By Your Side

In this episode, Katie speaks with Lauren Seager-Smith, CEO of For Baby’s Sake, about something that can quietly emerge or escalate during pregnancy and early parenthood: domestic abuse, particularly coercive control. Lauren explains why this period of huge transition can place strain on relationships, and how past trauma and early life experiences can shape the way partners relate to one another. She also helps unpack the warning signs of coercive control — behaviours that may initially appear subtle but can deeply affect a parent’s wellbeing and sense of safety. Together they discuss: Why pregnancy and early parenthood can be a time when abuse first appears or intensifies How trauma can influence relationship patterns The warning signs of coercive control Why speaking to a trusted professional can be an important first step Lauren also shares practical guidance on safety planning and where parents can find support — from midwives and health visitors to specialist helplines and local charities. At the heart of this conversation is a simple message: support is available, and no one should feel they have to face this alone. This episode centres the wellbeing of both parents and babies, recognising that when parents are supported and safe, babies are safer too.   To find out more or ask for support, you can contact: 👉 https://forbabyssake.org.uk/ 👉 Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247 👉 NSPCC - 0808 800 5000 ⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for information and awareness only and is not a substitute for professional or medical advice. If you are worried about your safety or someone else’s, please speak with a trusted professional or contact a specialist support service.

In this episode, I’m joined by Will Mauer, founder of the Children's Media Research and Reform Lab and a TEDx speaker. We talk about something almost every parent wrestles with: screens. Will explains how many children’s shows aren’t designed for development — they’re engineered for engagement. Fast cuts. Flashy visuals. Autoplay. Stacked episodes. All carefully structured to trigger dopamine hits and keep young viewers watching. For babies and toddlers — especially under two — that matters. We unpack: What “junk food media” actually means Why rapid pacing and autoplay affect the developing brain How addictive viewing patterns form The difference between quality and quantity Why co-viewing changes everything What to choose when you do need to use a screen This isn’t a shame-fest. It’s clarity. If screens are part of your life (and let’s be honest, for most of us they are), this episode will help you make steadier, more intentional choices — and be kinder to yourself in the process. Because protecting early development doesn’t require perfection. It requires awareness.   To find out more about Will you can find him on Linktree: https://linktr.ee/willmaurer or contact him on  [email protected]

New parenthood is full of shoulds. You should find breastfeeding natural. You shouldn’t hold your baby too much. You should feel back to normal by six weeks. But what if those stories were never true? In this episode of By Your Side, researcher Emily Little, PhD joins us to gently dismantle some of the most persistent baby myths — and replace them with science, context and compassion. Drawing on her research across more than 30 countries, Emily explores: Why breastfeeding is often hard (and why that’s not a personal failure) What infant contact really does to a baby’s nervous system How cultural norms , not biology, shape many parenting expectations Why the body and brain continue changing long after the six-week check This is an episode for anyone who’s ever wondered, “Is it meant to feel like this?” You’ll leave with reassurance, practical perspectives, and a deeper understanding of why support, not willpower, matters most in early parenthood.   👉 To learn more about Emily's work, visit hyperlink   The conversations shared on this podcast reflect personal experiences and professional insights, but they’re not a substitute for individual medical or mental health advice. If you’re struggling or have questions about your wellbeing or your baby’s, please speak to a qualified professional. You’re not alone, and help is available.

Why do dads often feel like the “plus one” in pregnancy and early parenting? In this powerful conversation, Katie talks with Kieran Anders, National Lead for Dad Matters, powered by Home-Start, supporting dads in the perinatal period to build strong relationships with their babies. He’s passionate about improving outcomes for families by ensuring dads are included, informed, and supported from the start. Together, they unpack: 👶 How dads bond from birth (yes, hormones play a part!) 🧠 Why play, touch and presence are vital for baby brain development 💬 How to bridge the “dad engagement gap” in pregnancy and postnatal care 💛 Why supporting fathers means stronger, calmer, more connected families   Kieran also shares his personal story — the highs, the struggles, and the reminder that dads don’t need to have it all figured out. They just need the support, space and agency to show up as themselves. 🎧 Tune in to this compassionate and eye-opening episode — for dads, partners, and anyone who believes that every parent deserves to feel they matter 👉 To learn more about Kieran’s work, visit Dad Matters   The conversations shared on this podcast reflect personal experiences and professional insights, but they’re not a substitute for individual medical or mental health advice. If you’re struggling or have questions about your wellbeing or your baby’s, please speak to a qualified professional. You’re not alone, and help is available.

How our childhood experiences shape the way we parent isn’t always obvious — but it’s always powerful. In this week’s episode, Katie talks with Suzanne Scott, founder of Trauma-Informed Parenting, about how childhood adversity (ACEs) can quietly influence our reactions, our patience, and even the stories we tell ourselves as parents. Together, they unpack: 💛 What trauma really means (beyond the big events) 🧠 Why shame and fear drive so many of our responses 🌿 How pausing, breathing, and repairing can transform connection This is a deeply grounding, hopeful conversation about starting where you are — with compassion for yourself first. Because you can’t regulate a child if you’re running on empty. 🎧 Listen now on By Your Side. 👉 To learn more about Suzanne’s work, visit traumainformedparenting.uk    The conversations shared on this podcast reflect personal experiences and professional insights, but they’re not a substitute for individual medical or mental health advice. If you’re struggling or have questions about your wellbeing or your baby’s, please speak to a qualified professional. You’re not alone, and help is available.  

Becoming a new parent changes EVERYTHING.  Gareth, a single foster dad to three children, shares his unfiltered journey into parenting kids with early-life trauma and how it reshaped his life. He explains why trauma is relational, how healing happens through relationships, and why therapeutic parenting focuses on repair over punishment. This is a must listen for all parents about how you don't need to be perfect, you just need to relate.  Key takeaways include the power of adult-led, fast, authentic repair, choosing “time in” over “time out,” balancing structure with flexibility, and learning from triggers. Practical, hopeful guidance for carers and parents supporting children who’ve experienced trauma.   The conversations shared on this podcast reflect personal experiences and professional insights, but they’re not a substitute for individual medical or mental health advice. If you’re struggling or have questions about your wellbeing or your baby’s, please speak to a qualified professional. You’re not alone, and help is available.

In this episode, I sit down with Lucy Nicholson, a midwife with over 15 years’ experience, to talk about the very real pressures parents feel to be “perfect” — and why even the experts carry their own worries about pregnancy and early parenthood. Lucy opens up about her own journey, from navigating expectations to making choices about care. She shares: How to choose (and change) caregivers in a way that feels right for you The role of self-compassion in easing new parent stress Why building community matters — and how her Nesting Lotus classes create a safe, supportive space for parents We also touch on something many parents face but few talk about: SPD (Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction), a painful pelvic condition that can affect mobility and confidence during pregnancy. Lucy offers her insights on how gentle movement in water can help, but please make sure you seek further medical advice if you are experiencing symptoms of SPD. It’s a warm, honest conversation packed with reassurance and practical takeaways — for anyone navigating pregnancy, postpartum, or the messy middle in between. 👉 You might also like to go back and listen to our episode with Professor Helen Ball on sleep — another myth-busting, reassuring chat that parents tell us makes a big difference. Link to episode     The conversations shared on this podcast reflect personal experiences and professional insights, but they’re not a substitute for individual medical or mental health advice. If you’re struggling or have questions about your wellbeing or your baby’s, please speak to a qualified professional. You’re not alone, and help is available.

Becoming a parent is challenging - but imagine becoming a parent without a partner, in a country you didn't grow up in and feeling that you couldn't tell the people who raised you that you were pregnant. In this truly inspirational episode I speak to Jill Samukimba, who shares her journey from orphanage beginnings to earning a PhD while raising her son largely on her own. Jill describes how unexpected community support, faith groups and small acts of kindness helped her through pregnancy, study and early parenting. She reflects on the challenges of asking for help, managing self-judgment, and the urge to overcompensate for childhood loss, and offers concise advice: be patient, remember hardship is a phase, lean on others, and trust that you will get through it.   🎧 Please listen with care — and join the conversation in the Podcast Lounge. By Your Side app.    The conversations shared on this podcast reflect personal experiences and professional insights, but they’re not a substitute for individual medical or mental health advice. If you’re struggling or have questions about your wellbeing or your baby’s, please speak to a qualified professional. You’re not alone, and help is available.

Most people have never heard of postnatal psychosis — until it happens to them. In this incredibly brave and honest conversation, Abbi shares her personal experience of postnatal psychosis after the birth of her first baby. From the early signs and terrifying thoughts, to seeking help, hospitalisation, and what recovery really looks like — this episode is raw, important, and full of quiet strength. We talk about: 🧠 What postnatal psychosis can feel like from the inside 🚑 How Abbi got help — and what she wishes more people knew 🫶 The power of being listened to without judgement 💛 What healing has looked like — and how she's using her story to help others If you or someone you love is struggling, this episode is here to say: you’re not broken, and you’re not alone. There is a way through. AbBi is living proof.   🔗 Please remember: this episode shares one person’s experience. If anything resonates with you, or you’re concerned about your mental health, we encourage you to seek professional support. You can find more information and help at apni.org — the Association for Postnatal Illness. 🎧 Please listen with care — and join the conversation in the Podcast Lounge if you feel able. By Your Side app.    The conversations shared on this podcast reflect personal experiences and professional insights, but they’re not a substitute for individual medical or mental health advice. If you’re struggling or have questions about your wellbeing or your baby’s, please speak to a qualified professional. You’re not alone, and help is available.

You don’t need a stack of books or a perfectly curated nursery to start your baby’s reading journey. In this heartening and practical conversation, Katie is joined by Dr. Stephanie Montgomery — educator, early literacy advocate, and all-round story enthusiast — to explore how even the simplest moments can nurture a love of language from the very beginning. Together, they dive into: How stories help shape early communication and emotional connection Why reading isn’t about the book — it’s about the bond Easy ways to build early literacy, even without books at home The everyday power of rhythm, rhyme, and your baby hearing your voice Whether you're a bookworm or just trying to keep your eyes open through nap traps and night feeds, this episode is a gentle reminder that every story you tell — even the silly ones — is building something important. 🎧 Tune in now and let’s keep the conversation going in the Podcast Lounge, inside the By Your Side app. 

What if babies are some of the best teachers we’ll ever have? In this uplifting episode, Katie is joined by Dan Wuori — senior advisor at the Hunt Institute, early learning expert, and one of the internet’s favourite voices on baby development — to explore how young children experience the world, what great early learning really looks like, and the quiet lessons babies offer if we know how to notice. They talk about: 🧠 What makes quality daycare actually quality 🪁 Why early learning is built through play, not pressure 🌟 How babies invite us to slow down and rediscover awe Whether you’re a parent thinking about childcare options, or just wondering how to support your baby’s learning without all the noise, this conversation will leave you feeling informed, grounded, and reminded of the magic in the everyday. 🎧 Listen now — and come share your reflections in the Podcast Lounge, inside the By Your Side app.    📖 Find out more about Dan and his book 'The Daycare Myth' here - https://danwuori.com/   👀 check out Dr Dan Wouri's socials - https://www.facebook.com/p/Dr-Dan-Wuori-61560432244491/    https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-wuori-4168a2134/  

The conversation doesn't have to end here. 👉 Head on over to the podcast lounge the space where you can ask your questions, share your thoughts and connect with other parents that get it. Because you don't have to do this on your own. 👈   In this episode of By Your Side, Katie sits down with Dr. Cornelia Ochola — a brilliant Kenyan paediatrician with over 15 years' experience walking alongside parents through the early years. Together, they explore the heart of responsive caregiving: what it really means to tune into your baby, why the little moments matter most, and how connection in the early days can shape a lifetime. Dr. Cornelia shares her own story — the moment that changed how she practised medicine — and walks us through five simple, powerful ways every caregiver can support their baby’s development. This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about learning to see, to listen, and to trust that how you show up today… matters more than you think. ❤️

The conversation doesn't have to end here. 👉 Head on over to the podcast lounge the space where you can ask your questions, share your thoughts and connect with other parents that get it. Because you don't have to do this on your own.    What if something as simple as walking to a toddler group could change your whole week — or even your whole parenting journey? In this episode of By Your Side, Katie chats with Jo Gordon, founder of Daniel’s Den — a network of parent-and-toddler groups with a big mission: to ensure that every family has access to a welcoming space within walking distance. Jo shares how her own experience as a new mum sparked a movement, and why showing up to a local group — even when you feel nervous or out of place — can offer connection, community, and a deep sense of belonging. We talk about: What to do if you feel shy or anxious about going to a group for the first time Why face-to-face connection matters more than ever in early parenthood The importance of local, low-cost, and inclusive support How to find or even start your own group if there isn’t one nearby Whether you're curious about toddler groups or just feeling a bit isolated in your parenting day-to-day — this conversation is a gentle reminder: you don’t have to do this alone. 🔗 Find out more about Jo’s work at danielsden.org.uk, and explore free parenting resources and support at byyoursideapp.com or via the episode notes.

The conversation doesn't have to end here. 👉 Join us in the podcast lounge the calm, comforting corner of the internet that gets the challenges of parenting. https://byyoursideapp.com/invitation?code=566EEB   Sleep. It’s the thing every new parent craves — and the one thing that can feel completely out of reach. So how do babies really sleep, and what should we actually be doing about it? In this episode of By Your Side, Katie is joined by world-renowned infant sleep researcher Professor Helen Ball for a myth-busting, reassuring conversation that blends science with real-life common sense. Helen is Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Infancy and Sleep Centre at Durham University. With decades of research into how babies sleep (and how we sleep with them), she’s helped shape everything from NHS guidance to public attitudes on co-sleeping, breastfeeding, and safe sleep practices. She’s also the author of the brilliant new book How Babies Sleep — an essential, evidence-based guide for any parent navigating those sleepless nights. Together, we explore: Why newborns sleep the way they do — and why it’s not a problem to solve How Western culture has shaped unrealistic expectations around infant sleep What safe sleep really looks like (it’s not one-size-fits-all) How to find an approach that works for your baby, and your family Whether you’re up for the fifth feed of the night or simply wondering when sleep gets easier, this episode is full of grounded advice, practical takeaways, and the reassurance you didn’t know you needed. 🔗 Grab Helen’s book How Babies Sleep  Find out more about Helen at: www.durham.ac.uk/disc www.basisonline.org.uk https://www.howbabiessleep.com and find free parenting resources, our course, and community at https://byyoursideapp.com/invitation?code=566EEB or via the episode notes.

What if one of the simplest things you can do with your baby — gentle touch — is also one of the most powerful for their brain, body, and your bond? In this first episode of By Your Side, Katie is joined by child development expert Dan Berman to explore the science and soul behind infant massage. With nearly two decades of experience in Early Years and new parent support, Dan brings a rare blend of warmth, insight, and evidence-based wisdom to the conversation. Dan is the President Emeritus of the U.S. chapter of the International Association of Infant Massage, a Certified Educator in Infant Massage, and the founder of BABY STEP — a free resource hub for new parents and educators. He’s also Director of Development at Our Kids Read, a non-profit helping young children discover the joy of reading. Together, we unpack: How infant massage can support better sleep, bonding, and brain development Why touch is a language your baby already understands How dads and non-birthing partners can use massage to connect from day one Why positive touch is a pillar of early intervention and secure attachment This isn’t about perfect routines or ticking boxes — it’s about slowing down, tuning in, and letting touch do what it’s always done: connect us. 🔗 For free resources, our parenting course, and membership community, visit byyoursideapp.com or check the links in the episode description.   To stay in touch with Dan and see what he's doing: Dan email:  [email protected] Dan's LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/danberman1 BABY STEP:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/104231435 International Association of Infant Massage  www.iaim.net Infant Massage USA:  www.infantmassageusa.org Our Kids Read:  www.ourkidsread.org