When naps fade, quiet time can become a calm, valuable part of your toddler's day. Katie and Carly, pediatric SLPs and moms of 6 kids, share how to make it work—plus simple ideas for toys, activities, and rhythms that keep quiet time screen-free, independent, and enjoyable for everyone.

• Why quiet time matters—even after naps are gone

• How to start small and build up consistency over time

• How to use timers or toddler clocks to make quiet time easier

• Simple screen-free quiet time ideas that actually keep kids engaged

• How independent play supports attention and emotional regulation

• Why audio players like the Toniebox or Yoto Player can make quiet time feel fun and calm

• A reminder that quiet time doesn't have to be perfect to be worth it

• Yoto vs. Toniebox — Which Is Best for Toddlers and Preschoolers? weetalkers.com/blog

• Songs+Stories Membership Like library story time, except led by SLPs (us!) and you can press play whenever it's convenient for your family. weetalkers.com/songandstories

• Free Trial: Songs+Stories — Try it out and see what your little one thinks! You'll get a taste of the storytime videos + podcast episodes for toddlers and preschoolers weetalkers.com/trial

• Here's the Hatch clock we love to help them have more independence and understanding with time

If this episode was helpful, please take a moment to give it a 5-star rating on your podcast app. Your support helps other families find us!

If you've ever wondered why some kids seem to kind of go with the flow while others melt down over seemingly small things and things feel harder? Parenting advice can feel confusing when what "works" for one child totally backfires with another.

This is something we wish we knew more about when our kids were little, so we are thrilled to share this episode with you.

In this episode, we're joined by Jess VanderWier, Registered Psychotherapist and founder of Nurtured First, to talk all about temperament—what it really means, why it matters, and how understanding your child's unique traits can bring more calm and confidence to daily life.

Here's what we're covering:

• What temperament actually is and why it's such a key piece of early development

• Real-life examples of how temperament shows up in things like sleep, transitions, and everyday interactions

• Why advice that helps one child might not work for another

• When to gently push kids outside their comfort zone and when to pull back and honor who they are

• The power of adjusting expectations and avoiding comparisons between siblings or peers

• Practical ways to lean into your child's strengths while still supporting growth

We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did. We hope it helps you feel more confident in recognizing and supporting your child's unique temperament.

We think you'll love Jess! Follow her on Instagram @nurturedfirst and at nurturedfirst.com

You can find Jess' podcast "Robot Unicorn" here: Apple Podcast | Spotify

Overwhelmed by the toy aisle (or your living room floor)? You're not alone. In this episode, Katie and Carly (pediatric speech language pathologists and moms of six) share how to choose toys that truly stand the test of time.

They'll walk you through what really matters when it comes to toys for babies, toddlers and preschoolers: choosing open-ended toys that encourage imagination, quality over quantity, and picking toys that meet your child where they are developmentally.

You'll also hear their favorite tried-and-true toys that spark language, connection, and creativity (and the ones that tend to just gather dust).

Whether you're shopping for the holidays or just ready to simplify playtime, this episode will help you feel confident choosing toys that actually support your child's language development.

💡 Mentioned in this episode:

• Wee Talkers' 2025 Holiday Gift Guide at https://www.weetalkers.com/blog/gift-guide

• 15% off tubby todd tubbytodd.com/weetalkers

• Movement toys: https://shopmy.us/shop/collections/2709002
• Toys that help communication development: https://www.weetalkers.com/blog/toys-for-encouraging-communication-development
• Our favorite bubbles

We absolutely love the library, but we know it can be overwhelming. Families often wonder: Should you pick the educational books? The fun, silly ones? Are some books "better" than others? What if they want to read the same book over and over?

In this episode, we're sharing simple tips to take the stress out of library trips and help you make the most of this incredible resource.

Here's what we're covering:

• Why regular library visits are one of the easiest ways to support your child's language and literacy skills

• Four simple things to look for when choosing books

• What we think about reading the same books over and over

• Practical library hacks to save you time (and keep things fresh for you and your child)

• A free resource to help you skip the guesswork and head to the library our booklist

As pediatric speech-language pathologists and moms, we know firsthand how powerful regular, joyful reading can be (and how overwhelming the library can feel without a plan). We hope this episode leaves you feeling confident, equipped, and excited to make your next library trip a fun, stress-free part of your routine.

Thank you for listening! If you find this episode helpful, share it with a friend or leave a review. We'd love to reach more families who want to support their little one's communication and love of books.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Free Toddler Booklist: https://www.weetalkers.com/books-download
• Songs+ Stories Membership: Screen time you can feel really good about it. Try it free https://www.weetalkers.com/trial

It's typical for toddlers and preschoolers not to be able to say all speech sounds correctly. It's a learning process. Maybe your child says "tar" for star or "nana" for banana. But how do you know if it's just a normal stage or something more?

In this episode, we're digging into the question: Should I be worried if my toddler says sounds "wrong"?

Here's what we're covering:

• Why speech errors happen

• How much of your toddler's speech you should be able to understand at different ages

• The most common sound mistakes toddlers make and when they typically go away

• Four simple, low pressure ways you can help your child at home

• Sound-specific strategies for tricky ones like /s/ blends (think star or snake)

• When to consider checking hearing or connecting with a speech-language pathologist

As pediatric speech therapists and moms, we want you to know: most of the time, these mistakes are a completely normal part of learning to talk. We hope this episode helps you you walk away with reassurance, a few simple ideas to try, and the confidence to trust your instincts if you feel something more is going on.

If you found this episode helpful, share it with a friend or leave a review. It's SO appreciated. Thanks for listening!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Ep. 10: What to Do When You Don't Understand Your Toddler

• Our blog: Common Speech Sound Patterns in Toddlers

• Looking for screen time you can feel good about? Try Songs+Stories free for 10 days www.weetalkers.com/trial

• Free Toddler Communication Checklist – weetalkers.com/toddler

More free resources + programs at weetalkers.com

Parenting little ones is full of trial and error. Some choices you look back on and think, I'm so glad we did that. Others? You wish you'd done a little differently.

In this episode, we're reflecting on those early years now that we have school-aged kids and sharing:

• 5 simple habits we're thankful we stuck with — like making room for open-ended play, encouraging a love of books, and keeping quiet time even after naps were long gone.
• The everyday choices that paid off more than we realized at the time
• 5 things we wish we had done more of (still kicking ourselves for not writing down all those funny kid quotes!)
• Why you don't need to do everything perfectly for it to really matter

As speech language pathologists and moms, we bring both our professional lens and the honest, behind-the-scenes perspective of real parenthood. Our hope? That you walk away with a new idea to try or the reassurance that what you're already doing is enough.

👉 Don't forget to share this episode with a friend who could use a little encouragement.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Want to create a screen time plan for your family that you feel really good about? Listen to episode 13 to hear more about what we think about when it comes to screen time for toddlers and preschoolers.
• More about baby + toddler play plus our favorite toys to encourage talking at weetalkers.com/blog
• Try our intentional screen time for preschoolers + toddlers (for free) at weetalkers.com/trial
• Find the chew proof, rip proof books we mentioned in our Amazon or Bookshop store.
• More free resources and programs at weetalkers.com

Is your 18-month-old not talking yet, but clearly understands so much of what you say? You're not alone. And the fact they understand so much is a very encouraging sign!

In this episode, Katie and Carly (speech-language pathologists and moms) break down:

• The difference between receptive (understanding) and expressive (talking) language

• What language milestones to expect around 18 months

• What actually counts as a word (hint: more than you think!)

• Three simple ways you can support your toddler's talking right now

• When to seek extra support and why "wait and see" isn't always the best plan

If you've been feeling worried, this conversation will give you practical next steps and lots of reassurance.

👉 Download our free Toddler Communication Milestones checklist at weetalkers.com/toddler.

👉 Checkout our TalkToddler course--our course for parents who want to help their toddler talk and communciate more weetalkers.com/talktoddler.

Starting preschool or daycare? We've been there—more than six times between us! In this episode, we share our best tips for easing the preschool transition, from choosing books that prepare your child to creating goodbye routines that actually work. You'll hear real stories from our own kids, easy role play ideas, a simple connection routines for drop-off, and a preschool playlist to help your preschooler start the day feeling brave and confident.

Links & Resources:

• Shop our favorite books for starting school: Amazon | Bookshop.org

• Personalized Starting School Books from Pinhole Press

• Kind + Strong Playlist on Spotify & Apple Music

• Free 10-Day Songs+Stories Trial

• How to Support Social Skills in the Preschool Years

You've probably heard of kids having their tonsils or adenoids removed—but how do you know when it's actually necessary? In this episode of Talk It Out, we're joined by board-certified pediatrician Dr. Anjuli Gans to break down everything parents need to know about tonsils and adenoids in children. From their role in the body to the signs that they might be causing problems, Dr. Gans helps make sense of this often confusing part of pediatric health.

Dr. Gans is an attending physician at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, and the founder of Resilient Rascals. As a pediatrician and mom of two, she shares evidence-based, holistic advice to help parents make confident healthcare decisions.

In this conversation, we talk about what tonsils and adenoids actually do, how to spot signs of enlargement, and when it might be time to seek a referral to an ENT (ear, nose, and throat specialist). Dr. Gans also walks us through what to expect if your child needs a tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy, how to prepare your child for surgery, and her best tips for a smooth recovery. Plus, Katie shares her personal experience having two of her children go through T&A surgery—and what she wishes she had known sooner.

If you're wondering whether your child's snoring, mouth breathing, or frequent illness might be related to enlarged tonsils or adenoids, this episode offers clarity, expert insight, and plenty of reassurance.

If your child snores, struggles with sleep, seems to get sick often, or has had tonsils and adenoids mentioned at a doctor's visit—this episode will help you feel more informed and confident.

Mentioned in this episode:

• 🎧 Missed our last episode with Dr. Gans? Check out Episode 21 on Ear Infections + Speech Development

• How to Prepare for a Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy from resilientrascals.com

Connect with Dr. Gans:

• Visit Dr. Gan's website: resilientrascals.com

• Follow Dr. Gans on Instagram: @resilientrascals

• Dr. Gans' guides – we love these!

Connect with us: 🎧 More episodes of Talk It Out📱 Follow us on Instagram

Picky eating is one of the most common concerns for parents of toddlers—but how do you know if it's a normal phase or something more serious? In this episode of Talk It Out, we're joined by Jenny Friedman, a pediatric dietitian, picky eating specialist, and mom of three. Together, we dive into what picky eating looks like in toddlers, how to reduce mealtime stress, and what actually works when your child refuses to eat.

Whether your toddler is down to just a handful of foods or you're dealing with a new wave of food refusals, this conversation is filled with practical, low-pressure strategies to help. Jenny breaks down what typical toddler picky eating looks like, common misconceptions parents have, and signs it might be time to seek extra support. She also shares simple ways to help your toddler try new foods without pressure, tips for creating a positive mealtime environment, and how to think about nutrition when your child is eating very little.

We also talk about:

• The small signs of progress that often go unnoticed but really matter
• Mindset shifts for parents who feel stuck or overwhelmed
• Easy snack ideas that even selective eaters tend to accept
• Our experiences in our own homes when it comes to feeding kids

If you're looking for realistic picky eating tips for toddlers, or just want to feel less alone in the daily mealtime battles, this episode offers the support and expert insight you need.

Resources from this episode:

• Jenny's free masterclass: Peace Out Picky Eating jennyfriedmannutrition.com/peace
• Her book: Stories of Extreme Picky Eating Get it here
• Follow Jenny on Instagram: @feedingpickyeaters
• Jenny's picks for high chairs
• Jenny's breakfast ideas for picky eaters

Connect with us: 💛 www.weetalkers.com

🎧 More episodes of Talk It Out📱 Follow us on Instagram

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