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.

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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.

Starting school stirs up big feelings — for little kids and for the parents saying goodbye. Dr. Cathryn shares the moment that changed drop-offs for good with her own youngest, plus the big-hearted scripts, routines, and small shifts that make those first mornings smoother.

In this episode:

• The night-before habit that ends outfit battles for good
• What to prep a few days ahead so drop-off doesn't catch your child off guard
• Exactly what to say (and what not to say) when your child cries at goodbye
• Why after-school meltdowns happen and the simple fix that helps

Want more big-hearted scripts like these? See the link below.

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.

When potty training goes sideways, it's easy to wonder if you're doing something wrong. In this episode, I answer a parent's question about a 3-year-old who won't pee or poop on the potty and explain why less pressure often leads to more progress.

You'll learn practical strategies to build body awareness, reduce resistance, know when to seek medical advice, and help your child potty train with confidence.

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.

Dr. 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.

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.

Parenting 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 resilience

Whether 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.

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 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 work

No 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 Course

Potty Training Made Easy

Follow Dr. Cathryn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healthiest_baby

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 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

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.

Helping 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

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.

Is 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-ups

It’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 You

FREE Guide: How To End 2AM Wake-Ups

Until next time — stay big-hearted 💛

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.

Biting 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 unnecessary

If 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.

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.

Potty 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 cooperation

Ready 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.

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.