CBeebies has launched its first dedicated parenting offer: CBeebies Parenting. Expanding its services to families with a universal offer to support parents during early years. The new offering includes up to date expert advice, support and content on all things parenting, for parents-to-be right through to helping little ones grow up, including:

• New CBeebies Parenting Helpline podcast hosted by celebrity parents Holly Hagan-Blyth and Charlie Hedges
• New addition to the famous CBeebies Bedtime hour; BeddyByes
• A brand-new pre-school magazine show Playtime Towers inspiring imaginative play
• A digital first extension to CBeebies House hosted by Evie Pickerill with special guest appearances from TV legend Floella Benjamin coming later this year
• Online community with resources and up-to-date expert advice and support

CBeebies Parenting is an online community empowering parents and carers to help their children learn through play. For the first time, CBeebies is bringing together all its parenting resources in one place to support parents with some of the biggest challenges they face from developing speech and language skills to potty training and school readiness. CBeebies Parenting provides top tips, activity ideas, games, advice and content backed by trusted experts.

The launch of CBeebies Parenting kicks off with a brand-new podcast titled Parenting Helpline, hosted by celebrity mums Holly Hagan-Blyth and Charlie Hedges, with professional advice from different experts every week. The podcast is produced by Bite Your Tongue Productions for CBeebies Parenting.

The podcast, fronted by the duo who both have toddlers, gives parents the chance to ask their burning questions and get help with their parenting dilemmas from a new expert each week. Offering clear, practical advice with both the caller and hosts seeking answers on a range of topics, throughout the series listeners join Charlie and Holly and experts including Dr Ranj Singh, Dr Martha Deiros Collado, Dr Lynsey Hookway and many more, covering everything from birth and pregnancy, fussy eating and difficult night-times through to money worries and parental relationships. Parenting Helpline is available on BBC Sounds.

Holly Hagan-Blyth said: “As a mum to a toddler, I know how overwhelming it can be trying to find the right answers when everything is so new. What I love about our podcast is that it’s honest, down-to-earth, and packed with expert advice, but it still feels like you’re chatting with friends. Whether you’re dealing with toddler tantrums or sleep struggles, this podcast is here to help.”

Charlie Hedges commented: “We’re all just doing our best as parents, and sometimes it helps to know you’re not alone. With Parenting Helpline, we get to ask real questions from real parents and speak to brilliant experts who give clear, practical advice. It’s all about making life a little bit easier and reminding each other that we’re in this together, and I’m so excited it’s part of this brand new CBeebies Parenting offer which will no doubt help tons of parents on the wild and wonderful journey of parenting.”

Curated themed collections of CBeebies content will support parents when they need it from the CBeebies Parenting website – the first audio collection goes live today on BBC Sounds and is aimed at helping parents with routines and settling their kids to sleep. CBeebies Parenting is part of the BBC’s move to expand beyond children’s content to make a universal offer to families with early years support, helping with everything from language skills and school readiness.

Patricia Hidalgo, Director of BBC Children’s and Education says: “We know parents and carers love the support they get from CBeebies as a safe space for their small children to learn through play. And we also know becoming a parent can be an overwhelming time when it comes to finding the right advice. So, we wanted to help parents and carers to find expert advice and support in one place right from when they are parents to be, right through to when their little ones are starting school, we have everything they need to build the virtual village it takes to raise a child.”

Also new to CBeebies Parenting, coming in September is the legendary children’s TV pioneer, Baroness Floella Benjamin, who will be guest starring in a new title, a digital extension to CBeebies House fronted by CBeebies presenter, Evie Pickerill. Following the legacy of educational pre-school programming from the iconic Playschool to Playdays, the studio-based show will include songs, stories and activities and will be shown on CBeebies YouTube Channel and BBC iPlayer from September.

Baroness Benjamin says: “I am absolutely thrilled and delighted to be joining CBeebies House with special appearances where I will play ‘what’s in the box’ games for the little ones and their grown-ups watching with them, to explore sensory qualities and fire-up imaginative play. It’s going to be so wonderfully exciting and adventurous creating home-grown, educational and inspirational children’s content for a whole new generation.”

Launching this month as part of CBeebies Parenting is a new addition to the iconic bedtime hour: Beddybyes. Narrated by Dawn French, this is a brand-new animation is designed to help young children and their parents navigate the journey towards bedtime.

Viewers will follow the central characters MeMo and BaBa through the routine of a young child’s day, from playtime and mealtime to bathtime and bedtime, as they encounter a host of fantastical beings that encourage good nutrition, mindfulness and creativity, winding down towards sleep.

Created and produced by JAM Media, BeddyByes offers a calming experience for preschoolers and toddlers, guiding them gently towards bedtime with engaging storytelling and a soothing aesthetic. Beddybyes is on CBeebies as part of the bedtime hour from Saturday 7 June and is available now on BBC iPlayer.

To inspire fun and play a brand-new modern magazine show, Playtime Towers, is also launching today on BBC iPlayer. The programme is set in a fantastical tower block and is a celebration of imaginative play combined with educational content for two- to four-year-olds. Made by BBC Studios Kids & Family Productions, the modern magazine show is brimming with larger-than-life characters, inspiring young children to fuel their own imaginative playtimes. Lively activities are hidden on every floor and the only way to uncover them is to ride with Bella the Elevator Fun Maker.