Parenting in the First 3 Years

Breast only, breast pumping and bottle feeding... these are options and decisions that new parents are faced with from day one. Feeding provides an opportunity to learn what works best for your baby and you. Keeping an open mind, using resources like lactation consultants, and being happy that your baby is getting fed (regardless of how) can help alleviate the stress and mental fatigue. 

In this episode, we explore the world of childcare and share practical tips for parents who are on the hunt for the best care for their children. We explore some important factors to consider when searching for childcare as well as the significance of building a strong relationship with the childcare provider.

As a parent, you get to choose what shows your children watch, and it's a great chance to pick ones that are not only fun, but also help them learn new things. That's where Fred Rogers Productions comes in!

In this episode, we meet Mallory Mbalia, who is in charge of making sure the shows produced by Fred Rogers Productions are educational and helpful for children. Her main goals are to make shows that are engaging, teach children important skills like understanding feelings, reading, counting, and learning about different cultures.

A great children's book should have a well-crafted story, engaging language, and entertaining illustrations. This combination can stimulate your child's cognitive development, support early reading skills, and foster a stronger connection between you and your child during shared reading time.

In the episode, Dr. Junlei Li from Harvard University shares how parents can cultivate positive interactions with their children using Simple Interactions. He emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and repairing problematic behavior and adopting a "deep and simple" approach to interacting with children. By being curious, creative, and playful in everyday moments, parents and caregivers can promote children's growth and learning in enjoyable and meaningful ways. This episode underscores the importance of positive interactions with children and provide valuable guidance for parents and caregivers looking to support children's development.

In this episode, Christine Amerman shares about being a mother and her work helping entrepreneurs succeed (she and her clients have generated over $1 million as podcast guests!). She discusses setting a positive example by actively listening without interruptions, encouraging kids to express their thoughts and feelings and incorporating active listening into their daily routines. By fostering effective communication skills and strong relationships within her family, Christine believes that these practices benefit her children and align with her mindset of building meaningful connections with others, plus...

 In this episode, Early Intervention Specialist Michele Napierkowski shares valuable tips to keeping babies active, even when they're very young. We talk about the pros and cons of various equipment that we use for non-mobile infants, the value of floor time, tummy time, and when to start putting a child down on the floor.

You know it's important to read to your child, but what's really happening as you read? Probably the most important is the cozy connection that happens when you hold your baby in your lap and look at a book together. But there's lots more happening in that little brain. They're hearing new words, looking at the images, noticing what's familiar and what's not and listening to your voice inflections, which add interest and engagement but also communicate meaning. In this episode, we look at 5 simple things you can do to increase vocabulary and comprehension as you read aloud to your baby.

Did you know that 4 of every 10 new businesses are owned by women? What is it about parenting that equips moms to be amazing entrepreneurs? How can you create a business of your own?

Children have an innate sense of curiosity and wonder about the world around them. Dr. Diane Schnoor suggests that you don’t need to formally teach your young child but rather allow the learning process to happen by supporting their natural curiosity and wonder.

In this episode, Dr. Diane, an early childhood education expert, talks about the natural curiosity of young children and how parents can encourage and maintain this sense of wonder. She helps parents pay attention to their child's cues and provide opportunities for exploration and vocabulary building in the everyday. Dr. Diane Schnoor also emphasizes the importance of engaging in scientific activities, even at a very young age. Science is about developing connections with the world around us and she gives you the tools to do this.

It’s not at all uncommon to get lots of advice when you have a new baby. There’s just a lot of opinions out there - some based in fact, some not! In this episode, we look at five of the common things people say to you about newborns and identify whether or not each one is a myth or if it's sound advice.

My guest, Deborah McNelis, is an expert on the importance of nurturing and responsive care during their first 60 days of life. She helps you understand how to establish a secure attachment and support your newborn's development. Share this episode with all the new moms and dads you know!

When she found out she was pregnant, Zlata wondered how she could help her only child welcome a new baby into their very established family of three. After all, they didn't think they'd ever have another baby! In this episode, new mom Zlata Stankovic-Ramirez shares how she and her husband helped Daniel not only prepare for a new little sister, but how they insured he wouldn't feel displaced or insecure about this new little person who would soon make her appearance in the family.

Blake Brewer is on a mission to help 1 million dads and moms leave a lasting legacy for their children.

His story is personal to me. When our kids were preschoolers, I had a mom friend with kids the same ages as ours. One day she just had a feeling that she should write her children a letter telling them how much she loved them among other meaningful messages, in case anything ever happened to her. A few weeks later, their family went boating and a terrible accident took her life as they were docking the boat at the end of the day. I know those kids, now young adults, treasure their mother's words to them.

Blake has a similar story and he shares it with you in this episode of Parenting in the First 3 Years.

What are the habits new moms can begin now to ensure a healthy mindset throughout the all the stages of parenting? In this episode, Colleen O'Grady, best selling author, licensed therapist, coach and trainer explains how self-care is every bit as important as other all the other tasks on your to-do list and gives you practical ways to communicate what you need.

Colleen has shared her message of practical hope with moms worldwide in Parents magazine, Wall Street Journal Lunch Break, popular parenting podcasts, and on the red carpet at TEDxWilmington. Colleen is the host of the Power Your Parenting: Moms with Teens podcast; in 2021, it was ranked number one among podcasts on parenting teens.

So... what is resilience and what's the big deal? Is this something to focus on with your child or does it develop naturally?

Recent research offers a road map to the neuroscience of resilience. Surprisingly, developing a way of dealing with life’s stressors is NOT rocket science. Instead, we’ve learned that it's the most ordinary of interactions that helps each child develop this potent life skill. In this episode, Dr. Stephanie Goloway, author of Happily Ever Resilient: Using Fairytales to Nurture Children Through Adversity, explains how resilience is one of the amazing benefits of playing with your infant and toddler.

Do you ever feel conflicted by social media? I sure do! I love seeing what people are doing, saying and teaching me. But I don’t love how much time I spend staring at my phone while I ignore the real world around me. 

In this Mom Story, Priscilla Hall, who’s a mother of four little ones, shares her experience of taking a break from social media - what was challenging, how she felt and how it’s affected her daily life, especially around her mental health.

New parents seem to know intuitively how to soothe their baby and will naturally rock and sway as they hold them.

I have a distinct memory from years ago that illustrates the power of music. I was holding our crying, hurting, very sleepy 2-month-old foster baby and nothing seemed to help. I had done all my best tricks and he simply wouldn't calm down. I knew he was hurting from the injuries of his physical abuse and wanted to help, but how? I starting singing Beautiful Boy by John Lennon to him because the words just seemed appropriate, Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful boy. He slowly quieted and began to relax into me as we rocked gently. As I softly sang those words over and again, he finally fell asleep. 

What is it about music and rhythm that helps babies relax? Actually there lots more going on than you might be aware of! In this episode we explore the cognitive, emotional and physical benefits of moving, dancing and singing with your baby. 

The first 3 years of parenting can be really intense. First you have all the months of interrupted sleep and adjustments, then the toddler shenanigans and three year olds whose curiosity literally could kill the cat (or themselves 😬) if you’re not watching every second. Parenting can be as exasperating as it is exhilarating! But on those cranky days, how can you change your own mindset to find the positive when everyone’s crying? Today’s guest, Lenora Edwards, a personal success coach and speech and language pathologist, gives you ways to interrupt negative thinking cycles with practical, easy tips.

What will happen in 2023 for you? What about your baby?

You’ve likely got some new year intentions for yourself… or maybe not. Some people love setting intentions for themselves and others don’t. As a parent, you have more than yourself to think about when it comes to future planning. You’ve got a little person in your life who has a lot of growing and learning to do this year!

In this episode, I talk about how to think forward about parenting – ways to kind of predict what might happen with your baby and also for you as a parent as your child goes through different developmental stages.

In this season of gift-giving, I'm reminded of what a gift it is to be a parent. In this special episode, 10 parenting professionals reflect on how being a parent impacted their own personal growth, helping them understand and be kinder to themselves through the process of understanding and being kind to their children. 

You'll hear from these amazing guests:

In this mom story, you'll meet Maranda Deason, Montessori teacher and mother of 7 children including 3 under age three. She shares her thoughts on the cultural changes in parenting she observed between her two sets of children and how she manages the everyday life, including a full time job, a little bit of self care and helping other parents get the resources they need (that she didn't have as a young mom).

There's a lively conversation on social media about attachment parenting and sometimes it feels like if you don't get everything exactly right, you might be messing up or at least not be providing the best for your baby. 

In this episode, Diane Goyette and Gabrielle Holt discuss how both infants and parents contribute to their secure, attached relationship. They explain how the attachment parenting trend lines up with attachment theory, how parents can support their baby's emotional development and whether parent attachment is affected when your child spends all day in child care or with a sitter (hint: it's not!)

We all seem to have our own take on what’s behind children’s behavior. I know my husband and I sure did when we were in the thick of raising little kids - we definitely had our own ideas of what was going on!

In this episode Rochelle Bridges, a licensed family therapist and Integrated Enneagram Accredited Practitioner, explains how your center of intelligence affects how you respond to your child in the everyday life of parenting. She explains why we respond to parenting challenges like temper tantrums differently, why some parents are more inclined to follow their gut than others and how you can identify your center of expression and personality type.

The sound of a crying newborn... oh my goodness! It sends shivers down your spine, creates emotional tension and you want to do anything to help them (and make it stop!). But how do you know what they need? Our guest, Dympna Kennedy, has created a checklist of 5 things for new parents to try when their baby is crying and they're not sure why. Her advice is simple, concrete and easy to remember, which makes it perfect for brand new parents (or grandparents, nannies, aunties and uncles). 

Toys. You love ‘em, your kid loves ‘em, people give you lots of them and after a while, they take over your house! How do you keep them organized? Amanda Liford, has the answers. She’s the founder of Easy Life Organizing, which specializes in decluttering, minimizing, and organizing homes, businesses, and digital spaces to make life easier. She knows what’s going on in your house because she’s the mom of a 2 ½ year old - and knows how hard it is to stay on top of all the stuff that can accumulate with little ones. Amanda shares how to organize spaces so that your child is able to find and play with the toys they want and ways to set up so they can put things away on their own, even toddlers. She also shares great ideas for holiday gift giving that focus on experiences - gifts that support connection, learning and fun.

It's that time of year when kids like to wear their Halloween costume any chance they get and I say, let 'em! Costumes allow children to pretend big, often exploring themes of power and justice through their play. When they put on a costume that says “I’m in charge”, they're able to practice what it feels like to be powerful, whether that's a powerful lion, princess, witch or superhero. They’re allowed, in this role, to try on behaviors that might otherwise be quieted down. 

In this episode you'll learn what happens in the mind of a child when they put on a costume and become the character. You'll get tips on how to play with your little superhero in a way that respects the process of play and models care and cooperation, even when you're pretending to be an evil character.

Those first weeks at home with a newborn are beautiful, memorable and well, kinda hard. The minute you walk in the door with your new baby, life changes. And frankly, moms can feel a little uninformed about their own recovery, both physical and emotional, in the first months.

The story of what happened to children during the pandemic isn't over. In this episode, Anya Kamenetz, author of The Stolen Year: How COVID Changed Children's Lives, and Where We Go Now talks about what families experienced during the pandemic, sharing stories of ways both children and parents continue to be affected and encouragement for the future.

Most new parents experience up and down emotions in the first weeks and months of parenting, but how do you know if you're experiencing postpartum depression? In this episode, Sherry Duson, MA, Certified Perinatal Mental Health Specialist explains what's normal, how to alleviate feelings of depression through self-care and how to get the help you need.

Babies bring about a new dimension to families beyond you and your partner. Grandparents, aunties, uncles… we all love that baby!

Research shows that grandparent relationships provide lots of benefits for children - they have a stronger support system, are more resilient, less prone to depression and best of all, they have the security that comes from being loved. In this episode we take a look at 3 ways to build healthy relationships between you, your baby and the extended family - and grandparents, you'll hear how you can best support your adult kids and their children.

Parenting Coach Lorena Seidel and I discuss strategies that help you to break free of negative cycles of parenting you may have experienced. Because most of us tend to become "just like our own parents", especially in moments of duress. If this is not necessarily a good thing, then you'll love the encouragement and practical advice Lorena has to offer. She shares four strategies that enable you to become aware of patterns and triggers and connect with your child in emotionally healthy ways. 

It's a huge milestone ~ you all made it through the first year! Now it's time to do some birthday party planning. Figuring out how you want to celebrate is the first step. Big party? Small party? A trip to the zoo with just you and your baby? You've got options!

In this episode, I chat with Kim Morrison of The Hygge Gathering, who's passionate about creating cozy, comfortable, inviting gatherings that celebrate life and relationship. Which is exactly what you want to do - celebrate that sweet little life.

How do you know if your baby is securely attached? What does that even look like? In this episode Annie Brook shares practical ways parents can support and nurture their child by becoming aware of their perception of the world. She explains early precognitive memory, like birth or attachment trauma, and how to help it heal through touch, talk and responsiveness.

In this episode you'll learn how to select a preschool, what types of programs are available and most importantly, how to know if it's the best one for your child. Plus you'll get tips on getting ready for the first day of school, ways to have a smooth drop off and what to expect at the end of the day when you pick up your kiddo. 

Liz Tenety, co-founder of Motherly, gives behind-the-scenes insight on trends, what she sees as a big source of struggles for moms, how creating Motherly has influenced her own mothering and how being a mother has influenced her work. 

Enjoy!

Exploring how to "be" as a new parent takes time. There are so many people and approaches to glean from as you find what works best for you and your family. One thing I LOVE about the RIE approach to parenting is they way it honors to the dignity of your child by speaking to them with respect, giving them time to respond on their own, which promotes self-awareness and autonomy. 

In this episode, Erica Orosco Cruz, describes characteristics of RIE, which is the acronym for 'Resources for Infant Educarers' and how you can adopt this way of being with your baby at home.

Enjoy! Let me know what you thought.

Just as our children are going through phases of development throughout their lives, we too are going through stages of parenting as our kid get older. But did you know there are stages of parenting that every mom and dad experience? Each stage brings its own set of lessons and struggles. We, as parents, grow and morph alongside our children.

In this episode, I share the six stages of parenting, along with some personal stories from my time as a mom that exemplify what it's like to live through each stage.

When you're a new parent, you're expected to do it all. Homemade food, the best diapers, constant eye contact and playtime, zero chemicals. Meanwhile, the whole world is yelling at you that "parental self-care is so important!" When does a busy parent even find time for self-care between the overwhelming expectations coming from ourselves and others?

Have you had the death talk with your child yet? Maybe it hasn't come up. Maybe you think they're too young. Or maybe you were forced to discuss it after a family pet or loved one died. Experts agree that it's never too early to bring up the subject of death with your child. And it's better to bring it up before they have to experience it first-hand. But what's the best way to broach the subject? And what types of words should we use so our child understands and isn't afraid?

In this episode, I talk to Certified Grief Recovery Specialist Michele Benyo about how we can initiate these conversations with our children, along with what to do when they experience death in their lives.

Parents around the world find comfort and guidance in their spiritual faith, even during the hardest of times of their parenting journey. Prayer, journaling, and reflection are powerful tools that can bring peace during turmoil and a sense of direction on those days you feel lost.

Everyone knows that special newborn smell. And if you haven't experienced it yet, you've no doubt heard about it. Mothers young and old can recall the smell their children had during the first few weeks of their life. It's one of those things that sticks with you forever. But do fathers experience it the same way mothers do? And what about the babies - what role does smell play in developing an attachment to their parents?

Fathers play an important and complicated role in their family. Not too long ago, fathers were expected to provide financially, and not much else. Boy how things have changed! Now, a father is considered a good one if he takes an active role in parenting and keeping house, splitting the responsibilities and duties with his partner. How can fathers learn from the way things used to be while embracing the new way of parenting? How can they interact with their babies and toddlers to create lasting bonds?

Breastfeeding. It's one of the most controversial topics concerning motherhood. And no wonder - it's both communal and extremely personal, there are so many expectations surrounding it, and when you're first getting started, each session can feel like a make-it-or-break-it moment. So how can new and expectant mothers keep a level head and weed through all the breastfeeding myths flying at them?

When you have a growth mindset, you believe that your abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work (compared to solely relying on brains and talent). Many expecting parents think if they can just read enough books and do enough Googling leading up to the birth of their child, they'll be prepared for everything to come. Too bad that's not how that works. In order to become better parents, give our children more meaningful experiences, and make deeper connections with them, we must have a growth mindset. But what does this really mean, and what does it look like in day-to-day parenting?

One of our goals as parents is to raise confident, independent human beings who can take care of themselves so they can one day leave home and start a life of their own. The problem is, today's culture of gentle hands-on parenting is often construed as not letting your child make any mistakes, and doing everything for them. So how can we encourage autonomy in our children from a young age in a kind and supportive manner? What are some things we can let our toddlers do on their own to help build their confidence?

Showing our children that our love is not based on how “good” they are is an important part of creating a lasting bond between parent and child. Not only that, but it can actually help our children regulate their emotions better, and gives them the emotional intelligence needed to navigate tough feelings for the rest of their lives. But how can we best explain this concept to our young kids? And how can we use these principles of kindness and positive language to lift ourselves up as parents?

Little ones love to help, especially when it involves food. But our culture tends to exclude young children from the entire process of serving a meal. We sit them in a high chair, away from the table, a plate magically appears in front of them, and we feed them without letting them try it on their own. What if we started incorporating our infants and toddlers into every part of the meal? Could they help set up? Could they serve themselves and eat on their own? What about the inevitable mess?

In this episode, I talk to early childhood educator Sarah Moudry about how we can encourage our infants and toddlers to be active participants in mealtimes.

The way we talk about food in today's culture is vastly different than when I was growing up (take a listen below to hear about my parents and their 5 lb block of cheese!). There's a lot of talk out there about diet culture, but what does that really mean? How can we lead our children into a healthy relationship with food from introducing solids, all the way through their toddler years and beyond? 

In this episode, I talk to pediatric registered dietitian nutritionist Dani Lebovitz about how we can raise healthy and intuitive eaters by the way we are introducing foods to infants and toddlers.

We all need play in our lives. Yes, even you! It's amazing to watch babies and children play. It comes naturally to them, whereas it seems as adults we completely forget how to do it. Even though the way children play seems relatively simple, it's actually developmental play. It's how babies and young children learn about themselves and the world around them.

In this episode, I'll cover the 6 stages of play, from birth through 4+ years. I answer the questions every parent wants to know: when will my child start playing without me? And when will they start playing with other kids? Not only that, but I delve into the dos and don'ts of developmental play, along with some ideas for how you and your partner can add some child-free play to your routine.

How do you know when your child is ready to use the potty? How do you teach them to do it? Should you give them rewards or candy when they're successful? What’s the best way to respond when they have an accident?

So many questions surround the simple task of learning to go to the bathroom-- the skill that every child has to learn. And every parent scratches their head about it because there are so many mixed messages out there.

In this episode, I talk to parenting coach Camilla McGill about her tips for potty training that are gentle, nurturing, developmental, and positive – all the things I love! Plus she’s got a brand new book out that gives you step-by-step instructions and insight for your child.

Did your baby or child experience any trauma in early childhood? If you were quick to answer ‘no’, consider whether the past couple of years, living through a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, has felt like a traumatic experience to you. In what ways might this have also affected your little one?

On the other hand, if you’re involved in the world of foster care, or you have experience with adoption, the idea of trauma may be one you’re very familiar with. But do you know what truly constitutes trauma, and how it changes babies’ brains?

Things can get a little sticky when parents and childcare providers don't see eye-to-eye on things like discipline, nutrition, and nurturing. But what power do parents have when they're having child care issues at a large daycare facility? Or even stickier, how do they communicate with family members who are watching their kids, without ruining those relationships?

In this episode, I talk to childcare education expert Dr. Zlata Stankovic-Ramirez. We discuss how both verbal and nonverbal communication play a critical role in developing a trusting relationship between parents and a child care provider. We also tackle the tough question of how to set boundaries and communicate effectively with a family member who is watching your child.

There's nothing more frustrating as a new parent than dealing with sleep disruptions. After all, when the baby doesn't sleep well, neither does one or both of the parents. This can make for some rough days! If you've spent your middle-of-the-night wakeups franticly Googling sleep tips, I'm sure you're familiar with the term "sleep training." But what does that really mean, and why is it such a hot topic among experts?

We've heard how important the first days are for your newborn's development. But when all you see them do is sleep, eat, and poop, it can be hard to imagine anything major is happening inside. Thankfully, science has proven otherwise! So what are some things you can do with your newborn to make the most of these first 2 months and form the essential bonds that will benefit your baby for years to come? 

Tantrums can be very triggering, leaving us feeling bewildered, impatient, helpless, and ready to throw in the towel. But there's a way to understand and manage tantrums and meltdowns that may bring relief to both us and our child.

There’s one question people commonly ask new parents that I can’t stand. And that's, “Is she a good baby?” Everyone wants an easy baby! But that’s such a broad description. What's an "easy baby" anyways? One that sleeps well, doesn’t cry too much, and smiles a lot? Is that even realistic?

In this episode of Parenting in the First 3 Years we explore temperament, which explains why some babies seem to be easier than others. Hint: a lot of it has to do with your temperament as well! Take a listen - you'll learn so much!

Denmark has repeatedly been voted as having the happiest people in the world. It may be due to this thing called hygge (pronounced hoo-guh), which is a Danish term that means to cozy around together. This hygge lifestyle creates a feeling of connectedness to others, which gives meaning and purpose to life and time with our family. Parents around the world are beginning to embrace this idea, but often wonder how to hygge with their own children and family.

Toddlers sometimes get a bad rap. Maybe you've even had someone say to you, "just wait until they're two!" like your child will instantly morph from a sweet, happy baby into a demanding, obstinate toddler as soon as the clock strikes midnight.

In this episode, we celebrate all things 2 by focusing on the second year of life. We'll talk about what's going on with your 2-year-old, all the wonderful, sometimes challenging developmental changes that are happening both inside and out, and how you can change your approach to parenting during this new phase of childhood.

Screen time for babies is a tricky topic. Babies and toddlers know, just as we do, that there are so many fun things to do with a phone!

How can we live in the tension of the recommendations and what's realistic for our actual lives? What’s okay and what’s not okay about babies and toddlers when it comes to phones and tablets?

In this episode, we cover 5 common assumptions that parents make about screen time for babies and toddlers. 

Starting daycare is a big adjustment for parents and children alike. How can you best prepare? What if the transition doesn't go well? Will your baby cry all day long? There are likely a lot of questions swirling around in your head as you contemplate enrolling your baby in a child care center.

We all know that people use a different tone of voice when they talk to babies, like what we would typically call ‘baby talk’. Researchers have identified this sing-song, high pitched, slow speech with a name… “motherese,” “parentese,” or IDS (Infant Directed Speech).

These speech characteristics are observed in all languages as parents and caregivers engage with babies. And there’s a lot more to it than just the way it sounds.

In this episode, we explore the one thing that almost every person does, an instinctive way of interacting with a baby that is exactly what a child needs in the first year of life.