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.
45episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Help Your Toddler Feel Loved When The New Baby Arrives
Yesterday00:10:58Tap 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 InstagramSee 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 Sleeping In Your Child's Room Without Hurting Your Connection
1w ago00:09:08Tap 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 workshopSee 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 Your Toddler's 2am Wakeups for Good
2w ago00:10:43Tap 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 💛See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →What To Do When Your Child Bites (please don't bite back)
3w ago00:17:05Tap 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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →Potty Training Without Power Struggles: The big-hearted approach to helping kids use the potty
4w 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
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.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
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**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
May 2700:08:25Tap 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 →