Toddlers Made Easy with Dr Cathryn

Do you feel like the bad guy most days? Like all you do is say no and break up fights?

In this episode, I share two ways to get your child’s cooperation without saying no. 

And I start with a Nana moment I wish I could take back.

You’ll learn:

• The YES GAP: the small window before handing out a consequence where you can end unwanted behavior with something your child can do
• How to stop refereeing sibling fights, with three simple steps that help kids work it out themselves
• When to step in, and when to give them a little room

Nobody feels like the bad guy. That’s big-hearted parenting.

RESOURCES

Toddlers Made Easy online course

Potty Training Made Easy online course

Help Your Child Fall Asleep Independently mini-class

Toddlers Made Easy book

200 Big-Hearted Scripts

FREE GUIDE: 5 Must-Dos Before Starting Potty Training

And don’t forget to follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram. 

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

Toddlers Made Easy online course

Potty Training Made Easy online course

Help Your Child Fall Asleep Independently mini-class

Toddlers Made Easy book

200 Big-Hearted Scripts

FREE GUIDE: 5 Must-Dos Before Starting Potty Training

And don’t forget to follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram. 

Your child pees on the potty without a problem, but when it's time to poop, they insist on a diaper. You've tried rewards, encouragement, and waiting it out. Nothing seems to work.

In this episode, Dr. Cathryn explains why some toddlers refuse to poop on the potty and what you can do to help.

You'll learn:

• Why constipation may be part of the problem, even if your child poops every day.
• Why rewards and pressure can make poop refusal worse.
• When giving your child a diaper is actually the right move.
• Simple steps to help your child feel more comfortable pooping on the potty.

The goal isn't just to get your child pooping on the potty. It's to help them get there without fear, pressure, or daily battles.

Resources mentioned:

Help! My Child Will Only Poop in a Diaper: A step-by-step mini-course to help your child make the switch.

Related episode: Happy Tushies: How to Manage Poop Problems During Potty Training (February 2023).

RESOURCES

Toddlers Made Easy online course

Potty Training Made Easy online course

Help Your Child Fall Asleep Independently mini-class

Toddlers Made Easy book

200 Big-Hearted Scripts

FREE GUIDE: 5 Must-Dos Before Starting Potty Training

And don’t forget to follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram. 

Struggling to set boundaries without caving or feeling that familiar pang of guilt?
In this episode, Dr. Cathryn explores the art of big-hearted parenting—where firm boundaries meet empathy and understanding.

Discover how acknowledging your child’s feelings with clear, compassionate communication can turn even the toughest moments into powerful opportunities for connection.

You’ll walk away with practical strategies to stay calm, consistent, and confident, even when it feels challenging.

Ready to transform tricky parenting moments into meaningful growth?
Tune in for game-changing tips and insights!

RESOURCES

Toddlers Made Easy online course

Potty Training Made Easy online course

Help Your Child Fall Asleep Independently mini-class

Toddlers Made Easy book

200 Big-Hearted Scripts

FREE GUIDE: 5 Must-Dos Before Starting Potty Training

And don’t forget to follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram. 

Tantrums aren’t misbehavior—they’re a sign your child’s system is overloaded. In this episode, Dr. Cathryn explains how your calmness (not your words) helps 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?

Explore the Toddlers Made Easy online course.

RESOURCES

Toddlers Made Easy online course

Potty Training Made Easy online course

Help Your Child Fall Asleep Independently mini-class

Toddlers Made Easy book

200 Big-Hearted Scripts

FREE GUIDE: 5 Must-Dos Before Starting Potty Training

And don’t forget to follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram. 

Getting your child to cooperate doesn’t always mean getting firmer.

Sometimes, it means getting playful.

In this episode, Dr. Cathryn shares one of the most underused discipline tools for young kids: playfulness.

You’ll hear the story of Jamie, a little girl who absolutely did NOT want to leave, and how a doorknob offered the clue her parents needed.

Dr. Cathryn explains the “calm-calm-explode cycle” many parents fall into, why repeating yourself or getting more serious often doesn’t work, and how play can help you get your child’s attention without giving up the limit.

You’ll learn:

• Why resistance doesn’t always mean your child needs a firmer response
• How play can make transitions and everyday requests easier
• Simple ways to use play when getting dressed, leaving the house, or handling other moments of pushback
• Why being playful doesn’t mean being permissive
• When play probably won’t work and what to remember instead

Expectations don’t have to change. Your child still needs to put on the shoes, leave the playground, or get into bed.

Sometimes you just need a different route to get there.

Because discipline isn’t only about getting the behavior you want. It’s also about how you get there and the child standing in front of you.

RESOURCES

Toddlers Made Easy online course

Potty Training Made Easy online course

Help Your Child Fall Asleep Independently mini-class

Toddlers Made Easy book

200 Big-Hearted Scripts

FREE GUIDE: 5 Must-Dos Before Starting Potty Training

And don’t forget to follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram. 

Your toddler suddenly hates the dark. They’re terrified of the vacuum, the bathtub drain, or the public washroom they used last week without a problem.

What happened?

In this episode, Dr. Cathryn explains why new fears are so common during the toddler and preschool years, and why they can actually be a sign of growing imagination.

You’ll learn how to respond without dismissing your child’s fear, why a little preparation can make unfamiliar situations easier, and how small, manageable steps can help your child become more confident around things that scare them.

Because the goal isn’t to make every fear disappear. It’s to help your child learn, little by little, “I was scared, and I was okay.”

RESOURCES

Toddlers Made Easy online course

Potty Training Made Easy online course

Help Your Child Fall Asleep Independently mini-class

Toddlers Made Easy book

200 Big-Hearted Scripts

FREE GUIDE: 5 Must-Dos Before Starting Potty Training

And don’t forget to follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram. 

If every meal feels like a negotiation over one more bite, it may be time to try something different.

When parents worry their child isn’t eating enough, it’s natural to coax, bargain, bribe, or plead. But that pressure can actually make picky eating worse.

In this episode, I’m sharing practical ways to help your child become more comfortable with food, without turning mealtimes into a battle.

You’ll learn:

• Why asking for “just one more bite” can backfire
• The difference between your job and your child’s job at mealtime
• What to say when your child announces, “I hate broccoli”
• How a simple “No Thank You Bowl” can reduce mealtime battles
• Why letting kids help with food can make unfamiliar foods feel less intimidating
• One small seating change that can make eating easier
• How to give your child more control without becoming a short-order cook
• When picky eating is worth discussing with your child’s healthcare provider

The goal isn’t to get your child to eat everything on their plate.

It’s to take some of the pressure off and help them become more comfortable with food, one meal at a time.

RESOURCES

Toddlers Made Easy online course

Potty Training Made Easy online course

Help Your Child Fall Asleep Independently mini-class

Toddlers Made Easy book

200 Big-Hearted Scripts

FREE GUIDE: 5 Must-Dos Before Starting Potty Training

And don’t forget to follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram. 

Bringing home a new baby can turn a toddler’s world upside down. Suddenly, your potty-trained, independent kid is having accidents, asking to be carried, or needing you every time you sit down to feed the baby.

In this episode, Dr. Cathryn explains why regression after a new sibling arrives is so common, what your toddler’s behavior may really be communicating, and big-hearted ways to help them feel secure and included.

You’ll learn how to handle potty accidents and clinginess, create small moments of connection, avoid pushing the “big kid” role, and use strategic attention to encourage the behaviors you want to see.

Plus, Dr. Cathryn shares ways to make feeding and pumping easier during this already demanding transition.

Sponsored by Eufy Baby: Learn more about the Eufy Breast Pump S2 Pro below.

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RESOURCES

Toddlers Made Easy online course

Potty Training Made Easy online course

Help Your Child Fall Asleep Independently mini-class

Toddlers Made Easy book

200 Big-Hearted Scripts

FREE GUIDE: 5 Must-Dos Before Starting Potty Training

And don’t forget to follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram. 

Friendship problems can start earlier than most parents expect.

By age three, children are beginning to form real friendships. They’re also learning how to join a group, take turns, handle rejection, solve disagreements, and make up after conflict.

In this episode, Dr. Cathryn explains what friendship looks like during the preschool years, why being left out can hurt even at three, and how you can support your child without rushing in to fix every difficult social moment.

You’ll learn:
• Why preschool friendships matter
• What’s typical when friendships seem to change by the day
• What to do when your child says, “Nobody wants to play with me”
• Why your child and their teacher can have very different views of the same day
• How to help your child build the skills needed to make and keep friends

Plus, download the free Am I Expecting Too Much of My 3-Year-Old? checklist by tapping on this link.

RESOURCES

Toddlers Made Easy online course

Potty Training Made Easy online course

Help Your Child Fall Asleep Independently mini-class

Toddlers Made Easy book

200 Big-Hearted Scripts

FREE GUIDE: 5 Must-Dos Before Starting Potty Training

And don’t forget to follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram.