steps for you or your child Resources:Jaimee’s Teeth Grinding GuidesCircadian KidsDr Max GulhaneWork with Mel at The Face Place:Free downloads: https://www.thefaceplaceofm.com.au/parent-resources Oral Health Consultations: https://www.thefaceplaceofm.com.au/online-oral-health-services Social media handle: @thefaceplace_ohtConnect with Jaimee here: Website: https://www.happyfacesom.com.au/Social media handle: @happyfacesom

Kimberley Howard is an Occupational Therapist and founder of Creativity and Beyond Occupational Therapy based in Mackay, Queensland. She has a strong passion for working with families with young children, finding ways to help get the most out of daily life, strengthen the family unit and build connection with the community. As an Occupational Therapist, Kim understands the lifelong skills that can be acquired through effective therapy and takes pride in offering a high quality service to all families she works with.We dive into:Correct use of the terms neurodiverse, neurodiversity and neurodivergentThe differences between neurotypical and neurodivergent brainsDental experiences for neurodivergent peopleResources:Yellow Lady BugsSGR Occupational TherapyLived Experience EducatorOnwards and Upwards PsychologyNeuro WildNeuroinclusionSquare Me, Round WorldHi, This is Me! Social JournalBONUS: Health Professional ResourceWork with Mel at The Face Place:Free downloads: https://www.thefaceplaceofm.com.au/parent-resources Oral Health Consultations: https://www.thefaceplaceofm.com.au/online-oral-health-services Social media handle: @thefaceplace_ohtConnect with Kimberley here: Website: https://www.creativityandbeyondot.com/Social media handle: @creativityandbeyondot