Every parent hits a breaking point. Here's how to stop before you get there.

In this episode of Toddlers Made Easy, Dr. Cathryn shares three simple steps to stay calm — even when your toddler is pushing every button you have.

What You'll Learn:

✔ Why toddlers don't listen (and how to work with their development, not against it)

✔ The real reason parents snap — and it's not just about your toddler's behavior

✔ 3 practical steps to keep your cool when you feel triggered

✔ A bonus tip that makes staying calm even easier

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Potty pushback doesn't mean you're doing it wrong — it means your toddler is doing exactly what toddlers do. In this episode, we dig into why resistance happens and what actually works to move through it.

• Potty resistance is developmentally normal. Toddlers are hardwired to seek control, and the bathroom is one of the few places they have it — once you understand that, the pushback stops feeling personal.
• More pressure almost always makes things worse. The stories of Chelsea and Eli show how escalating effort led to zero progress — and how easing up was the real turning point.
• Four strategies that actually work: prompt less (every 2 hours max), offer two real choices, lead with play and silliness, and build a routine by pairing potty time with something your child already loves.

Whether you're in the thick of training or just getting started, these research-backed, kid-forward tools will help you stay out of the power struggle — and on your toddler's team.

Resources:

Potty Training Made Easy

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Is your toddler waking multiple times a night and ending up in your bed? You're not alone — and more importantly, it's fixable.

In this episode, Dr. Cathryn breaks down the real reason most toddlers wake at night (hint: it's not to drive you crazy), and what you can do to help them sleep through — gently and without the tears.

You'll learn:

• The sleep cycle science that explains why toddlers wake — and why how they fall asleep matters so much
• The "pillow and blanket" analogy that finally makes it click
• 3 common mistakes that make night wakings worse
• Why sleep deprivation is more serious than most parents realize
• Other causes of night wakings — from new siblings to medical issues worth discussing with your pediatrician

Mentioned in this episode:

• Why Won't My Child Go to Sleep Without Me? Part 1
• Why Won't My Child Go to Sleep Without Me? Part 2
• Sleep Masterclass: → Tap Here

Have a question or story to share?

DM Dr. Cathryn on Instagram or email us at [email protected].

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Do toddlers really need chores?

In this episode, I share why young children want to help — and why letting them contribute builds confidence, responsibility, and a deep sense of belonging.

You’ll hear:

Why toddlers are naturally wired to help

How tiny tasks build big confidence

Why you don’t need chore charts at this age

How early participation shapes responsible teens later on

Chores at this stage aren’t about productivity. They’re about connection, competence, and feeling valued in the family.

If this resonates, explore my Toddlers Made Easy course for more big-hearted, practical strategies that make parenting life easier.

RESOURCES:

👉 Follow ⁠Dr. Cathryn on Instagram⁠

👉 Toddlers Made Easy online course

👉 Subscribe to my free newsletter for big-hearted parenting tips delivered straight to your inbox

Sponsor:

Laundry Sauce

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In this episode, we talk about what to do when toddler tantrums turn physical—hitting, kicking, or throwing things.

When you understand what’s happening inside your child’s brain, it becomes much easier to stay calm and respond in a way that protects both safety and self-esteem.

You'll learn:

Why aggressive tantrums happen: Toddlers feel big emotions but don’t yet have the impulse control or problem-solving skills to manage them.

What to do in the moment: Focus on safety first, stay close and calm, and avoid lectures while your child is overwhelmed.

How to help long-term: After the storm passes, teach simple skills—like asking for a turn or using words—to handle big feelings next time.

This episode is made possible by our partner, Laundry Sauce.

RESOURCES

👉 Follow ⁠Dr. Cathryn on Instagram⁠

👉 Tantrum Crash Course mini-class

👉 Subscribe to my free newsletter for big-hearted parenting tips delivered straight to your inbox: ⁠newsletter

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Bedtime was easy… until it wasn’t.
And suddenly your 3-year-old is fighting sleep, stalling, crying — and maybe even climbing out of the crib.

In this Q&A episode, I answer two common parent questions:

#1. Why a great sleeper suddenly starts resisting bedtime at age 3
#2. Why toddlers throw things — and how to respond calmly and effectively

We’ll talk about sleep changes, dropping naps, big transitions (like a new sibling or starting school), and what throwing really means and how to stop it.

RESOURCES:

👉 Follow ⁠Dr. Cathryn on Instagram⁠

👉 Help Your Child Fall Asleep Without You mini-class

👉 Subscribe to my free newsletter for big-hearted parenting tips delivered straight to your inbox: ⁠newsletter

SPONSORS:

Laundry Sauce:

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When a child is naturally kind and eager to help—especially with a new sibling—it can look beautiful on the outside… and still raise quiet worries on the inside.

In this episode, we talk about how to nurture empathy without teaching a child to disappear herself—and how to keep helping a choice, not a role.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

The difference between helping as a choice and helping as a responsibility

Why constant praise for being “helpful” can unintentionally teach self-sacrifice

What to say (out loud) so your child knows caregiving is not her job

How to praise self-advocacy—not just kindness

Simple shifts that keep your child developmentally centered on herself

This episode is especially meaningful for parents of eldest children and those raising deeply empathetic kids.

🎧 If this big-hearted approach resonates with you, explore Toddlers Made Easy—my practical, developmentally informed course for everyday toddler challenges, in under five minutes a day.

RESOURCES:

👉 Follow ⁠Dr. Cathryn on Instagram⁠

👉 Subscribe to my free newsletter for big-hearted parenting tips delivered straight to your inbox

Sponsor:

Laundry Sauce

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If you’ve ever wondered whether your toddler should be able to listen, wait, share, or calm down—and felt frustrated when they couldn’t—this episode is for you.

In today’s episode, Dr. Cathryn talks about how unrealistic expectations quietly create power struggles, tantrums, and exhaustion—and how small mindset shifts can make parenting feel much easier.

You’ll learn:

Why many common expectations don’t match toddler brain development

How adjusting expectations can prevent tantrums and power struggles

What to realistically expect from 2-, 3-, and 4-year-olds

How a big-hearted lens helps you stay calm while holding boundaries

🎧 If this approach resonates with you, explore Toddlers Made Easy—my practical, big-hearted course designed for real-life toddler challenges, and it takes under five minutes a day.

RESOURCES:

👉 Follow ⁠Dr. Cathryn on Instagram⁠

👉 Subscribe to my free newsletter for big-hearted parenting tips delivered straight to your inbox

SPONSORS:

Laundry Sauce

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Tantrums aren’t misbehavior—they’re a sign your child’s system is overloaded. In this episode, Dr. Cathryn talks about how your calmness (not your words) is the key to helping tantrums pass without escalating.

You’ll learn:

Why reasoning and “calm down” don’t work in the middle of a tantrum

When to stay close and quiet—and when to step in for safety

How sharing your calm helps your child regain theirs

🎧 Want more big-hearted, practical tools for tantrums, bedtime, and everyday power struggles?

RESOURCES:

👉 Join the Big-Hearted membership: ⁠The Big-Hearted School Of Parenting⁠

👉 Follow ⁠Dr. Cathryn on Instagram⁠

👉 Subscribe to my free newsletter for big-hearted parenting tips delivered straight to your inbox

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In this episode, Dr. Cathryn talks about why sharing is so hard early on, what toddlers are actually capable of, and how to handle toy struggles without forcing lessons their brains aren’t ready to learn.

You’ll learn how to support your toddler’s big feelings, keep everyone safe, and gently guide sharing skills as they develop—without pressure, shame, or power struggles.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why toddlers aren’t developmentally ready to share (and when that changes)

What to say and do when your child grabs toys or melts down at the park

How forcing sharing can backfire—and what works better instead

Want more big-hearted tools like this?
Check out Toddlers Made Easy, my online course with simple, practical strategies for tantrums, boundaries, sharing, sleep, and everyday toddler struggles—designed to make parenting calmer in just a few minutes a day.

👉 Learn more at Toddlers Made Easy

RESOURCES:

RESOURCES:

👉 Join the Big-Hearted membership: ⁠The Big-Hearted School Of Parenting⁠

👉 Follow ⁠Dr. Cathryn on Instagram⁠

👉 Subscribe to my free newsletter for big-hearted parenting tips delivered straight to your inbox

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.