Potty training doesn’t begin with underwear or sticker charts. It starts with you.

Key takeaways:

If you’re about to start potty training (or stuck in the middle of it), this episode helps you feel grounded, clear, and ready to lead with calm.

RESOURCES:

Grab the FREE 5 Must-Do’s Before Starting Potty Training guide and get your child curious, confident, and excited before you begin.

Want more support. Get Potty Training Made Easy: the step-by-step big-hearted approach to saying goodbye to diapers. Special price-over 60% OFF for listeners only.

Why does your toddler say no to everything — even things they usually do without a problem?

In this episode, Dr. Cathryn explains the “you-can’t-make-me” reflex — a very normal (and healthy) stage of toddler development that often gets mistaken for defiance.

You’ll learn:

Why toddler resistance is about development, not disrespect

What’s happening inside your child’s brain when “no” comes out fast

The situations that make resistance worse (and why)

What not to do if you want cooperation

Simple, big-hearted ways to guide your child through resistance without power struggles

If mornings feel like constant pushback and you’re wondering, “Why is everything so hard?” — this episode will help you see your toddler differently and respond with more calm and confidence.

RESOURCES:

The Big-Hearted School Of Parenting membership

Toddlers Made Easy - a sweet & smart online course

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In this episode of Toddlers Made Easy, Dr. Cathryn breaks down why young children wake up at night—and what actually helps. She shares a personal parenting misstep that changed how she thinks about sleep, then explains the most common reasons night wakings happen, including sleep associations, fears, and separation anxiety.

Dr. Cathryn also covers when medical issues—like sleep apnea, restless legs, or eczema—may be part of the picture.

You’ll learn how much sleep toddlers truly need and walk away with practical, realistic steps to improve nighttime sleep—without pressure or blame.

RESOURCES:

Order my new book ⁠Toddlers Made Easy ⁠

Join the ⁠Big-Hearted School of Parenting⁠

Follow me on ⁠Instagram⁠

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⁠Acorns Early⁠

Ever feel like your toddler’s tantrums come out of nowhere—and take forever to end? You’re not alone. In today’s episode, Dr. Cathryn shares a big-hearted, science-backed approach to handling tantrums that actually works.

RESOURCES:

Order my new book ⁠Toddlers Made Easy ⁠

Join the ⁠Big-Hearted School of Parenting⁠

Follow me on ⁠Instagram⁠

Sponsor

⁠Acorns Early⁠

Food battles usually are not about food. They are about your child’s brain doing its job: protecting them from anything that feels unfamiliar.

In this episode, I share Mikey’s story (a spirited 4-year-old who refused every vegetable), why pressure and “just one bite” backfired, and what is actually normal toddler eating—tiny appetites, changing preferences, and a strong need for control.

You will learn three simple, big-hearted strategies that prevent picky habits:

Let your child decide how much to eat

Let your child choose what to eat from what is served

Build a calm, positive mealtime environment (connection over consumption)

Plus: bonus tips like screen-free meals, predictable snacks, no grazing, and the “No Thank You Bowl” that lowers pressure fast.

Takeaway: When kids feel pressured, intake goes down.

Resources:

Order my new book Toddlers Made Easy

Join The Big-Hearted School Of Parenting

Follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram

Get Toddlers Made Easy course

Sponsor:

Acorns Early

Dr. Cathryn talks about why toddler fears are so common — and how to support your little one without minimizing their feelings or rushing them through fear. You’ll learn simple, big-hearted ways to help your child feel seen, safe, and supported, while also building the confidence they need to move through scary moments at their own pace.

We cover:

RESOURCES:

Help! My Child Will Only Poop In A Diaper

Toddlers Made Easy course

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Wired or Tired? Why Your Toddler Loses It at Bedtime

Learn the simple brain science behind overtiredness, the early signs that your child’s sleep window is opening, and why the “second wind” isn’t extra energy. It’s a stress response.

I’ll walk you through how to spot the subtle cues, how to shift bedtime earlier, and what to do when you’ve missed the window, and your child is bouncing off the walls.

You’ll also get a quick, big-hearted reset routine you can use anytime evenings go sideways.

This episode will help you understand your child’s behavior, calm the chaos, and make bedtime smoother for everyone.

RESOURCES:

Help Your Child Fall Asleep Without You!

Toddlers Made Easy course

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Body image doesn’t start in the teen years—it starts in the toddler years. And the words we use today become the beliefs our kids carry tomorrow.

In this week’s episode, I’m sharing how our language, reactions, and even the way we talk about our own bodies shape how little kids see themselves.

You’ll learn:

These strategies will help you raise a child who feels confident and comfortable in their body.

RESOURCES:

Toddlers Made Easy course

Follow me on Insta

Get Dr. Cathryn's emails packed with big-hearted tools, developmentally-strategies, and practical tools straight to your Inbox.

Grab Dr. Cathryn's bestselling book, Toddlers Made Easy

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Acorns Early

If your child will pee on the potty but absolutely must poop in a diaper, you’re not doing anything wrong — and your child isn’t being stubborn.

This is one of the most common (and most confusing) potty roadblocks for parents.

In this episode, I walk you through why kids get stuck in the “diaper-only” pattern, what’s really going on in their bodies and brains, and the simple steps that help them move forward without pressure or power struggles. You’ll learn how to reset, what to stop doing, and how to make pooping feel safe again.

If you’re tired of waiting for your child to “be ready,” you’ll leave this episode with a calm, clear plan — and a whole lot of relief.

RESOURCES:

Help! My Child Will Only Poop In A Diaper waitlist

Toddlers Made Easy course

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Get Dr. Cathryn's emails packed with big-hearted tools, developmentally-strategies, and practical tools straight to your Inbox.

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Acorns Early

If bedtime feels like a nightly battle of endless requests — more water, more hugs, more everything — this episode is for you.

In this episode:

Why separation at bedtime triggers anxiety for toddlers

How connection, not control, helps kids settle

5 simple ways to fill your child’s connection cup

What to do when your toddler is wired and wild before sleep

How to co-regulate and end bedtime battles for good

Resources:

Toddlers Made Easy course

Follow me on Insta

Get Dr. Cathryn's emails packed with big-hearted tools, developmentally-strategies, and practical tools straight to your Inbox.

Get Dr. Cathryn's bestselling book, Toddlers Made Easy

Sponsors:

Acorns Early

Kidsy