Toddlers Made Easy with Dr Cathryn

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 d...

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 p...

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 mor...

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 cyc...

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, w...

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...

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 fe...

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...

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&apo...

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 c...

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...

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 "n...

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 ca...

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 feeling...

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 c...

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 sa...

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 prev...

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 resist...

If 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...

Why 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 w...

In 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 regula...

Your 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 feel...

Your 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)...

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: I’m running a short class for exhausted parents who want more sleep (without cry-it-out). Want the details? TAP HERE Order my book ⁠⁠Toddlers Made Easy ⁠⁠ Follow me on...

The 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 ch...