Talking Toddlers

How to Help Your Toddler Listen and Understand More Ep 173

Does your toddler understand what you're saying? And how can you help him become a better listener - even before he's talking in sentences? Between 12 and 24 m

Should My Toddler Be Talking More? Ep 172

Should my toddler be talking more? It’s an understandable question, but word count alone does not tell you how well your child is communicating. In this episode, I expl

Does Your Toddler Focus on THIS — But Not on You? Ep 171

Does your toddler seem able to focus deeply on a screen, but struggle to stay with a book, sit through a meal, play independently, or listen when you need him to? In thi

Why Everything Becomes a Battle With Your Toddler Ep 170

When every little thing starts feeling like a battle, the problem may not be the cup, the shoes, the bath, or leaving the park. The final trigger is often only one part o

Your Toddler Understands You. So Why Won’t He Listen? Ep 169

“I know he understands me. So why isn’t he listening?” If you’ve ever thought that about your toddler, this episode will help you look at the moment a little differently

When Should You Help Your Toddler - and When Should You Wait? Ep 168

When your toddler is struggling - with a zipper, a shoe, climbing onto something - how do you know if you should step in or wait? In this episode, early child developmen

Want Your Toddler to Talk More? Don't Practice Words Ep 167

What if the most important part of your child learning to talk happens before he ever says a single word? Most moms don't start thinking seriously about speech unti

Are You Accidentally Teaching Your Toddler to Whine? Ep 166

Whining is one of the most common - and frustrating - phases of toddlerhood. But often, it doesn’t become a pattern because a child is “bad” or manipulative. It becomes a

7 Everyday Habits That Interfere With How Your Toddler Learns Ep 165

Do you jump in the second your baby struggles? Wipe her face after every bite? Keep the TV or a podcast running because the house feels too quiet? These are ordinary, lo

Why Your Toddler Won’t Pay Attention — And What Gets in the Way Ep 164

What is stealing your toddler’s attention? If your child seems constantly distracted, overly active, emotionally reactive, or unable to stay with one activity for very l

Stop Telling Your Toddler to Share - Teach This Instead. Ep 163

Your toddler snatches a toy. The daycare flags it.  Another mom clocks it at a playdate. And somewhere in the back of your mind, a question starts to form: is something

You Already Do the Most Important Thing — You Just Don't Know Why Ep 162

You've been narrating everything. Labeling. Reading. Filling the room with language.  And nothing seems to be sticking. That's because your words only land wh

Why Your Toddler Hits and Bites — It’s Not a Discipline Problem Ep 161

Why does your toddler hit, bite, or throw things—even when you are trying to parent calmly and consistently? Toddler hitting and biting may look like a discipline problem

Stop Chasing Words. Here's What Comes First. Ep 160

Your toddler isn't talking yet — or at least not as much as you think he should be. And every piece of advice you've found tells you to do more or wait it out. 

He'll Talk When He's Ready — Why Waiting Isn't a Plan Ep 159

Everyone keeps telling you not to worry. "He'll talk when he's ready."  You smile, you nod — but somewhere underneath, your gut isn't buying it. Trust th

How to Help Your Late Talker — Without More Words Ep 158

You talk to your toddler all day long. You narrate everything.  And still — he's not talking, or not very much.  So you do what everyone tells you: talk to him eve

Why "No" Doesn't Work for Toddlers Under 3 — And What to Say Instead Ep 157

If you've ever said "no" to your toddler and watched them do it anyway — you're not failing. You're just missing one piece of information that changes ever

Is My Child Really a Late Talker? Use This Checklist to Find Out Ep 156

Is your child a late talker? Or is something else going on?  After 40 years working with toddlers and their families, I can tell you that the term "late talker" gets thr

Is My Baby Behind? What Milestones Really Mean Ep 155

Is my baby behind? Should she be crawling, walking, talking, or doing more by now? If you’ve ever found yourself Googling developmental milestones late at night, this ep

The Problem Isn’t the Meltdown - It’s How You Respond Ep 154

Your baby fusses in the car seat and your chest tightens. Your toddler falls apart when the block tower tumbles. Every instinct says — fix it, fast.  But what if rushing