Advertise on podcast: Parent Unplugged: Parenting Toddlers And Young Kids (Ages 2–7)

In this episode, clinical psychologist Jade Redfern opens up about the early days of motherhood - and the quiet shame she carried when her experience didn’t match the story she’d been told. While everyone around her spoke about loving every moment and the magic of smelling your baby’s head, Jade shares how she felt none of that. Instead, she felt guilt, confusion, and the crushing pressure of wondering what was “wrong” with her - especially as a psychologist and therapist who felt she should know better. This confession challenges one of the most common myths of early motherhood: that instant bonding and enjoyment are universal. Jade reflects on why these experiences are rarely spoken about, why they don’t define the kind of parent we become, and how honesty can be a powerful antidote to shame. If the newborn stage wasn’t what you expected - or you felt alone in feelings you thought you shouldn’t have - this one is for you.

In this special 10-minute cutdown of Parent Unplugged, Charis is joined by bestselling author and feeding expert Annabel Karmel, whose work has shaped how millions of parents feed their children - and whose journey began with profound personal loss. Annabel shares the heartbreaking story of losing her daughter Natasha as a baby, the devastating circumstances surrounding her death, and the life-altering decision that followed: to have another child and channel her grief into something meaningful. What began as a mother trying to nourish her son and rebuild his health became a book written as therapy - one that was rejected by every publisher before going on to sell over five million copies worldwide. Alongside her personal story, Annabel offers clear, reassuring guidance on weaning, choking vs gagging, iron needs, allergies, fussy eating, and how parents can feel more confident during one of the most pressured stages of early parenting. This episode is about more than feeding children. It’s about grief, resilience, science-led parenting - and creating a legacy from love.

In this episode, we sit down with clinical psychologist Dr Jade Redfern (51k on Instagram) for a conversation that feels like a deep exhale for every parent who has ever thought, “Why am I the only one finding this so hard?” Jade brings equal parts expertise and honesty as we unravel the truth about shame in parenting, the myth of constant calm, and why our kids need our humanity far more than our perfection. Together we explore: ✨ Why so many parents feel shame for not being endlessly patient ✨ Repairing with your kids - and also giving yourself permission to feel ✨ The real meaning behind “I hate you, mum” ✨ How silliness, songs and play can completely shift tense moments ✨ Helping kids express big emotions safely ✨ Why your triggers often trace back to your own childhood ✨ What it means to model being human instead of being flawless Dr Jade shares practical, compassionate tools you can use the second you finish listening - from singing your stress out, to validating the size of a feeling, to turning everyday battles into playful rituals. This episode is packed with moments that linger - like noticing the parents standing alone at the park, writing down what you did get right today, or remembering that needing 350,000 repetitions doesn’t mean you’re failing… it just means you’re parenting. If you’ve ever snapped, apologised, felt guilty, laughed, tried again, or stared at your child thinking, “You’re teaching me so much about myself,” this conversation is a homecoming. Listen in and feel less alone.

This week on Parent Unplugged, I’m joined by Tara Porter, a clinical psychologist with over 28 years’ experience working with children, young people, and families. Tara shares powerful insights into why parenting feels so overwhelming today - and why good enough parenting might be exactly what our children need. We talk about: ⭐️ Why perfectionism and pressure are harming both parents and kids ⭐️ What “good enough parenting” really means (and what it doesn’t) ⭐️ How outcome-based parenting increases anxiety in families ⭐️ Why letting go of standards can strengthen your relationship with your child ⭐️ How modelling emotional honesty helps build emotionally resilient kids #ParentUnplugged #ParentingPodcast #GoodEnoughParenting #ParentingPressure #RaisingResilientKids #ChildMentalHealth #ClinicalPsychologist

This week on Parent Unplugged, I’m joined by Dr Anna Colton, Clinical Psychologist and author of How to Talk to Children About Food. Anna shares how we can heal our own relationship with food so we don’t pass guilt or shame onto our children. We talk about: ⭐️ Why labelling food as “good” or “bad” is unhelpful ⭐️ Practical things parents can do at mealtimes to protect children’s relationship with food ⭐️ How to stop our own food issues spilling onto our kids ⭐️ The importance of language we use about our own bodies ⭐️ How to handle comments from grandparents like “clear your plate” or “no pudding until you’ve eaten your veg”

In this Parent Unplugged Confessions episode, I’m sharing a deeply honest story from therapist Suzie Booth that many parents think but rarely say out loud: I miss my old life. From preschool shame spirals and cringey parenting moments, to the quieter, heavier grief that can arrive in the early days of parenthood - this episode explores what happens when your life changes irreversibly overnight, and no one tells you that it’s okay to mourn what you’ve lost. I talk about the shock of new motherhood, the shame of not “loving every minute,” a frightening intrusive thought that stopped me in my tracks, and the unexpected moment of relief that came from finally saying the truth out loud - and being met with understanding instead of judgement. This is an episode about: Missing your pre-children life The grief that can sit alongside love Shame, secrecy, and intrusive thoughts Why these feelings are often normal - and why talking about them matters If you’ve ever loved your children deeply and missed who you used to be, this episode is for you. You’re not broken. You’re not alone. And you don’t have to keep it a secret.

Tantrums can feel overwhelming - but what if we’ve been misunderstanding them all along? In this Charis Unplugged segment of the Parent Unplugged Podcast, parenting coach Charis Halsall reframes tantrums as signs of dysregulation rather than “bad behaviour.” She explains what’s happening in a young child’s brain, why staying calm matters more than stopping the tantrum, and how to hold boundaries without shutting down emotions. This is practical, compassionate guidance for parents who want to respond with confidence - even when emotions are running high.

Some children don’t just dislike food - they fear it. In this 10-minute highlight, nutritionist and Brain Food author Lucinda Miller explains why highly selective eating is often rooted in neurology, sensory processing, and stress - not stubbornness or bad habits. We explore why mealtimes can trigger fight-or-flight, how nutrient depletion affects regulation and behaviour, and what actually helps children feel safe enough to expand their diet. A must-watch for parents of selective or neurodivergent eaters.

This one is for every mum who’s ever ended the day feeling totally drained - even when the to-do list didn’t look that overwhelming. I’m joined by the brilliant @morgancutlip to talk about the unseen emotional load so many of us are carrying - and what we can do to feel more supported, less resentful, and more like ourselves again. We talk about: ⭐ Why the day-to-day of motherhood can feel so exhausting ⭐ The frustration of having to ask your partner for help ⭐ How to deal with quiet resentment in your relationship ⭐ Getting more comfortable with needing - and receiving - support ⭐ What invisible labour actually looks like (and why it matters) ⭐ Small changes that can help you feel more like a team

Bedtime with toddlers can feel relentless - the stalling, the getting out of bed again and again, the early mornings, and that constant pull between meeting your child’s needs and desperately needing a moment to yourself. In this 10-minute Parent Unplugged highlight, parenting coach Charis Halsall speaks with child sleep specialist Gemma Coe about what’s really going on beneath toddler sleep struggles - and how to respond without power struggles or unrealistic expectations. Together, they explore: Why toddlers resist bedtime (and why “7 till 7” often isn’t realistic) How routines and visual cues can make bedtime feel fairer What to do when children keep getting out of bed Early waking, dropped naps, and changing sleep needs Holding your child’s hand to fall asleep - when it helps and when it can backfire Separation anxiety, night terrors, and co-sleeping How parents can balance their child’s sleep needs with their own wellbeing A calm, honest conversation for parents who want realistic sleep support - without blame, pressure, or rigid rules.

This week on Parent Unplugged, I’m joined by Jo Rodriguez, Health Psychologist and the creator behind the hugely popular Instagram page @straightforwardpsychology, followed by over 90,000 people. Jo brings such clarity and compassion to the emotional rollercoaster of parenthood, especially when it comes to rediscovering who we are beyond being “Mum” or “Dad.” We talk about: ⭐️ The guilt so many parents feel when trying to find themselves again after having kids ⭐️ How we’re attempting to break and reshape long-standing generational parenting patterns ⭐️ Why our fight, flight or freeze response can kick in over something as simple as the school run ⭐️ The pressures of modern parenting and how to navigate them with more self-compassion ⭐️ How understanding our nervous system can make day-to-day parenting feel more manageable #ParentingPodcast #ParentUnplugged #ModernParenting #ParentingGuilt #GenerationalHealing #GentleParenting #MentalHealthMatters #StraightforwardPsychology

At some point early on, I stopped trying to parent my children into what the world expected of them - and started parenting by listening. This episode with Dr Emma Offord isn’t about a perfect philosophy or a big parenting breakthrough. It’s about small, ordinary moments: a baby who refused to be spoon-fed, a jumper that felt wrong on the skin, a child who needed movement instead of sitting still. In this Parent Unplugged Confessions episode, Emma shares how choosing curiosity over control changed everything - and why trusting our children’s bodies, boundaries, and nervous systems can feel uncomfortable, misunderstood, and deeply right all at once.

“This isn’t just motherhood.” In this 10 minute chat, psychotherapist and midlife coach Natasha Crowe talks honestly about motherhood burnout - how it builds slowly, why so many women normalise it, and why feeling exhausted but still functioning doesn’t mean you’re failing. This bitesize cut-down explores: The difference between burnout and postnatal depression Why mothers stop caring for themselves without realising Identity loss, comparison, and isolation in modern motherhood Why asking for help feels so hard - and why it matters Burnout isn’t weakness. It’s a warning sign that you’re carrying too much. This conversation isn’t about fixing yourself - it’s about noticing, pausing, and remembering that good enough really is enough. 🔔 Subscribe for more Parent Unplugged honest conversations about parenting, mental health, and identity.

Bedtime with toddlers can feel relentless - the stalling, the getting out of bed again and again, the early mornings, and that constant pull between meeting your child’s needs and desperately needing a moment to yourself. In this 10-minute Parent Unplugged highlight, parenting coach Charis Halsall speaks with child sleep specialist Gemma Coe about what’s really going on beneath toddler sleep struggles - and how to respond without power struggles or unrealistic expectations. Together, they explore: Why toddlers resist bedtime (and why “7 till 7” often isn’t realistic) How routines and visual cues can make bedtime feel fairer What to do when children keep getting out of bed Early waking, dropped naps, and changing sleep needs Holding your child’s hand to fall asleep - when it helps and when it can backfire Separation anxiety, night terrors, and co-sleeping How parents can balance their child’s sleep needs with their own wellbeing A calm, honest conversation for parents who want realistic sleep support - without blame, pressure, or rigid rules.

A focused 10-minute cutdown from our conversation with conscious parenting coach Emily Hughes, bringing you the most powerful insights on tantrums, triggers, and connection - fast. In this short edit, Emily shares: Why tantrums are signs of overwhelm, not bad behaviour Why children don’t always “listen” - especially during play How connection before correction reduces power struggles What parental triggers can teach us about ourselves Why punishment doesn’t work - and what helps instead This is conscious parenting made practical - designed for busy parents who want clarity, reassurance, and calm in just ten minutes.