I've been a mother for a little over 18 years now, and although I wouldn't trade those years for anything, there's no question that raising kids has been a challenge. In fact, in those 18 years, I've never spoken to a single mother who hasn't felt completely overwhelmed at one point or another. My guest today has a unique perspective on chronic overwhelm. She was already raising three boys when she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Her story is a real inspiration and her message is one that all...
Aug 21, 2020•36 min
It's no secret that new mothers can go through some pretty brutal emotional ups and downs after giving birth. But that doesn't necessarily make it easier to talk about, or get rid of the stigma that some of us feel when we experience postpartum depression. My guest today, Courtney Allison, is a wife, mother to two little girls, and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, as well as the creator of The Girl Without a Mom, and her YouTube channel is full of videos to help moms learn everything they nee...
Jul 24, 2020•40 min
These last couple of months have been trying ones for most people I know, but nobody more so than parents. The sudden demand for us to step into every role for our children, from parent to teacher to playmate and beyond, has proven to be a tall order, to say the least! That's a big reason why I'm so happy to bring you this week's episode, featuring an interview with Alyssa Westring, one of the authors of " Parents Who Lead - The Leadership Approach You Need to Parent with Purpose, Fuel Your Care...
May 15, 2020•42 min
I've always been a very family-oriented woman. I know I'm hardly alone in this position, but my husband and kids are the center of my universe. And since I started my business 16 years ago, I've also been captivated with the experience of building something from the ground up and seeing the results that it brings, not just to me, but the families that The Sleep Sense Program helps. I find the "mompreneur" life extremely rewarding and I just love hearing the similar, but unique, stories of other ...
May 08, 2020•34 min
The last month or two have seen some unprecedented changes in our daily lives, due in large part to the stay-at-home directive imposed on a huge percentage of the world's population. And while we all wish we had more time to spend with our kids, spending all day, every day with them stuck in the house presents a lot of new challenges that can leave us feeling overwhelmed at times. So today I have a few tips to help you navigate these uncharted waters, keep your little ones' schedule on track, an...
Apr 17, 2020•19 min
When I originally created the Sleep Sense Program 14 years ago, I didn't intend to make a business out of it. It was just my personal solution to the problem of my first-born not sleeping. Many entrepreneurs start out this way. They're not looking to start a business, they're just people who've come up with a better way of doing things. That's why, at this particularly challenging point in time, I'm delighted to bring you the story of Cara Sayer, the creator of Snoozeshade. In 2009, Cara was a m...
Mar 27, 2020•39 min
All of the sharing we do on social media has made this a bit of a strange time to be a new mother. On the one hand, we're undoubtedly seeing more understanding and acceptance around the idea of postpartum depression. Mothers who are experiencing it have a number of forums and communities to discuss their feelings with others who have experienced the same situation. On the other, it feels like there's never been so much pressure to put on a brave face and show the world that you've got everything...
Mar 06, 2020•51 min
After all my years as a pediatric sleep expert, you might think I'd get a little fatigued talking about the subject, but the truth is, there's never been a more exciting time to be in this line of work. There's a prominent new focus on the value and health benefits of sleep, and with it comes a lot of research and findings, which brings a lot of exciting new conversations. That's why I'm so pleased to be speaking today with Dr. Mary Wilde. A board-certified pediatrician, author, mother of eight ...
Feb 28, 2020•40 min
Stress is a part of life, there's no getting around it. No matter our age, gender, or responsibilities, we all feel the pressures of day to day life, and we all deal with it the best we can. But as parents, how we react when we're feeling overwhelmed can have a trickle-down effect on the rest of our family. Overreactions due to stress can leave our kids confused, and us feeling like bad parents. Which is why I'm so excited to be speaking today with Emily Nagoski, researcher, activist, and author...
Nov 22, 2019•37 min
There's a common misconception among mothers, both old and new, that breastfeeding and sleeping well are mutually exclusive. You can sleep well or you can nurse on demand, but you can't do both. I've worked hard to dispel that myth, but to be perfectly honest, I had a very hard time nursing my babies, and don't consider myself to be the foremost authority on the subject. That's why I'm so glad to be joined today by Courtney Zentz, LLC and postpartum doula, who also happens to be a Certified Slee...
Jul 05, 2019•40 min
As the mother of two teenage boys, I have to admit that, on occasion, I find it hard to connect with them. I find myself walking a fine line between wanting to show interest in their lives and respecting their privacy. Between showing them love and smothering them with it. Between letting them be themselves and raising them to be good men. Which is why I was so thrilled to speak with Dr. Michael Reichert this week, the author of How to Raise a Boy: The Power of Connection to Build Good Men . Dr....
May 10, 2019•1 hr 7 min
How many two-parent families out there can relate to this scenario? Your little one, who both of you spend plenty of time with and love unconditionally, has grown to a point where they can communicate some basic preferences. They like carrots, but not as much as they like applesauce. They like the dog, but not as much as they like their stuffed giraffe. And they like Dad, but not nearly as much as they like Mom. And they're not afraid to show it, despite the fact that it absolutely breaks the le...
Jan 11, 2019•16 min
I'm certainly not a "free-range" parent. I'm just too much of a worrier to let my kids run around unsupervised. But on the other hand, I do think that kids need some amount of authority over their own lives. Providing your little ones with choices is beneficial on a couple of levels. It allows them to feel like they have some measure of control over things, and it provides some early lessons about the consequences of their decisions. Not to mention the peace and harmony it can help to maintain a...
Jan 04, 2019•18 min
Let's be honest here. (Ha!) Unless you're an exceptionally lucky parent, your child is going to tell the occasional fib. As a parent, you'll have to decide how when and how to call them out on it, and what the consequences are when they tell a lie. In today's episode, I've got a few tips for you to help decide on a strategy you can be comfortable with when you find your little one bending the truth, as well as a few insights as to why children tell lies in the first place....
Dec 14, 2018•19 min
I recently asked my Facebook friends what parenting challenges they needed some help with, and when it came to the parents of toddlers, the overwhelming response was one you can probably identify with; Whining. It's pretty much guaranteed that shortly after your little one learns to communicate, they'll discover whining as a tactic for getting what they want. And it can be super annoying! Parenting experts are quick to tell you that if you don't give in to the behavior, your little one will give...
Dec 07, 2018•20 min
People tend to make light of the sleepless nights that new parents experience when they have a new baby. We all go through it, and so we tend to laugh it off once our little ones grow up and start sleeping through the night. But sleep deprivation is no laughing matter, and it can have serious effects on your mental health and, subsequently, on your relationship. In today's episode, I want to look at some of the actual physical changes that take place in your brain and body when you don't get eno...
Nov 30, 2018•22 min
It's not like we don't know that our kids need a lot of sleep. Every parent in the world realizes that babies sleep a lot more than adults, but when's the last time you actually thought about why? The obvious answer, "They get cranky if they don't sleep," is true of course, but there's a lot of fascinating science behind that fact, and sleep does so much more for our little ones than just regulating their mood. So today, I'm going to look at the amazing operation going on inside your baby's body...
Nov 16, 2018•22 min
Most of the parents I've worked with over the years fall into a very common trap when it comes to their baby's sleep, and it's because it's such a reasonable belief. "The more tired you are, the better you'll sleep." Seems like a no-brainer, right? Like food or water, the more your body needs, the more it will accommodate. The fact is, this notion isn't just inaccurate, it's actually just the opposite. Because of our bodies' natural response to overtiredness, it causes light, fragmented sleep in...
Nov 09, 2018•21 min
Taking daytime naps is something we usually associate with babies and toddlers, and for good reason. Young kids need a lot of sleep and tend to get a big chunk of it during the day. But as more people are realizing, daytime naps are rewarding for adults too. They can be a great tool to regulate your nighttime sleep and stay on top of your game throughout the day. However, I've heard from a lot of people that they either can't get to sleep during the day, or that naps leave them feeling groggy wh...
Nov 02, 2018•13 min
I know a lot of parents who avoid this problem by simply not traveling, but that's not always an option, and it's certainly not a good solution for those of us who love to travel. Staying in a hotel room with a young baby presents a whole pile of concerns for parents. Where should she sleep, how do we keep her on a schedule, and of course, what if she cries? After all, it's not just you that she's going to disturb if she spends an hour wailing in the middle of the night. In today's episode, I ha...
Oct 19, 2018•19 min
If you're raising kids with a partner, it's a pretty safe bet that there's going to be the occasional argument between the two of you, and sometimes, like it or not, they happen in front of the kids. We tend to beat ourselves up when we argue in front of our kids, but the truth is they can learn some important lessons from seeing their parents argue, so long as it's done in a productive and respectful way. In today's show, I've got some suggestions to help you maintain civility and regard for yo...
Oct 12, 2018•18 min
It's a very rare child who's willing to eat anything you put in front of them. Most kids crave sweets and white carbs, and occasionally protein in the form of chicken nuggets or fish sticks. Not exactly foods your pediatrician would call, "healthy." Getting young children to eat their vegetables can result in some frustrating battles, but you can't just feed them their favorite foods all the time. So what's a parent to do? In today's episode, I have some tips to help you ease the tensions around...
Oct 05, 2018•14 min
Every mother knows that raising kids is a full time job. Not "full time" in the business sense of 9-5, Monday to Friday, but full time in the literal sense. You never clock out, you never get a vacation, and you never retire. Which is a big part of the reason those of us who choose to pursue a career on top of being moms can often find ourselves feeling overwhelmed by feeling of guilt and inadequacy. My guest on today's show, Jessica Turner, author of the bestselling book, The Fringe Hours and f...
Sep 14, 2018•31 min
As many of you will probably know if you've listened to my podcast before, my first child started off as a terrible sleeper. And like any parent in my position, I did a ton of research to try and figure out what the problem was. For some reason, no matter how many people I heard talking about the importance of bedtime routines, I always dismissed them as being inconsequential. But I'm a firm believer now, and today I'll be discussing why bedtime routines are so important for getting your baby sl...
Sep 07, 2018•21 min
Audrey Hepburn once said, “The most important thing is to enjoy your life—to be happy—it's all that matters.” That's great advice, but it's a little sparse on the "how-to" side. We would all love to be happy, but it's not always easy, especially when you're shouldering the responsibilities of a parent. Which is why I'm so excited to be speaking with my guest on the show today. K.J. Dell'Antonia is the author of How to Be a Happier Parent . A practical, thoroughly researched guide to bringing mor...
Aug 31, 2018•43 min
As much as kids look forward to summer vacation, I have a feeling that parents look forward to school starting again even more. (Even though we may not be allowed to show it quite so openly.) But back-to-school can bring along one substantial challenge for both parents and their kids. During those two months of vacation, we tend to get pretty lenient about bedtime, and when kids suddenly start working on a schedule again, their sleep can get thrown wildly off track. In today's episode, I'll disc...
Aug 24, 2018•16 min
As parents, the idea that our kids don't like to be apart from us is not just understandable, the feeling is full-on mutual. The bond between us and our children cannot be overstated. As they get older, some kids naturally start to explore their emerging independence with enthusiasm. Others, not so much. So when it comes time for the first day of pre-school, daycare, or even an afternoon at Grandma and Grandpa's house, many kids will resist with an intensity that can be downright heartbreaking f...
Aug 17, 2018•16 min
When your baby cries in the night, it usually means they want something in order to help them get back to sleep. Whether it's because they're too hot, too cold, have a wet diaper, or for some other reason can be difficult to tell. For most parents, the first thing they try is a feed. Babies love to eat and it's the most common reason for newborns and infants to wake up in the night. Of course, that's not always the solution, and feeding your baby to sleep every time they wake up can cause an ass...
Jul 20, 2018•14 min
Sooner or later, your toddler is going to outgrow their crib, and while the switch to a big-kid bed is an exciting milestone, it usually brings on some challenges. Toddlers tend to test their boundaries when they experience the newfound freedom of a regular bed, and you can typically expect a few late-night visits, sleep regressions, and early morning wake ups while they're getting used to their new sleeping arrangements. Today, I have some suggestions that will help you decide on the right time...
Jul 13, 2018•28 min
Starting your baby on solid foods is a fun and exciting milestone, and one you should definitely have your camera ready for! But like everything in parenting, there is a lot of uncertainty about when and how to get started. In today's episode, I'll be talking a little bit about how to recognize when your baby is ready to start eating solid food, and a whole lot about how to go about it. Having struggled with my own son's finicky eating habits, I've learned from experience (as well as a few exper...
Jun 29, 2018•27 min
