Positively Parenthood

Welcome to the fourth and final episode of my special Heidi at Home series, in partnership with CBeebies BeddyByes.

The clocks are going back, and while the idea of an extra hour in bed sounds lovely, anyone with a toddler who already thinks 5.30am is a perfectly reasonable time to start the day might be feeling slightly less enthusiastic! 😂

On Sunday 25 October, the clocks go back by an hour. But unfortunately, our children's body clocks don't automatically change with them.

So, do we need to start preparing? Should we move bedtime? What happens to naps? And what on earth do we do if our child starts waking at 5am?!

In this final episode, I'm talking about circadian rhythms, children's sleep and how to approach the autumn clock change without turning your entire family routine upside down.

We cover:

• What your child's circadian rhythm actually is and how it influences sleep
• Why the clocks changing can temporarily disrupt sleep and wake times
• Whether you really need to prepare your child in advance
• How to gradually adjust bedtime and daily routines for children who are more sensitive to change
• Why daylight is so important for helping reset the body clock
• What to do if your child starts waking an hour earlier
• How to approach naps during the transition
• Why familiar routines and predictable cues can make a difference
• How to create a gentler wind-down towards bedtime
• Why some children adjust quickly while others need a little longer

One of the biggest things I want parents to take away from this episode is that you don't necessarily need to do anything at all!

If your child is generally a good sleeper and fairly adaptable, you may find that keeping your usual routines and allowing their body clock to catch up naturally works absolutely fine.

For children who are more sensitive to change, particularly early risers or those who struggle when overtired, a little preparation can help.

We also talk about how our children's bodies use familiar signals throughout the day to understand when it's time to be awake and when it's time to slow down.

Things like daylight, mealtimes, activity levels, lighting and the predictability of the evening routine can all play a part.

And if screen time is part of your family's routine, choosing slower, more mindful content such as CBeebies BeddyByes can be one of those familiar cues that the pace of the day is beginning to change.

Used earlier in the evening, before screens go off and you move into bath time, stories and cuddles, it can become part of a gentle transition towards bedtime.

Because ultimately, the clocks might change overnight, but your child's body clock needs a little time to catch up.

And there's no need to turn that into a military operation!

Find CBeebies BeddyByes

You can watch CBeebies BeddyByes on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer.

Follow @beddybyesofficial on:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beddybyesofficial
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beddybyesofficial/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@beddybyesofficial

You can also find more episodes of Heidi at Home on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.

And if you've missed the earlier episodes in this special series, we've covered after-school overwhelm, connection at bedtime, and helping children with night-time fears, nightmares and night terrors.

Thank you so much for listening to this special series. I really hope it's helped you understand a little more about your child's sleep, emotions and the transitions that can sometimes feel so tricky.

Heidi x

This series shares general parenting guidance drawn from child development research and my 17 years working with families. It isn't a substitute for individual medical, psychological or educational advice. If you're worried about your child's sleep, anxiety or development, please speak to your GP, health visitor or another qualified professional.

Paid partnership with CBeebies BeddyByes.

What does it really take to walk away from the security of a corporate career and build something of your own?

In this episode of Heidi at Home, I'm joined by the founder of Wild Thingz to talk about the leap so many people dream about - but few actually make.

We explore what it means to take a risk on yourself, build a business from the ground up, and create a brand that people genuinely remember. Along the way, we also talk honestly about the realities of juggling life with entrepreneurship, making difficult decisions, and finding a way to grow a business without losing sight of what matters most.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The decision to leave the corporate world and become founders.
• Taking calculated risks and trusting your instincts.
• What it takes to build a memorable brand in a crowded market.
• The realities of being women in business.
• Balancing ambition with family life.
• The lessons learnt along the way

Whether you're dreaming of starting a business, already running one alongside family life, or simply curious about the stories behind successful brands, this is an honest conversation about courage, resilience and building something you're proud of.

Wild Thingz have a brand new flavour of sweets out NOW

If you enjoyed this episode, I'd be so grateful if you followed Heidi at Home, left a review, or shared it with someone who's thinking about taking that next step in their own career or business.

In this episode, I am joined by the fabulous Lucy (the Children's Dietitian) for an honest and informative conversation about your baby, toddler or child's diet and feeding. 

In this episode, we discuss big topics that are hugely important and contribute to sleep, behaviour and overall temperament, including:

-Baby Gut Health 

-Milk Intolerances and Allergies 

-Sensitive Tummies & Weaning

-Getting Support from the right Professional

-Probiotics and the Research behind them

-Diets and Eating Habits of School aged Children

Lucy gives a brilliant insight into how to get help and support by professionals when you feel like you have been passed around and not listened to with your baby's symptoms, as well as some brilliant conversation around feeding our school aged children too. 

For more information on Lucy's services, head to @childrensdietitian on Instagram or her website Infant & child feeding & nutrition services | The Children’s Dietitian — The Children's Dietitian | Lucy Upton

In this podcast episode, Heidi tackles the HUGE topic of listening, or rather lack of. 

So many parents struggle with how to get their child(ren) to listen more. If this is you, you are not alone! It can feel exhausting when you have to ask a child to do something ten times, then end up shouting. It happens to us all, but here Heidi shares her very best tips on how to encourage your child to listen without needing to resort to threats or consequences.

For more information on Heidi's Parent Coaching services, visit parentingwithheidi.com 

In this episode Heidi is joined by the wonderful Alice Mackintosh, a registered nutritional therapist and co-founder of Equi London. 

It is no secret to anyone who follows her, that Heidi has struggled to look after herself since baby number three arriving now nearly two and a half years ago. We know that being in the early throws of motherhood can mean that often, our needs are put to the bottom of the pile.

In this episode, Alice gives us some really solid and sound ideas for keeping on top of our own health, including topics such as: 

• Iron postpatrum
• Having regular blood tests
• Whether electrolytes are useful 
• Eating a Mediterranean diet 
• Perimenopause 

This episode is a brilliant way of reducing the overwhelm surrounding health and well being right now and getting to the basics of what exactly we need to do as parents, to look after ourselves. 

To book an appointment or ask a question:
Visit www.alicemackintosh.com or email [email protected]

Explore Equi London supplements:

Head to www.equilondon.com and fill out the quick questionnaire on the homepage to discover which products are best suited to your needs.

Exclusive 20% discount for Positively Parenthood listeners: Use code 'HEIDIPP20' at checkout (excludes bundles and subscriptions)

In this episode, Heidi and Mel explore the topic of potty training and helping our children to be "dry" at night time. This episode covers: 

• When to start
• How to start
• Dealing with accidents 
• Poo fear 
• Becoming dry at night

...and lots more! From honest chat as mothers to two toddlers who are also at potty training age, to admitting defeat on night time training, Heidi and Mel share both their advice and their personal stories to help reassure any other parent who is about to embark on potty training, struggling with wet beds at night or those who just want a raw and honest parenting chat.

Out Potty Training Course is available here. 

Positively Parenthood also offers a monthly parenting membership for only £20/month where you can access online courses, webinars, 24/7 parenting support and live group sessions with Heidi and Mel. 

The episode you’ve all been waiting for! This week, I’m joined by the brilliant Charlie Launder of Bumps & Burpees to talk about a topic I get asked about all the time - the jump from two to three children.

We get honest about what that transition really looks like:

• Charlie opens up about her fertility journey before having her first child
• We both share why we chose to have a third baby
• The (many!) challenges that come with managing three little ones
• And how we juggle motherhood and running our own businesses

If you’re currently on the fence about growing your family, this conversation is a must-listen. Whether you’re seeking reassurance, real talk, or just a sense of solidarity, you’ll find it here.

If your little one seems to not sleep out of discomfort, or spits up and has signs of reflux, then this episode is for you! 

In this super short and sweet bonus episode, Heidi takes you through the main causes of baby reflux and discusses how you might then be able to go about finding support for your baby. 

To download the Positively Parenthood reflux checklist, click here. 

In this episode, Heidi is joined by Melanie, sleep coach at Positively Parenthood and Mum of two, to discuss sleep and routines whilst away on holiday.

Over the years, Heidi and Mel have travelled to many a destination with their young families as well as Heidi travelling as a nanny for many years too. This episode shares some super useful and implementable advice on big topics such as:

• Dealing with jet lag 
• How to go out for dinner on holiday
• Promoting sound sleep whilst away 
• Flying with toddlers - tips and tricks 
• Getting back into a routine when home 

And much more... 

If you are looking for help with your baby or toddlers sleep, don't forget to check out our new membership: access to all of our online parenting courses, resources and 24/7 chat bot ParentGuide. We hope to see you in our next members session!

In this episode Heidi is joined by the incredible Lucinda Miller of NatureDoc. Lucinda is a well known naturopath in the UK and specialises in working with parents of neurodiverse children, in order to help improve their sleep, behaviour and all round calm.

In this episode we cover: 

• Why our babies guts are struggling...
• How pregnancy impacts our babies gut 
• Can we avoid reflux in our babies? 
• The impact of Covid on our children's health & wellbeing 
• How temperament is linked to the gut 
• Boosting immunity in the winter months 
• Magnesium and sleep 
• How dairy impacts sleep 
• Improving focus with supplements  

Find Lucinda Miller on Instagram @naturedockids. Subscribe to her Healthy Bites weekly email here. Buy Lucinda's books and her supplement pick ⁠here  

For more help and support with parenting or to work with Heidi and her team, find us ⁠here