Podcast
Toddlers Made Easy with Dr Cathryn
Hosted by Dr. Cathryn · EN
Toddlers Made Easy is a short, 10 minute, bite-sized podcast that gives you the insight, tools, and confidence you need to not only handle anything toddler-related thrown your way —but prevent problem behaviors before they start. Toddlers Made Easy is hosted by Dr. Cathryn, a nationally recognized pediatrician (retired) with more than 35 years of experience and a mother of 4.
48episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
A Tantrum Is Just A Toddler Acting Their Age
2d ago00:10:46Tap to summarizeDr. Cathryn shares a cringeworthy tantrum moment from her own parenting years and the perspective shift that changed how she responds to big feelings. Learn what's really happening in your little kid's brain during a meltdown, the PREP method for preventing tantrums before they start, and the common mistake loving parents make when responding to one. Toddlers Made Easy online coursePotty Training Made Easy online courseThe Big-Hearted Sleep Solution mini-classToddlers Made Easy book200 Big-Hearted ScriptsAnd don’t forget to follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram.
Transcribe →Grandparent Start Kit
1w ago00:08:39Tap to summarizeParenting has changed a lot over the years. That can leave grandparents wondering why today's parents make some of the choices they do. This episode explains the thinking behind many of those approaches so families can better understand and support one another.We'll cover:• Why some children are not expected to hug or kiss relatives• What body autonomy means• The purpose of a "no thank you" bowl at mealtimes• Why some families serve dessert with dinner• How today's parents approach tantrums using brain science• Why empathy and boundaries go together• How potty training has changed• Why praise now focuses more on effort than labels• The powerful role grandparents play in building resilienceWhether you're a grandparent or you're sharing this episode with one, this conversation will help bridge the gap between generations and strengthen family relationships.If you'd like more practical, evidence-based strategies for toddlers, check out my Toddlers Made Easy course linked in the show notes.Toddlers Made Easy online coursePotty Training Made Easy online courseThe Big-Hearted Sleep Solution mini-classToddlers Made Easy book200 Big-Hearted ScriptsAnd don’t forget to follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram.
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How You Might Be Making Toddler Hitting Worse (Without Realizing It)
2w ago00:08:27Tap to summarizeYour toddler just hit their sibling—again—and your instinct is to react: “That’s not nice!” “Say sorry!” “Go to your room!”Totally understandable.But here’s what most parents don’t realize:👉 Hitting is rarely about being “bad.” It’s a sign your child is overwhelmed and doesn’t yet have the skills to cope.In this episode, we cover:🧠 Why toddlers hit, push, or bite🚫 What common responses can actually make things worse🔁 How to respond in a way that teaches better behavior over time🎯 Real-life scripts and strategies that actually workNo fluff. Just practical, evidence-informed tools you can use right away.LINKS AND RESOURCES:Our *bestselling* online courses are already helping thousands of parents:Toddlers Made Easy CoursePotty Training Made Easy Follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healthiest_baby Toddlers Made Easy online coursePotty Training Made Easy online courseThe Big-Hearted Sleep Solution mini-classToddlers Made Easy book200 Big-Hearted ScriptsAnd don’t forget to follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram.
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Help Your Toddler Feel Loved When The New Baby Arrives
3w ago00:10:58Tap to summarizeBringing home a new baby can be exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming for your older child. In this episode, Dr. Cathryn shares simple, practical ways to help your toddler feel secure, included, and deeply loved as your family grows. You'll learn how to prepare your child before the baby arrives, ease jealousy, strengthen your bond through everyday connection, and respond to big feelings with confidence.If you're looking for more support, check out the Toddlers Made Easy course for step-by-step guidance on handling tantrums, bedtime, sibling rivalry, and more. You'll find the link in the show notes.Resources:Join my Toddlers Made Easy online course.Follow me on Instagram Toddlers Made Easy online coursePotty Training Made Easy online courseThe Big-Hearted Sleep Solution mini-classToddlers Made Easy book200 Big-Hearted ScriptsAnd don’t forget to follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram.
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How To Stop Sleeping In Your Child's Room Without Hurting Your Connection
Jul 800:09:08Tap to summarizeHelping your child fall asleep without you doesn't have to mean tears, guilt, or leaving them to figure it out alone.In this episode, I share why sleeping in your child's room often starts as a temporary solution but quietly becomes the new normal. You'll learn why these bedtime patterns become so hard to change, why waiting rarely solves the problem, and how small, gentle changes can help your child build independent sleep skills while protecting your connection.In this episode, you'll learn:• Why "just for tonight" often turns into months or years.• How sleep habits become reinforced over time.• One simple change you can make tonight to start moving toward independent sleep.If you'd like a step-by-step plan, my 18-minute workshop, Help Your Child Fall Asleep Without You, walks you through two gentle, connected approaches to help your child learn this important skill without turning bedtime into a battle.Resources:• Help Your Child Fall Asleep Without You workshop Toddlers Made Easy online coursePotty Training Made Easy online courseThe Big-Hearted Sleep Solution mini-classToddlers Made Easy book200 Big-Hearted ScriptsAnd don’t forget to follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram.
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How to Stop Your Toddler's 2am Wakeups for Good
Jul 100:10:43Tap to summarizeIs your toddler waking up at 2 AM (again)? Instead of repeating “Go back to bed,” try this big-hearted, research-backed approach that helps your child feel safe and stay in bed — without tears or power struggles.In this episode, you’ll learn:✅ Why toddlers wake at night✅ A comforting strategy that builds self-soothing skills✅ How to introduce a “Midnight Helper” stuffed animal✅ What to say (and not say) during wake-upsIt’s simple. It’s powerful. And you can start tonight.✨ Want more big-hearted sleep tools? Check out the masterclass:Help Your Child Fall Asleep Without YouFREE Guide: How To End 2AM Wake-UpsUntil next time — stay big-hearted 💛 Toddlers Made Easy online coursePotty Training Made Easy online courseThe Big-Hearted Sleep Solution mini-classToddlers Made Easy book200 Big-Hearted ScriptsAnd don’t forget to follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram.
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What To Do When Your Child Bites (please don't bite back)
Jun 2400:17:05Tap to summarizeBiting is one of the behaviors that worries parents most. In this episode, Dr. Cathryn explains why little kids bite, why "biting back" isn't the answer, and what to do instead.You'll learn:• Why toddlers and young children bite• What biting is really telling you about your child• Why punishment often misses the root cause• Three simple steps to handle biting in the moment• Five ways to prevent biting before it happens• How to teach the skills that make biting unnecessaryIf your child has bitten a sibling, friend, or classmate, this episode will help you respond with confidence while maintaining clear boundaries without chipping away at your child's self-esteem. That’s exactly what you’ll find inside my course Toddlers Made Easy. Tap here to learn more Order my book, Toddlers Made Easy, or listen to the audiobook today.Like what you hear? Be sure to subscribe and leave a 5-star review. It helps other parents find the show.Want one practical parenting tip each week? Join my free newsletter.Looking for help with potty training? Check out Potty Training Made Easy.Follow me on Instagram for daily big-hearted parenting tips and tools. Toddlers Made Easy online coursePotty Training Made Easy online courseThe Big-Hearted Sleep Solution mini-classToddlers Made Easy book200 Big-Hearted ScriptsAnd don’t forget to follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram.
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Potty Training Without Power Struggles: The big-hearted approach to helping kids use the potty
Jun 1700:09:49Tap to summarizePotty training doesn't have to involve battles, pressure, or regret. In this episode, Today, I'm sharing the Big-Hearted Approach to Potty Training, a method that helps children build body awareness, confidence, and independence without sacrificing their dignity. Learn why pressure often backfires and what to do instead.In this episode, you'll learn:• Why pushing harder often creates more resistance• How to build body awareness instead of relying on reminders• Why ownership helps children become independent potty users• The hidden link between potty-training pressure and constipation• How encouragement builds confidence and cooperationReady for a calmer and kinder approach? Join my free workshop, Potty Without Pushback: You'll walk away with a plan on how to ditch diapers without chipping away at your child's self-esteem. Toddlers Made Easy online coursePotty Training Made Easy online courseThe Big-Hearted Sleep Solution mini-classToddlers Made Easy book200 Big-Hearted ScriptsAnd don’t forget to follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram.
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Little Kid Night Wakings: A Kinder, Smarter Fix That Actually Works
Jun 1000:09:05Tap to summarizeIf your toddler is creeping into your room at 1am, 3am — or both — this episode is for you. Dr. Cathryn shares a simple, no-cry strategy that helped Katie sleep through the night in just one week, and gave Cecil's family a way into bedtime that finally felt collaborative instead of combative.Middle-of-the-night wake-ups are biologically normal — the goal isn't to stop your child from waking, it's to help them comfortably drift back to sleep without coming to find you.The Big-Hearted Ask works by turning your child from the scared one into the rescuer — giving them a stuffed animal that "needs their help" at night taps into their natural empathy and gives them a job to do at 2am.Four steps to set it up: introduce the animal during the day (not at bedtime), make tucking it in part of the wind-down routine, practice comforting it before lights out, and leave a simple reminder as you walk out the door.Whether your child is sneaking into your bed or battling bedtime from the very start, this strategy meets them where they are — and it's simpler than anything you've probably tried.RESOURCESHow To Help Your Child Fall Asleep Without You (the smarter, kinder way)My Big-Hearted approach is a calm, step-by-step way to help your child fall asleep independently—without cry-it-out.Potty Without Pushback FREE workshopLearn a proven approach to ditch diapers that doesn’t chip away at a child’s dignity.The Potty Training Made Easy ProgramFinally ditch diapers without battles, pressure, or moments you wish you could take back.A pediatrician-designed approach trusted by 1M+ families to potty train with confidence instead of conflict. Toddlers Made Easy online coursePotty Training Made Easy online courseThe Big-Hearted Sleep Solution mini-classToddlers Made Easy book200 Big-Hearted ScriptsAnd don’t forget to follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram.
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You're Not Raising A Problem, You're Raising A Person
Jun 300:07:25Tap to summarizeWhy do little kids melt down over things that seem so small? In this episode, Dr. Cathryn shares one mindset shift that can completely change the way you respond to tantrums, resistance, aggression, and emotional outbursts. When you stop seeing your child as “the problem” and start seeing the skills they’re still developing, parenting becomes calmer, clearer, and far more connected. This episode will help you hold boundaries without chipping away at your child’s confidence or dignity.• Why toddlers can understand a rule and still completely fall apart trying to follow it• How interpreting behavior differently helps you stay calmer during hard moments• Why support, co-regulation, and connection often work better than punishmentRESOURCESThe Potty Without Pushback workshopFinally, A Kinder, Calmer Way To Ditch Diapers For GoodYOU'LL WALK AWAY KNOWING HOW TO:Potty train without tears, tantrums or tensionAvoid potty resistance altogetherHandle accidents or setbacks calmly Teach your child, "I'm the boss of my body!"Save Your FREE Seat Here** Toddlers Made Easy online coursePotty Training Made Easy online courseThe Big-Hearted Sleep Solution mini-classToddlers Made Easy book200 Big-Hearted ScriptsAnd don’t forget to follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram.
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