Baby Steps Podcast

How do you navigate the unexpected twists of labor, C-sections, and raising a family in the heart of the city? In this episode of the Baby Steps Podcast, host Medea sits down with lifestyle content creator and mother of three, Brianne, to explore the surprising realities of pregnancy, C-section deliveries, and the unique joys of raising city kids. Brianne opens up about her personal birth experien...

How do you navigate the profound, unexpected shifts of motherhood when nothing goes according to plan? In this episode of the Baby Steps Podcast, host Mediha sits down with lifestyle and travel content creator and mother of three, Rayna Moore, to explore the raw emotional realities of parenthood, overcoming trauma, and rediscovering yourself along the way. Raina shares her deeply personal story of...

How do you pick the perfect baby name without letting family opinions or partner arguments get in the way? In this episode of the Baby Steps Podcast, host Mediha sits down with lifestyle content creator, baby name consultant, and mother of two, Jessie Paquette, to explore the art of baby naming and the profound identity shifts that come with parenthood. Jessie shares the honest truth about navigat...

ABOUT VALERIE WARREN: Valerie Warren is a lifestyle content creator and homeschooling mom of two. She uses her platform to share the real, unfiltered side of modern motherhood and the joy of seeing life through her children's eyes.   BABY STEPS PODCAST PARTNERS: A special thank you to our sponsors, without whom this podcast wouldn't be possible. Please support them by checking out the links below!...

Fast Five Biggest pregnancy craving — cake. All cake. Cake pops, sheet cake, any cake. Dinner was optional. Worse to run out of — diapers over wipes, because her mom's philosophy was to wash the baby every time anyway. One word for labor — hard. One word for parenthood — emotional. Can't-live-without baby product — the Solly Baby toddler wrap, small enough to fit in a palm, sturdy enough to carry...

Topics Covered Why trying to "fix" your child's behavior usually backfires, and what to do instead. The real reason parenting tools don't work in the moment — your nervous system is running the show. Priyanka's personal story of ignoring her three-year-old at the kitchen sink and what her parent coach helped her see about that moment. How unresolved childhood experiences show up in everyday parent...

Megan opens up about her pregnancy journey, the advice that actually helped versus the stuff she wishes she'd ignored, the books she read (and the ones she threw across the room), and how she prepared for a baby while working in an industry that doesn't exactly slow down for anyone. She talks about the birth, the early days at home, the nursery decisions that felt impossibly high-stakes at the tim...

Kristen gets honest about what nobody really prepares you for: the postpartum hormones that hit like a wall, the emotional rollercoaster that comes after delivery when your body is trying to recover and your brain is telling you something's off. She talks about what postpartum really looked like for her — not the version you see on Instagram, but the raw, unfiltered reality of healing while keepin...

In this episode of Baby Steps, MaKenzie takes us back to the very beginning — finding out she was pregnant, what her pregnancy looked like, and the moment everything shifted after her baby arrived. She talks about the early days that no one really describes accurately — the overstimulation, the emotional flooding, the feeling that your body and brain have been completely rewired overnight. But the...

In this episode of Baby Steps, Rachel takes us through her full journey — from finding out she was pregnant to the moment she brought her daughter home and realized breastfeeding wasn't the natural, intuitive thing everyone told her it would be. She talks about the lactation consultant who showed up at her door the next day, removed all the unnecessary gear, and helped her latch her baby in bed wi...

In this insightful episode, we sit down with Chrissy—a pediatric sleep consultant, licensed marriage and family therapist, and mom of four—for a practical, honest, and deeply reassuring conversation about baby sleep and the realities of early parenthood. From the shock of newborn sleep deprivation to the emotional toll it takes on parents, Chrissy breaks down what’s normal, what’s not, and how fam...

In this insightful episode, we sit down with Robyn Sajeski, special needs sleep consultant, registered nurse, and co-founder of Sleep Ability Consulting, for a grounded and eye-opening conversation about children’s sleep as both a biological need and a developmental skill. Robyn breaks down how sleep needs change from toddlerhood through adolescence, why consistency matters more than perfection, a...

In this episode, we sit down with Allison Egidi, Certified Pediatric Sleep Coach and Founder of Sleep and Wellness Coach, to unpack the science and reality of children’s sleep from newborns to teenagers. She breaks down how much sleep kids truly need, why it changes with age, and how it impacts behavior, learning, and emotional development. What You’ll Hear in This Episode: How much sleep children...

In this insightful episode, we sit down with Melissa Eastlick , child and parent therapist and parent coach, for an honest, heartfelt, and practical conversation about the challenges and joys of modern parenting. From navigating meltdowns and sleep struggles to helping children develop resilience, Melissa shares her expert perspective on raising happy, confident, and self-aware kids. Reflecting on...

In this insightful episode, we sit down with Dr. Jennifer Lincoln —board-certified OB-GYN and author of The Birth Book —for an honest, empowering conversation about pregnancy, birth, and postpartum mental health. From surviving the first trimester and understanding what’s truly “normal,” to recognizing real warning signs like changes in fetal movement, Dr. Lincoln cuts through misinformation and r...

In this insightful episode, we sit down with Lisa Caputo—sleep educator and mom of two—for an eye-opening conversation about what infant sleep really looks like. From debunking the myth of “perfect sleepers” to explaining why fragmented sleep is biologically normal, Lisa breaks down how temperament, nervous systems, and development shape every child’s unique sleep journey. What You’ll Hear in This...

In this heartfelt episode, we sit down with Amanda Koroma—lifestyle content creator and first-time mom—for an honest and refreshing conversation about pregnancy, labor, and the realities of postpartum life. From surviving a brutally exhausting first trimester to enduring nearly 24 hours of labor (with 20 minutes of pushing), Amanda shares what the pain, the beauty, and the transformation of mother...

Join us for a heartfelt conversation with Robin Daniels, Chief Business Officer at Zensight and dedicated father, on Baby Steps . Robin shares his journey from a challenging childhood in Copenhagen to a thriving career in tech, and how becoming a father transformed his perspective on life and work. He opens up about the lessons he hopes to pass on to his son, including gratitude, intentionality, c...

In this episode of Baby Steps , host Medea speaks with lifestyle content creator and first-time mom Rose Montes about postpartum anxiety, mindset shifts, and navigating the early stages of motherhood. Rose opens up about her positive birth experience, the difference between postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression, and the tools, faith, and community that helped her through the most overwhelmi...

In this candid episode of Baby Steps , host Medea sits down with Daria Willems, lifestyle content creator and mother of two, to talk about the unfiltered realities of motherhood. Daria opens up about high-risk pregnancies, premature births, NICU experiences, and an unexpected postpartum medical complication that permanently changed her voice. She also shares her experience with postpartum depressi...

In this eye-opening and deeply insightful episode of Baby Steps , we sit down with Julietta Skoog , a veteran school psychologist, parent coach, and founder of Sproutable . Julietta brings over 20 years of experience, using the framework of Positive Discipline, to help parents cut through the overwhelming noise of information and truly connect with their children. She shares her personal journey a...

In this heartfelt and eye-opening episode of Baby Steps , we sit down with Daisy—a full-time working mom and first-time parent—for a candid conversation about pregnancy, birth, and finding balance in early motherhood. From unexpected postpartum surprises to the unforgettable moment her newborn smiled at 3AM, Daisy shares the raw realities, challenges, and joys of raising her little one while learn...

In this heartfelt and eye-opening episode of Baby Steps , we sit down with Beth—Army veteran, inventor of Busy Baby, and mom of two—for a candid conversation about motherhood, resilience, and the lessons she’s learned along the way. From delivering her first baby at 40 to navigating miscarriage, high-risk pregnancy, and the rollercoaster of parenthood, Beth shares the raw realities and unexpected...

In this vulnerable and powerful episode, we sit down with Shaquita Garcia—artist, storyteller, and mom of two—for an unfiltered conversation about the raw realities and unexpected beauty of motherhood. From postpartum depression to C-section recovery, Shaquita opens up about the hard moments no one talks about—and the quiet victories that make it all worth it.     What You’ll Hear in This Episode:...

In this candid and uplifting episode, we sit down with Gabby—lifestyle content creator, small business owner, and new mom—for a fresh, vulnerable conversation about what it really means to navigate motherhood in your early 20s. From a surprisingly smooth pregnancy to an unexpected epidural twist, Gabby shares the highs, the hiccups, and the heartfelt lessons she’s learned on the road to raising ba...