Conscious Parenting Summit
One of my readers told me about the Conscious Parenting Summit, which starts today. The talks are free to listen to online for 24 hours; and there seem to be a couple of interviews a day on all sorts of parenting aspects.
Whilst the nutrition seems to be more geared towards raw food than Paleo, the summit talks about a number of issues that seem very relevant to bringing up Paleo Children, such as Pregnancy, Natural Fertility, Water Birth, Lotus Birth, Unassisted Birth, Bonding, Vaccinating, Breastfeeding, Co-Sleeping, Elimination Communication, Non-Violent Communication, Circumcision and Homeschooling/Unschooling.
So if you have young children, are pregnant, or considering starting a Paleo family, it might be worth checking out the summit!
Why Conscious Parenting Aligns with the Paleo Lifestyle
At first glance, conscious parenting and Paleo may seem like two separate ideas — one focused on child-rearing philosophies, the other on nutrition. But dig a little deeper, and you'll find a shared core: the desire to return to natural, intuitive, and evolutionarily sound practices. Both philosophies question the status quo and ask: “Is this truly the best way to support our health and development — or is it just what modern culture says we should do?”
Much like choosing to nourish your body with real, unprocessed foods, conscious parenting is about stripping away the layers of conditioning and societal expectation to return to what makes sense from a biological, psychological, and emotional perspective.
Let’s unpack some of the topics featured in the Conscious Parenting Summit and explore how they dovetail beautifully with a Paleo lifestyle — especially for those raising Paleo kids.
Pregnancy and Natural Fertility
Modern fertility practices often overlook the impact of nutrition and environmental factors on conception. From a Paleo point of view, supporting fertility begins long before pregnancy. A nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory diet — high in quality fats, pastured meats, organ meats, fermented foods, and vegetables — can help regulate hormones, reduce stress, and support optimal reproductive health for both partners.
Speakers in the summit who explore natural fertility and conscious conception often emphasise reducing toxin exposure, eating real food, and connecting with the body’s rhythms — all pillars of a Paleo pregnancy.
Birth: Water, Lotus, and Unassisted Options
Mainstream birth culture often centres around intervention, convenience, and medical control. Conscious parenting challenges this by exploring options like water birth, lotus birth (where the umbilical cord is left attached until it naturally separates), and unassisted birth.
While not every family will choose these routes, many Paleo-minded parents find resonance in the idea of birth as a natural, physiological process, not a medical emergency. There’s increasing interest in minimising intervention and creating an environment that supports bonding, calm, and hormonal flow — particularly oxytocin, the hormone of love and connection.
A real food diet throughout pregnancy can support better outcomes in birth too, reducing the risk of complications like gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and large-for-gestational-age babies.
Breastfeeding and Co-Sleeping
Breastfeeding is arguably the most “Paleo” thing a parent can do. It’s species-specific nutrition, designed to support brain development, immunity, and gut health. Conscious parenting often highlights the emotional connection and attunement that breastfeeding fosters, not just the nutritional benefits.
Co-sleeping (also known as bed-sharing or sidecar sleeping) is another area where evolutionary and conscious parenting perspectives overlap. Our ancestors didn’t place their babies in separate rooms — they kept them close for warmth, feeding, and safety. While modern safety guidelines should always be followed, many families find that safe co-sleeping fosters more rest, better breastfeeding success, and stronger emotional bonds.
Elimination Communication (EC)
If you’re new to elimination communication, it’s the practice of tuning into a baby’s cues and using gentle timing to encourage toileting from infancy. It may sound odd in the West, but it's a common practice in many cultures — and entirely aligned with evolutionary principles.
EC treats babies as aware, capable beings — something the conscious parenting movement strongly advocates. It also reduces the reliance on nappies and the environmental impact of disposable products. Paleo parents drawn to minimalism and sustainability often find this practice worth exploring, even if they don’t go all in.
Vaccination, Circumcision & Non-Violent Communication
These are deeply personal topics, and conscious parenting doesn’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, it encourages parents to ask questions, research, and make informed decisions based on what aligns with their values.
- Vaccination: Conscious parenting encourages informed consent and respectful dialogue. Some parents choose alternative schedules, others opt for selective vaccination, and some follow the standard schedule — but all aim to decide from a place of empowerment, not fear.
- Circumcision: Many parents, upon researching this practice through a conscious lens, reconsider the default decision. Awareness of bodily autonomy, nerve endings, and ethical considerations often lead to questioning the norm.
- Non-Violent Communication (NVC): Central to the conscious parenting philosophy, NVC focuses on empathetic listening and expressing needs without blame or punishment. For Paleo parents seeking not just physical, but emotional health for their families, NVC can be a game-changer.
Homeschooling and Unschooling
While not directly tied to Paleo, homeschooling and unschooling appeal to many families who’ve already stepped outside the mainstream when it comes to food and health. These education models allow for more freedom, child-led learning, and deeper connection with nature — again echoing ancestral values.
Some Paleo families find that traditional schooling environments contradict the rhythms and values they’re trying to cultivate at home: adequate movement, time outdoors, nutrient-dense food, and strong family connection. Homeschooling offers a way to keep those values intact, even during the learning day.
Raising Paleo Children in a Processed World
Let’s face it — raising kids Paleo in a world of processed snacks, peer pressure, and sugar-laden birthday parties is no small feat. But conscious parenting offers some valuable tools for navigating this path with intention.
Here are a few ideas that might support your Paleo parenting journey:
1. Focus on Food as Family Culture
Frame real food not as deprivation, but as the foundation of your family’s identity. Celebrate homemade meals, get the kids involved in prep, grow herbs together, and explore markets and farms.
2. Be Honest, Not Fear-Based
Talk to your children about why your family eats the way it does — without demonising others. Help them understand how food affects how they feel, think, and grow.
3. Find Allies
Whether through local groups, Facebook communities, or events like the Conscious Parenting Summit, surround yourself with like-minded parents. It’s so much easier when you know you’re not alone.
4. Lead by Example
Kids learn more from what we do than what we say. When they see you prioritising sleep, getting outdoors, making home-cooked meals, and caring for yourself — that’s the most powerful lesson.
The Rise of Holistic Parenting Events
That this summit even exists speaks volumes. Ten years ago, you’d be hard-pressed to find resources questioning conventional parenting norms. Now, there are entire conferences, books, podcasts, and platforms devoted to conscious parenting, natural living, and ancestral health.
This is a growing global movement, and events like the Conscious Parenting Summit help connect the dots. Even if a particular speaker isn’t strictly Paleo, there’s often so much value to glean — whether it’s a new way of viewing behaviour, an idea for improving sleep, or simply the reminder that there are other parents out there doing things differently too.
What If You’re Not Doing It All “Perfectly”?
This is where conscious parenting and Paleo both shine: there’s no perfection required. It’s about doing better where you can, asking questions, staying curious, and showing up with presence and care.
Whether you’re pregnant and planning, have toddlers who love kombucha, or teens who roll their eyes at your grain-free bread — you’re doing something incredible by tuning in and choosing a more intentional way forward.
Your Turn
Have you watched any of the sessions from the Conscious Parenting Summit? Which topics spoke to you the most? How does conscious parenting fit into your Paleo lifestyle?
If you’ve got resources, books, or experiences to share — especially when it comes to raising healthy, real-food-loving kids in Australia or New Zealand — I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
And if you’re building a Paleo family of your own, know that you’re not alone — and you’re doing amazing work.