Feeling overwhelmed by your toddler’s tantrums? You’re not alone! 

In this episode, I sit down with Sara Whaley, a behavior analyst and parent coach from Joyful Toddler Parenting.  who’s helped countless parents turn chaos into calm. Sara dives into the ups and downs of toddlerhood, sharing real-life tips for understanding your child’s behavior and setting firm, loving boundaries. 

Whether you’re battling bedtime struggles or trying to stay calm amidst the tantrums, Sara’s gentle parenting strategies will help you find joy in these challenging years. 

Plus, discover how taking care of yourself is the key to better emotional regulation—for you and your child. Join us for this heart-to-heart on making your home a happier, more peaceful place!

Key Loving Lessons Learned in this episode: 

🟣Behavior is communication. Toddlers use actions like tantrums and hitting because they don't yet know how to express themselves verbally.

🟣 Gentle parenting involves setting firm but loving boundaries, allowing toddlers to feel secure.

🟣 Parents need to regulate their own emotions to model appropriate behavior for their children.

🟣 Slowing down and adjusting expectations can lead to joyful experiences, even in frustrating moments.

🟣 Helping toddlers navigate their big emotions reduces stress, making sleep routines more peaceful.

Resources mentioned to help you keep learning & growing: 

⭐Learn more about Sara Whaley at Joyful Toddler Parenting 

⭐Follow Sara on Instagram  for more toddler tips

⭐Blog Post- Tips for Better Wakeful Windows and More Joy in Parenting your Toddler

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😴 Sleep Success Group- Sleep Membership

❓❓❓Have sleep questions or concerns❓❓❓
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🖥 Loving Lessons Sleep Coaching & Postpartum Doula Solutions

😌 😎 😴 Keep Calm, Confident, & Rested!
Sweet dreams! 🛌
💜 Irene 💜

In this episode of Loving Lessons Sleep Solutions, host Irene Gouge welcomes Dr. Rachel, a pelvic floor physical therapist, to discuss the importance of pelvic floor health, particularly for women during pregnancy and postpartum. Dr. Rachel shares her personal journey with pelvic floor dysfunction and offers expert advice on recognizing symptoms, preventing issues, and addressing common dysfunctions like urinary incontinence and pelvic pain. She emphasizes the significance of early intervention and coordination exercises to help women maintain a healthy pelvic floor.

Learn why Kegels aren’t always the solution, how coordination deficits can lead to pelvic floor issues, and practical steps you can take to prevent or treat these conditions. Whether you're a new mom or just curious about pelvic health, this episode provides actionable insights for improving your well-being.

Tune in to learn how pelvic floor health can impact your sleep, energy, and overall quality of life.

Key Loving Lessons Learned in this episode: 

🟣Early prevention of pelvic floor issues can prevent severe symptoms during and after pregnancy.

🟣 Coordination, not just strength, is crucial for pelvic floor health.

🟣 Kegels are not a one-size-fits-all solution and can sometimes worsen symptoms.

🟣 Pelvic floor dysfunction can be addressed years after giving birth, and it's never too late to seek help.

🟣 Pain, leaking, and a feeling of heaviness are common red flags signaling the need for pelvic floor therapy.

Resources mentioned to help you keep learning & growing: 

⭐ Learn more about Dr.Rachel with Durham Pelvic

⭐️ Pelvic Floor 101 Exercise Handout

⭐Blog Post- Balancing Your Health with Insights From  Pelvic Floor PT

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😴 Sleep Success Group- Sleep Membership

❓❓❓Have sleep questions or concerns❓❓❓
📆Schedule a FREE 15 minute phone call with me! 📞

🖥 Loving Lessons Sleep Coaching & Postpartum Doula Solutions

😌 😎 😴 Keep Calm, Confident, & Rested!
Sweet dreams! 🛌
💜 Irene 💜

In this episode of the "Loving Lessons Sleep Solutions" podcast, we explore the common problem of children waking up every two hours during the night. Using the SLEEP principles, we share simple, practical strategies to help your child fall asleep independently and sleep longer. 

Learn how creating secure, comforting bedtime routines and understanding your child's sleep cycle can significantly improve sleep for both you and your child. This episode is filled with insights on how sleep issues impact family well-being and offers solutions to transform your nighttime routine.

Whether you're a new parent or navigating sleep challenges with your newborn, infant, toddler or preschool child-  this episode has valuable guidance to help your family sleep better.

Key Loving Lessons Learned in this episode: 

🟣Sleep disruptions often result from how children fall asleep initially.

🟣The SLEEP principles (Show up, Lead, Environments, Empower, Play) offer a flexible, adaptable framework for solving sleep issues.

🟣 Creating a secure, calming sleep environment is essential for consistent, restful nights.

🟣Understanding sleep cycles helps parents know when and why children wake up.

🟣 Empowering your child providing space and an opportunity promotes longer, more independent sleep.  This does not mean you’ll be leaving your child to cry it out. 

Resources mentioned to help you keep learning & growing: 

⭐ Breathe LOVE Guide

⭐Blog Post-From Chaos to Calm- Why does my child wake every 2 hours? - Sleep Strategies that work

⭐ Trusted Professionals Directory 

⭐Navigating Temperament & Parenting Styles for Better Sleep 

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😴 Sleep Success Group- Sleep Membership

❓❓❓Have sleep questions or concerns❓❓❓
📆Schedule a FREE 15 minute phone call with me! 📞

🖥 Loving Lessons Sleep Coaching & Postpartum Doula Solutions

😌 😎 😴 Keep Calm, Confident, & Rested!
Sweet dreams! 🛌
💜 Irene 💜

There is a profound impact that chiropractic care can have on infant and child sleep. Dr. Renee Schneeman with Verve Holistic, shares her insights on how birth trauma and chronic stress can affect a child's nervous system, leading to sleep disturbances. 

We explore the roles of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, and how gentle, targeted chiropractic adjustments can help shift children into a state of relaxation, promoting better sleep. Whether you're a parent struggling with a child who can't sleep or you're curious about the holistic benefits of chiropractic care, this episode provides valuable information to help your family thrive.

Key Loving Lessons Learned in this episode: 

🟣Birth trauma, even in routine deliveries, can affect an infant's nervous system and disrupt sleep.

🟣Dr. Renee’s personal story about chiropractic care and how it changed her perspective on taking care of your body and overall wellness. 

🟣 The sympathetic nervous system keeps children in a fight-or-flight state, hindering relaxation and sleep.

🟣 Chiropractic care helps regulate the nervous system, promoting a shift to the parasympathetic state necessary for rest.

🟣 Gentle chiropractic adjustments can alleviate physical tension, improving sleep and overall well-being.

🟣 Understanding and addressing the nervous system's role can lead to significant improvements in a child's mood, behavior, and sleep patterns.

Resources mentioned to help you keep learning & growing: 

⭐Blog Post-The Role of the Nervous System in your Child’s Sleep 

⭐Dr. Renee Schneman with Verve Holistic

⭐ Magnesium Citrate (sleep/muscle tension/constipation) - Magnesium CitraMate & Reviews | Thorne

⭐ Nervous System Chiropractor Directory - Home (nervoussystemchiro.com)

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😴 Sleep Success Group- Sleep Membership

❓❓❓Have sleep questions or concerns❓❓❓
📆Schedule a FREE 15 minute phone call with me! 📞

🖥 Loving Lessons Sleep Coaching & Postpartum Doula Solutions

😌 😎 😴 Keep Calm, Confident, & Rested!
Sweet dreams! 🛌
💜 Irene 💜

In this episode, Irene Gouge sits down with licensed psychologist Vanessa Roddenberry with Breyta Psychological Services to explore the connection between trauma and sleep. Vanessa shares her expert insights into how unresolved trauma, including birth trauma, can disrupt sleep and affect parenting. 

She provides practical grounding techniques to manage stress and discusses how cognitive processing therapy can help parents heal from trauma in just 12 sessions. If sleepless nights and emotional overwhelm are part of your parenting journey, this episode will offer hope and practical tools for healing.

Tune in to learn how to recognize the signs of trauma, how to manage anxiety through grounding techniques, and how to improve your sleep as a parent. Discover why trauma is not a lifelong sentence and how you can take steps toward a peaceful and well-rested family life.

Key Loving Lessons Learned in this episode: 

🟣 The impact of unresolved trauma, including birth trauma, on sleep and parenting.

🟣 Practical grounding techniques to manage stress responses.

🟣 The benefits of cognitive processing therapy in treating trauma.

🟣 The importance of recognizing trauma and seeking help for healing.

🟣 How emotional well-being is key to creating a more restful home environment.

Resources mentioned to help you keep learning & growing: 

⭐ Breyta Physcologial Services

⭐ Recognizing PTSD & When to Seek Help  

⭐ Restful Nights: Managing sleep during life adjustments

⭐Blog Post-Breaking the Cycle: Overcoming Birth Trauma to Improve Parenting and Sleep

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😴 Sleep Success Group- Sleep Membership

❓❓❓Have sleep questions or concerns❓❓❓
📆Schedule a FREE 15 minute phone call with me! 📞

🖥 Loving Lessons Sleep Coaching & Postpartum Doula Solutions

😌 😎 😴 Keep Calm, Confident, & Rested!
Sweet dreams! 🛌
💜 Irene 💜

In this episode we explore the powerful impact of YES spaces on your child’s sleep and overall development. Discover how creating intentional wake windows filled with independent play can simplify parenting and help your child sleep better at night. 

By fostering healthy play habits, you’ll not only improve your child’s ability to sleep peacefully in their crib or room but also build stronger connections with your little one. YES spaces provide the safe environment children need to explore, learn, and thrive—without constant adult intervention. Join us to learn practical tips for setting up these spaces and transforming your child’s wakeful hours into peaceful sleep.

Key Loving Lessons Learned in this episode: 

🟣 Understanding how YES spaces promote independent play and better sleep.

🟣Why playtime during wake windows is critical for sleep success.

🟣The role of YES spaces in simplifying parenting and reducing stress.

🟣How YES spaces help children develop emotional regulation and self-discipline.

🟣Practical steps to create safe, enclosed YES spaces at home.

Resources mentioned to help you keep learning & growing: 

⭐Blog Post-The Power of YES Spaces: Simplify Parenting and Improve Sleep

⭐ Sleep Coaching Success- Group Coaching Sleep Support Group

⭐RIE Parenting Principles: Resources for Infant Educators

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😴 Sleep Success Group- Sleep Membership

❓❓❓Have sleep questions or concerns❓❓❓
📆Schedule a FREE 15 minute phone call with me! 📞

🖥 Loving Lessons Sleep Coaching & Postpartum Doula Solutions

😌 😎 😴 Keep Calm, Confident, & Rested!
Sweet dreams! 🛌
💜 Irene 💜

In this week’s podcast interview, Claudia Rickard, the English Hypnotist, delves into the essence of building emotional intelligence within families. Emotional intelligence, the ability to recognize, understand, and manage our own emotions as well as the emotions of others, plays a crucial role in creating harmonious family dynamics. Claudia emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence in fostering a nurturing environment where both parents and children can thrive. 

But why is this so vital?

Emotional intelligence helps us respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively, a skill that is particularly important in challenging parenting moments.

Key Loving Lessons Learned in this episode: 

🟣 What is emotional intelligence?Why is it important?

🟣 A story about bed wetting and how to respond rather than react. 

🟣 How would you notice if you are having a hard time regulating as a parent?  

🟣Why Hypnosis? Understanding focused attention

🟣 The beliefs and stories we are telling ourselves and how they impact how we show up

🟣 Learn powerful reframes and techniques to help improve communication and your relationship with your child.

🟣 Insights around crying for your child 

🟣What is the Bunny Talk Process? Understanding how children learn and process through play

🟣Overpower the overwhelm 

Resources mentioned to help you keep learning & growing: 

⭐Overpower your  Overwhelm- Free E-Guide with 3 relaxation recordings

⭐️ A Parent’s Journey, The Bunny Talk Process by Claudia Rickard

⭐Blog Post to learn more about Claudia Rickard-Building Emotional Intelligence As a Family

⭐Colleen Flaherty’s blog post

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😴 Sleep Success Group- Sleep Membership

❓❓❓Have sleep questions or concerns❓❓❓
📆Schedule a FREE 15 minute phone call with me! 📞

🖥 Loving Lessons Sleep Coaching & Postpartum Doula Solutions

😌 😎 😴 Keep Calm, Confident, & Rested!
Sweet dreams! 🛌
💜 Irene 💜

Are you truly aware of the subtle nuances of movement and how they might be affecting your body? How we feed, move, and notice sensations in our bodies can pave the way for remarkable whole-body wellness. Today, we have Lauren Mages from Mind and Body Vitality guiding us through an exploration of the pelvic floor. She'll reveal how movement influences various parts of our body and the importance of nourishing ourselves, especially during the postpartum season.

One of the things you'll notice about the conversation Lauren and I have is that we begin by talking about movement but seamlessly transition to discussing nutrition. When we think about the wakeful window, we realize that nourishing our body and moving our bodies during this time significantly impacts how we sleep.

Depending on the professional or provider you consult, you might be told that certain sensations or experiences are normal. It's  intriguing to delve deeper into what is considered normal and to understand the root causes. 

Join us as we dive into these essential insights, approaching our health and well-being with renewed awareness and vitality!

Key Loving Lessons Learned in this episode: 

🟣 What's the difference between a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist and a Movement & Health Specialist?

🟣 What are normal vs. common symptoms for the pelvic floor that might not be normal?

🟣 Who should seek support for their pelvic floor?

🟣 Understanding how someone moves their body 

🟣 Exploring the root cause of pain

🟣 Passive vs. active movement: How do we move our bodies?

🟣 How do we navigate functional medicine vs. traditional medicine?

🟣 How do we treat and understand the pain in our body?.

🟣 What are nutrient-dense foods and phytonutrients that support the body? And why are they important for postpartum recovery?

🟣 Understanding nutritional depletion

🟣 What foods should be eaten for postpartum recovery?

Resources mentioned to help you keep learning & growing: 

⭐Blog Post with Lauren’s Nutrient Dense Beef Casserole- Quick and easy recipe

⭐ Learn more about Lauren  for  1- 1 Movement coaching,  Virtual Health coaching, Group Classes. 

⭐ Fill out the Contact Form and ask for the Postpartum Guide

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😴 Sleep Success Group- Sleep Membership

❓❓❓Have sleep questions or concerns❓❓❓
📆Schedule a FREE 15 minute phone call with me! 📞

🖥 Loving Lessons Sleep Coaching & Postpartum Doula Solutions

😌 😎 😴 Keep Calm, Confident, & Rested!
Sweet dreams! 🛌
💜 Irene 💜

Meal times should be a time of enjoyment and connection. But if you have a picky eater, then the power struggle is real. Today, on our latest podcast episode, I had the pleasure of connecting with Kerry Lett from Milestones Nutrition, who shares valuable tips to help families overcome picky eating in early childhood.

💤The Sleep Connection💤

Over the years, I've observed thousands of parents worry and wonder if their child has eaten enough. To be honest, this was my struggle too for so many years.  Feeding and sleeping often emerge as the biggest challenges for parents, leading to disconnection.

Power struggles can lead to disconnection during meals.   Often this stems from a lack of trust that our children are listening to their bodies. Children are inherently capable of tuning into their bodies and knowing when they feel satiated. However, their need for sleep is sometimes misunderstood as a need for feedings. By becoming more aware of our child's nutritional needs and approaching mealtimes with relaxed, calm confidence, we can guide them through mealtime routines more effectively.

If you find yourself struggling with mealtimes, ask for help.  Listen  to the full podcast episode to dive deeper into these topics and gain practical advice from Kerry. 

Key Loving Lessons Learned in this episode: 

🟣 What mistake do parents make when it comes to mealtimes?

🟣 What do you do to avoid power struggles with mealtimes?

🟣 What do we need to know about picky eating?

🟣 Can children overcome picky eating?

🟣 How do I know if my child is a picky eater?

🟣 How do you  get started with feeding solid foods for your infant?

🟣 How to go from Yuck to Yum?

Resources mentioned to help you keep learning & growing: 

⭐ Free Picky Eating E-Book

⭐Read more on the Blog

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😴 Sleep Success Group- Sleep Membership

❓❓❓Have sleep questions or concerns❓❓❓
📆Schedule a FREE 15 minute phone call with me! 📞

🖥 Loving Lessons Sleep Coaching & Postpartum Doula Solutions

😌 😎 😴 Keep Calm, Confident, & Rested!
Sweet dreams! 🛌
💜 Irene 💜

Nourishing your body after giving birth can be a challenge.  Asking for what you need to recover and heal is a skill and process.  Today I’m connecting with Stephanie  who is a postpartum doula  from Au Petit Jour and she shares some tips and ways you can make nourishing meals a priority for your family.

It's crucial to understand that nourishing your body after giving birth plays a vital role in your overall recovery and well-being. Proper nutrition helps replenish the vital nutrients lost during childbirth, supports your body's healing process, and boosts your energy levels.

⭐️ Key Loving Lessons Learned in this episode: 

🟣 Gaining insights into the early days with your newborn and learning to prioritize daily needs.

 🟣 Developing an intimate relationship with your postpartum doula.

 🟣 Exploring the various specialties of postpartum doula support.

🟣 Understanding the importance of nourishment for your body and how it aids in postpartum recovery.

🟣 Navigating the early days with a newborn and adjusting your expectations.

 🟣 Remembering that social media doesn’t portray reality; nobody is juggling everything perfectly.

 🟣 Deciding what is truly important to you.

🟣 Key questions to ask when hiring a postpartum doula.

🟣 Stephanie's readiness to mentor aspiring postpartum doulas.

Resources mentioned to help you keep learning & growing: 

⭐ Check out the blog post for the recipes. 

⭐Learn more about Stephanie Gleason with Au Petit Jour 

⭐The First Forty Days by Heng Ou

⭐ The Snoo

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😴 Sleep Success Group- Sleep Membership

❓❓❓Have sleep questions or concerns❓❓❓
📆Schedule a FREE 15 minute phone call with me! 📞

🖥 Loving Lessons Sleep Coaching & Postpartum Doula Solutions

😌 😎 😴 Keep Calm, Confident, & Rested!
Sweet dreams! 🛌
💜 Irene 💜