Family Health by Mini First Aid
Welcome to The Family Health podcast with Mini First Aid. Each week, our founder Kate will be talking with a guest leading expert about the family health issues that matter to you.Everything you ever needed to know about conditions and healthcare topics that affect your family. If you are looking for information, advice, tips and reassurance about family health, you’ll find it all in these super helpful, honest conversations.Series 5 of the Family Health Podcast by Mini First Aid is sponsored by Things Happen, a trusted broker which offers the best financial advice to help parents and their fa...
Episode 50: Febrile Seizures
Febrile seizures can be one of the most frightening things a parent witnesses, yet they’re surprisingly common, affecting 1 in 20 children.
In this episode, Kate is joined by NHS paediatrician Dr Lillie Parker to explain what febrile seizures are, why they happen, and how to respond calmly and confidently if your child has one.
Reassuring, informative, and essential listening for parents, grandparents and anyone who looks after young children.
Dr. Lillie Parker is an NHS paediatrician with almost a decade of experience caring for children and young people, from preterm babies to yo...
Episode 49: Baby & Child Sleep
If you’ve ever found yourself pacing the floor at 3am, rocking a baby who refuses to sleep or sharing your bed with a wriggly five-year-old, you are not alone!
In this episode of Family Health by Mini First Aid, Kate chats to Jenna Wilson, co-founder of Little Dreams Consulting and expert in baby and child sleep. Jenna shares practical, no-nonsense advice on everything from newborn sleep patterns to dealing with toddlers who won’t stay in bed, and even what to do if your 10-year-old still creeps into your room every night.
Whether you're prep...
Episode 48: Pregnancy and Post-Natal Exercise
In this episode, Kate chats to fitness expert and winner of The Apprentice 2024, Rachel Woolford. Together they unpack the do’s and don’ts of exercising during pregnancy and after giving birth.
Whether you're newly pregnant, navigating postpartum recovery, or supporting someone who is, this episode is filled with down-to-earth advice and reassurance.
From finding the right kind of movement, to managing mental health, and even what to do with the baby while you work out.
A must-listen for mums, mums-to-be, and anyone who wants to move their body in a way that feels...
Episode 47: Broken Bones & Orthopaedics
In this episode of Family Health by Mini First Aid, we’re joined by Adelle Fishlock, Consultant Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon at Leeds Children’s Hospital and familiar face from the BBC series Saving Lives in Leeds.
Adelle gives us a behind-the-scenes look at what really happens when a child is brought into hospital with a suspected broken bone. From playground falls to complex surgery, she explains how her team works to assess, treat, and support young patients and their families.
Adelle also opens up about her own emotional experience when her young son needed surgery, a po...
Episode 46: Children's Eye Health
Many parents don't realise children's eye tests aren't routinely included in standard development checks. It's a postcode lottery and the onus often falls on parents to make sure their children's eye health isn't overlooked.
In this, we speak to Senior Optometrist Dr Nigel Best from Specsavers, who shares expert insights on children's vision, including:
✔️ When to book your child's first eye test
✔️ Why waiting for problems to appear might be too late
✔️ The surprising link between outdoor time and short-sightedness
If you're a parent, carer, or work with children, this is a vital list...
Episode 45: Fussy Eaters & Developing Healthy Food Habits
How do you raise an adventurous eater and stay sane doing it?
In this episode, we’re joined by nutritional consultant Melanie Hadida to talk all things family food. From baby-led weaning to batch cooking and supermarket meltdowns, Melanie shares her personal journey, including feeding newborn twins during lockdown, and her top tips for creating positive food experiences at home.
We cover:
Practical ways to introduce flavourful, nutritious foods from the startTackling fussy eating without turning mealtimes into a battlegroundEasy, budget-friendly meals the whole family will enjoyHow getting kids involved in the kitchen can tr...Episode 44: Head Injuries
Bumps, knocks and tumbles are all part of childhood. But head injuries can feel scary, especially if you’re not sure what to look out for.
In this episode, Kate is joined by Dr Lillie Parker to chat all things head bumps – how to spot a serious injury, what to do in those first few minutes, and how to keep kids safe as they explore the world around them.
References:
Dr. Lillie Parker is an NHS paediatrician with almost a decade of experience caring for children and young people, from prete...
Episode 43: Allergies & Anaphylaxis
Food allergies in children have doubled in the last 10 years.
In our latest episode, Kate is joined by Dr Helen Evans-Howells, GP and allergy specialist, to tackle the myths and fears around allergies and anaphylaxis.
From weaning worries to understanding when to use an auto-injector, Helen shares her expert advice and her personal experience as a parent navigating allergies.
A must-listen for any parent, carer, or teacher wanting to feel more confident about allergy safety.
Dr Helen Evans-Howells qualified with honours from Southampton University in 2005 and then trained as...
Episode 42: Sepsis
When Anna’s little girl, Cleo, developed a high temperature, she did what so many of us would do - Calpol, cuddles, and wait and see. But what unfolded was every parent’s worst nightmare. Cleo had sepsis.
In this episode of the Family Health podcast, Anna bravely shares their story of missed signs, gut instinct, and the terrifying rollercoaster that followed.
She opens up about how she and her husband had to fight to be heard, how Cleo’s life was saved, and why Anna is now on a mission to raise awareness as an amba...
Episode 41: Children's Anxiety
Is your child’s worry just a wobble – or something more? In this week’s Family Health podcast, Kate chats with youth solution-focused therapist Lisa Blackwell from The Youth Fairy to explore the sharp rise in anxiety among children.
From the early signs to look out for, to understanding what’s happening in your child’s brain, Lisa shares practical tools and everyday tips that can make a real difference.
Whether it’s the impact of COVID, social media, or just the overwhelm of growing up, this conversation will leave you better informed – and reassured that help is out...
Episode 40: Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, affecting 1 in 7 women in their lifetime. Yet, many people still believe it’s a disease that only affects older women. The reality? 2,500 people under 40 are diagnosed every year.
In this episode of the Family Health Podcast by Mini First Aid, host Kate Ball speaks with Paralympic champion Erin Kennedy OBE and Emma Walker from the breast cancer awareness charity Coppafeel! Erin shares her powerful story of discovering a lump at just 29, her journey through treatment, and her extraordinary return to competitive sport. Emma provides essential guidance on br...
Episode 39: Chickenpox
Chickenpox is one of the most common childhood illnesses, yet when those first spots appear, many parents find themselves filled with questions. How can you tell if it’s really chickenpox? How do you manage the relentless itching? And at what point should you seek medical help?
In this episode of the Family Health Podcast by Mini First Aid, host Kate Ball is joined by Dr. Lillie Parker, a paediatrician with over a decade of experience, to provide expert guidance on chickenpox. Together, they discuss:
✅ The signs and symptoms of chickenpox and how to differentiate it f...
Episode 38: Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is often a hidden condition—one that many children and teenagers struggle with in silence. While they may appear outwardly fine, internally, they experience intense distress over perceived flaws in their appearance. What may seem like common self-consciousness can, in reality, be a deeply debilitating mental health disorder. Unfortunately, BDD often goes unrecognised for years, leaving young people feeling isolated and unsupported.
In this episode of the Family Health Podcast by Mini First Aid, host Kate Ball is joined by body image coach Olivia Bowden and counsellor and psychotherapist Jennie Penkel to explore th...
Episode 37: Meningitis
We know from talking to new parents at our classes that meningitis is one of their biggest health fears for their baby and this is because sadly babies under the age of 3 months are 70 times more likely to get bacterial meningitis than adults.
In this episode of the Family Health Podcast, we speak with Caroline Hughes, Support Services Manager at Meningitis Research Foundation and to Pip, an NHS midwife and mum-of-two whose baby Alfie contracted meningitis at just five weeks old.
We discuss the signs and symptoms, the treatment and what recovery looks like for...
Episode 36: Imposter Syndrome
In this episode of the Family Health Podcast by Mini First Aid, we dive into the all-too-familiar feeling of imposter syndrome with Jamie Shires, an experienced counsellor and mental health trainer.
Whether you’re a parent, a professional, or even a teenager, this episode will help you understand where imposter syndrome comes from, who it affects and why it happens. Jaimie also shares practical tips on how to silence that critical inner voice and turn it into your inner cheerleader.
If you have ever felt like you’re about to be ‘found out’ for not having it...
Episode 35: Pregnancy Nutrition
In this episode, we chat with Aliya Porter, a Registered Nutritionist and a mum of three who runs Porter Nutrition and Weaning Centre. Aliya is a mine of information about nutrition in pregnancy and how you can look after your own and consequently your baby’s health.
We cut through the confusion of advice and guidance online to find out exactly what supplements, nutrients and vitamins are important for pregnant women and what should be avoided.
We also talk about how to support body health and recovery through nutrition after giving birth.
We kn...
Episode 34: Play Therapy
If you are unfortunate enough to have a child who has had to spend time in hospital, you may have met a Play Therapist. These amazing teams therapeutically support children, and parents, through the toughest times in their lives.
We hope you will never have to experience your child having treatment or an extended stay in hospital but if the worst happens, knowing what a play therapist can do and when you can ask for one could make a huge difference for your family.
...
Episode 33: Developmental Language Disorder
Many of us won’t have heard of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), yet this affects around two children in every classroom in schools across the UK and can affect literacy, learning, friendships and emotional well-being.
DLD can mean a child has difficulties talking and/or understanding language. It’s important to understand DLD and the challenges that children with DLD face every day in and out of school as their difficulties can be hard to spot and may be ‘hidden’ for a long time.
Dr Hannah Hobson from the Department of Psych...
Episode 32: Bronchiolitis
How do you know when your child has a cold or the flu or something even more serious?
Children regularly pick up coughs and viruses and it can be tricky to understand when to worry, how to soothe symptoms and when to keep your child at home - this week’s episode has the answers!
We chatted to Dr Lillie Parker, an NHS paediatrician, about winter colds and flu and about the RSV virus which can cause the more serious condition of bronchiolitis.
<...Episode 31: Anaemia & Mastitis
In this episode, Kate chats with Cathy Tabner, Parent Education Midwife at My Expert Midwife who has helped and advised hundreds of women about breastfeeding and knows all there is to know about anaemia and mastitis.
If you, or your loved one, has ever suffered from mastitis and/or anaemia, you will know how painful and awful it can make you feel. Cathy explains what these conditions are, why they are common in the postpartum period and has great advice and tips on what to do to help alleviate the symptoms of both conditions.
Episode 30: Weaning & Nutrition
Weaning is a huge milestone for babies as they move from a liquid, milk diet to eating solid foods. We know that breast and formula milk contain everything baby needs to grow and thrive, but when that milk consumption drops and food takes over, what nutrients do children or little ones need and how can we make sure that they're going to get enough of them?
Today we chat with Aliya Porter, a Registered Nutritionist and a mum of three who runs Porter Nutrition and Weaning Centre. We discuss how to give your baby...
Episode 29: Dementia
In today's Family Health Podcast episode, we delve into the complex landscape of dementia, a condition that not only affects individuals directly but also ripples through the lives of their loved ones.
We chat with Dr Abhi Inglis, a Specialty Doctor in Old Age Psychiatry who explains what dementia is, some of the more common early signs and symptoms and how we can best help our loved one.
We also hear from Jayne Sibley whose parents both had dementia and sadly died with this c...
Episode 28: Eating Disorders
In today’s digital society, children are bombarded with images of supposed perfection. According to recent statistics from the NHS, the struggle with body image and food among young people has surged alarmingly in recent years, with children as young as six years old being diagnosed with an eating disorder.
Behind these numbers lie stories of silent battles, where young minds grapple with complex emotions and societal pressures that often remain unseen and misunderstood.
In today’s episode of the Family Health Podcast, we chat...
Episode 27: Gestational Diabetes
Our Dragons’ Den mentor Sara Davies MBE had gestational diabetes in both of her pregnancies and talks to us today about the guilt she felt when first diagnosed and what she has since learned about this condition that affects around 5% of pregnant women in the UK.
We are also joined by Cathy Tabner of My Expert Midwife whose knowledge of gestational diabetes, and more widely about pregnancy and your body when you are pregnant, is unsurpassed!
This conversation covers mum guilt, pregnancy hormones, how the placenta works, what happens in yo...
Episode 26: Autism
In the UK, approximately 1 in every 100 children is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This number is probably lower than the reality as many families don’t want or think they need an official diagnosis. Behind these numbers lie stories of resilience, uniqueness, and often, misunderstanding.
In this episode of the Family Health Podcast, we delve into the world of autism in children. We chat with Dr Hannah Hobson, a lecturer in psychology and lead of the EMERALD research lab about what autism is, how it is diagnosed and is autism rea...
Episode 25: Sports Nutrition in Teens and Pre-teens
If your child takes part in any kind of sport or leisure activity, you will know how much of their time outside of school is dedicated to these activities and how this impacts their diet, from the lack of time to sit and eat proper meals to the type and amount of food they eat.
It is hard enough as parents to know what nutrients and vitamins our tweens and teens need and how much to feed them; adding in a fussy eater or a training schedule that requires particular energy...
Episode 24: Car Seat Safety
What are the laws around baby & child car seats? When should you switch to a forward-facing seat? When can your child sit up front with you? We might think we know the answers to these questions but this Family Health Podcast episode is here to dispel any doubts and give you the straight-up facts about car seat safety for your little ones.
In this episode, we chat with Luisa Rollins-Svenson, Consumer and Trade Marketing Manager at Graco UK who has a wealth of knowledge about car seat...
Episode 23: Asthma
Having asthma may once have been seen as a weakness or something to be pitied for, but is this still the case? What do we now know about the causes and treatment of asthma? Is there still some level of embarrassment for children living with asthma today?
Asthma is the most common long-term medical condition in children in the UK, affecting around 1 in 11 young people. Chances are there is at least one person in your child’s school or nursery class living with asthma. In fact, the UK has some of th...
Episode 22: Skin Cancer
In 2019 Adele Hughes world was turned upside down when she received a melanoma diagnosis. Telling her children and her parents that she had skin cancer was just the start of her journey, which continued with immunotherapy treatment and becoming an Ambassador for Melanoma UK.
In today’s episode, Adele tells her story, from her lifestyle before diagnosis to her treatment and beyond. You will hear about the risk factors for skin cancer, what signs and symptoms to look out for and what you can do for your children when they are yo...
Episode 21: Parental Anxiety
Is it normal to suffer with anxiety when you become a parent?
Why do we feel anxious as our children reach particular milestones?
What is ‘normal’ anxiety and when should we worry that it has become something more?
These questions and more are answered in today’s Family Health Podcast episode in which Kate chats with Jaimie Shires, a Counsellor, Self-Development Mentor and Mental Health Educator.
Jaimie talks to us about why we get anxious, how we can ta...
Episode 20: Children’s Body Image
Show Notes:
A 2015 survey showed that nearly a quarter of childcare professionals have seen signs that children aged between 3 and 5 years old, in their care, are unhappy with their appearance or bodies. This is just one of the staggering and upsetting statistics that we hear about in this episode of the Family Health Podcast with Molly Forbes of Body Happy Org.
Why do our children feel this way, what can we do to support them, how can we drive change in our schools, i...
Episode 19: Understanding Children’s Operations
Show Notes:
If your child has to have an operation in hospital, it’s likely that they will be anaesthetised pre-surgery, which can be a pretty scary experience for both them and for you as a parent or carer.
This episode of the Family Health Podcast is here to arm you with knowledge and allay some of those fears about what happens if your child needs to go under general anaesthetic.
We chat with Ed Rothera, a consultant pae...
Episode 18: Understanding Endometriosis
Episode 18: Understanding Endometriosis
Show Notes:
Around 1.5 million women in the UK are currently living with Endometriosis, a condition that can be incredibly debilitating and sadly still lacks awareness. If you suffer with endometriosis, or know someone who does, you will know how important this conversation is.
In this episode of the Family Health Podcast, we hear from Charlotte who has suffered with Endometriosis since her very first period at the age of 13. We t...
Episode 17: Managing Overwhelm
Episode 17: Managing Overwhelm
Show Notes:
Parents - particularly mums - this episode of the Family Health Podcast will really strike a chord. Today we chat with Kate, an occupational health therapist, about overwhelm and burnout. If you feel this way and need a virtual hug and to feel completely seen, don’t miss this.
This conversation shines a light on all we do in our daily lives and the things that have a negative impact on our emotional energy. <...
Episode 16: Understanding Children’s Burns
Episode 16: Understanding Children’s Burns
Show Notes:
At just 15-months old, Michelle’s son Charlie pulled a pan of boiling water over himself at their family home and sustained burns to 10% of his body.
This episode tells the story of Charlie’s accident, treatment and recovery. You will hear details of Charlie’s burns injuries and of his mum Michelle’s guilt because of the accident. You will also hear from Sue from Children’s Burns Trust who tal...
Episode 15: Pelvic Floor Health
“Women are literally standing on the sidelines of their own lives”
Dragging. Bulging. Heaviness. Sciatica. Groin pain. Hip pain. Trouble going to the toilet, as well as trouble holding it in. All these are signs of a problem with your pelvic floor health. In fact, a whopping 50% of women report pelvic health concerns, with many more suffering in silence.
This week, Kate talks to Claire Sparrow, an expert in this field. Claire tells a story of hope and inspiration, and encourages women not to ju...
Episode 14: Understanding Sepsis
Show Notes:
Trigger warning: this week’s podcast discusses the death of a child.
We talk about sepsis a lot at Mini First Aid and this week’s episode demonstrates exactly why we feel this is so important. This week, Kate chats with Melissa Mead, Sepsis Trust Ambassador and we hear the story of Melissa’s little boy William, who tragically died of sepsis.
Melissa discusses what happened to her little boy in detail, to make absolutely sure tha...
Episode 13: Understanding Oral & Dental Health
Show Notes:
“It is not uncommon for under 5’s to have their full set of teeth removed”. This is the unbelievable truth we hear in this week’s podcast from Marisa Russell, Mini First Aid trainer and dental nurse.
In this episode, Kate talks to Marisa Russell about oral and dental health. Marisa talks us through why children’s teeth can be so prone to decay and surprisingly, it’s not just about what they eat and how often they brush.
...
Episode 12: Understanding Diabetes
You have probably heard of Diabetes and that there are different forms of this condition such as Type 1 and Type 2 among others, but do you understand the differences and know what signs to look out for? Are you confident that you would know if you or your child had developed diabetes?
Diabetes UK estimates that almost 850,000 people in the UK are living with undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes. If added to the 4.3 million diagnosed cases, that’s over 5 million people in the UK living with some form of this co...
Episode 11: Button Battery Danger
In this episode, Kate chats with Katrina Phillips, CEO of the Child Accident Prevention Trust, and Hollie Phillips (no relation!) who is Mum to Ralphie, a healthy, happy toddler who swallowed a button battery on his first birthday. Hear the story of what happened to Ralphie and how his mum’s tenacity saved his life. Learn more about why these batteries are so dangerous, how to spot the signs that your child might have swallowed a button battery, and what to do if you suspect the worst.
References:
Learn more ab...
