Parenting in the First 3 Years

There's nothing more frustrating as a new parent than dealing with sleep disruptions. After all, when the baby doesn't sleep well, neither does one or both of the parents. This can make for some rough days! If you've spent your middle-of-the-night wakeups franticly Googling sleep tips, I'm sure you're familiar with the term "sleep training." But what does that really mean, and why is it such a hot topic among experts?

In this episode, I talk to sleep expert Joanna Clark of Blissful Baby Sleep Coaching. We discuss the three skills that your baby needs to develop before they can become a successful independent sleeper. We also dive into all things sleep schedules and sleep training.

Check out the full show notes here!

We've heard how important the first days are for your newborn's development. But when all you see them do is sleep, eat, and poop, it can be hard to imagine anything major is happening inside. Thankfully, science has proven otherwise! So what are some things you can do with your newborn to make the most of these first 2 months and form the essential bonds that will benefit your baby for years to come? 

In this episode, I talk to Deborah McNelis, M. Ed. Deborah is an early brain development specialist, author, speaker, and founder of Brain Insights LLC. We discuss some common misconceptions about newborn care, the best ways parents can nourish their newborn's brain growth, and answer questions about those first 60 days.

Deborah's got a free gift for you! Download Loving a Baby and frame it for your baby's room. 🥰

Check out the full show notes here!

Tantrums can be very triggering, leaving us feeling bewildered, impatient, helpless, and ready to throw in the towel. But there's a way to understand and manage tantrums and meltdowns that may bring relief to both us and our child.

In this episode, Diane Goyette of Early Childhood Specialties, shares her insights on tantrums - why they happen, what they mean, and how you can respond to turn the moment into one of connection with your child.

Download our free tool, How to Manage Meltdowns, for tips on how to connect with your child even in the midst of what feels like to them (and you!) major meltdown chaos. 😬

And if you'd like for me to pray for you, your child or anything, simply email me at [email protected]. It's just a quiet, simple way for me to support you on your parenting journey. 🧡

Check out the full show notes here!

There’s one question people commonly ask new parents that I can’t stand. And that's, “Is she a good baby?” Everyone wants an easy baby! But that’s such a broad description. What's an "easy baby" anyways? One that sleeps well, doesn’t cry too much, and smiles a lot? Is that even realistic?

In this episode of Parenting in the First 3 Years we explore temperament, which explains why some babies seem to be easier than others. Hint: a lot of it has to do with your temperament as well! Take a listen - you'll learn so much!

Check out the full show notes here!

Denmark has repeatedly been voted as having the happiest people in the world. It may be due to this thing called hygge (pronounced hoo-guh), which is a Danish term that means to cozy around together. This hygge lifestyle creates a feeling of connectedness to others, which gives meaning and purpose to life and time with our family. Parents around the world are beginning to embrace this idea, but often wonder how to hygge with their own children and family.

In this episode, I talk to Maria Dior. Maria is a mother to three and an entrepreneur living in Aarhus Denmark. She specializes in health and nutrition for moms and pregnant women and offers online boot camps and courses that teach women how to stay strong and happy throughout pregnancy and postpartum. You can check her out in Birth School, my online course for expectant moms, where she helped create the module on fitness. We talk about her experiences with hygge both growing up, and as a parent now, the role that food plays in the hygge lifestyle, and tips for incorporating hygge into your daily life.

Check out the full show notes here!

Toddlers sometimes get a bad rap. Maybe you've even had someone say to you, "just wait until they're two!" like your child will instantly morph from a sweet, happy baby into a demanding, obstinate toddler as soon as the clock strikes midnight.

In this episode, we celebrate all things 2 by focusing on the second year of life. We'll talk about what's going on with your 2-year-old, all the wonderful, sometimes challenging developmental changes that are happening both inside and out, and how you can change your approach to parenting during this new phase of childhood.

Check out the full show notes here!

Screen time for babies is a tricky topic. Babies and toddlers know, just as we do, that there are so many fun things to do with a phone!

How can we live in the tension of the recommendations and what's realistic for our actual lives? What’s okay and what’s not okay about babies and toddlers when it comes to phones and tablets?

In this episode, we cover 5 common assumptions that parents make about screen time for babies and toddlers. 

Click here to learn more about babies, toddlers and tablets!

Starting daycare is a big adjustment for parents and children alike. How can you best prepare? What if the transition doesn't go well? Will your baby cry all day long? There are likely a lot of questions swirling around in your head as you contemplate enrolling your baby in a child care center.

In this episode, our guest, Gabrielle Holt answers these questions and more.

Learn more about that wonderful little baby of yours at Nurtured Noggins. 😍

Check out the full show notes here!

When can you expect that your baby will start laughing? What about those big belly laughs you see on TikTok? What do babies find funny anyway? In this episode, we explore all things baby laughter. 

Learn more about that wonderful little baby of yours at Nurtured Noggins. 😍

We all know that people use a different tone of voice when they talk to babies, like what we would typically call ‘baby talk’. Researchers have identified this sing-song, high pitched, slow speech with a name… “motherese,” “parentese,” or IDS (Infant Directed Speech).

These speech characteristics are observed in all languages as parents and caregivers engage with babies. And there’s a lot more to it than just the way it sounds.

In this episode, we explore the one thing that almost every person does, an instinctive way of interacting with a baby that is exactly what a child needs in the first year of life.

Longing to learn more about your baby? We've got you covered at Nurtured Noggins!

Checking out the full show notes here.