Betches Moms

Aleen and Brittany are back this week with a mental health check-in and share how they’ve been coping with postpartum anxiety and depression since having their babies. They open up about living with PPD/PPA and how their mind set haas changed and what they have been doing to help. Plus, they chat about Aleen’s first Mother’s Day and what they did to enjoy their holiday with their families. Then, they read a “Am I A Mom-ster” submission, surrounding how to set boundaries with your partner, and a “No Mom Guilt” where a listener shares how they will be taking a much needed and guilt free vacation.

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Content Warning: This episode discusses topics of child safety, endangerment, and loss of life - which can be unsettling to some. Please use discretion when listening.

This week Aleen and Brittany are joined by the co-owner of Safe Beginnings First Aid, Holly Choi, an expert on infant and toddler-focused safety. Holly starts off by teaching them a new mindset of “Risk vs Hazard'' and how learning the difference will allow moms to look at safety in a new way. Then, they talk about the best ways to babyproof your home inside and out, covering topics like your crib setup, bath time, burn safety, and how you can actually hire a professional “Babyproofer”. Lastly, Holly takes the time to reiterate car seat basics and to remind moms that they don’t need the most expensive equipment to keep their children safe.

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This week Aleen and Brittany are joined by Speech Sisters, Brooke Dwyer and Bridget Hillsberg to chat about one of the biggest milestones in any child’s development, learning how to talk. They start off by covering some of the misconceptions that parents have when their kids are first learning to talk. They reveal that getting your kids to voice their wants and needs first allows them to express their thoughts more effectively than only knowing their ABCs. They teach what imitation or “Parentese” should look and sound like for both you and baby, which is in between baby talk and speaking to your kids like they're 40. Then, they share their thoughts on screen time and how it can be productive, which is actually watching it along with them. Lastly, they give parents the confidence to help get their kid talking by reassuring them that every kid develops at their own pace.

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Aleen and Brittany are joined by Jenny Best, founder of Solid Starts, to talk all about introducing solid food to your baby, food safety, and so much more. She starts with some practical tips to avoid choking, including a simple trick for helping your baby learn good habits on their own. Next, Aleen and Brittany ask when you should actually start to introduce solids, and which misconceptions new parents need to unlearn. Jenny explains the kicker, that babies have all the protective mechanisms they need and their bodies are just learning to figure things out. Lastly, she advises that when looking into feeding methods, ones that are extremely rigid should come with a big red flag. She reassures that you do not need to choose one singular approach. There are many right ways to feed your baby, and none should come with a side of stress.

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This week, Aleen and Brittany catch us up on recent tonsil surgeries, new allergies, stomach bugs and more. They share their experiences about how they’ve navigated the stress from when their kids have been sick or needed surgery. Then, they read a “Am I The Mom-ster” submission where they give reassurance that setting healthy boundaries when it comes to a pushy mother-in-law is always allowed. Lastly, they close with Aleen’s “No Mom Guilt” and how working through your mom anxieties is all a part of the process.

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This week, Brittany is joined by guest co-host Shira Dreksler (Betches’ Sr. Director of Talent and Community) to chat with children’s book author and mom of two, Charnaie Gordon. Charnaie is here to talk all about navigating conversations around race and diversity with your kids. To start off, Charnaie shares how her love for reading, writing, and literacy led her started her blog and podcast Here Wee Read. They discuss the importance of diverse books, and classic children’s books that actually have negative racial stereotypes. Plus, she tells us about her non-profit, 50 States 50 Books, and how you can be a part of giving children more access to diverse and inclusive books. Then they chat about where to even begin with teaching about racism and diversity to children, the right time to start that conversation, and some of the best books to introduce to your kids. Finally, they close with some listener-submitted questions including how to respond to your child’s questions about differences and tips for exposing your children to other diversities.

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Brittany is back in the studio, and this time she’s joined by new mom and star of Bravo’s Vanderpump Rules, Lala Kent. They start by telling us just how long it took Lala to actually watch the show (hint: it was more than a few years), what she wants her daughter to learn from seeing her mom on TV, and exactly what the Vanderpump moms group chat is like. Next, Lala describes what it takes to be the nanny to Lala’s child. Plus, she shares her scariest moment yet as a mother (it happened at Brittany and Jax’s house), how she springs into survival mother mode, and her favorite thing to do with daughter Ocean. Finally, she offers up her number one piece of advice so far as a mother: don’t just take any advice that’s offered, because it may not be right for you.

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Brittany and Aleen are back this week, starting off with a catchup chat about how Aleen turned a vacation that she was anxious about into a really fun experience. Plus, she shares some of her *must-have* travel items, and how the trip turned her into a chiller mom. We also get some updates from Brittany, including what it was like having Noah gone for four days and spending one on one time with Jack and Oliver. Then, they get into a discussion all about feeding, such as introducing solids, and not to mention - Oliver’s choking accidents (not once, but three times!). Finally, they wrap the show with a “Go Ask Your Mom” segment about a listener’s neighbor losing their cool over her crying baby (so who’s in the wrong in this situation?).

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Brittany and Aleen are joined by registered dieticians and co-authors of How To Raise an Intuitive Eater, Amee Severson and Sumner Brooks! They dive right into what intuitive eating is, before getting into - the principles of it and the most important things for parents to understand. They also discuss how to navigate "off-limits food," and language to use (and avoid) when talking about food. Plus, they chat about the right time to introduce intuitive eating to your kids, and whether it's actually "too late" to teach intuitive eating. Finally, they close with the importance of ditching the diet mentality, celebrating bodies of all types, and unlearning toxic thoughts and habits.

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Brittany and Aleen are joined by Kevin Laferriere and Evan Kyle Berger, AKA The Dumb Dads! They jump right into the start of The Dumb Dads brand, including their podcast and TikTok where they discuss all things fatherhood (and having fun along the way ofc). They talk about what it's like being both stay-at-home dads, and how they balanced responsibilities with their partners. Kevin and Evan share what their idea of fatherhood was at first, and also what's been the most surprising thing about it all. Then, it's time for a *special* twist on "No Mom Guilt," - Kevin and Evan dish out on their No Dad Guilts about a near-potty accident and leaning on screen time when you're just too busy.

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