Parental Control is a monthly parenting and lifestyle podcast created by My Baba and hosted by the website’s founder Leonora Bamford. The first episode came about when Leonora became increasingly frustrated at how challenging it is to keep her children safe online and wanted to find out what teenagers really think about being online and staying safe. Parental Control is about feeling in control as a parent or prospective parent and feeling confident tackling problems head-on. Each month, we’ll discuss current and on-going issues that affect mums and dads throughout parenthood and tease out the solutions with the help of some brilliant guest and expert speakers.
In this episode of Parental Control, My Baba’s Ellie Thompson is joined by TV presenter, dad and founder of Dadvengers Nigel Clarke, alongside educational psychologist and fellow My Baba Awards judge Sasha Hall, for a refreshingly candid conversation about what parenting actually looks like behind closed doors.
What happens when we die? It’s a question most of us will ask at some point, but for Parental Control host Ellie Thompson, it became impossible to stop asking after losing her little boy, Billy.
In this deeply personal episode, Ellie is joined by Dr Eben Alexander, neurosurgeon and bestselling author of Proof of Heaven. For much of his medical career, Eben believed that consciousness was dependent on the brain. Then, in 2008, a severe brain infection left him in a week-long coma — and what he says he experienced during that time completely transformed his worldview.
From the benefits of extracurricular activities and the warning signs of an overscheduled child to knowing when to let kids quit, Katharine explores whether every child really needs a packed diary and how much of the pressure is actually coming from us as parents.
In this episode of Parental Control, Ellie Thompson sits down with multi-award-winning aesthetician and celebrity facialist William Foley, founder of William Foley Skin and creator of The BioSync Method™, to challenge some of the biggest messages we’re being sold about skincare today.
In this episode of My Baba’s Parental Control podcast, Ellie Thompson sits down with presenter, relationship expert and counsellor Anna Williamson, host of the hit podcast The Affair. Now in its sixth season, the series explores real-life stories of infidelity from every perspective, uncovering the emotions, motivations and consequences behind one of our most complicated relationship taboos.
Would banning social media for under-16s protect our children, or simply drive their online lives further underground?
As debate around children’s access to social media continues, Ellie Thompson welcomes Child and Educational Psychologist Dr Emily Crosby to the Parental Control podcast to look beyond the headlines and explore what social media is really doing to young minds.
In this episode of Parental Control, Ellie Thompson is joined by leading Harley Street phobia expert and Face Your Fears author Christopher Paul Jones. Together, they explore why phobias develop, how parents can respond without reinforcing fear, and why Christopher believes many phobias can be overcome far more quickly than most people realise.
Thousands of bright children fail GCSE English and maths every year—not because they lack ability, but because of how they’re assessed. In this episode, Fairer Exams founder Hannah Gee explains why England’s exam system needs to change, what parents should know about dyslexia and dyscalculia, and the alternative pathways that could transform a child’s future.
In this honest and thought-provoking episode of Parental Control, Ellie Thompson sits down with eating disorder specialist and author Elle Mace to explore the complex relationship women have with food, body image and self-worth.
In this deeply personal episode of Parental Control, Ellie Thompson sits down with Dr Ashley Vardon, an NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer at the University of Birmingham, whose pioneering research into diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is being part-funded by Billy’s Battalion.
If you’ve ever found yourself shouting over something small, only to be overwhelmed with guilt moments later, you’re far from alone.
In this episode of Parental Control, Ellie Thompson is joined by award-winning journalist and author Lauren Novak to explore one of motherhood’s least talked about realities: mum rage.
Becoming parents changes everything, including your relationship. In this episode of Parental Control, Ellie Thompson is joined by relationship and sex therapist Georgina Vass to discuss what really happens to intimacy, communication and connection after children.
In this episode of Parental Control, Ellie Thompson is joined by Elle Mace, eating disorder expert, coach, author of the upcoming book Food Freedom, and someone whose own struggles with body image and disordered eating began at just 10 years old.
Together, they explore the early warning signs parents may miss, how to tell the difference between normal food fussiness and something more concerning, the everyday language around food and bodies that can accidentally cause harm, and what today’s obsession with wellness, weight-loss drugs, and appearance culture is doing to young minds.
Ellie Thompson is joined once again by education expert Katharine Radice to discuss how parents can support children through the transition to secondary school with confidence.
Together, they explore how to choose the right school without becoming consumed by league tables and pressure, why the “best” school isn’t always the best fit, how to build independence before September, what to expect emotionally in those early weeks and how transitions can feel different for children with ADHD, autism, anxiety or additional needs.
Exam season can bring stress to the entire household. From slammed bedroom doors and sleepless nights to younger children already feeling the pressure of assessment before secondary school is even on the horizon.
In this episode of Parental Control, Ellie Thompson is joined by education expert Katharine Radice, author of The Parent’s Guide to Exam Stress, to unpack what exam pressure is really doing to our children, and to us as parents.
Andy Day is one of the UK’s most recognisable faces in children’s television, best known for sparking curiosity through his hugely popular Andy’s Adventures series. But beyond the dinosaurs, safari trips and underwater explorations, Andy is also a musician, author, performer and all-round creative force.
On this episode of the My Baba Podcast, Ellie chats to Andy about life beyond the screen — from favourite films and bands to his real-life pop band Andy and the Odd Socks, writing bestselling children’s books, and the brand new adventures currently in the works.
In this episode of Parental Control, we sit down with Dr Olivia Kessel, medical doctor, neurodiversity advocate, and author of Beyond the Label, to unpack what ADHD really looks like behind the scenes.
We cover the realities parents don’t always hear about: why homework becomes a nightly battle, how ADHD shows up differently in girls, the truth about medication stigma, and what’s actually going on in the brain when sleep becomes a struggle.
Today we’re joined by Katie Harrison from Picture News, an organisation that’s been working closely with schools for years to help children engage with the world around them in a thoughtful, age-appropriate way.
We’ll be talking about what’s really going on for children today, what schools are seeing on the ground, and why initiatives like The Big School Workout, taking place this Mental Health Awareness Week on 14th May, in partnership with Joe Wicks, are more important than ever.
Family travel expert Jen Carr, founder of The Travel Mum and author of Yes, You Can Travel With Kids, shares her top tips for making travelling with children easier, cheaper and far less stressful.
In this episode, Women’s Health Coach Emma Simarro joins us to cut through the noise around diet and exercise, sharing practical advice on building strength, confidence and long-term health, especially through midlife. It’s a reassuring, down-to-earth conversation for anyone feeling overwhelmed by conflicting advice and looking for a more sustainable way to feel good in their body.
In this episode of Parental Control, Ellie Thompson is joined by Sophie Orozco, a relationship coach whose work is rooted in both professional expertise and lived experience. After saving her own marriage from the brink of divorce, Sophie spent over a decade studying psychology, communication and intimacy dynamics to help couples rebuild connection from the ground up.
In this episode, Parental Control explores the real impact of heavy and painful periods on women’s physical health, emotional wellbeing, work and relationships — and asks why period-related disruption is still so often dismissed or minimised.
In this episode, Parental Control takes listeners inside the IVF lab to understand how embryos are assessed and selected during fertility treatment, including PGT-A and time-lapse IVF. Ellie Thompson is joined by embryologist and founder of All About Embryology, Victoria Wigley, to answer key questions about genetic testing, embryo development and the complex decisions made behind the scenes.
Leading UK psychotherapist Julia Samuel MBE joins Ellie Thompson to discuss child loss, grief, and how families learn to live alongside profound loss while carrying love forward.
Ellie welcomes world-renowned fitness trainer Ryan Shanahan, best known globally as The Kettlebell King. With over 35 years of experience coaching everyone from elite athletes to absolute beginners, Ryan is famous for making fitness fun, fast and completely achievable. Together, Ellie and Ryan explore sustainable fitness, movement for longevity, motivation that actually lasts, and why your mindset may be the most important muscle you ever train.
Welcome to Part 2 with Valerie Millington. In this episode, we dive deeper into safety within the aesthetics industry, what a truly effective at-home skincare routine should look like, and the real science behind hair and hair removal — including the big question: should you pluck, shave or laser?
Skin expert Valerie Millington shares her knowledge and advice on everything from fillers, Botox, fat dissolvers, laser hair removal and more. They discuss what actually works, what’s a waste of money, the biggest mistakes people make, how to care for skin at every age, and why healthy skin never needs overdoing.
In this episode, Ellie is joined by Bereavement Support Service Lead Rachel Tegg from Child Bereavement UK for an open, gentle and honest conversation about what it means to face Christmas after losing a child. Whether someone is in their first year, their fifth year or anywhere in between, this discussion offers comfort, understanding and the reminder that no parent walks this path alone.
One of the most-searched questions in sexual wellness today is “Why are vibrators healthy?” — and few people are better positioned to answer it than Samantha Marshall, Head of Brand at Smile Makers Collection. As a leader in the global intimate-wellness space, Sam has spent the past five years helping redefine pleasure as an important part of self-care.
In today’s episode, Sam joins Ellie Thompson to explore sexual wellness, self-pleasure, and how changing the narrative around intimacy empowers people to build healthier relationships with their bodies.
Ellie Thompson is joined by Laura Guckian, motherhood coach, award-winning host of Momfessions. They discuss the moments that matter most in early parenthood, from recognising when your mental health needs support to understanding how partners can truly help. Laura shares practical advice on navigating neurodiversity, setting boundaries around social media, and building a self-care plan that actually fits into real life.
This week on the podcast, Ellie Thompson catches up with the brilliant Jaime Amor, the creative force behind Cosmic Kids Yoga, and now star of her brand-new Sky Kids Original series, Jaime’s Yoga Adventures.
This week on the podcast, Leonora Bamford catches up with the incredible Dr Megan Rossi, aka The Gut Health Doctor.
Dr Rossi isn’t just a Sunday Times bestselling author – she also holds a PhD in Probiotics and is one of the UK’s leading experts on gut health. In this episode, we talk about how to improve gut health at any age, with everyday, family-friendly tips you can actually use.
Ellie Thompson is joined by the amazing Fran Amber, the viral manifesting mum behind the chart-topping Law of Attraction Changed My Life podcast. Fran joins the show to talk about her new book, Manifest Like A Mother (out 4 September).
Drawing on 15+ years of medical experience, Francesca shares safe sleep guidelines, how to manage baby sleep during illness and after vaccinations, and the medical causes of poor sleep in infants and toddlers. The conversation also explores the impact of sleep deprivation on the mental health of children and parents, with practical steps to build calmer nights and healthier routines.
We’re joined by Louise Fox, a mother who has turned unimaginable personal loss into a powerful force for change. Louise’s son George was a bright, animal-loving 12-year-old when he began having headaches that were repeatedly dismissed as harmless. Eleven months later, he died from an aggressive brain tumour. In the years since, Louise has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for Brain Tumour Research, supported the Tessa Jowell Foundation and co-founded the Angel Mums collective to improve paediatric palliative care. She’s now a leading voice in Brain Cancer Justice, a campaign demanding serious government investment and better care for brain cancer patients.
In this episode of the My Baba podcast, host Ellie Thompson speaks with Dr Sasha Hall, a Senior Educational Psychologist with over 19 years’ experience in the education system, about the early signs of ADHD in little ones, and the important role schools play in the diagnosis journey.
Girls and friendships can be a challenging mix to navigate. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Holly Symons, a Clinical Psychologist, founder of Raising EQ®, and mother of two, to explore the challenges of friendships and how parents can best support them. Dr. Holly answers a wide range of questions and shares practical strategies to help your daughter build meaningful, lasting connections.
When it comes to fertility in your 40s, the path to parenthood can feel overwhelming, and at times, isolating. That’s why we’re joined today by one of the UK’s leading voices in fertility care: Dr. Jyoti Taneja, Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and a specialist in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery at Avenues London.
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In this episode, Kate takes us back to the beginning of her own dyslexic journey—and shares what inspired her to launch a global movement. We talk about the outdated education system, how to nurture dyslexic strengths from a young age, and why ADHD, dyscalculia, and other forms of neurodiversity so often go hand in hand. She also shares the common traits she’s noticed in successful dyslexic thinkers and the one piece of advice she’d give her 7-year-old self.
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Leonora is joined on the show by the Queen of Mum Hacks, Casey Major-Bunch.
Casey had a tough childhood and was diagnosed with ADHD and autism as an adult. Her unique way of thinking and the creative life hacks she shares online has led her to stardom with over 700k Instagram followers and millions of views.
Casey is bringing out her first book The Big Book of Major Mum Hacks and on this episode, she shares a few of her favourites.
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Abigail Derr from Young Lives v Cancer sits down with Jamie and Ellie Thompson to share their heart-wrenching yet powerful story, Billy the Brave: A Family Fight Against DIPG. In this episode, Jamie and Ellie open up about their son Billy’s diagnosis with DIPG, a terminal brain cancer, and the five-month battle that followed.
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With the launch of her debut book Motherkind. I interviewed the brilliant Zoe Blaskey who managed to calm me down in our short time together. Her zen is infectious and Dr Julie Smith summarises it so well with its ‘an important book that changes how you experience motherhood’. A must-read for any mother who over-worries and carries the never-ending mother guilt that we all seem to have.
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Welcome to part 2 of our managing emotions podcast featuring the amazing Dr Maryhan Baker. This week, she guides us through addressing questions about navigating the challenging times of puberty.
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This is the first of 2 series on tackling anxiety in children. In this first episode, we are focussing in on the early years, starting from toddlers. Don’t forget to tune into the second one where we discuss puberty, teens and all the anxiety that comes with it.
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I’m literally buzzing after an hour chatting to Lucinda Miller who is so incredibly knowledgeable when it comes to nutrition and feeding our children. Today we talk about the importance of what we feed our neurodiverse children and families with literally hundreds of tips and hacks for us all.
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Perimenopause seems to be a bit of a buzzword at the moment and I had no idea that it could last so long. I was so thrilled to have Dr Louise Newson, the absolute guru on the pod this week who answered all the questions I had on HRT, hormones, migraines, contraception and her relationship with Davina McCall. I hope you find it as helpful as I did.
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Leonora welcomes Andy Cook, Chief Executive at Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity. Andy Cook is responsible for overseeing the charity’s progress over the coming years. The Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity supports people with dyslexia to bring about positive changes in their lives. Established in 1971, the charity removes barriers to learning and life for children, young people and adults with dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties by providing expert, personal and life-changing support.
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Founder of My Baba Leo Bamford welcomes Tom Barber from Original Travel. They discuss everything from bonding holidays with just 1 child to road trips, luxury holidays and then the all-time travel bucket list. But most importantly they talk about what is trending this year in the travel industry.
Original Travel also absorbs 100% of the carbon footprint generated by their clients by financing large reforestation projects around the world.
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We welcome two of the UK’s best parenting experts to the show to discuss the importance of role-play in partnership with role-play pioneers, Casdon. Baby and child nutritionist Charlotte Stirling-Reed and parenting expert Sue Atkins join My Baba’s Editor, Ellie Thompson, to share their thoughts, advice and top tips on using role-play toys to benefit young children (and adults).
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Ellie Thompson welcomes NHS GP and author Dr. Ellie Cannon to the show to talk about this year’s winter health concerns and their impact on our children. Dr. Ellie dives into the latest on Covid this winter, the perks of the flu vaccine for kids, the scoop on the chickenpox vaccine, as well as some easy tips for dealing with croup.
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Founder of My Baba Leo Bamford welcomes pelvic health physiotherapist and author Clare Bourne to the show to learn about the importance of the pelvic floor.
“I’ve been desperate to get Clare on the show to learn more about pelvic floor exercises and how we can build them into our daily lives. It’s a quick podcast, but she had so many tips and tricks. It was great to get her on.”
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Joining Ellie Thompson on the show today is the fantastic Dr. Holly Symons, a licensed clinical psychologist and the brilliant mind behind raising-eq.com. Together, they dive deep into a crucial subject: mental health in infant school-age children. From the significance of emotional intelligence in parenting to addressing issues like depression, learning differences, self-harm, and body image, they cover it all.
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Welcome to a heart-to-heart podcast that delves deep into the realm of family, security and future planning as Ellie Thompson welcomes Matt Towe, co-founder and CEO of mortgage platform Meet Margo to discuss the importance of life insurance. Meet Margo is a brokerage offering straight-talking mortgage and insurance advice to help more women navigate homeownership.
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Get ready to dive into an absolute gem of an episode as editor Ellie Thompson teams up with the one and only Louise Boyce, also known as Mama Still Got It, the OG mumfluencer! Louise joins the show to share the juicy details of her new book and dish out some serious wisdom on all things parenting and exactly how to navigate those Calpol years.
Hold onto your hats because this conversation takes an unexpected turn into the realm of adulting as they tackle the epic battle against pesky nits. Who would’ve thought? Get ready for some serious nit-busting strategies and hilarious anecdotes.
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Education expert and ADHD coach Dr. Michal Solomonovich joins the show to discuss strategies for parenting ADHD kids. Dr Michal Solomonvich is co-author of the new book Champion! Everything You Need To Be Your Greatest You, designed to equip kids with the skills they need to thrive and be happy.
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Leonora welcomes Sergei Urban, aka, TheDadLab, to the show to discuss all things science and fun, with some exciting activities you can do at home with the kids this summer.
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Get ready for some serious girl talk as Ellie Thompson welcomes the fabulous Steph Douglas, the founder of Don’t Buy Her Flowers, to the show! Steph will be dishing out the juiciest details on all things family life, conquering those chaotic newborn days, finding the perfect balance between family roles and busy careers, and even tackling the not-so-glamorous perimenopause.
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Best-selling author and Insta sensation Daisy Upton, aka Five Minute Mum, joins the show to tell us all about the launch of her new book Starting School with tips for dealing with school anxieties and how to prepare your child for their first term. Daisy also shares her expert advice on how to make learning fun at home.
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Nadim Saad, parenting coach and founder of The Happy Confident Company joins the show to share valuable insights and expert tips on raising self-assured, happy, and resilient children. Nadim discusses the common issues he sees with anxieties in children and whether confidence is a learned behaviour or a personality characteristic.
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My Baba’s editor Ellie Thompson welcomes empathy advocate and best-selling author Mimi Nicklin to the show to discuss the importance of nurturing empathy in our children and why it’s important to be empathetic towards ourselves as parents. Are children born with empathy? Can we teach them? Mimi Nicklin explains all.
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My Baba’s editor Ellie Thompson welcomes over 40’s women’s personal trainer Gabrielle O’Hare to the show to discuss the launch of her new book Why Women Over 40 Can’t Lose Weight. We discuss everything from the role of hormones, stress and the family work-life juggle and Gabrielle talks through some simple strategies for tackling health and fitness over 40.
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Founder of Olivanna and my olivanna Janine Summers joins Ellie Thompson on the show to discuss the best skincare products for teens and tweens, sharing expert advice on teen acne, blackheads and other common skin complaints in children and young adults.
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I just had the most amazing hour chatting with Melissa Hemsley. We talked about everything from her IVF journey and, in particular, the highs and lows that come with IVF to her favourite recipes and how she loves using up everything in the fridge – nothing goes to waste! Melissa talked about the beginning of her career and what got her into cooking, and also her love for charity work.
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My Baba’s editor Ellie Thompson welcomes actress, author, YouTuber and mother Clair Buckley to the show. Clair is married to James Buckley from The Inbetweeners, and together they have two sons, Jude and George. Ellie quizzes Clair about everything from family life with an Inbetweener, how they met, their mutual love for The Beatles and what life is like as host of such a popular YouTube show, At Home with the Buckleys.
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My Baba’s editor Ellie Thompson welcomes ‘mumologist’ and clinical psychologist Dr. Emma Svanberg to the show to celebrate the launch of her new book ‘Parenting for Humans’. Ellie quizzes Emma on a host of topics, from how our own childhoods dictate our parenting styles, how best to resolve conflict within family relationships and whether it’s possible to be the perfect parent.
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On this week’s edition of Parental Control, founder of My Baba, Leo Bamford is joined by managing director and fashion designer Rachel Riley.
“I’ve known Rachel Riley for a long time and have been dressing all my children in her beautiful traditional clothes for over 13 years. Nobody does it better! With the Coronation on the horizon, I wanted to catch up with her to talk about everything from how she started over 25 years ago to what effects it has when royalty wears her clothing. Finally, we talked about business and her advice to budding entrepreneurs.” – Leo Bamford.
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Does my child have ADHD? My Baba’s editor Ellie Thompson welcomes managing director and lead therapist of Headstuff ADHD Therapy, Sarah Templeton, to the show to discuss spotting the signs and symptoms of ADHD in young children.
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In this episode NatureDoc’s Lucinda Miller joins Leo on the show to talk about how the food we eat affects our moods and why cooking from scratch gives our children the most nutritional benefits. They discuss how neurodiverse kids can fuel their bodies in the right way, as well covering the role of gut health, hormones, and what supplements our children should or could be taking.
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For Children’s Mental Health Week, My Baba’s editor Ellie Thompson welcomes Allison Henry from the emotional wellbeing app, Moshi. Allison joins Parental Control to discuss the benefits of mindfulness for kids, how it can positively impact their mental health and how Moshi’s recent collaboration with tonies® is making mindfulness even more accessible for kids.
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Editor of My Baba Ellie Thompson welcomes maternal health advocate and journalist Clio Wood to the show to discuss the launch of her new book ‘Get Your Mojo Back’, which focusses on the topic of sex after birth.
This podcast episode breaks the silence around the topic no one is talking about: how to have enjoyable sex after birth, with some sound and sensitive advice on how to get your sex life back on track.
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Leonora welcomes Probio7’s Nutrition Expert Rebecca Traylen to the podcast to discuss gut health.
“I could talk about gut health until the cows come home, so speaking to Rebecca was an absolute pleasure this morning. She is incredibly knowledgeable about the gut microbiome and agrees about the importance of the first thousand days. If you’re looking for a probiotic for anyone in the family, this podcast is for you.
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Ellie Thompson welcomes top baby and child nutritionist Charlotte Stirling-Reed to the show to talk about toddlers and their eating habits. Charlotte troubleshoots a whole host of questions surrounding toddlers and mealtimes, sharing expert advice on how to make life around the dinner table a pleasant place to be.
Charlotte is the author of the Sunday Times bestselling How to Wean Your Baby and has just launched her new book, How to Feed Your Toddler.
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Leonora Bamford welcomes nutritionist Gabriela Peacock to the show to discuss tween and teen nutrition. Leonora quizzes Gabriela about body image and how to handle those difficult conversations, the impact of hormones and diet on skin and useful supplements to boost nutrition and support hormonal changes.
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My Baba’s Editor Ellie Thompson welcomes Lisa Lohiser and Corinne Eggleston from the Fisher-Price Play Lab to the show to talk about the best developmental toys and the role they play in Early Childhood Development. They discuss their top picks for baby and toddler gifts this Christmas, and how to engage with your child to get the most out of every play session.
When it comes to the best developmental toys for kids, they take a trip down memory lane to revisit the Fisher-Price toys from the ’80s, exploring how and why toys have evolved over the decades and which iconic toys are still standing the test of time today.
Lisa and Corinne unveil their new Play Programme in partnership with Family Action, why it’s an important resource for new parents, and where listeners can access free support, tips, advice and information on play and its impact on childhood development.
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Ellie Thompson welcomes certified sleep consultant and children’s mental health practitioner Sophie Wilkinson to Parental Control to discuss baby sleep issues, covering everything from breaking bad habits to tips on implementing a calmer bedtime routine. Sophie has over a decade of experience working with thousands of families to help solve children’s sleep difficulties, and on the show today, we focus on baby sleep and the many issues surrounding routine, with suggestions on how to solve baby sleep issues with simple and effective tips you can try at home.
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Ellie Thompson welcomes the UK’s leading baby, toddler and child sleep expert, the wonderful Alison Scott-Wright aka The Magic Sleep Fairy to talk about babies with reflux – how to spot it, what’s causing it, and when to get help.
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My Baba’s Editor Ellie Thompson and Editorial Assistant and Toy Expert Christina Walter take to the mic to share their top twenty toy predictions for Christmas 2022, together with a run-down of each toy, and why they think these products are worthy of a place on any little letter to Santa.
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“Today, I am very excited to be talking to Myleene Klass, who has been busy combining two of her passions as she unveils a brand-new album, My Lullabies: Motown. Having listened to the album recently with my kids, it contains a mixture of truly calming and angelic tracks which are perfect for winding down at night and creating a calm environment. I absolutely loved chatting to Myleene about the launch and hearing how it came about.” – Leo Bamford
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My Baba’s Editor Ellie Thompson welcomes midwife and influencer Illy Morrison to the show to discuss pregnancy woes and sleep. Getting a good night’s sleep is an essential human function to enable our mind to recharge and for our body to stay healthy and fight illness, however, pregnancy insomnia can hit at any stage and can have a huge impact on day-to-day life.
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Founder of My Baba Leo Bamford welcomes Julia Martin, CEO of ISEB, The Independent Schools Examinations Board to the show to ask her some tough questions regarding the ISEB Common Pre-Test.
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My Baba’s Editor Ellie Thompson welcomes Emma Armstrong aka The Naked Doula to the show to discuss the role of the doula throughout pregnancy and birth. Ellie quizzes Emma on a wide range of topics, including her top tips for labour and what to look for when choosing a doula. She talks about the importance of preparation, and how to make an informed choice about the birth you want to have.
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Ellie Thompson welcomes influencer and creator of adulting honestly website Not So Smug Now Cat Sims to the show to talk about her brand new book, The First Time You Smiled, a baby record journal with attitude. Ellie quizzes Cat on the common misconceptions about having kids, and Cat opens up about her addiction to alcohol, and her family’s role in fuelling her desire to stay sober.
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Leo is joined by the brilliant Kira Wong O’Conner, Instagram’s Public Policy Programme Manager, Nigel Clarke, Cbeebies presenter, and Zoe Baille, deputy CEO of The Mix to discuss Instagram’s new supervision tools and how we can make better use of our time.
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Editor of My Baba Ellie Thompson welcomes clinical psychologist Dr Caroline Boyd to the show to talk about her new book, Mindful New Mum. Caroline talks specifically about coping during the fourth trimester and the messy reality of motherhood.
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Leonora caught up with Silvia and Michelle who are behind a brilliant project led by the University of St Andrews to help people understand the actual genetic basis of learning differences. They’re bringing together parents, professionals and children with a SEN to find out as much information as they can to feed their research.
Please do get in touch with them if this resonates with you.
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My Baba’s Editor Ellie Thompson welcomes bestselling author Milli Hill to the show to celebrate the launch of the revised edition of The Positive Birth Book and to discuss the realities of giving birth.
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Leonora had a super quick catch-up with the incredible professional skin therapist Jeanie Cordy Simpson. The main item on the agenda was tween and teen skincare, the right products to invest in as well as every common skin complaint experienced in adolescence.
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My Baba’s Editor Ellie Thompson welcomes Midwife Marley to the show to discuss common pregnancy complaints.
Marley takes a deep dive into the nitty-gritty of common pregnancy complications, including everything from constipation, piles and lightning crotch to leg cramps, varicose veins, spotting and discharge. Marley also explains the difference between morning sickness and hyperemesis gravidarum, and as with all of these health issues, when to get help.
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My Baba’s Editor Ellie Thompson welcomes Guilty Mother blogger and tech entrepreneur Jo Wimble-Groves to the show to discuss mum-guilt and how best to juggle the work-family life balance. Jo also chats about what we can do to bring up confident children, and how we can help our kids overcome negative feelings of poor self-esteem and low self-worth.
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Leonora welcomes CEO and Founder of Oxwash, Dr Kyle C Grant to the show. They discuss how Oxwash has reinvented laundry and dry cleaning services with an on-demand business using state-of-the-art low-impact washing technology. Kyle also shares a whole host of brilliant tips, hacks, and advice for washing as a family, with simple ideas everybody can implement at home.
Oxwash is offering our audience £10 off their first order with Oxwash with the code BABA10 – valid until June 30th.
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Ellie Thompson welcomes English model, influencer and soon-to-be first-time mum Laura Coleman to the show to talk pregnancy, baby kit and her June arrival.
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We welcome to the show Emma Bianco, founder of eco kids’ brand Pure Earth Collection. We ask Emma’s advice on how to create the perfect (non-toxic) nursery, the products to invest in, and the ones to avoid. We discuss a list of common kids’ clothes, bedding, products and toys responsible for causing harmful indoor air pollution and what alternatives we can be investing in.
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Leo Bamford and Ellie Thompson team up with ‘Two New Mums’ Amy Voce and Jennie Longdon to chat pregnancy, birth and baby kit in this latest episode of Parental Control. Virgin Radio DJ, Amy Voce and Absolute Radio DJ, Jennie Longdon discuss birth plans, hospital bags, and the products they’re buying ahead of their imminent new arrivals.
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The Blissful Baby Expert, Lisa Clegg, and parenting expert and tonies® ambassador, Sue Atkins join My Baba’s Editor Ellie Thompson to troubleshoot sleep issues in young children. Together, they explore everything from how to implement a healthy bedtime routine, to the importance of a bedtime story via a book or audio player like the Toniebox. They discuss the importance of consistency, as well as common issues surrounding naps and bedtime. They talk through problems of sleep regression, nightmares, stalling at bedtime, separation anxiety and waking too early. A must-listen!
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Leo Bamford welcomes renowned psychotherapist, hypnotherapist and healer, Ruth Adams to the show to discuss child anxiety and to get her take on how to help our kids navigate these testing times. Ruth shares expert advice on what we can do in terms of reassuring our children amongst all the fear and uncertainty in the world right now.
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Editor of My Baba Ellie Thompson welcomes social media’s favourite foodie father, Leith’s-trained chef Adam Shaw from At Dad’s Table to the podcast to discuss what to eat during pregnancy. Adam shares his favourite tried and tested recipes so you can be sure you’re eating the right nutritious food for you and your growing bump, every step of the way. He also shares his top tips on preparing for the fourth trimester, with batch cooking advice and the best and easiest recipes for a brand new family. A must-listen for any expectant mama.
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Award-winning aesthetic skincare nurse Anna Baker joins us on the show again to chat winter skincare and how best to look after your skin during the colder months. Anna talks about everything from rosacea and different types of skin problems that can arise in winter, to Maskne and how to manage acne breakouts with continual mask-wearing. She also shares her must-use products for winter-proofing your skin.
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To commemorate Children’s Mental Health Week, My Baba’s Editor Ellie Thompson welcomes shyness expert Nadia Finer to the show to talk about shy children. Nadia explains the science behind being shy, how it can affect mental health, and what we can be doing to help our shy children so they can gain confidence from a young age.
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American entrepreneur and founder of Speechly Cliff Weitzman joins the show to talk with Leo about his text to speech app Speechify, and his own journey with dysleia. Cliff was diagnosed with dyslexia aged 9 and describes it as ‘the best day of his life,’ after experiencing so many struggles and hurdles with reading previously.
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Ellie Thompson, Editor at My Baba welcomes the UK’s number one baby and children’s food expert Annabel Karmel back to Parental Control to talk about fussy eaters. We ask the tough question: are parents to blame for picky eating?
Annabel talks about how intolerances and allergies can play a role, and how best to deal with those to create a positive mealtime experience. She also divulges her top failsafe ways to get kids eating fruit and veg, and the best ways to get your little ones snacking sensibly.
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My Baba Founder Leonora Bamford is joined on the podcast by parent coach Katherine Sellery, Founder of the Conscious Parenting Revolution. They discuss issues surrounding children and discipline, sibling bickering and childhood anxiety and why we might need to rethink our day-to-day strategies.
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My Baba’s Editor Ellie Thompson welcomes Amanda Williamson from Future Health Biobank to discuss the importance of cord blood and stem cell banking. Amanda also shares her expert advice on the things to consider when choosing a stem cell bank for your child.
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Jaime Amor is the superwoman behind global yoga brand, Cosmic Kids, and I was so excited to catch up with her in this latest episode of Parental Control. loved talking to her about her journey; from teaching yoga to filming her series and getting it out there worldwide. We discuss the immense impact lockdown has had on her brand and what it’s like to work with her husband, Martin Amor.
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My Baba’s Editor Ellie Thompson welcomes life coach and boundary expert Michelle Elman to the show to talk about making new mum friends at the school gate. Ellie quizzes Michelle on what it is about the school run so many mums find terrifying, when to ignore, and when to say ‘no’, and how to find peace outside of the cliques.
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Leonora welcomes Fast Change therapist James Hymers to the podcast to talk about everything from anxiety and stress to mental health and letting go of old fears and traumas. James explains why sleep, creativity, exercise and diet are so important to us all and why we should all spend less time on devices.
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My Baba’s Editor Ellie Thompson is joined by award-winning Sunday Times bestselling author and Instagram sensation Rebecca Wilson to chat about weaning and family food, and to celebrate the launch of her new book, Family Comforts.
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My Baba’s Editor Ellie Thompson welcomes obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr. Ellie Rayner to the podcast to discuss how previous types of birth can have an impact on future pregnancy and subsequent births.
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My Baba’s Editor Ellie Thompson welcomes journalist and award-winning blogger Alison Perry to talk about everything from her award-winning website, Not Another Mummy Blog, to the launch of her new book, OMG, It’s Twins.
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Leo welcomes Motherkind’s Zoe Blaskey to Parental Control to talk about the changes motherhood brings.
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My Baba’s Editor Ellie Thompson welcomes guests Pinky Laing, Head of Partnerships for Tonies UK and Emily Best, Knowledge and Research Manager at the National Literacy Trust to Parental Control to discuss the benefits of audiobooks for children.
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My Baba’s Editor Ellie Thompson welcomes psychotherapist, Emmy Brunner to the show to chat about the launch of her book, Find Your True Voice. A practical 11-step guide to healing, Emily discusses her perspective on childhood trauma and how she believes it can be the cause of the mental health issues we experience today.
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Leo welcomes Internet Matters CEO Carolyn Bunting to the show to discuss how to keep kids safe online. Within this episode of Parental Control, we talk about everything surrounding internet safety for children, their digital lives, gaming, live streaming and the impact the online world is having on the wellbeing of our children.
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My Baba’s Editor Ellie Thompson welcomes midwife, stylist and content creator Sophia Ferrari-Wills to the show to talk interiors. They discuss everything from creating the ultimate nursery, to how the Tripp Trapp is Sophia’s ultimate piece of baby kit. You can also read the highlights of the interview here.
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I spoke to Janet Lindsay, CEO of Wellbeing of Women today all about the most common women’s health issues from endometriosis to irregular bleeding and much more. Please listen, share with friends and start talking about these important issues that are affecting around half the nation.
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Award-winning food blogger and author of “We’re Hungry” Ciara Attwell shares her top tips for feeding fussy eaters, her fail-safe go-to meals and how to save time and money when it comes to food shopping and cooking.
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My Baba’s editor Ellie Thompson is joined on the show by Kate Davies, research, policy and information director from Tommy’s. This episode explores the reasons why women in the UK are being let down when it comes to a lack of support after a miscarriage, and how we can help by signing this petition.
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Award-winning aesthetic nurse Anna Baker joins Leo on the podcast to talk all things skincare. Anna advises on the best skincare routine, as well as the growing popularity of retinoids, botox and fillers.
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Annabel Karmel joins Leonora on the show to talk about weaning with tips for both puree or baby-led routes, allergies, snacks and how to encourage the kids to be more involved in the kitchen.
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We invite maternity nurse aka The Blissful Baby expert Lisa Clegg to the show to discuss baby routine and sleep. Lisa shares her top tips, which include how to introduce a bottle to a breastfeeding baby and how having a routine doesn’t mean that you can’t go out for a day with friends. Our podcast on baby routine includes discussion about different ages and stages, with Lisa confirming that it’s not just down to luck when you have a baby that sleeps well.
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World-renowned paediatrician and child development expert Dr. Harvey Karp joins Parental Control to talk with Leo about baby sleep. Includes top tip for new parents, including what to expect from your newborn, when to introduce a routine and advice on how to deal with the cot transition.
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We invited child research psychologist Dr. Amanda Gummer to the show to answer some of our questions on homeschooling and family life in general right now.
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My Baba founder Leonora Bamford welcomes parent coach Katherine Sellery, the founder of the Conscious Parenting Revolution to Parental Control to discuss a range of childhood issues including anxiety and self-esteem.
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Paediatrician Dr Sophie Niedermaier-Patramani joins the show to talk about children’s winter health.
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Sam Barclay, author of ‘I Wonder What It’s Like To Be Dyslexic’ joins Leo in this latest episode to talk about dyslexia.
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One for the kids! Tune in and listen to the legendary Fireman Sam as he joins the podcast to talk to My Baba’s editor Ellie Thompson about bonfire night safety, as well as his adventures in Pontypandy.
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Co-founder of It Happens Education Amy Forbes-Robertson joins the show to talk about sex education. Are you wondering how and when to have ‘the talk’? A must-listen for any parent wanting to discuss the topic of bodies and boundaries
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Founder Childs Farm Joanna Jensen and consultant dermatologist Dr. Jennifer Crawley join Leo for this latest episode of Parental Control to talk about skincare. Topics covered range from how to look after a baby’s skin all the way up to tween issues and sun damage throughout the ages.
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Head of Community Insight and Child Safeguarding at SuperAwesome, Craig Donaghy joins the show to talk about internet safety, and the role us as parents have to play.
Craig shares his views on popular social media platforms TikTok, Facebook and Instagram along with some expert advice on how our kids can use these apps in a safe and controlled way.
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We’re joined by the incredible Lucinda Miller, clinical lead and founder of NatureDoc Clinic.
Lucinda joins the show this month to talk to about cows’ milk protein intolerance (CMPA) and the role of probiotics, gut bacteria, nutrition, and how to climb the milk ladder.
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Nutritionist, naturopath and herbalist Rhaya Jordan joins the show to talk about how you can connect good and healthy food choices with family time.
This episode covers everything from weaning, snacking, vitamins and how to implement good healthy eating habits.
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We welcome Mandy Gurney, health visitor, sleep expert, and the founder of Millpond Sleep Clinic, back to the show to talk about children’s sleep.
In this podcast, Mandy talks about everything from sleep patterns and body clocks to sleep problems and how to master the art of learning those all-important cues.
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Julia Samuel is one of the wisest people on this planet and I am so happy to have her on Parental Control discussing what is going on both inside our brains and our bodies during this difficult time of isolation. At the time of our remote recording, the guidelines on isolation were rapidly changing, so I am sorry if anything discussed is out of date by the time you listen to this.
With all this stress on our bodies and minds at the moment, I called on dietitian and cordon bleu chef Jane Clarke to help answer some questions on how to nourish our bodies inside and out. We recorded this bonus episode remotely so I hope you can hear us clearly. Thank you to Jane for your words of wisdom!
This episode covers the following topics: foods to eat when you’re anxious, how to get a better sleep rhythm and how not to put on too much weight at this time.
We thought this brilliant episode with arts and crafts blogger and founder of Red Ted Art, Maggy Woodley and My Baba’s very own craft extraordinaire Nanny Anita was very timely for the moment. We really hope it sparks some great ideas for crafting and getting hands-on with the kids now and in the coming months.
This episode is about crafting, experiments and having fun with kids of all ages. We talk about fine motor skills and educational aspects to crafting and everything in between.
It’s amazing how much can be done with bits and bobs floating around the house. Crafting with kids definitely shouldn’t cost a fortune and I really hope you get inspired by these two crafty queens, whether it be a seasonal craft with the kids or a 5-minute rainy day activity.
This month, we welcome back to the podcast child psychologist and parenting coach Dr Maryhan Baker. In this episode we asked Maryhan’s advice on managing screen time, technology and how too much of it might be affecting our children’s behaviour.
My Baba founder Leo talks to influencer, interior decorator and TV host Sophie Stanbury about everything from beauty and fitness to finding that perfect work-family balance.
Living in London with her two boys, she shares her top tips on interiors, where to go in town and life as an influencer. This episode is full of Sophie’s tips and tricks on how to look good, including how she looks after her amazing mane of hair, to getting things done at home.
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This month nutritionist Jane Clarke talks to Leonora all about gut health during pregnancy and in babies. What is a healthy gut microbiome? And how can you change it? We talk about gestational diabetes, c-sections and how to get your baby off to a good start.
Leonora invited nutritionist and dietician Jane Clarke on the show to talk about how gut health and the impact it has on our physical and mental health, and the simple changes we can make to improve our family’s health and wellbeing.
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Are children born picky eaters or is it something they grow into? How does diet affect academic and mental performance? And should you ever feed your child snacks before bed?
My Baba founder Leonora invited Lucinda Miller, a naturopath and Functional Health Practitioner, on the show to talk about children and nutrition: why their first foods are so important; how we can teach children to look after their bodies and why she never talks to her own children about good food and bad food.
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Why is sleep so important? How do you calm them down after a nightmare? And is there a perfect amount of sleep for your child?
Leonora invited Mandy Gurney, a health visitor, sleep expert and the founder of Millpond Sleep Clinic on the show to talk about children’s sleep problems, how to learn your child’s sleep pattern and the things that stop them dropping off to sleep at night.
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Why don’t children do what you ask them? How do you help them understand when they’re embarrassing you? And what should you do when your child says ’I hate you’ ?
Leonora invited child psychologist and parenting coach Dr Maryhan Baker on the show to talk about behaviour and rewards, helping your child manage their emotions and why she believes parenting books don’t work.
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How much is your gut having an impact on your health and wellbeing? You might be surprised…
Leonora invited nutritionist and dietician Jane Clarke on the show to talk about how gut health and the impact it has on our physical and mental health, and the simple changes we can make to improve our family’s health and wellbeing.
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How can you assess how fertile you are? Does mental health have an impact on fertility? And are you falling for the common fertility myths?
Leonora invited fertility expert Zita West, who has helped thousands of couples through their pregnancy journey, on the show to talk to us about the common issues couples face when trying to conceive, lifestyle adjustments you can make to improve your fertility, and whether medical intervention is always necessary.
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Why do people get allergies? What does an allergic reaction look like? Are vegan and gluten-free diets contributing to intolerances? And how can we help our children develop healthy immune systems? Leonora invited Dr Tom York, full-time GP and first-time dad, on the show to talk about allergies, why allergy rates are increasing in children, how to spot an allergic reaction and whether our overly clean lifestyles are damaging to our health.
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Why is sugar so addictive? Why are schools still feeding our children so many sugary treats? And how has eating sugar in our own childhoods affected our health and current relationship with the sweet stuff? Leonora invited Lizzie King, a nutritional health coach and founder of Lizzie Loves Healthy, onto the show to talk about sugar and the potential damage it’s doing to our children’s health.
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Leonora interviews four teenage girls about their lives online. From the right age to give your child a smartphone to getting around safety barriers to what teens are doing to protect themselves on the internet, here’s what all parents should know about online safety.
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My Baba Measure / 14 October, 2026
Christmas Gifting / 14 October, 2026
