Betches Moms

Brittany and Aleen start the show with a conversation about limiting your child’s screen time and setting reasonable boundaries without becoming a perfectionist. Aleen tells us what she expects her approach will be to screen time, and Brittany explains how her view on putting an iPad in your kid’s hands has changed over time. Plus, they discuss the urge to always keep the food clean and organic, but why there must be room for exceptions. Then a listener writes in to ask when you know you’re ready to have child number two. They talk about how to assess when you’re emotionally and financially prepared for the family to grow, with tips for planning ahead. Finally, they close things with a No Mom Guilt story about treating yourself to a much needed massage.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode is all about finding the right car seat for your baby, so Brittany and Aleen are joined by none other than “The Car Seat Lady” herself, pediatrician and nationally certified child passenger safety instructor Dr. Alisa Baer. They start with a conversation about what qualifies a car seat as being safe, and how to go about choosing the right type for your baby. At 15:00 Dr. Baer explains the different anchoring and tethering methods available, and how that plays into your decision on which seat to buy. At 25:30 they talk about the difference between rear-facing and forward-facing seats, including when you should transition your child to a convertible seat. Plus, they discuss some of the top brands and how effective they are compared to their competitors. Finally, at 33:00 they close the show with some tips for keeping your children safe in the car (and why that includes buckling yourself safely as well).

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aleen and Brittany are back and talking about treating yourself to a well-deserved vacation during pregnancy. Aleen tells us what she did on her recent baby-moon, how she kept from overheating, and what it takes to make it through an airport at 20 weeks. Brittany offers an update on moving Oliver to his “big boy bed” and how she managed to complete the process with the help of his ‘loveys’. Then a listener writes in with a Dear Betches Moms email all about introducing a newborn baby to a household full of pets. Is there a trick to keeping your animals from becoming jealous of the baby? Finally, they close the show with a No Mom Guilt story about trying to get your 3-year-old to stop and listen, and the anxiety that comes with watching a kid play near the pool.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Brittany and Aleen are joined by perinatal psychiatrist Dr. Pooja Lakshmin to talk about anxiety and depression during pregnancy and motherhood. They explain what exactly a perinatal therapist does, how Dr. Lakshmin got into the field, and what she does in her work with moms. They discuss postpartum anxiety and depression, just how common they really are, and what your options may be for treatment. They also explain how normal it is to experience intrusive thoughts once the baby has arrived. Dr. Lakshmin tells us about the “triple threat” of mom guilt, martyr-mode, and perfectionism, and shares some practical tips for dealing with these feelings. Finally, they talk about the pitfalls of maternal gatekeeping, and why it’s important to relinquish at least some control to other caregivers when raising a child.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aleen are Brittany are back and start the week with a few updates on how their pregnancies are going. Brittany gets into how she’s monitoring the baby’s movements as she enters her third trimester, and what you can look out for at that stage. Next, Aleen talks about her upcoming anatomy scan as she hits the 20-week mark. Brittany also talks about transitioning her son to his “Big Boy Bed,” when she decided he was ready, and how’s he adapting to the big switch. They play a game of “What The F*ck Did You Say?” where they go over some hilariously ridiculous quotes from our listener’s kids and decide which one they would want to deal with the least. They end the show with another round of “No Mom Guilt” presented by Heineken 0.0, where Aleen talks about the decision to get vaccinated, and how she’s realized more and more the power of filtering out everything that doesn’t help you in your life.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode is all about sleep training your baby, so Aleen and Brittany invite sleep expert Lauren Olson (@sleepandthecity) to share all the secrets for getting your child to sleep soundly. They start with a conversation about why sleep is so important for children (and parents) in early development, especially when it comes to health and temperament. They discuss the various methods for sleep training, why the cry-it-out method may not be right for you, and how napping plays into your sleep plan. Lauren offers some simple tricks for getting your child to fall asleep and what to do when you’re dealing with an active child. Plus, she gives tips for keeping your toddler in their new bed once they’ve left the crib, and why it’s so important to maintain a routine. Finally, they explain the role of sleep cycles (both for adults and children) when it comes to getting good rest.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Aleen are Brittany are back and start with some personal updates! Aleen tells us about her latest sonogram experience and how relieving it felt to see the baby, and Brittany discusses the results of her glucose test and what she learned from the whole experience. Then, they dive into a Dear Betches Moms email from a listener who is wondering how to tell if she is financially prepared to have a baby. They offer their thoughts on what big expenses to keep in mind as you build a budget, including childcare, diapers, toys, cribs, and more. They also give a few tips on how to save money where you can, and how to stay on top of your finances so that you’re also preparing for the future. Finally, it’s time for the No Mom Guilt story of the week presented by Heineken, featuring Brittany’s story about feeling guilty for caving into her son, and how sometimes even small happenings can linger on your mind for a while when you’re a mom.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode, Aleen and Brittany are joined by board-certified Ob-Gyn and ABC Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton to talk all about the Covid vaccine and pregnancy. The start off talking about the vaccine itself, what we know about potential risks, and when to get the vaccine if you decide to do so while pregnant. They also talk about what factors to consider when choosing whether to get it, and how to ask the right questions so you make the best decision for yourself. To end the episode, they get into some general pregnancy questions from listeners, including best practices when trying to conceive, prenatal vitamins, and gestational diabetes.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aleen and Brittany start things off with updates on how their bodies are faring in their respective stages or pregnancy. Brittany talks about her upcoming Glucose Test and the possibility of having gestational diabetes, including a few symptoms that could point towards that diagnosis. Then they dive into a conversation how your eating habits change during pregnancy, sometimes in unexpected ways. Next, they share a listener-submitted Embarrassing Story Of The Week featuring a hilarious mixup at the hospital between the mother and the grandmother. Finally, it’s time for the No Mom Guilt story of the week presented by Heineken, where Aleen shares her struggles with feeling like she’s not doing enough to prepare herself for the baby, and how to make the mental shift to acknowledge that she’s already doing so much.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hosts Aleen Dreksler and Brittany Levine are back and start the episode with a conversation about where kids learn all that defiant language you certainly never taught them. Next, Aleen shares an Embarrassing Story of the Week all about getting advice for conceiving from her OB-GYN mother. Then they play a game of “What the F*ck Did You Just Say” featuring some boob-related kid quotes. Aleen tells us about finding out she’s having a girl and wonders out loud: how do you even figure out how to parent? This leads Brittany to share an excellent piece of advice for allowing your kid to have “big feelings'' and why that may be the secret to raising happy children. Then a listener writes in to ask whether or not it’s okay to change doctors midway through your pregnancy. Should you search for a new physician if your current one doesn’t feel like the right fit? Finally, Brittany gets vulnerable in a segment called “No Mom Guilt” all about why you need to take it easy on yourself and shake those feelings of judgment and guilt.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices