Podcasts are a brilliant source of support when it comes to helping with parenting, especially babies! There is such a lot to learn, particularly in those early days and it can often feel very overwhelming. Being able to listen to a relevant podcast whenever you need support, is a really helpful tool. Plus you can use them at a time that is convenient for you; on a walk, in the car, when making tea, before bed, you can make them fit around you.
Also, you can just listen and there is no pressure to act on what you have heard, you can take the bits you like and use them or not. There are so many podcasts out there which makes it easy to search for ones right for your current situation. They may not have all the answers but it can be nice sometimes to just feel reassured in what you are doing or how you are feeling.
Some are very relatable and all the podcasts we’ve selected are there to support women and mums at whatever stage they are at with their babies and children. Plus who doesn’t love listening to celebrity mums talking about the same things we talk about with our friends!
In case you’re not familiar with podcasts, let’s start by defining them. A podcast is basically an audio recording (like a radio show) that’s distributed through various streaming services. To access podcasts on Apple devices open the purple App named Podcasts and from there you can browse or search for topics and people you are interested in. For Android users, there is a choice of free apps, including Spotify, Stitcher, Podcast Addict and Pocket Casts.
There are a huge number and variety of podcasts out there, so without further ado, here are 5 Parenting Podcasts we think you will enjoy listening to.
Many of you will know Stacey Solomon, she came third in the X-factor 2009, won ‘I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here’ in 2010 and is currently a regular Loose Women panellist and TV presenter. She has three sons her most recent Rex born in May 2019 with partner Joe Swash.
In her podcasts, she covers labour, birth, pre and post-natal depression, breastfeeding, the early days and confessions of modern-day parents. She also partners up with Instagram superstar Sophie Hinchliffe aka Mrs Hinch for a lovely episode where Stacey, Joe, Sophie and her husband Jamie all have a frank discussion about being first and third-time parents. She is frank, honest, real and funny. It’s a great listen and really reassuring to hear her daily worries.
Mother Pukka, Anna Whitehouse, is a journalist from London. She writes the hugely popular blog Mother Pukka, with the tagline ‘for people who happen to be parents’. Anna’s husband Matt Farquharson is referred to as Papa Pukka and they collaborate a lot. They have two young daughters and work tirelessly to promote ‘Flex-appeal’. Employees speaking to and successfully working out flexible working hours to support life with children. Alongside their wonderful blog they have also created a series of podcasts (they also have a book too ‘Parenting the Sh** Out of Life’). The motto behind the podcasts is ‘a panel of mothers, a panel of papas and one simple mission; to parent the sh** out of life, laughing through the chaos that having children brings’.
“Dirty Mother Pukka is the #nofilter truth about modern parenting”
Dirty Mother Pukka has 3 series of podcasts with titles ranging from ‘How to raise a tiny feminist’ to ‘Don’t wet yourself laughing’. No topic is off-limits and provides a refreshing distraction from the chaos of your own situation as well as a good laugh. Most episodes come with an expletives warning, so it’s not for little ears.
She covers everything from how to survive toddler tantrums to dealing with self care. Zoe’s own motherhood journey is very interesting and you will probably it has many similarities to your own.
‘The Motherkind podcast is hosted by the Motherkind founder and coach Zoe Blaskey who is on a mission to bring you some of the best wellbeing teachers in the world to help you find your calm, happy place in the madness of modern mum life. Each episode features a different teacher from the world of self-development and wellbeing’.
Giovanna Fletcher is again a face you might recognise. She is an extreme force in her own right but also known as the wife to Tom Fletcher (frontman from McFly) and together they have three boys. Her podcast is just joyful and she finishes each episode with these three questions:
Since being a mum I…
Being a mum means…
and I’m happy when…?
Each episode features Giovanna interviewing and talking to a different celebrity or well-known face. Her conversations with Emma Willis and Rachaele Hambleton aka: The Part Time working mummy are particularly enjoyable, but there are many more to choose from.
Get Your Glow back, what every woman wants post-birth, is a wellness podcast for mums. Again, a very similar formula to Happy Mum, Happy Baby, as in each episode is Madeleine Shaw chatting openly and honestly with doctors, friends, hypnotherapists and specialists in varying areas of child development.
If you’re going through a never-ending sleep regression with your baby listen to her episode titled ‘Getting your baby to sleep like a baby’ with sleep consultant and founder of The Just Chill Baby Sleep Platform, Rosey Davidson. Rosey talked through a number of scenarios and provided great hints and tips along the way. It’s always nice to feel reassured that you are at least getting it a little bit right. Other episodes include Decluttering Your Life, Working Mum Wisdom and Let’s Talk Sex. A really informative podcast that looks to reassure us as we work it all out.
🎧 🎧 🎧 Obviously there are many more podcasts available and it would be wonderful to hear of any others that have helped you at certain times of your parenting journeys. 🎧 🎧 🎧
