Your toddler suddenly hates the dark. They’re terrified of the vacuum, the bathtub drain, or the public washroom they used last week without a problem.

What happened?

In this episode, Dr. Cathryn explains why new fears are so common during the toddler and preschool years, and why they can actually be a sign of growing imagination.

You’ll learn how to respond without dismissing your child’s fear, why a little preparation can make unfamiliar situations easier, and how small, manageable steps can help your child become more confident around things that scare them.

Because the goal isn’t to make every fear disappear. It’s to help your child learn, little by little, “I was scared, and I was okay.”

RESOURCES

Toddlers Made Easy online course

Potty Training Made Easy online course

The Big-Hearted Sleep Solution mini-class

Toddlers Made Easy book

200 Big-Hearted Scripts

FREE WORKSHOP: Potty Without Pushback

FREE GUIDE: 5 Must-Dos Before Starting Potty Training

And don’t forget to follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram. 

If every meal feels like a negotiation over one more bite, it may be time to try something different.

When parents worry their child isn’t eating enough, it’s natural to coax, bargain, bribe, or plead. But that pressure can actually make picky eating worse.

In this episode, I’m sharing practical ways to help your child become more comfortable with food, without turning mealtimes into a battle.

You’ll learn:

• Why asking for “just one more bite” can backfire
• The difference between your job and your child’s job at mealtime
• What to say when your child announces, “I hate broccoli”
• How a simple “No Thank You Bowl” can reduce mealtime battles
• Why letting kids help with food can make unfamiliar foods feel less intimidating
• One small seating change that can make eating easier
• How to give your child more control without becoming a short-order cook
• When picky eating is worth discussing with your child’s healthcare provider

The goal isn’t to get your child to eat everything on their plate.

It’s to take some of the pressure off and help them become more comfortable with food, one meal at a time.

RESOURCES

Toddlers Made Easy online course

Potty Training Made Easy online course

The Big-Hearted Sleep Solution mini-class

Toddlers Made Easy book

200 Big-Hearted Scripts

FREE WORKSHOP: Potty Without Pushback

FREE GUIDE: 5 Must-Dos Before Starting Potty Training

And don’t forget to follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram. 

Bringing home a new baby can turn a toddler’s world upside down. Suddenly, your potty-trained, independent kid is having accidents, asking to be carried, or needing you every time you sit down to feed the baby.

In this episode, Dr. Cathryn explains why regression after a new sibling arrives is so common, what your toddler’s behavior may really be communicating, and big-hearted ways to help them feel secure and included.

You’ll learn how to handle potty accidents and clinginess, create small moments of connection, avoid pushing the “big kid” role, and use strategic attention to encourage the behaviors you want to see.

Plus, Dr. Cathryn shares ways to make feeding and pumping easier during this already demanding transition.

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RESOURCES

Toddlers Made Easy online course

Potty Training Made Easy online course

The Big-Hearted Sleep Solution mini-class

Toddlers Made Easy book

200 Big-Hearted Scripts

FREE WORKSHOP: Potty Without Pushback

FREE GUIDE: 5 Must-Dos Before Starting Potty Training

And don’t forget to follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram. 

Friendship problems can start earlier than most parents expect.

By age three, children are beginning to form real friendships. They’re also learning how to join a group, take turns, handle rejection, solve disagreements, and make up after conflict.

In this episode, Dr. Cathryn explains what friendship looks like during the preschool years, why being left out can hurt even at three, and how you can support your child without rushing in to fix every difficult social moment.

You’ll learn:
• Why preschool friendships matter
• What’s typical when friendships seem to change by the day
• What to do when your child says, “Nobody wants to play with me”
• Why your child and their teacher can have very different views of the same day
• How to help your child build the skills needed to make and keep friends

Plus, download the free Am I Expecting Too Much of My 3-Year-Old? checklist by tapping on this link.

RESOURCES

Toddlers Made Easy online course

Potty Training Made Easy online course

The Big-Hearted Sleep Solution mini-class

Toddlers Made Easy book

200 Big-Hearted Scripts

FREE WORKSHOP: Potty Without Pushback

FREE GUIDE: 5 Must-Dos Before Starting Potty Training

And don’t forget to follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram. 

Starting school stirs up big feelings — for little kids and for the parents saying goodbye. Dr. Cathryn shares the moment that changed drop-offs for good with her own youngest, plus the big-hearted scripts, routines, and small shifts that make those first mornings smoother.

In this episode:

• The night-before habit that ends outfit battles for good
• What to prep a few days ahead so drop-off doesn't catch your child off guard
• Exactly what to say (and what not to say) when your child cries at goodbye
• Why after-school meltdowns happen and the simple fix that helps

Want more big-hearted scripts like these? See the link below.

RESOURCES

Toddlers Made Easy online course

Potty Training Made Easy online course

The Big-Hearted Sleep Solution mini-class

Toddlers Made Easy book

200 Big-Hearted Scripts

FREE WORKSHOP: Potty Without Pushback

FREE GUIDE: 5 Must-Dos Before Starting Potty Training

And don’t forget to follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram. 

When potty training goes sideways, it's easy to wonder if you're doing something wrong. In this episode, I answer a parent's question about a 3-year-old who won't pee or poop on the potty and explain why less pressure often leads to more progress.

You'll learn practical strategies to build body awareness, reduce resistance, know when to seek medical advice, and help your child potty train with confidence.

RESOURCES

Toddlers Made Easy online course

Potty Training Made Easy online course

The Big-Hearted Sleep Solution mini-class

Toddlers Made Easy book

200 Big-Hearted Scripts

FREE WORKSHOP: Potty Without Pushback

FREE GUIDE: 5 Must-Dos Before Starting Potty Training

And don’t forget to follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram. 

Dr. Cathryn shares a cringeworthy tantrum moment from her own parenting years and the perspective shift that changed how she responds to big feelings. Learn what's really happening in your little kid's brain during a meltdown, the PREP method for preventing tantrums before they start, and the common mistake loving parents make when responding to one. 

RESOURCES

Toddlers Made Easy online course

Potty Training Made Easy online course

The Big-Hearted Sleep Solution mini-class

Toddlers Made Easy book

200 Big-Hearted Scripts

FREE WORKSHOP: Potty Without Pushback

FREE GUIDE: 5 Must-Dos Before Starting Potty Training

And don’t forget to follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram. 

Parenting has changed a lot over the years. That can leave grandparents wondering why today's parents make some of the choices they do. This episode explains the thinking behind many of those approaches so families can better understand and support one another.

We'll cover:
• Why some children are not expected to hug or kiss relatives
• What body autonomy means
• The purpose of a "no thank you" bowl at mealtimes
• Why some families serve dessert with dinner
• How today's parents approach tantrums using brain science
• Why empathy and boundaries go together
• How potty training has changed
• Why praise now focuses more on effort than labels
• The powerful role grandparents play in building resilience

Whether you're a grandparent or you're sharing this episode with one, this conversation will help bridge the gap between generations and strengthen family relationships.

If you'd like more practical, evidence-based strategies for toddlers, check out my Toddlers Made Easy course linked in the show notes.

RESOURCES

Toddlers Made Easy online course

Potty Training Made Easy online course

The Big-Hearted Sleep Solution mini-class

Toddlers Made Easy book

200 Big-Hearted Scripts

FREE WORKSHOP: Potty Without Pushback

FREE GUIDE: 5 Must-Dos Before Starting Potty Training

And don’t forget to follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram. 

Your toddler just hit their sibling—again—and your instinct is to react: “That’s not nice!” “Say sorry!” “Go to your room!”

Totally understandable.

But here’s what most parents don’t realize:

👉 Hitting is rarely about being “bad.” It’s a sign your child is overwhelmed and doesn’t yet have the skills to cope.

In this episode, we cover:

🧠 Why toddlers hit, push, or bite

🚫 What common responses can actually make things worse

🔁 How to respond in a way that teaches better behavior over time

🎯 Real-life scripts and strategies that actually work

No fluff. Just practical, evidence-informed tools you can use right away.

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

Our *bestselling* online courses are already helping thousands of parents:

Toddlers Made Easy Course

Potty Training Made Easy 

Follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healthiest_baby

RESOURCES

Toddlers Made Easy online course

Potty Training Made Easy online course

The Big-Hearted Sleep Solution mini-class

Toddlers Made Easy book

200 Big-Hearted Scripts

FREE WORKSHOP: Potty Without Pushback

FREE GUIDE: 5 Must-Dos Before Starting Potty Training

And don’t forget to follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram. 

Bringing home a new baby can be exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming for your older child. In this episode, Dr. Cathryn shares simple, practical ways to help your toddler feel secure, included, and deeply loved as your family grows. You'll learn how to prepare your child before the baby arrives, ease jealousy, strengthen your bond through everyday connection, and respond to big feelings with confidence.

If you're looking for more support, check out the Toddlers Made Easy course for step-by-step guidance on handling tantrums, bedtime, sibling rivalry, and more. You'll find the link in the show notes.

Resources:

Join my Toddlers Made Easy online course.

Follow me on Instagram

RESOURCES

Toddlers Made Easy online course

Potty Training Made Easy online course

The Big-Hearted Sleep Solution mini-class

Toddlers Made Easy book

200 Big-Hearted Scripts

FREE WORKSHOP: Potty Without Pushback

FREE GUIDE: 5 Must-Dos Before Starting Potty Training

And don’t forget to follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram. 

Helping your child fall asleep without you doesn't have to mean tears, guilt, or leaving them to figure it out alone.

In this episode, I share why sleeping in your child's room often starts as a temporary solution but quietly becomes the new normal. You'll learn why these bedtime patterns become so hard to change, why waiting rarely solves the problem, and how small, gentle changes can help your child build independent sleep skills while protecting your connection.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why "just for tonight" often turns into months or years.

• How sleep habits become reinforced over time.

• One simple change you can make tonight to start moving toward independent sleep.

If you'd like a step-by-step plan, my 18-minute workshop, Help Your Child Fall Asleep Without You, walks you through two gentle, connected approaches to help your child learn this important skill without turning bedtime into a battle.

Resources:

• Help Your Child Fall Asleep Without You workshop

RESOURCES

Toddlers Made Easy online course

Potty Training Made Easy online course

The Big-Hearted Sleep Solution mini-class

Toddlers Made Easy book

200 Big-Hearted Scripts

FREE WORKSHOP: Potty Without Pushback

FREE GUIDE: 5 Must-Dos Before Starting Potty Training

And don’t forget to follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram.