StrollerCoaster: A Parenting Podcast

Today’s Guests: Dr. Zachary Rubin & Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Shane McAnally. Some of the most meaningful parenting moments happen during mealtime - from those quiet early feedings of formula or breastmilk to the hilarious (and often messy) introduction of solid foods. But alongside those memories comes a steady stream of questions: What should my baby be eating? When is the right time to i...

When it comes to feeding your newborn, the hardest thing to find isn’t opinions…it’s facts. In Part 2 of our special three-part series on feeding, StrollerCoaster goes deeper into the science and data behind infant formula, cutting through the noise to give parents real, evidence-based information they can trust. Host Lynn Smith is joined by two experts with complementary perspectives. Dr. Cynthia...

You just had a baby. You’ve got a million things running through your mind. But there’s one thing you have to do right away: feed your baby. No matter how much you planned, it can feel stressful and overwhelming. That’s where StrollerCoaster comes in, with a special three-part series devoted to feeding. In our first episode we start at the very beginning: Formula? Breastmilk? Both? While breastmil...

“Feeding my baby” is one of the top search topics on Google. On this special bonus episode, we cover the milestone stages of feeding - from baby’s first moments to the toddler years - with Dr. Mona Amin, pediatrician, board certified lactation consultant and the founder of of PedsDocTalk. Whether it’s breastfeeding, introducing solids or food allergies…it seems like every stage of feeding our kids...

Samantha is having a great time at the beach building sandcastles with the shovels and seashells other kids have shared with her. But when they ask to borrow her shiny new red bucket, sharing doesn’t seem so fun. With the help of her mom, Samantha turns it around and discovers how a small act of kindness can have big rewards. StoryTime is a refreshingly fun take on everyday moments from the lives...

Breastfeeding can be a loving and bonding experience for a new mom. It can also be an emotional journey fraught with misinformation, tons of questions, frustration and guilt. One thing’s for sure - it’s not talked about enough.  In this SPECIAL episode, we normalize the conversation, and separate fact from fiction with Emily Johnston, a board-certified lactation consultant and doula, who has helpe...

SPECIAL GUEST! Dr. Laurie Santos, Yale professor and host of The Happiness Lab, gives us her sought-after advice for finding more joy in our lives. Parents will love her fresh take and practical insights for “finding the good” even in the most challenging parenting moments. Then in our Parenting Story of the Day, you will hear from a mom of two who was searching for happiness – until she realized...

Aaron loves going to the grocery store with his Dad. There are so many fun things to look at on the shelves… and TOUCH. On a recent trip something peculiar happens: While at checkout, Dad discovers 5 candy bars in the bottom of their shopping cart. WHO could have put them there? Can you help solve the mystery? StoryTime is a refreshingly fun take on everyday moments from the lives of kids (and par...

Ever wonder what a professional chef gives his kids for snacks? Chef Duff, the Ace of Cakes himself, is spilling the beans. From chicken nuggets to strawberries, he talks about the foods his 3-year-old loves, and tricks to get her to try something new. Plus, Jennifer Anderson, dietician and founder of Kids Eat In Color, gives us tips for helping our kids eat better and making snack time less stres...

There’s a new parenting style in town. Not too hard, not too soft. It’s just right! It’s called “Respectful Parenting!” It’s designed to make children feel respected, loved, heard, and valued as individuals.  Janet Rotter, child development expert, psychoanalyst and head of The Studio School in New York City, talks with Lynn and Justin about fostering emotional connections with our children, based...

Every night at bath time Jackson didn’t want to get in the tub. Sometimes he was busy playing. Sometimes it was because the water was too… uh, wet. One night his mom tried something new – and it worked! But now, how would she get him out of the tub?! This original StoryTime is a refreshingly fun take on everyday moments from the lives of kids (and parents) told with humor and heart. Written in con...

Let’s get outside! This episode explores the positive impact that nature can have on our kids - from physical and emotional health, to sensory development, to understanding risk.  We'll “dig in” with one of the foremost experts in the field, Richard Louv, author of the renowned book “Last Child in the Woods,” who shares nature’s benefits and provides practical tips for getting out into the living...

Structured activities. Monitored playdates. Helicopter parenting. Have we lost the ability to let our kids discover the world on their own? Many believe that free play is a great solution for both child and parent, but what exactly does healthy free play look like for toddlers and young children?  Lenore Skenazy, author and co-founder of Let Grow, explains how allowing children to be more independ...

Every parent does it – but doesn’t want to admit it. We compare our child to other children or even their siblings. We also know that our “comparing” comes from a deep place of concern. We worry: Are they hitting important developmental milestones? Is there a problem? Maybe everything will be OK eventually?  Lynn and Justin explore this “secret” parenting topic with Dr. Tina Bryson, a psychotherap...

Little Naya's favorite thing in the whole world is Fresh Raspberry Dazzleberry Ice Cream! One day at the park the unthinkable happens - after just one lick of her precious cone, the ice cream falls to the ground with a splat! Oh no! Will Naya’s day be ruined? Will she get another cone? How will Naya and her Mom handle this big, melty disappointment? Parents and kids will love this story based on a...

Winning is a big deal to kids – whether it’s on the soccer field or racing their sibling to the car door. And with big competition comes big emotions. So how best to navigate when your child loses – or wins for that matter? Sam Weinman, author of “Win at Losing: How Our Biggest Setbacks Can Lead to Our Greatest Gains” joins Lynn and Justin with practical, healthy strategies for parents to help the...

“NO! I don’t want to!” Opposition from our kids, we experience it all the time. It makes sense they don’t want to do everything we want them to. However, when they refuse, it often creates a power struggle which we see as a reflection of bad parenting.  Lynn and Justin are no strangers to this struggle. In today’s episode, Claire Lerner, a social psychotherapist, author and child development speci...

Our kids are growing up fast! They are off to daycare or school and start to have their own separate experiences. We are no longer fully a part of their day-to-day lives and when they come home, we want to know everything! But sometimes it's so hard to get our kids to open up and really connect with us.  Rhea Lalla, an author and certified parenting coach who has worked with the United Nations and...

Petunia loves dinosaurs, ladybugs and her dad’s cooking! There is one thing Petunia does not like: when the food touches on her plate. Then one day it happened! Her delicious peas rolled right into her tasty chicken nuggets! That’s right - THE PEAS TOUCHED THE NUGGETS! Petunia was not happy. Dad was in shock. The peas were confused. Would dinner time be ruined?  Parents and kids will love this sto...

Patience and parenting don’t seem to go together - one minute you have it, the next you don’t. Whether it’s patience for your child or your partner, we all want more of it.  Lynn and Justin have the perfect guest to help us get our patience back! Today we talk with Dr. Jenny Woo, Harvard-trained researcher/educator, teacher of emotional intelligence and mom of three, who provides the guidance we’r...

When you’re a parent, anytime your child makes a close friend, you do too! Whether it’s connecting with other caregivers at daycare or throwing a joint birthday party with people you barely know, it can be tricky – and rewarding – to navigate adult friendships when the only thing you have in common is that your kids are friends.  Social relationships expert, author and TEDx speaker Shasta Nelson g...

StoryTime for Kids is back! With an original episode: “The Story of Two Brothers & Only One Elevator Button!” Jayden and Cayden are brothers who compete over EVERYTHING. So the stakes are high when they both want to be THE ONE who pushes the elevator button first! How will they decide? How will mom handle the situation? Can you feel the excitement… over an ELEVATOR BUTTON?!!!  Parents and kids wil...

Children cry, it's a fact. We hate to hear our kids cry but saying “stop crying” isn’t going to help. In fact, it can be harmful. Rachel Tuchman, a Mental Health Counselor with a speciality in early childhood development, explains to Lynn and Justin that demanding children “stop crying” can squash their emotions and lead to big issues later in life. Rachel provides concrete, actionable advice on w...

Kids need the arts! Art is so important for a child’s early development. Whether it’s ballet, playing the tuba or finger painting, we should be encouraging our children’s artistic expressions. But how do we get started?  Dr. Gai Lindsay, an Early Childhood Educator with a PhD in Visual Arts Pedagogy, breaks it all down in this episode. She explains to Lynn and Justin that you can start by putting...

How do we get our child from the playground to the car or from dinner to bed without a tantrum? For kids, going from one thing to the other is tough. They get upset and we get upset. But once we recognize that these are daily transitions and they happen throughout our lives, we can work with our children (and on ourselves) to lessen the difficulty and set them up with great life-skills.  Dr. Rebec...