Toddlers Made Easy with Dr Cathryn

In this episode, Dr. Cathryn shares the biggest mistake parents make during tantrums and why trying to reason, explain, or “fix” the meltdown too quickly often makes things worse. Through a personal story from her years as a pediatrician and mom, she explains what’s really happening inside a child’s brain during a tantrum and how a calmer, big-hearted response helps children build emotional regulation over time, without chipping away at their dignity or self-esteem.
• Why tantrums often get bigger when parents talk too much during the peak of the meltdown
• What children actually need when the emotional part of the brain takes over
• How to stay calm, hold boundaries, and help your child through overwhelming feelings without becoming permissive
Planning on potty training soon? Dr. Cathryn also shares details about her free Potty Without Pushback workshop, where you’ll learn a calmer, big-hearted approach to potty training that encourages cooperation and better behavior without chipping away at your child’s self-esteem or dignity.

RESOUCES
The Potty Without Pushback workshop
Finally, A Kinder, Calmer Way To Ditch Diapers For Good
YOU'LL WALK AWAY KNOWING HOW TO:
Potty train without tears, tantrums or tension
Avoid potty resistance altogether
Handle accidents or setbacks calmly
Teach your child, "I'm the boss of my body!"

SAVE YOUR FREE SEAT HERE
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Your little one is missing you. Maybe it's daycare drop-off. Maybe it's 2 am. Maybe it's a sleepover at Nana's with a lot of very loud feelings.
This episode is about the simple things that make separation easier — not just in the hard moments, but all the time.
Dr. Cathryn shares the 10-second ritual she uses with her own granddaughter, plus four practical tools to help little kids carry the feeling of connection with them wherever they go.
You'll learn:
A simple breath-and-kiss ritual that calms the nervous system fast
Why family photos at eye level in the bedroom do more than you'd think
The recordable button that lets your child hear your voice whenever they need it
Why these tools only work if you're not saving them for emergencies

The goal isn't just getting through the hard moment. It's building a belief your child carries with them: I am loved. I am connected. The bond never breaks.
📖 Mentioned in this episode: The Invisible String by Patrice Karst
🚀 Potty training is one of the moments connection matters most. My Potty Training Made Easy program gets you from diapers to dry in 30 days — with no pressure, no shame, and no power struggles. Because how your little one feels during potty training matters just as much as whether they get there. Tap Here
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Your little kid pees on the potty just fine — but when it comes to poop? Diaper only, thank you very much.
You haven't done anything wrong. This is one of the most common potty-training hiccups, affecting 20–25% of little kids.
In this episode, Dr. Cathryn breaks down exactly why it happens and what actually helps.
You'll learn:
The real reason most kids resist (hint: it's fear, not stubbornness)
What to say — and what not to say
Simple ways to make the potty feel safer and less overwhelming
How to move toward the potty in tiny, low-pressure steps
Why stool softness matters more than most parents realize

This isn't about saying enough is enough. It's about understanding what's driving the resistance — and meeting your child there.

🎓 Ready to go deeper? Mini-course: Help! My Child Will Only Poop in a Diaper →
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Ever feel like your toddler’s tantrums come out of nowhere—and take forever to end? You’re not alone. In today’s episode, Dr. Cathryn shares a big-hearted, science-backed approach to handling tantrums that actually works.

RESOURCES:
I’m running a short class for exhausted parents who want more sleep (without cry-it-out). Want the details? TAP HERE
Order my book ⁠⁠Toddlers Made Easy ⁠⁠
Follow me on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

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The 5:1 rule is one of the most practical tools a parent can have — and it's simpler than you think.
Originally researched by psychologist John Gottman in marriages, the principle maps directly onto parenting: for every correction, aim for five positive interactions first. Not a tally. Just an intention to tip the balance toward warmth.
In this episode, we cover:
Why your relationship with your child works like a bank account
How our negativity bias works against us as parents — and how to counteract it
What a positive interaction actually looks like (hint: it's not empty praise)
How the way you talk to your child becomes their inner voice

The goal isn't perfection. It's just tipping the balance.

🎙️ Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a parent who needs to hear it.

👉 Join me live April 30th for Potty Without Pushback — my free workshop on how to go from diapers to dry without the power struggles, overwhelm, or feeling like you're doing it wrong.
Save your spot here
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