Cradle and All

It’s true what they say, - moms know their kids inside and out. This couldn’t be more true of Christine's experience with her youngest son’s health. In this episode, Christine shares how through observation, persistence and mothers intuition she was able to get Dakota medical care for subtly disguised medical conditions.  Thank you for listening, and come back every other Sunday for new episo...

This week while we are on summer vacation,  catch up on all our podcast episodes. We have re-released one of our very first episodes... All about our birth stories. This episode, we talk all about our different birth stories. With four kiddos between the two of us, we had VERY different labor and delivery experiences - from inductions and scheduled C-sections to VBAC and unplanned complications. L...

The average person spends about 26 years asleep. But as a parent to a newborn, infant or toddler, it can sleep like you’re years behind on your sleep quota. In today’s episode, we connect with Ensley Nesbitt, sleep consultant and co-owner of Sleep Baby Consulting. She answers our questions about sleep and how to get more of it while providing practical tips, techniques and the reassurance you need...

Start your engines; it's time for the nightly race from dinner to bedtime. Get ready.. get set.. GO!  In this episode, we share evening routines used with our children and explain tips and tricks to make this time less chaotic and more enjoyable for everyone involved. Join us as we tackle some key ways to better manage the nighttime marathon, including:  Ways to keep the kids entertained whil...

We all have dreams and aspirations, but how do we achieve the life we want? This week, we discuss just that. Join us as we share the evolution and journey of our professional careers and how we balance being a mom, mompreneurs and career women.  We share our tips on how to create and live the life you want! Thank you for listening, and come back every other Sunday for new episodes. Subscribe to th...

As moms, we have a lot on our plates.  Well, go ahead and add "keeping kids entertained" to your to do list.  For infants, it may be tummy time and block toys. And for toddlers, it could be dolls and cars.  Whatever the choice, we are often trying to find things that are both educational and will keep our children occupied. This week, we discuss the various ways they keep our kids playin...

As a continuation of the last episode, this week Renita describes her NICU experience with her youngest son, Russell. Hear all about the ups, downs, and myriad of emotions she experienced during this two month period. She also details her top tips for being a NICU mom warrior. Do you have a question, a story, or a piece of advice that you would like to add to the conversation? Contact us at thecra...

When Renita was pregnant with her second son, Russell, she was diagnosed with preeclampsia. In today’s episode, she chronicles her experience with the condition and shares her personal  journey with preeclampsia and related side effects.  This episode is being released during Black Maternal Health week. In recognition of this week and in efforts to broaden the conversation on this important issue,...

One of the many mom talents that strengthen over time is the ability to party plan for our kid’s birthday parties. All moms envision providing their little ones with the most entertaining, exciting, and memorable birthday they’ve ever experienced. Yet, planning can come with a lot of self-induced pressure and anxiety. In this episode, we discuss our experience party planning and share advice on ho...

We’re back for season three! During our hiatus we experienced some personal challenges and incredible growth. In this episode, we discuss what we’ve been up to and how we have been prioritizing our mental health.  Resources: Calm App I Am app Silk and Saunder Guided Journal Thought Diary Therapyforblackgirls.com Psychology Today https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/facts-statistics Do you have a...

The two week wait. Conception myths. How to accurately track your cycle. This week, we discuss all things TTC (trying to conceive). We share and compare our experiences getting pregnant, and Renita puts on her OBGYN hat  to reveal truths that can help lead to an informed and stress free conception experience.      If you enjoyed today’s episode, follow us on Instagram (@thecradleandall) and share...

So many things can change after having children - your body, your time, your money. With that change can come a loss of the identity you had prior to having kids. This week, we’re talking about our personal experiences redefining ourselves after having babies. Join us as we talk about what has changed and the lessons we have learned. If you enjoyed today’s episode, follow us on Instagram (@thecrad...

We don't know about you, but we haven't discovered a handbook that gives us all the answers about parenting our children. Until that book arrives, we're on our own to figure things out! In this episode we discuss our learned and experienced parenting styles as well as our approaches to disciplining our kids. Listen as we discuss how we try to prepare our little ones to be awesome an...

You may have previously recovered from the delivery of a baby or are preparing to go through this.  So you may have questions about what is normal and what is not. Have you ever been referred to a pelvic floor physical therapist? Or have you been curious about them? In today's episode, you will hear from Dr. Jessica Thompson, a pelvic floor physical therapist. She shares why a visit to a pelv...

Traveling with your kids may not be a walk in the park, but it’s never too early to start traveling with your little ones. Especially when you prepare. This week, we talk about our experience traveling with our infant and toddler aged children and the tips we’ve picked up along the way.  Do you have a question, a story, or a piece of advice that you would like to add to the conversation? Contact u...

We're back for season two!! We're kicking things off with a guest. During this conversation, we hear from Samantha Griffin, a certified birth doula, postpartum doula, and childbirth educator. Join us as she discusses the practice of being a doula and how she advocates for an supports mothers to usher a new life into the world. If you're in the DC area, you can check out her services...

From nursing to sleeping through and transitioning from crawling to walking, you’ve mastered the first year of life. the night. Toddlerhood comes with new experiences and new challenges. One of those challenges is potty training. This week, join us as we discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of potty training. We talk about our personal experience and give tips on how to make this stage less str...

 Pregnancy is a very exciting time that is filled with both physical and emotional changes. However, new worries about your changing body and safety of your growing baby can lead to a new sense of vulnerability, whether it’s your first or last pregnancy. These fears can be especially heightened with the frightening reality that Black women are 3 times more likely to die from pregnancy related comp...

Even though we moms have the magic touch when it comes to making our little ones feel comforted when they aren’t feeling well, it can be tough on us when our kids feel sick. Especially when we may not know how severe their illness is, how to treat it at home and when to seek professional help. This week, we are joined by board certified pediatrician Dr. Shayna Smith who answers our questions about...

You’ve had one baby. You mastered feeding, bedtime, and tantrums. Should be easy the second time, right? Going from one to two kids is not always so straight-forward. This week we talk about our experiences going from one to two children. From preparing our first born for a new addition to managing double the responsibilities, join us as we give tips on adding a new addition to the crew. Resources...

This week, we are very excited to welcome our first guests to the podcasts. Host of the podcast Mocha Single Mothers by Choice, Hera and Aisha, joined us to discuss motherhood from their perspective. Listen to hear about the SMC movement, tips on balancing motherhood with other aspects of life, and ways to support all mammas.  Whether you are a mother, mother-to-be, or considering motherhood, you...

Written planners, to-do lists, time-blocking… we mamas have a lot on our plate with many different ways of managing our time. This week, we discuss techniques that we use to find balance in our busy lives. Join us as we provide tips to make time management a little easier for you! Do you have a question, story, or piece of advice that you would like to add to the conversation?  Contact us at thecr...

Though miscarriage is not widely discussed, 1 in 4 women will experience a miscarriage in their lifetime. This week, Christine shares her experience with a first trimester pregnancy loss.  Renita discusses miscarriage from a medical perspective in a new segment called Ask Dr. White. **Trigger Warning: This episode discusses a topic that can be difficult or triggering from some. Please be advised....

For working moms, returning to work after maternity leave can be an emotional and scary transition. This week, we talk about our experiences heading back to work after our maternity leaves and how it was different for each of our pregnancies. Join us as we give tips to make your transition back to work a little smoother. Do you have a question, story, or piece of advice that you would like to add...

When you think of the holidays, you may think of family, festivities, and fun. However, it can also be filled with a never-ending list of errands, an overflowing calendar of events, and budding family tensions.  This week, we're talking all about the holidays!  Listen as we touch on the following topics: Family Traditions Adjusting  routines during the holidays Holiday themed activities for o...