CBeebies Parenting

1 in 7 babies need neonatal intensive care - but so many parents are blindsided by NICU stays. Dr Frankie Harrison shares her experience of an unexpected NICU birth and helps callers process impulsive control, separation anxiety and guilt. She offers honest reassurance and practical advice on coping.

Autism advocate James Hunt shares the realities of raising his two autistic sons.This episode covers everything from diagnosis and “grieving what you expected” to celebrating small “inchstones” like a first text saying “Hello Dad.”An honest conversation about parenting burnout, resilience and finding light on hard days.

TikTok couple, Caitlin and Leah join Charlie and Holly to talk about the realities of LBTQ parenting: answering awkward “who’s the real mum?” questions, raising kids in a same-sex relationship and the real story behind how they got together. Special guests Stuart and Francis also send in their question.

Parenting through unimaginable loss: Kelsey Parker, widow of Tom Parker (The Wanted) shares how she navigates grief, resilience and raising children after losing a partner and experiencing child loss. Callers share their experiences of navigating child and sibling loss while continuing to parent. If you or someone you know is grieving, support can be found via organisations listed at BBC Action Line.

Parenting styles and advice shift across decades as guidance on sleep, discipline and children’s autonomy changes. Katie Thistleton and Guvna B ask what truly evolves from one generation to the next and how parents and grandparents can compare approaches without friction.Sophie Ellis-Bextor, singer and mum of five, focuses on keeping core values consistent while tailoring responses to each child. She highlights the importance of communication, aiming for two way respect and staying flexible when one child needs a different approach from a sibling.Janet Ellis MBE, former Blue Peter presenter, mum of three and grandmother of six, shares her simple grandparent rule of thumb. Wait to be asked, stay supportive without taking over and respect the parents’ non negotiables so everyone remains on the same team.Clinical psychologist Dr Tara Porter explains why good enough, relationship first parenting, balanced with firm but kind boundaries, tends to serve children better than more extreme parenting approaches.For more ideas and parenting resources, visit the CBeebies Parenting website.Get in touch: parentingdownload@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp 0800 022 4808.

Katie Thistleton and Guvna B raced to the studio to record a bonus episode to find out what the new government guidance on screen time for under-fives in England means for parents. BBC Education and Family Editor Branwen Jeffreys and Clinical Psychologist Dr Martha Deiros Collado join them to examine this new advice and share their screen time tips. You can find more advice around screen time for under-fives on the CBeebies Parenting website. You can also check out the government’s Best Start in Life site for more information around the guidance mentioned in the podcast.

Matrescence is the physical, psychological and emotional changes you go through after the birth of your child, but despite being coined over 50 years ago, it is a word many still don’t understand.In this episode, Katie Thistleton and Guvna B explore how pregnancy and early parenthood can reshape the brain, alter priorities and change identity. They discuss why moving beyond the phrase ‘baby brain’ helps parents feel understood, and how recognising a real transition can change expectations at home, in friendships and at work.BBC Health and Science Reporter Smitha Mundasad shares insight from the Be Mother project in Spain, which scanned the brains of 127 pregnant volunteers and found neurological changes in mothers-to-be. Smitha explored this in her documentary Baby Brain: What’s really going on?Author, podcast host and Motherkind founder Zoe Blaskey shares her own experience of matrescence and the work she's been doing to raise awareness of these changes with other parents and businesses. She also sets matrescence as a life stage alongside adolescence, to frame it as a normal developmental process.There is information and support for pregnancy related issues on the BBC Action Line website www.bbc.co.uk/actionline.For more ideas and resources, visit the CBeebies Parenting website.Get in touch: parentingdownload@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp 0800 022 4808

How do you fit movement and exercise into family life when you are tired, busy and juggling everything at once? Katie Thistleton and Guvna B explore realistic, low‑pressure ways to get active with your little ones. From five‑minute bursts at home to quick trips outside, the focus is on doing what you can, when you can, so everyone feels better. Harry Aikines‑Aryeetey (Gladiators star Nitro) talks about keeping activity playful and letting children lead the way. He explains how becoming a parent shifted his motivation from performance to wellbeing and connection. Whether it is seizing a sunny hour after school to ride a new bike, turning a trampoline park into a family workout, or joining in alongside them at a class, his message is to take part and look for balance, even on busy days.The nation’s PE teacher, Joe Wicks MBE, brings a short and doable outlook for parents who are pressed for time. He champions five‑minute resets, home workouts even in small spaces, and quick walks in fresh air that lift energy and mood. Exercise, he says, is a tool for patience as much as fitness, and he highlights the importance of encouraging active play for families, even when you do not feel in the mood.For more ideas and resources on getting active and playing with your kids, visit the CBeebies Parenting website.Get in touch: parentingdownload@bbc.com or WhatsApp 0800 022 4808

Parents often worry that their children just aren't ready to take the step up to school. Early years educator Christina Lydon takes questions on how to help kids start school with confidence.

For BBC AI Unpacked Week Katie Thistleton and Guvna B explore Artificial Intelligence chatbots, where they can genuinely help parents and when to be cautious, offering practical ideas to save time and stress while keeping human judgment at the centre.Singer, songwriter and Grammy, BRIT and Ivor Novello award-winner Kamille shares how she uses AI to help organise her parenting life from navigating missed naps to managing her busy schedule.BBC technology editor Zoe Kleinman explains what AI chatbots are, how they work and why some people can become over reliant on them. Zoe recommends we use AI as a 'second brain' and gives expert advice on how to use this technology safely and effectively.For more ideas and parenting resources, visit the CBeebies Parenting website.Get in touch: parentingdownload@bbc.com or WhatsApp 0800 022 4808