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.
41episodes
Episodes
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Potty Training Without Power Struggles: The big-hearted approach to helping kids use the potty
1w ago00:09:49Tap 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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →Little Kid Night Wakings: A Kinder, Smarter Fix That Actually Works
2w ago00:09:05Tap 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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →You're Not Raising A Problem, You're Raising A Person
3w ago00:07:25Tap 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**See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →How To Stop Making Tantrums Worse
4w ago00:08:25Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Dr. Cathryn shares the biggest mistake parents make during tantrums and why trying to reason, explain, or “fix” the meltdown too quickly often makes things worse. Through a personal story from her years as a pediatrician and mom, she explains what’s really happening inside a child’s brain during a tantrum and how a calmer, big-hearted response helps children build emotional regulation over time, without chipping away at their dignity or self-esteem.• Why tantrums often get bigger when parents talk too much during the peak of the meltdown• What children actually need when the emotional part of the brain takes over• How to stay calm, hold boundaries, and help your child through overwhelming feelings without becoming permissivePlanning on potty training soon? Dr. Cathryn also shares details about her free Potty Without Pushback workshop, where you’ll learn a calmer, big-hearted approach to potty training that encourages cooperation and better behavior without chipping away at your child’s self-esteem or dignity.RESOUCESThe 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 HERESee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →The Unbreakable Connection: Helping Kids Feel Close When You’re Apart
May 2000:08:21Tap to summarizeYour little one is missing you. Maybe it's daycare drop-off. Maybe it's 2 am. Maybe it's a sleepover at Nana's with a lot of very loud feelings.This episode is about the simple things that make separation easier — not just in the hard moments, but all the time.Dr. Cathryn shares the 10-second ritual she uses with her own granddaughter, plus four practical tools to help little kids carry the feeling of connection with them wherever they go.You'll learn:A simple breath-and-kiss ritual that calms the nervous system fastWhy family photos at eye level in the bedroom do more than you'd thinkThe recordable button that lets your child hear your voice whenever they need itWhy these tools only work if you're not saving them for emergenciesThe goal isn't just getting through the hard moment. It's building a belief your child carries with them: I am loved. I am connected. The bond never breaks.📖 Mentioned in this episode: The Invisible String by Patrice Karst🚀 Potty training is one of the moments connection matters most. My Potty Training Made Easy program gets you from diapers to dry in 30 days — with no pressure, no shame, and no power struggles. Because how your little one feels during potty training matters just as much as whether they get there. Tap HereSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →Help, My Kid Won't Poop on the Potty! (Here's Why — and What to Do)
May 1300:12:19Tap to summarizeYour little kid pees on the potty just fine — but when it comes to poop? Diaper only, thank you very much.You haven't done anything wrong. This is one of the most common potty-training hiccups, affecting 20–25% of little kids. In this episode, Dr. Cathryn breaks down exactly why it happens and what actually helps.You'll learn:The real reason most kids resist (hint: it's fear, not stubbornness)What to say — and what not to say Simple ways to make the potty feel safer and less overwhelmingHow to move toward the potty in tiny, low-pressure stepsWhy stool softness matters more than most parents realizeThis isn't about saying enough is enough. It's about understanding what's driving the resistance — and meeting your child there.🎓 Ready to go deeper? Mini-course: Help! My Child Will Only Poop in a Diaper →See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →The Secret To Shorter, Fewer, and Less Intense Tantrums
May 600:10:17Tap to summarizeEver 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:I’m running a short class for exhausted parents who want more sleep (without cry-it-out). Want the details? TAP HEREOrder my book Toddlers Made Easy Follow me on InstagramSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →Catch Them Being 'Good' The Big-Hearted Way to Encourage Positive Behavior
Apr 2900:05:44Tap to summarizeThe 5:1 rule is one of the most practical tools a parent can have — and it's simpler than you think.Originally researched by psychologist John Gottman in marriages, the principle maps directly onto parenting: for every correction, aim for five positive interactions first. Not a tally. Just an intention to tip the balance toward warmth.In this episode, we cover:Why your relationship with your child works like a bank accountHow our negativity bias works against us as parents — and how to counteract itWhat a positive interaction actually looks like (hint: it's not empty praise)How the way you talk to your child becomes their inner voiceThe goal isn't perfection. It's just tipping the balance.🎙️ Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a parent who needs to hear it.👉 Join me live April 30th for Potty Without Pushback — my free workshop on how to go from diapers to dry without the power struggles, overwhelm, or feeling like you're doing it wrong.Save your spot hereSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →Stuck in the Potty Training Start-Stop Loop? Here's What to Do Differently
Apr 2200:07:35Tap to summarizeAre you stuck in the potty training start-stop loop? You try, it falls apart, you stop — and now you're dreading starting again. In this episode, Dr. Cathryn explains why potty battles happen, why your first attempt wasn't a failure, and how one simple shift can change everything.In this episode:Why kids push back against potty training (it's not stubbornness)The real reason accidents happen more than you thinkKyle's story — and the one change that made all the differenceHow to reintroduce the potty without pressure or battlesThe simple phrase that puts your child back in controlReady to restart or start for the first time? Join Dr. Cathryn's free workshop, Potty Without Pushback — April 30th at 10am EST. RESOURCESPotty Without Pushback Workshop: TAP HERE TO SAVE YOUR SEAT APRIL 30th, 10 AM ESTYOU'LL WALK AWAY KNOWING:A kinder, quicker way to ditch diapers for goodHow to potty train without the power struggles Why your child needs to know "I'm the boss of my body"The big-hearted way to promote independence, body awareness, and boost your child's confidence. What to do when things go sideways — accidents, setbacks, refusalsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →(REPLAY) Why Toddlers Misbehave: Your Toddler Isn’t Bad — Their Brain Is Developing
Apr 1500:11:06Tap to summarizeBeing a toddler is tough—and parenting one can feel just as hard.In this episode, Dr. Cathryn breaks down why toddlers struggle with impulse control, what’s really behind their behavior, and how to respond in ways that actually work.You’ll learn how to guide—not punish—using simple, developmentally-smart strategies that reduce chaos and build cooperation.What You’ll Learn:Why toddler impulsivity is normal (not “bad behavior”)How to prevent challenges before they startWhy supervision beats discipline every timeSimple ways to handle transitions and big emotionsHow noticing the good changes behavior fast👩⚕️ Join me on Instagram 🧡 Toddlers Made Easy Course – Get expert guidance on handling tantrums, power struggles, and discipline.🚽 Potty Training Made Easy – A stress-free approach to potty training.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →