Brummie Mummies

Think your child might have autism? My guest today is Child & Adolescent Therapist Laura Gwilt, an expert in autism, how to spot it and help your child thrive. Welcome back to Brummie Mummies. My name is Zoe Chamberlain, I’m a journalist, author and mum. I launched Brummie Mummies as a community for families to share with you stories from the most inspiring mums and dads to help you find out how t...

Having children is so expensive but now a Solihull mum has come up with a way to help parents save a fortune - by buying and selling kids pre-loved kids’ clothes for a fraction of their original price. Mum-of-two Jenny Charman bought second hand items for her boys and has used the money she’s saved to enjoy family experiences and create memories together instead. She has a shop in Solihull called...

When sisters Fallon Taylor and Paige Coyle set up Gaia Roots wellness, they had no idea they’d end up offering their services for free to young people in need. But the caring pair realised too many people were falling down a mental health gap and not getting the support they needed. So, they invited therapist Kayleigh Cunningham to join them and turned their business into a charity, providing free...

Kids grow up so quickly. It feels like you blink and they’re at school, blink again and they’re teenagers. Mum-of-two Ruth Sturdy has come up with a novel way of recording every part of growing up by way of an annual ritual. The Colour Chronicles are a series of keepsake books that children can fill out with their parents, answering questions and drawing pictures to help capture that moment in tim...

What do you wish you’d known when you were a teenager? That’s what today’s podcast is all about. Sixteen to 24 year olds are the loneliest age group in the UK, according to Office of National Statistics research. Inspired by the issues raised in crime drama Adolescence, experts at Swift Psychology in Birmingham asked people from different backgrounds to share advice they’d like to have received wh...

It’s exhausting when your child is struggling to sleep. You’ve tweaked their daytime nap, you’ve given them an early tea and a relaxing bath and made sure they haven’t got colic or reflux. And still they won’t sleep. Don’t despair! My guest today is sleep expert Heidi Skudder from Positively Parenthood. I chatted to her ahead of her appearance at The Baby Show at Birmingham NEC where she shared so...

Today’s podcast is all about being school ready. A recent report has shown that many children are not what it calls ‘school ready' by the time they reach reception.  The Kindred Squared survey revealed big gaps in communication and focus, with children not being able to listen, respond to instructions, sit still or play with classmates together with issues around toilet training, being able to dre...

What if there was one piece of parenting advice that probably trumps everything you’ve ever been told? I feel like today’s guest shared that with me when we met ahead of her appearing at The Baby Show at Birmingham NEC. As one of the UK’s leading early years parent coaches and a former nanny who studied psychology, Heidi Skudder uses her hands-on experience to empower parents via her Positively Pa...

The thought of an accident or emergency strikes fear into the heart of every parent. But the key is to stay calm and not panic. And the only way to do that is to know what to do should the worst situation arise. Our guest today is Nicole Barnard who runs Daisy First Aid courses across the Midlands. She says that having practical techniques up your sleeve - and the right things in your first aid ki...

My guest today is Miranda de Freston who set up Happy Confident Kids with her friend Laura Dumbleton-Jones in a bid to help children of all ages develop confidence and resilience with a toolkit of coaching and time spent in nature. They share their workshops with parents, teachers and sports coaches in a bid to make a real change by helping young people learn skills that can last a lifetime. Learn...

Which foods are best for boosting your child’s immune system to stop them bringing home bugs? And which help boost their brains in time for exams? To find out we chatted to Natasha Maynard, company nutritionist for Tesco, which has just invested £4m into Fruit & Veg for Schools and is even putting slow cookers in the classroom. Let’s find out how to kickstart our kids' health, even on a really tig...

Starting school is a huge deal for all families so it's not surprising we, as parents, feel pressured to get it right. My guest today is here to help. Adam Ames is headteacher at Pegasus Primary in Castle Vale and has loads of advice on making sure you choose the right school for your family, what questions to ask when you visit and what signs to look out for. Let’s get straight into talking to hi...

For lots of families, rising costs mean we can only afford to do one festive event this Christmas. So you really need to make it count. Today I’m joined by Olivia Shepard, a teacher and event organiser at Statfold Country Park for her tips on making one event the focus of a whole month of festive activities - without spending an extra penny. Find out more about Statfold’s Magical Santa Express by...

Liz Deutsch was just six weeks old when she was discovered in a shopping basket under a hedge in Edgbaston. She’d been abandoned in hand-knitted clothes. Remarkably, with the help of the Birmingham Mail and the ITV show Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace, Liz has managed to track down her family decades later - but it’s led to even more questions. Liz is sharing her story in a bid to help others...

The number of children being referred to NHS mental health services in England for anxiety has hit the highest level ever recorded, according to a Guardian investigation. Our guest today is mum-of-three Esther Marshall whose beloved sister Rebecca committed suicide as a result of anxiety. She has bravely turned this into something positive in a bid to help children avoid harmful stereotypes - crea...

In our frenetic lives, boredom seems to be something that should be avoided at all times but what impact is that having on our children? We talk to teacher and mental health expert Laura Tristram, who says that actually a child complaining about boredom can be a good thing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What age should children start thinking about their future careers? It's never too early, argues headteacher Sophia Haughton on the Brummie Mummies podcast. The Heartlands Academy headteacher tells our host Zoe Chamberlain about how parents and schools can help kids find their dream career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Headteacher Raj Mann tells us all about how to navigate year 11! This episode is packed full of useful tips for parents who's children are tackling their final year of school. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Menopause is something that affects everyone, either directly or indirectly, and it’s good to know about it well in advance so that you can spot the signs and take the best course of action for you. This week's guest is Dr Sarah Ball, a GP who runs the Health in Menopause Clinic in Sutton Coldfield. Sarah is keen to dispel myths and stigmas around HRT and mental health and her advice is valuable f...

Maxine Nwaneri shares all. She sits down with Zoe to tell us her incredible life story, how she overcame hardship and how she finds balance as a working mum. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this immersive episode RSPB's Lucy Lapwing talks us through how to identify birdsong, and talks all about the joy it brings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today we're joined by Brummie blogger Lavania Oluban who loves taking her son Arlo for day trips to London, and always travels there by train. Check out her top tips for places to go, money saving hacks and ideas for making it stress-free for everybody. Discover more of her suggestions on the Brummie Mummies Facebook and Instagram pages and on Lavania’s blog arloriverrex.com And find out how to sa...

Zoe is joined by Mari-Carmen, a fitness coach and a specialist in women's health, to chat about how mums can stay fit and healthy (and happy) with the little ones around. You can find out more about Mari-Carmen Fitness here: https://www.maricarmenfitness.com/ Brummie Mummies is a Reach production, brought to you by Birmingham Live and Brummie Mummies. Hosted by Zoe Chamberlain. Learn more about yo...

Zoe finds out how to be the grown up with Dr Martha Deiros Collado. Brummie Mummies is a Reach production, brought to you by Birmingham Live and Brummie Mummies. Hosted by Zoe Chamberlain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Zoe’s guest this week is Danielle Grey, who has recently opened the Purple House Clinic in Birmingham. This centre specialises in offering mental health and neurodiversity services for children and adults. As a clinical psychologist, she’s passionate about the importance of promoting mental health for young people and their families. The Brummie Mummies podcast is brought to you by Brummie Mummies...