This week on Is This Normal, hosts Sarah and Sheena are joined by Bernard McCloskey, Head of Education for NI Screen.

Bernard chats through the endless possibilities for young people in Northern Ireland who are passionate about gaming, coding, film and technology and explains how screen time is not all bad and can have some real educational value for kids.

Sheena and Sarah are joined by Dr Kirsty Porter. 

From making mealtime more fun, to what foods to avoid or encourage, Kirsty talks through the highs and lows of a toddler's diet.

On this week’s episode of Be’s parenting podcast hosts Sheena and Sarah chat with Agata Young from Simply Grow on how important play time is for children's development.

Agata provides some brilliant tips for play ideas and how to make the most out of everyday items that most families already have in their home.

All mothers have different experiences with breastfeeding and on this week’s episode of Be’s parenting podcast, hosts Sheena and Sarah chat with Breastfeeding Lead at the Public Health Agency, Janet Calvert on some of the obstacles and joys of breastfeeding, as well as some useful tips and advice.

Janet is passionate about the benefits of breastfeeding and said that she began her journey as she felt that “every mum should be able to get all the help that they need to be able to succeed.

In Episode 3 of Be's parenting podcast Is this Normal? hosts Sheena and Sarah chat with Vicki Campbell from KeepaBeat NI on the topic of first aid.

Finding yourself in an emergency situation with a child is every parents worst nightmare but Vicki provides some invaluable tips and guidance on what you should do if you’re faced with an emergency including newborn breathing, choking and burns. She also advises on the must have items for your first aid kit.

On the topic of choking Vicki said she has a simple rhyme to help parents recognise when they should intervene. She said:

“If they are loud and red we let them go ahead, if they are quiet and blue they need help from you.

Series 2 of Is This Normal? is packed with advice from experts on a wide range of parenting topics.

Coming up in the series, the girls will also be chatting to experts on screen time, nutrition and breastfeeding.

Becoming pregnant and preparing to give birth is a wonderfully exciting time for many new mums but it can also come with a whole range of worries and fears.

Then add a worldwide pandemic into the mix and a whole new range of emotions can take over.

But as we start to look beyond the pandemic and our emergence from lockdown, we spoke to a dedicated Antenatal Education coordinator who gave us some great tips for preparing for labour and how NI health trusts are continuing to support expectant mums round the clock, despite Covid-19 challenges.

Gemma Winter, Antenatal Education Co-ordinator for the Southern Trust chatted to Be's parenting podcast Is This Normal? about all things pregnancy.

Sleep is one of the most popular topics of conversations for parents.

From the moment you bring your little one home, people will ask if they are a good sleeper.

But sleep issues are not confined to the newborn stage as challenges continue for parents throughout the toddler years and beyond.

Speaking on the first episode of the second series of Be's parenting podcast, Is This Normal, Erica Hargaden, a paediatric sleep consultant with her private practice Babogue, describes sleep in the first three years of a child's life as a "roller coaster".

For more info from Erica, visit her Instagram or Twitter.

Season 2 of 'Is This Normal' starts this Wednesday 9th June.

Part 2 of our bonus episode as part of Belfast Live and Electric Ireland's Power of Pause campaign, looks at children and parents entering school age and beyond, with guest Dr Malie Coyne.

Malie has written her first book 'Love In Love Out' a guide to empower parents to understand and recognise anxiety in their children.

Links to resources mentioned;

Headspace

Compassionate mind approach Netmums

Infant Mental Health

The Invisible String

In this bonus podcast as part of Belfast Live and Electric Ireland's Power of Pause campaign, hosts Sheena McStravick and Sarah Scott are joined by Dr Malie Coyne.

Malie has written her first book 'Love In Love Out' a guide to empower parents to understand and recognise anxiety in their children.

In part one of this two part podcast Malie talks about parenting and infant mental health in the years before school.

Links to resources mentioned;

Headspace

Compassionate mind approach Netmums

Infant Mental Health

The Invisible String

Part two of the podcast will be released 4th December.