Send us a text

If your toddler isn’t talking much yet, you may have found yourself asking, “What’s this?” — hoping to hear a word.

But for many late talkers, that well-intentioned question quietly shuts things down.

In this episode, Erin Hyer — speech-language pathologist with over 35 years of clinical and real-life experience — explains why asking for words too early can work against development, and what actually helps toddlers feel ready to communicate.

You’ll learn:

• Why silence doesn’t mean your child won’t talk — just that the foundations are still forming
• The difference between 'testing' and participating in early communication
• The five key areas that support speech before words appear
• How attention, imitation, play, daily rhythms, and nervous system regulation all shape language development

This episode isn’t about doing more or pushing harder.

It’s about creating the conditions that make communication feel safe, comfortable, interesting, and worth the effort.

🎧 You’ll also hear a simple metaphor that reframes speech development — and reminds parents why patience, presence, and trust matter more than pressure.

📥 Free resource mentioned:
The Top 10 Essential Skills Every Baby Needs Before Talking

🔗 Discovery Calls: Looking ahead 

As we move into the new year, I offer Discovery Calls for parents of babies & toddlers. These are free, one-to-one conversations designed to help determine whether a focused 6-week parent coaching format would be helpful for your family at this time. Not evaluations, not therapy - just space to reflect and be heard.

There’s no pressure and no obligation. 

January is now open, and you’ll find the details here: 👉 Start here to request a Discovery Call

CLICK HERE FOR: Building Vocabulary: Single Words to 2-Word Phrases

Because the little years are the big years.

=====

Disclaimer: 

This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your pediatrician or a qualified health provider with questions about your child’s development or health. The views shared are based on Erin Hyer’s professional experience and are intended to support informed parenting, not to replace individual consultation or care. Every child and family is unique — please use your discretion and consult trusted professionals when making decisions for your child.

Send us a text

Many parents enter early parenthood expecting exhaustion — but not the constant feeling of being on edge, unsure, or reactive, even when they’re trying their best.

In this episode of Talking Toddlers, we take a step back from tips and tactics and look at what often gets missed in conversations about parenting young children: where we place our effort matters just as much as how much effort we give.

Through real-life stories and a prevention-first lens, Erin explores how everyday rhythms — including sleep, food, play, movement, and pace — quietly shape a child’s behavior, attention, learning, and emotional regulation.

Rather than encouraging parents to do more, this conversation focuses on becoming more intentional — starting in the places that support a child’s nervous system and create steadiness for the whole family.

If parenting feels harder than you expected, this episode is designed to help you understand why — and to offer a calmer, clearer starting place.

🔗 Discovery Calls: Looking ahead 

As we move into the new year, I offer Discovery Calls for parents of babies & toddlers. These are free, one-to-one conversations designed to help determine whether a focused 6-week parent coaching format would be helpful for your family at this time. Not evaluations, not therapy - just space to reflect and be heard.

There’s no pressure and no obligation. 

January is now open, and you’ll find all the details here: 👉 Start here to request a Discovery Call

🌟 Join the Inside Talking Toddlers community for exclusive deep dives and get Erin’s free guide: Top 10 ESSENTIAL Skills For Talking.

CLICK HERE FOR: Building Vocabulary: Single Words to 2-Word Phrases

Because the little years are the big years.

=====

Disclaimer: 

This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your pediatrician or a qualified health provider with questions about your child’s development or health. The views shared are based on Erin Hyer’s professional experience and are intended to support informed parenting, not to replace individual consultation or care. Every child and family is unique — please use your discretion and consult trusted professionals when making decisions for your child.

📩 Questions: [email protected]
 🌐 www.HyerLearning.com

Thank you for being here — and for caring so deeply about your child’s well-being.

Send us a text

After more than 35 years of sitting on floors with babies and toddlers - and walking alongside thousands of mothers - I’ve learned something that still surprises people.

The children who thrive in the first three years aren’t raised by parents who do everything “right.”

They’re raised by adults who stay in sync — who notice, respond, and adjust in real time.

In this final episode of the year, I’m not offering a checklist or another set of milestones to track. 

I’m sharing three anchors that have held steady across decades of real families and real development — long before social media, parenting trends, or performance pressure entered the picture.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why attunement and rhythm matter more than rigid schedules
  
  
• How language grows best inside real life, not through testing or pressure
  
  
• Why the brain grows through the body, and how movement and sensory integration shape regulation, attention, and speech
  
  
• What stress, cortisol, and nervous-system overload actually look like in babies and toddlers
  
  
• Why looking away can help a child listen better - and what we’ve misunderstood for years
  
  

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by noise, advice, or expectations - this episode is an invitation to slow down, zoom out, and reconnect with what truly supports your child’s growth.

You’re not behind.
You’re just surrounded by noise.

🔗 Discovery Calls: Looking ahead 

As we move toward the new year, I offer Discovery Calls for parents of babies & toddlers. These are free, one-to-one conversations designed to help determine whether a focused six-week parent coaching format would be helpful for your family at this time. Not evaluations, not therapy - just space to reflect and be heard.

There’s no pressure and no obligation. January is now open, and you’ll find all the details here: 👉 Start here to request a Discovery Call

🌟 Join the Inside Talking Toddlers community for exclusive deep dives and get Erin’s free guide: Top 10 ESSENTIAL Skills For Talking.

CLICK HERE FOR: Building Vocabulary: Single Words to 2-Word Phrases

Because the little years are the big years.

=====

Disclaimer: 

This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your pediatrician or a qualified health provider with questions about your child’s development or health. The views shared are based on Erin Hyer’s professional experience and are intended to support informed parenting, not to replace individual consultation or care. Every child and family is unique — please use your discretion and consult trusted professionals when making decisions for your child.

📩 Questions: [email protected]
 🌐 www.HyerLearning.com

Thank you for being here — and for caring so deeply about your child’s well-being.

Send us a text

If Christmas feels overwhelming - for you or your toddler - you’re not imagining it.

And you’re not doing anything wrong.

For babies and toddlers, the holiday season brings more noise, more stimulation, more people, more stuff, and disrupted routines - often all at once. Little nervous systems aren’t built to manage that kind of overload, even when everything looks joyful from the outside.

In this episode, I explain why Christmas can feel like “too much” for young children, and how understanding early brain development can help you release guilt, lower expectations, and protect what matters most. 

We’ll talk about how toddlers actually process experiences, what they truly remember, and why simplicity and rhythm are not only enough - they’re protective.

You’ll also hear real-life stories from my clinical work and motherhood, along with gentle permission to keep Christmas simple for your little ones while still enjoying meaningful connection as a family.

This episode isn’t about doing more.

It’s about understanding what your child needs — and giving yourself permission to rest there.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why Christmas can overwhelm babies and toddlers
• How young children’s brains process stimulation and memory
• What toddlers actually remember from holidays (and what they don’t)
• Why fewer toys and simpler routines support regulation
• How to prevent post-holiday dysregulation and sleep disruption
• Permission to give your child a touch of Christmas - without the layers and pressure

Looking ahead: Discovery Call - for parents of babies & toddlers

As we move toward the new year, I also share a brief note about Discovery Calls - free, one-to-one conversations designed to help determine whether a focused six-week parent coaching format would be helpful for your family at this time.

There’s no pressure and no obligation. January is now open, and you’ll find all the details here:

👉 Start here to request a Discovery Call

--------------------

🌟 Join the Inside Talking Toddlers community for exclusive deep dives and get Erin’s free guide: Top 10 ESSENTIAL Skills For Talking.

CLICK HERE FOR: Building Vocabulary: Single Words to 2-Word Phrases

Because the little years are the big years.

=====

Disclaimer: 

This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your pediatrician or a qualified health provider with questions about your child’s development or health. The views shared are based on Erin Hyer’s professional experience and are intended to support informed parenting, not to replace individual consultation or care. Every child and family is unique — please use your discretion and consult trusted professionals when making decisions for your child.

📩 Questions: [email protected]
 🌐 www.HyerLearning.com

Thank you for being here — and for caring so deeply about your child’s well-being.

Send us a text

Christmas can feel heavy for moms of babies and toddlers - full of pressure, expectations, and the fear of getting it wrong.

In this episode of Talking Toddlers, we talk about why a simpler, calmer Christmas is often exactly what young children need - and how choosing less can create more connection, regulation, and meaning for your family.

You don’t need more information - you need clarity, support, and a simple way forward.

Talking Toddlers is here to help you slow down, understand what’s developmentally normal, and focus your energy where it truly matters.

If this episode resonated with you, be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss future conversations designed to support both you and your child. You’re doing more right than you realize.

If you’re looking for more personalized support, you’ll find details about Erin’s email community, free resources, and Discovery Calls in the description below.

=====

Discovery Call — for parents of babies & toddlers
If you’re wondering whether you’re overthinking something — or missing something — this short Discovery Call is a place to pause and get oriented.

👉 Start here to request a Discovery Call

=========

🌟 Join the Inside Talking Toddlers community for exclusive deep dives and get Erin’s free guide: Top 10 ESSENTIAL Skills For Talking.

CLICK HERE FOR: Building Vocabulary: Single Words to 2-Word Phrases

Because the little years are the big years.

=====

Disclaimer: 

This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your pediatrician or a qualified health provider with questions about your child’s development or health. The views shared are based on Erin Hyer’s professional experience and are intended to support informed parenting, not to replace individual consultation or care. Every child and family is unique — please use your discretion and consult trusted professionals when making decisions for your child.

📩 Questions: [email protected]
 🌐 www.HyerLearning.com

Send us a text

If you want your child to talk well — not just say more words — this episode will change the way you think about early communication.

Because here’s the truth:
Talking doesn’t just “show up” one day.

It grows from the daily experiences underneath it — connection, play, movement, interaction, modeling, as well as sleep, nutrition, and healthy routines.

Whether your baby is 6 months old and you want to stay ahead…
or your toddler is already showing signs of delay…
understanding what’s happening underneath the words is one of the best gifts you can give your child.

You’ve probably heard the common lines:
 “Boys talk later.”
 “Late talking runs in families.”
 “Give it time. She’ll talk when she’s ready.”

But in 2025, it’s much more nuanced than that — and simply assuming “it’ll all work out” can keep kids stuck longer than they need to be.

After 35 years in early intervention, Erin has seen hundreds of so-called “late talkers,” and here’s what most parents (and many professionals) miss:

👉 Not all late talkers are the same.

 Some children are on a simple language-delay path.
 Others are showing early signs of a broader 'communication' difference.
 Those two paths need different kinds of support.

In this episode, Erin helps you “look more closely” and get curious, as she explains in clear, practical terms:

• what to notice before the first birthday
• the difference between a language delay and a communication disorder
• why focusing only on “more words” can miss the real issue
• how play, sensory needs, emotions, and movement all shape speech
• subtle signs parents overlook in the toddler years
• questions to ask instead of just “waiting and seeing”
• what you can start doing today to support your child, at any age

If you’re a parent who doesn’t want to rely on assumptions or old myths, this conversation will give you the clarity and confidence to ask better questions, seek the right kind of help, and support your child’s development from the very beginning.

===

🌟 Join the Inside Talking Toddlers community for exclusive deep dives and get Erin’s free guide: Top 10 ESSENTIAL Skills For Talking.

CLICK HERE FOR: Building Vocabulary: Single Words to 2-Word Phrases

Because the little years are the big years.

===

Disclaimer: 

This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your pediatrician or a qualified health provider with questions about your child’s development or health. The views shared are based on Erin Hyer’s professional experience and are intended to support informed parenting, not to replace individual consultation or care. Every child and family is unique — please use your discretion and consult trusted professionals when making decisions for your child.

📩 Questions: [email protected]
 🌐 www.HyerLearning.com

Send us a text

If you want your baby or toddler to talk well — not just say more words — this episode is your starting point.

Because IMITATION is the skill that comes before gestures, babbling, understanding, and eventually… real talking.

Most parents overlook imitation.
Many professionals gloss over it.
But after 35 years helping babies and toddlers communicate, I can tell you this with absolute certainty:

Toddlers learn to imitate long before they learn to talk — and imitation is one of the strongest predictors of early speech.

In today’s episode, I’m walking you through the real building blocks beneath talking and how imitation shapes attention, connection, and communication.

You’ll learn:

• what imitation actually is (it’s not just copying words!)
• the layers of imitation your child moves through
• the connection between imitation, gestures, and early language
• the simple mistake many parents make without even realizing it • playful, natural ways to spark imitation at home — starting today

Whether your little one is 9 months, 12 months, 18 months, or closer to 2, this episode will help you see communication in a whole new way — long before the words appear.

======

✨  LIVE WORKSHOP — Dec 6

How to Get Your Baby Talking: 3 Daily Routines That Build Real Words

On Friday, December 6, I’m hosting a LIVE 90-minute workshop where I’ll pull back the curtain and show you exactly how to use three everyday routines to grow your baby’s communication from infancy through 24 months.

👉 Click here to see all the details + save your seat.

If you want clarity, confidence, and a practical plan to support your child’s communication from infancy through 24 months… you’ll want to be there.

=====

DISCLAIMER:

This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your pediatrician or a qualified health provider with questions about your child’s development or health. The views shared are based on Erin Hyer’s professional experience and are intended to support informed parenting, not to replace individual consultation or care. Every child and family is unique — please use your discretion and consult trusted professionals when making decisions for your child.

📩 Questions: [email protected]
 🌐 www.HyerLearning.com

Send us a text

The Hidden Step Before First Words (Every Parent Misses This One)

If your toddler isn’t using many words yet, this episode will change the way you see early communication. 

Most parents—and honestly, many professionals—focus on the number of words. But talking doesn’t begin with words. It begins with the body, with connection, and with one crucial developmental step that predicts everything that comes next.

In today’s episode, Erin pulls back the curtain on the hidden foundations of communication—what really happens before first words—and why this matters for every child from 6 months to 2½ years and beyond.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
 • the overlooked skill that shows up months before talking
 • why gestures are symbolic communication (just like words!)
 • how noisy babies, motor movement, and early imitation shape language
 • surprising predictors of later vocabulary growth
 • what the CDC’s “30-month” update got dangerously wrong
 • how parents can spot healthy communication patterns early on
 • simple ways to support your baby or toddler today

Whether you have a baby just finding their voice, a toddler who’s slow to talk, or you’re simply a parent who wants to understand your child’s development with confidence—this episode will give you clarity, direction, and peace of mind.

Because talking isn’t a milestone…
 it’s a process.

And once you see the path, you’ll never look at communication the same way again.

👉 Learn the simple routines that help words emerge naturally — save your spot here: GET YOUR BABY TALKING WORKSHOP

FREE Guide: Is My Child On Track? Top 10 Essential Skills For Talking

===

DISCLAIMER:

This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your pediatrician or a qualified health provider with questions about your child’s development or health. The views shared are based on Erin Hyer’s professional experience and are intended to support informed parenting, not to replace individual consultation or care. Every child and family is unique — please use your discretion and consult trusted professionals when making decisions for your child.

📩 Questions: [email protected]
 🌐 www.HyerLearning.com

Send us a text

Are you tired of feeling embarrassed when your toddler won’t share?

In this episode of Talking Toddlers, Erin Hyer, speech-language pathologist and early development specialist, breaks down what’s really happening inside your child’s brain when they say “mine!”

You’ll learn why true sharing isn’t developmentally possible before age 4, how playdates often set toddlers up for stress (and shame), and simple ways to build calm, language-rich moments of connection at home.

Erin also reveals how early turn-taking builds the foundation for real cooperation — without guilt, begging, or over-coaching.

===

🌟 Join the Inside Talking Toddlers community for exclusive deep dives and get Erin’s free guide: Top 10 ESSENTIAL Skills For Talking.

CLICK HERE FOR: Building Vocabulary: Single Words to 2-Word Phrases

Because the little years are the big years.

===

Disclaimer: 

This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your pediatrician or a qualified health provider with questions about your child’s development or health. The views shared are based on Erin Hyer’s professional experience and are intended to support informed parenting, not to replace individual consultation or care. Every child and family is unique — please use your discretion and consult trusted professionals when making decisions for your child.

📩 Questions: [email protected]
 🌐 www.HyerLearning.com

Send us a text

If your toddler is constantly climbing, dumping, crawling, pulling things out of cabinets, or wandering from one “project” to another… this episode will make everything click.

Between 12 and 18 months, the brain is wiring the foundations for attention, curiosity, emotional regulation, and — yes — first words. And it all happens through play.
Not apps.
Not fancy toys.
Not early lessons.
Movement. Repetition. Real-life exploration.

In this episode, Erin Hyer, SLP and toddler specialist for 35+ years, breaks down:

• Why play is the real work
• How modern life gets in the way
• The four “play jobs” toddlers must practice
• What progress vs plateau vs regression really looks like
• How LESS toys = MORE brain development
• The simple daily rhythm that builds confidence, attention, and communication

You’ll walk away knowing exactly what your toddler needs — and why you’re already doing more good than you realize.

Something special is coming in early December… stay tuned.

=====

✨ Join the Inside Talking Toddlers community and get your free guide: 

 Top 10 ESSENTIAL SKILLS for Talking

=====

Disclaimer: 

This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your pediatrician or a qualified health provider with questions about your child’s development or health. The views shared are based on Erin Hyer’s professional experience and are intended to support informed parenting, not to replace individual consultation or care. Every child and family is unique — please use your discretion and consult trusted professionals when making decisions for your child.

📩 Questions: [email protected]
 🌐 www.HyerLearning.com