Raising a child is the ultimate responsibility, and as we all know, the earliest childhood experiences — and learned habits — have a huge impact on adult life. But as a first-time mom, sifting through the endless advice, opinions, and expectations can leave you feeling uncertain about your approach to parenting.

If you’ve done any amount of research into parenting techniques, you’ve probably come across the term “positive parenting”, or you may even have heard about the “Triple P” method — but what do these approaches involve?

What is positive parenting?

Rather than focusing on strict rules or punishments — which, let’s face it, can often cause more distress than anything else — positive parenting encourages a supportive, nurturing environment.

At its core, positive parenting promotes the idea that as parents, we should focus on good rather than bad behavior. Now don’t get us wrong, this can be tricky — we’re practically hardwired to fixate on the behavioral elements we’d like to correct or resolve, but research shows that a greater emphasis on highlighting and rewarding a child’s strengths can provide huge benefits in both the short and long-term.

But what counts as a strength?

When it comes to babies, you’re not dealing with temper tantrums or defiance just yet — you’ve still got that to look forward to — but that doesn’t mean your baby isn’t learning and developing new skills every day. In fact, the first year sets the foundations for some of the most important aspects of your baby’s personality, including emotional security, trust, and parental connection.

For example, let’s say your baby cries in the middle of the night — as they often do. While it might be tempting to feel frustrated (especially at 3am), positive parenting views this as an opportunity to build trust. By responding calmly and consistently, whether with a soothing voice or a gentle cuddle, you’re teaching your baby that their needs will be met, which helps them develop a sense of security and attachment.

Research shows that the bond formed with your baby during these early months lays the groundwork for how they’ll approach relationships, process emotions, and even solve problems as they grow older.

What is the “Triple P” system?

The “Triple P System”, or Positive Parenting Program, is a framework based around the central idea of positive parenting — but it’s not about telling you how to parent, as much as it is giving you the tools and strategies you need to parent positively.

The Triple P system was developed by Professor Matthew R. Sanders and his team in 2001, at the University of Queensland, Australia.

Initially, the system began as a small, home-based programme designed to support parents of disruptive toddlers, but over time, evolved into a comprehensive, all-encompassing parenting approach. Nowadays, the techniques are used across a wide range of ages, from newborns, right up to tweens and teens.

The system is widely known as one of the most effective and evidence-backed parenting frameworks in the world, and has been translated into 22 languages and used in 28 countries by more than 76,000 accredited practitioners.

The principles of the Triple P system

There are five key principles forming the basis of the Triple P system. These are:

1. Providing a safe, interesting environment

Perhaps the most important of the 5 principles, providing your little one with a safe, stimulating environment means your baby will feel secure to explore, play, and learn once they’re old enough to leave the crib. It’s not just about baby-proofing your home, though — emotional safety matters too. Your baby needs to know they’re in a secure and loving environment.

2. Having a positive learning environment

Babies and children learn best when they feel supported, and as a parent, you play a huge role in shaping how they approach challenges. Triple P focuses on positive reinforcement — praising effort, celebrating milestones, and offering encouragement even in the face of setbacks. Once your child begins to explore through play, a little bit of praise can go a long way.

3. Using assertive discipline

While we all lose our cool sometimes, assertive discipline doesn’t mean being harsh or yelling. It’s about setting clear rules and being consistent with them. This tenet is more applicable to toddlers and older children, but it’s well worth keeping in mind for the future.

Let’s say your little one keeps grabbing things off the table after you’ve asked them not to. Instead of getting frustrated (easier said than done, we know), calmly take the item away and explain why. Consistency is key — if you let it slide sometimes and not others, they’ll get confused.

4. Setting realistic expectations

When you’re dealing with tantrums or sleepless nights, it’s easy to think, “Why isn’t my child behaving like so-and-so’s kid?” or, “I should have this figured out by now.” But every child is different. Sleepless nights, for example, are par for the course in the early days, and tantrums are a normal part of toddler-dom.

Most of the time, these issues aren’t anything to do with your parenting approach; they’re simply developmental milestones. As a mom, you’re not supposed (or expected) to have all the answers, and the Triple P system acknowledges this.

5. Taking care of yourself as a parent

Here’s a principle that gets overlooked way too often — you matter too! When you’re running on empty, it’s impossible to be the parent you want to be. That’s why taking care of yourself is crucial.

Whether it’s sneaking in a quick nap, enjoying a cup of coffee while it’s still hot, or asking your partner to take over for a bit so you can get some fresh air, self-care looks different for everyone. Maybe it’s an extra five minutes in the shower, catching up with a friend, or finding time to exercise. Whatever it is, don’t feel guilty about it. When you feel good, it shows — and your kids pick up on that. A happier, less-stressed mom means a happier home.

How does the Triple P system work?

Triple P isn’t like a traditional course with one set route; instead, it’s easier to think of it as a toolbox, filled with practical strategies designed to give you everything you need to tackle some of the hardest parts of the parenting journey.

You absolutely don’t need to sign up for a course to start using these techniques with your baby. Many of the ideas behind positive parenting are intuitive and based on best practices — things like being responsive to your baby’s needs, creating a calm environment, and building routines. You might already be doing a lot of this without even realizing it!

If you’re interested in exploring the program, though, Triple P offers various levels of support, ranging from online resources and group workshops to one-on-one sessions with a parenting coach. This can be really helpful if you want more personalized guidance or are facing specific challenges that you’re not sure how to handle on your own.

Positive parenting for babies

The first year of life is the very definition of sensory overload. Your baby is being bombarded with new sights, sounds, tastes, smells, sensations, and emotions, so a little bit of fussiness or crying is to be expected. What really matters is how you handle your baby’s behaviors, and this is where positive parenting can help.

Remember: at this stage, it’s less about discipline and more about responding to your baby’s cues in ways that build trust and security.

Here are some of the key principles from Triple P that you can start using right now:

Try to empathize

A newborn baby can’t tell you what they need with words, so it’s all about tuning in to their cues. Every cry, coo, or movement is a way for them to communicate with you. One of the most important things you can do as a first-time mom is to try to see the world from your baby’s perspective.

When your baby is fussing, it’s not because they’re being difficult. Maybe they’re tired, hungry, overstimulated, or just need a cuddle. By slowing down and asking yourself, “What is my baby trying to tell me?”, you’ll start to recognize the patterns in their behavior.

The more you do this, the more attuned you’ll become to their emotional and physical needs, which builds that all-important sense of trust between you and your baby.

Encourage exploration

Babies learn through play, and one of the best ways to play with your child is through exploration. Follow their lead and look for clues — are their eyes drawn to a colorful throw? Perhaps they’ve got a strange obsession with the rubbery buttons on the TV remote. Whatever they’re fascinated by, use it as an opportunity to engage with them and show them that you’re keen to share in their discoveries.

It’s not just about introducing your little one to new objects or places, either — new sensations count as exploration too! Simple activities like tummy time or gentle tickling can help them build their motor skills and support cognitive development.

Give positive reinforcement

Now, when we talk about positive reinforcement for babies, it’s not about gold star stickers and reward charts (again, this will come later). Instead, it’s about responding to your baby’s needs; smiling back when they smile, soothing them when they cry, or providing stimulation when they’re feeling curious — all of which will reassure them that you’re present, and they’re safe.

All of these tiny moments might feel insignificant, but in the scheme of things, they’re actually incredibly impactful and lay the foundation for how they’ll interact with the world in later life.

Be patient with yourself

Finally, we can’t stress this enough — be kind to yourself! You’re not going to get it right 100% of the time, and that’s OK. No one does. Some days you’ll feel like you’ve nailed it, and others you might feel like you’re barely holding it together. Babies are unpredictable, and just when you think you’ve figured something out, they’ll throw you a curveball (hello, sleep regression).

But the good news is, positive parenting isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being present and doing your best to respond with love, empathy, and patience — for both your baby and yourself.

So, whether your baby is cooing, crying, or just staring up at you with those big, curious eyes, know that each moment is an opportunity to connect, build trust, and lay the foundation for a strong, loving relationship. Positive parenting starts right now, and you’ve got everything you need to do it.