When you seek information to help raise your children, it is reassuring to know the person providing their knowledge has an understanding of the situation as well as professional expertise.

Jan Murray

Thousands of babies - and their once-tired parents - are now sleeping more soundly after putting into practice the suggestions baby and toddler expert Jan Murray has shared with them via her aptly named company Settle Petal.

After gaining practicing certificates in general nursing and midwifery, Jan married and had five children. This hands-on experience with parenting complemented her theoretical knowledge in raising babies and children, and fuelled her passion and interest to learn as much as she could in the important arena of raising children. This led to gaining qualifications in the area of family and child health nursing. Once she had this knowledge, Jan felt she needed to share her pearls of wisdom so she could help others.

Setting up Settle Petal – which takes its name from that classic Australianism to just relax – Jan started with addressing sleeping challenges, as that was the area of most concern and anguish for many parents. Not surprisingly, Jan’s focus was to help parents – and babies – feel calm in amongst unsteady, sometimes trying times.

Jan says “When doing anything for the first time it is always reassuring to get confirmation that you are doing the best you can from someone who understands. Parenting a new baby is no different. It’s all about being confident with the decisions you make and finding a mentor that you feel comfortable to follow.”

Through her close work with families, Jan soon discovered that the issue of establishing sleep patterns for baby was very closely connected to food and routines.

“I find myself answering a lot of very similar questions on a daily basis about when to start a baby on solids, what solids should you start them on, how much, and how often do you give them food, when do you progress past pureed foods, and how much milk should they be having? When you’re a first-time parent, these are all crucial concerns,” says Jan.

When it comes to the whole area of feeding, Jan is a strong believer in what she has seen to be a winning formula that works for babies. This includes preparing baby food from scratch (not buying the packaged stuff).

It was soon suggested by grateful parents that Jan put her knowledge down in a book format for all parents to access. The book ‘Taste It – Easy Baby & Toddler Recipes Along with Professional Child Health Advice’ was created. It is available now from http://www.settlepetal.com and selected book outlets.

Next, Jan’s audio CD, titled ‘Putting them to Sleep’, was transcribed into an eBook, which is a valuable tool on sleep and settling techniques for babies and toddlers. This was soon followed by ‘grief & life after your child dies' based on Jan’s own personal experience on the loss of a toddler.

And now in 2011 Jan is set to release her latest genius offering called ‘mum & baby, together we learn’ Jan’s natural knack in bringing a well grounded practical base to families raising young children, as well as an extensive and varied professional background in child health and development, has made her a highly sought after and renowned professional. Jan has also worked with families and children in a summer camp in USA; with Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders in remote areas of Australia; in private and public hospitals, community health centres and young children in the schooling system.

“I believe parenting is hard work, but it’s my passion to help and nurture young families; seeing them flourish and then go on to building strong and healthy foundations in their families and in their own community is what I strive for and am most passionate about.”

With her own children leaving the nest, Jan has been active in housing international students – her desire to parent and mentor is clearly all consuming, and an essential part of her very being.

Information supplied in this site is through eBooks, Books, Consultation, Parenting Workshops and links.

Read Jan's column each month in Australia’s favourite parenting magazine
Practical Parenting 

Jan currently sits on two advisory boards for infant nutrition in Australia and New Zealand.

Settle Petal proudly supports children overseas through

I hope you enjoy browsing through this site.