Big Fat Positive: Pregnancy and Parenting (BFP)

Shanna and Laura air their petty parenting grievances in the special segment "Gripe Water." They sound off about weird scenes in a popular kids book, well-meaning but aggravating comments that people make to parents, a guilt-trippy Facebook ad and more. Also, Shanna reports on her four-year-old's first week at her new preschool, and Laura talks about how she handled a moment of anger with her four...

In the special segment "Throwback," Laura and Shanna celebrate Valentine's Day by telling the stories of how they met their husbands. Also, Laura reports on an unexpectedly fun outing with her kids, and Shanna reports on a sudden rule change at her daughter's preschool that threw her week into a tailspin. Finally, they share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 4 and 6 years old, an...

Shanna and Laura are joined by Heather and Maureen from the Milk Minute Podcast for a conversation about how to night wean your breastfeeding toddler! Laura was recently a guest on the Milk Minute Podcast (episode 145), and Heather and Maureen gave her advice about how to night wean her 23-month-old. In this episode of the BFP Podcast, Laura reports on which advice she took, how the process went a...

Laura and Shanna share some of their favorite parenting tips in the segment “What the Hack?,” including ideas for getting your kids to cooperate, dealing with discarded bread crusts, putting band-aids on tiny fingertips and more! Also, Laura reports on her toddler's entry into the "tumultuous twos," and Shanna talks about what it was like to get Covid on Christmas and spend the holidays in isolati...

In the special segment "Internet Insanity," Shanna and Laura share the wackiest parenting-related things they've come across online recently, including the surprising new trend in baby showers, a questionable study about kids and creativity and more! Also, Shanna reports on the adorably over-the-top holiday recital her four-year-old performed in, and Laura talks about her four-year-old's first tri...

Laura and Shanna share extra mom wins that they didn't have time for in Episode 237! Shanna reports on how she responded to a family outing that went sideways, and Laura talks about how she reacted when she found a lost child at the botanical garden. Shanna's kids are 4 and 6 years old, and Laura’s kids are 3.5 years old and 22 months old. Want to get in touch? Send us an email and follow us on so...

In the special segment "Mom Wins," Laura makes a hilarious but life-saving sacrifice on a treacherous staircase, and Shanna channels her inner Dr. Becky to repair a parenting mistake. Also, Laura wonders if she should have handled her three-year-old's recent vaccination differently, and Shanna reports on the dramatic call she got from her six-year-old's school nurse. Finally, they share their BFPs...

Shanna and Laura reveal the funny and unusual things they've asked the internet about parenting recently in the special segment "What I Googled This Week," including a strange reaction to a popular beverage, a mysterious phrase heard on the playground, an over-the-top threenager behavior and more! Also, Shanna talks about her daughter's fourth birthday, and Laura reports on her 22-month-old's new...

Laura reports on her three-year-old's new development in swim class, and Shanna compares one of her parenting struggles to that of a character on a very popular tv show. Also, in the special segment “Stump the Moms,” Shanna and Laura grill each other with amusing and educational trivia questions about unique baby names, obscure medical traditions, unheard-of mothering traditions and more! Finally,...

As 2022 comes to an end, Shanna and Laura reflect on the last 12 months. They keep it real as they look back on 2022 and share their biggest laughs, deepest challenges, most unexpected realizations, favorite podcasts and more. Also, Shanna reports on her three- and six-year-old's first paying job and Laura reports on her three-year-old's new conflict-creating behavior. Finally, they share their BF...

In the special segment “Super Moms,” Laura and Shanna share the stories of some heroic moms who used their instinct and courage to save the day. Also, Laura talks about wrapping up her stressful week with a cleaning frenzy, and Shanna reports on her three-year-old's adorably awkward preschool picture day. Finally, they share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 3.5 and 6 years old,...

Laura and Shanna answer more listener questions! They share their go-to dinner ideas for kids, talk about whether Laura can imagine an alternate reality in which she doesn't have kids, and discuss why Shanna chose not to know the sex of her embryos during IVF. If you have a question for an upcoming Ask Us Anything Mini-sode, email us at contact@bigfatpositivepodcast.com, or reach out on Instagra m...

Shanna and Laura answer a listener's question about how much screen time they allow their kids to have and what types of rules and boundaries they set for the devices. They also offer advice about activities to do at home to occupy and engage high-energy toddlers. If you have a question for an upcoming Ask Us Anything Mini-sode, email us at contact@bigfatpositivepodcast.com, or reach out on Instag...

In the special segment “OMG I'm Freaking Out,” Laura and Shanna report on the parenting-related situations that have their hair standing on end, including a disturbing and mysterious smell in Laura's house, a benign activity that TikTok has Shanna fretting about and more! Also, Shanna talks about sharing the different ways babies are made with her six-year-old, and Laura discusses a dramatic incid...

Shanna and Laura answer a very popular listener question about what holiday traditions we have with our kids, including our thoughts on Santa, Elf on the Shelf, Christmas trees and more. They also tackle the tricky topic of how to split time between family members during the holidays when you have kids. If you have a question for an upcoming Ask Us Anything Mini-sode, email us at contact@bigfatpos...

Laura and Shanna dive into the topic of work-life balance when answering a listener's question about managing work, kids, spouses, social life and producing a podcast. They also answer questions about how to do bedtime check-ins with a toddler and the best time to get LASIK eye surgery when you're a new mom. If you have a question for an upcoming Ask Us Anything Mini-sode, email us at contact@bigf...

Laura discusses a realization she had about her three-year-old's behavior, and Shanna talks about enduring the elements with her six-year-old to try out for softball All-Stars. Also, in the special segment, "They Said What?!," they report on the outrageous, hilarious and questionable things people have said to them lately, including some unexpected advice about teaching safety to kids, some unusua...

We answer a listener's question about how to deal with baby gender FOMO, and we spill the tea on whether Shanna and Laura have ever gotten into a squabble. If you have a question for an upcoming Ask Us Anything Mini-sode, email us at contact@bigfatpositivepodcast.com, or reach out on Instagram , Facebook or TikTok at @bfppodcast! This episode's show notes can be found here . Big Fat Positive is pr...

In our very first Ask Us Anything Mini-sode, we answer a listener question about how to handle tricky diaper changes, and we tackle the most-asked question we get from listeners. If you have a question for an upcoming Ask Us Anything Mini-sode, email us at contact@bigfatpositivepodcast.com, or reach out on Instagram , Facebook or TikTok at @bfppodcast! Big Fat Positive is produced by Laura Birek,...

In the special segment, "Never Have I Ever: Parenting Edition," Laura and Shanna reveal embarrassing and unexpected situations they’ve never been in before having kids, including a doorstep dump drop, bagel breath and more! Also, Shanna reports on the difficulty of unexpectedly having her kids home from school all week, and Laura talks about a special mommy/son outing with her three-year-old. Fina...

Shanna and Laura give you a head start with your holiday shopping by sharing some of their favorite, tried-and-true gift ideas for newborns, infants, toddlers, preschoolers, kids, partners, new parents, pregnant people and those trying to conceive. Our 2022 holiday gift guide - https://bigfatpositivepodcast.com/gifts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy...

Laura and Shanna answer listener questions in another round of "Checkin' the Inbox," covering the topics of parenting while sick, dividing household duties with our spouses, the challenges of breastfeeding in public and more! Also, Laura reports on her toddler's first parent-teacher conference, and Shanna talks about the questionable reason her daughter was sent home from preschool. Finally, they...

Laura and Shanna answer listener questions in the special segment "Checkin' the Inbox," covering the topics of feminism, family resemblances, the future of BFP and more! Also, Shanna reports on a surprising new morning routine that her girls have spearheaded, and Laura talks about an unusual incident that happened in the night with her three-year-old. Finally, they share their BFPs and BFNs for th...

Laura discusses a big decision that she has to make about her 1-year-old's daycare, and Shanna talks about her reluctance to let her girls run a lemonade stand. Also, in the special segment "Throwback," Shanna tells a story about her first boyfriend and reflects on some important life lessons she learned from her mom at the time. Finally, they share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids...

In a special "Big Topic/Throwback" segment, Laura talks about the recent passing of a loved one, discusses how she explained the loss to her three-year-old and shares memories from her childhood. Shanna reports on her six-year-old's crush on a surprising person and on her kids' recent escape from their house. Finally, they share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 3.5 and 6 years o...