Toddlers Made Easy with Dr Cathryn
Toddlers Made Easy is a short, 10 minute, bite-sized podcast that gives you the insight, tools, and confidence you need to not only handle anything toddler-related thrown your way —but prevent problem behaviors before they start. Toddlers Made Easy is hosted by Dr. Cathryn, a nationally recognized pediatrician with more than 30 years of experience and a mother of 4.
Episodes
May 7, 2025 • 11 mins
Is your toddler waking up at 2AM (again)? Instead of repeating “Go back to bed,” try this big-hearted, research-backed approach that helps your child feel safe and stay in bed — without tears or power struggles.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
✅ Why toddlers wake at night
✅ A comforting strategy that builds self-soothing skills
✅ How to introduce a “Midnight Helper” stuffed animal
✅ What to say (and not say) during wake-ups
It’s...
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April 30, 2025 • 9 mins
Think toddler tantrums are just chaos to survive? Think again.
In this episode, Dr. Cathryn shares how the challenging moments—like cup battles and banana breakdowns—are actually brain-building opportunities.
You’ll learn:
• Why toddlers aren't terrible—they’re under construction
• What’s really happening in your child’s brain during tantrums
• How small mindset shifts can change everything
• The truth behind the phrase “Terri...
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April 23, 2025 • 9 mins
Your toddler just hit their sibling—again—and your instinct is to react: “That’s not nice!” “Say sorry!” “Go to your room!”
Totally understandable.
But here’s what most parents don’t realize:
👉 Hitting is rarely about being “bad.” It’s a sign your child is overwhelmed and doesn’t yet have the skills to cope.
In this episode, we cover:
🧠 Why toddlers hit, push, or bite
🚫 What common responses can actually make things worse
🔁 ...
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April 16, 2025 • 12 mins
Ready But Resistant — What to Do When Your Child Won’t Sit on the Potty
Your toddler seems ready to potty train—but refuses to even sit on the potty? You’re not alone. In today’s episode, Dr. Cathryn breaks down why kids can be physically ready but emotionally resistant—and what to do about it.
You’ll learn:
The real reason toddlers say “no” to the potty
What not to do (hint: no pushing, no bribes)
Exactly what to say instead
...
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April 9, 2025 • 13 mins
🎙 Episode Title:
The Ultimate Toolbox for Big-Hearted Parenting:
Feel like you’re winging it every time your toddler melts down, refuses to listen, or pushes every limit? In this episode, I’m giving you the ultimate toolbox—real-life scripts, calming strategies, and mindset shifts you can lean on when things get hard. Whether it’s tantrums, power struggles, or just the everyday chaos of raising a toddler, these tools will help yo...
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April 2, 2025 • 9 mins
Toddlers can be very persistent—whether it’s demanding a cookie right now or refusing to leave the playground. But their behavior isn’t about being spoiled or manipulative—it’s about developing impulse control and emotional regulation.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
✔️ Why toddlers seem so demanding (and why it’s not personal)
✔️ What not to say in the heat of the moment
✔️ How to use redos to teach better ways to ask for thing...
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March 26, 2025 • 9 mins
Ever feel like your toddler just doesn’t listen? In this episode, Dr. Cathryn breaks down simple, effective ways to talk with your toddler so they *actually* engage and listen—without power struggles or meltdowns.
What You’ll Learn:
✔️ Why short and simple sentences work best
✔️ How connection makes kids more likely to listen
✔️ The power of tone—what you say and how you say it
✔️ How giving choices can prevent battles
✔️ Why ...
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March 19, 2025 • 11 mins
Potty Training the Big-Hearted Way: A Stress-Free Approach to Ditching Diapers
Dr. Cathryn introduces "lazy potty training" - a balanced approach that avoids both strict parent-led timelines and completely child-led methods.
Key Points:
Focus on creating a supportive environment rather than rushing the process
Look for physical readiness signs (dry for 2+ hours, regular bowel movements . . .)
Pre-potty training steps include mod...
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March 12, 2025 • 12 mins
Being a toddler is tough—and parenting one? Also tough! In this episode, Dr. Cathryn shares why toddlers struggle with impulse control, why their behavior isn’t “misbehavior,” and how to set them up for success with developmentally-smart discipline. Learn practical strategies like supervising with guidance, prepping kids for transitions, modeling behavior, and noticing the good—so you can reduce challenges and support your child’s ...
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March 5, 2025 • 12 mins
In this episode of Toddlers Made Easy, Dr. Cathryn shares three simple steps to stay calm even when your child pushes your buttons.
What You’ll Learn:
✔ Why toddlers don’t listen (and how to work with their development, not against it)
✔ The real reason parents snap (hint: it’s not just about your toddler’s behavior)
✔ 3 practical steps to keep your cool when you feel triggered
✔ A powerful bonus tip to make staying calm easier
LI...
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February 26, 2025 • 16 mins
In this episode of "Toddlers Made Easy," Dr. Cathryn shares insights from her own parenting journey, focusing on how to effectively handle toddler tantrums.
Discover why traditional methods like time-outs may not always work and learn about the natural stages of a tantrum, from anger to sadness.
Dr. Cathryn emphasizes the importance of understanding toddler behavior as a form of communication, not misbehavior.
She offers practic...
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February 19, 2025 • 8 mins
Why do I focus on toddlers when I'm experienced with kids of all ages? In this episode, Dr. Cathryn focuses on the vital role of the toddler years, challenging the notion of the 'Terrible Twos' and rebranding them as the 'Terribly Important Twos.' We discussed how toddlers still need as much emotional support as they did as infants, despite their growing independence. Key strategies for successful parenting include validating emoti...
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February 12, 2025 • 13 mins
In this episode of "Toddlers Made Easy," we're diving into the EASY method—a transformative technique to help you navigate toddler tantrums with grace and effectiveness. Inspired by my own experiences as a pediatrician and a mom, EASY is all about creating a calm and connected approach to those challenging moments.
Let’s break it down:
**E**valuate: Take a power pause to create space between your child’s behavior and your reactio...
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February 5, 2025 • 9 mins
Join Dr. Cathryn in this episode as she guides you through handling tough toddler moments with calmness and empathy. Learn to see past the surface behavior and understand your child's emotions. For example, if your toddler says "I hate the baby", instead of ignoring these feelings, acknowledge and understand them. Think about how you feel when someone dismisses your bad day; your child needs to feel heard just like you do. And teac...
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January 29, 2025 • 12 mins
Power struggles with toddlers can feel exhausting—but they don’t have to be inevitable. In this episode, I’ll share simple, big-hearted ways to prevent battles before they start. Learn how to give your child a sense of control, offer the right kind of choices, and use playfulness to shift the dynamic. Plus, I’ll answer a listener’s question about bedtime struggles with a strong-willed toddler.
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
ONLINE COURSES
To...
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January 22, 2025 • 11 mins
In this episode of Toddlers Made Easy, Dr. Cathryn dives into why toddlers hit, kick, or bite and how to respond with calm, big-hearted strategies. Learn the two-part approach to managing aggression: focus on safety in the moment and teach better responses later. Discover simple ways to prevent aggression, like prepping for playdates, staying tuned to your child’s frustration cues, and teaching calming strategies. Plus, Dr. Cathryn...
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January 15, 2025 • 10 mins
Podcast Episode Show Notes: Toddler Sleep Q&A
In this episode of Toddlers Made Easy, Dr. Cathryn answers some of the most common sleep challenges parents face with toddlers and preschoolers.
Topics covered:
A 22-month-old who won’t sleep without holding a parent’s hand
A 3-year-old resisting bedtime and asking to go back downstairs
A 5-year-old struggling to stay in their own bed
Dr. Cathryn shares big-hearted, gentle strateg...
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January 8, 2025 • 12 mins
In today's episode, Dr. Cathryn is tackling a question many parents grapple with: "Am I expecting too much from my toddler?" From tantrums to transitions, we’ll explore how adjusting expectations to match your toddler’s developmental stage can make parenting smoother and more enjoyable.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Why toddlers aren’t mini adults and how their developing brains shape their behavior.
Common pitfalls of expec...
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January 1, 2025 • 10 mins
Dr Cathryn is tackling a topic that might seem simple but is actually a big deal for little ones: understanding time.
Hear about Marcus, a 3.5-year-old who loves the swings but struggles when it's time to leave. Why? Because his mom is giving a warning like this: “We’re leaving in 5 minutes.”
Kids can't see or touch time, so they don't understand it like adults do. But as they grow, they start to get it through routines and daily p...
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December 25, 2024 • 13 mins
Today, we’re diving into bedtime struggles and simple tweaks to make evenings smoother for everyone.
What You’ll Learn:
Why Bedtime Feels So Hard for Toddlers
Separation anxiety, big imaginations, and FOMO are just a few reasons your child resists bedtime. Understanding these struggles is the first step to solving them.
How to Build a Calming Bedtime Routine
Learn the power of small, consistent rituals like deep breathing, us...
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