What looks like “bad behavior” in babies and toddlers is often just big feelings, big desires, and very little self-regulation colliding. The goal isn't simply to make the behavior stop—it’s to set boundaries while helping your child build the skills they’re still developing. This episode focused on what behaviors are normal around the first birthday and in early toddlerhood and what strategies you can use to address these behaviors. This included:

Reviewing research and providing examples on:

• What behaviors are normal around 1 to 2 years of age
• How coregulation, redirection, attention, boundary-setting, and other strategies address these behaviors
• Why tantrums are expected at this age

Describing strategies to use in your own parenting:

• Prevent when you can and set up the environment for success
• Set clear, simple limits and be consistent with them
• Physically intervene when necessary - block as needed
• Validate the feeling without changing the boundary
• Redirect toward an acceptable behavior
• Teach the skill later
• Practice regulation when they're already calm

Suggesting books:

• “What to Do When You Feel Like Hitting” by Cara Goodwin
• “Hands Are Not for Hitting” by Martine Agassi
• “The Color Monster: A Story About Emotions” by Anna Llenas
• “Llama Llama Mad at Mama” by Anna Dewdney
• “Little Monkey Calms Down” by Michael Dahl
• “Grumpy Monkey” by Suzanne Lang
• “When Sophie Gets Angry, Really Really Angry” by Molly Bang
• “The Rabbit Listened” by Cori Doerrfeld
• “No, David!” by David Shannon
• “The Feelings Book” by Todd Parr

Support my show! I’d love it if you would subscribe, rate, and review my podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to show your support of the show.

Connect with me on Instagram:

@parentempowerance for tips, tools & real-life parenting

@parentempowerancepodcast for the podcast!

If you want more support with understanding your child’s behaviors, emotions, or development:

• Join my FREE Parenting in Real Life group on Telegram: https://parentempowerance.myflodesk.com/freetelegramgroup
• Book a 1-time 60-minute Parent Strategy Session: https://calendly.com/amarabradetich/parentstrategysession
• Book a 1-time Right Fit Childcare Consult: https://calendly.com/amarabradetich/parent-empowerance-right-fit-childcare-consult
• Download my parent coaching service guide to learn more about how I can help you and your family: https://parentempowerance.myflodesk.com/serviceguide

You want to keep your child safe—but sometimes it’s hard to know when to step in and when to let them figure it out. This episode focused on why safe risky play matters and how you can support your child’s confidence and independence without hovering. This included:

Reviewing research and providing examples on:

• The core developmental benefits
• What this can look like in young children

Describing strategies to use in your own parenting:

• Remove hazards when possible
• Allow manageable risks.
• Stay available.
• Pause before intervening.
• Let children solve problems.
• Use questions instead of constant warnings.
• Give graduated challenges.
• Let them experience small failures.
• Follow their abilities and developmental level.
• Notice when your discomfort—not actual danger—is driving the intervention.

Suggesting books:

• “The Big Slide” by Daniel Kirk
• “Jabari Jumps” by Gaia Cornwall
• “The Thing Lou Couldn't Do” by Ashley Spires
• “I Can Be Brave: Overcoming Fear, Finding Confidence, and Asserting Yourself” by Holde Kreul
• “Confidence Is My Superpower: A Kid's Book about Believing in Yourself and Developing Self-Esteem” by Alicia Ortego

Support my show! I’d love it if you would subscribe, rate, and review my podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to show your support of the show.

Connect with me on Instagram:

@parentempowerance for tips, tools & real-life parenting

@parentempowerancepodcast for the podcast!

If you want more support with understanding your child’s behaviors, emotions, or development:

• Join my FREE Parenting in Real Life group on Telegram: https://parentempowerance.myflodesk.com/freetelegramgroup
• Book a 1-time 60-minute Parent Strategy Session: https://calendly.com/amarabradetich/parentstrategysession
• Book a 1-time Right Fit Childcare Consult: https://calendly.com/amarabradetich/parent-empowerance-right-fit-childcare-consult
• Download my parent coaching service guide to learn more about how I can help you and your family: https://parentempowerance.myflodesk.com/serviceguide

Parents often describe the transition from one child to two as harder than becoming a parent in the first place. This transition can be difficult because your family system is changing, your demands are increasing, your sleep is getting disrupted, and your relationships are reorganizing - not because you’re doing it wrong. This episode focused on why and how to prepare your child and family for adding a new sibling. This included:

Reviewing research and providing examples on:

• How the transition from 1 to 2 kids is a shift for the entire family
• What to expect developmentally, behaviorally, and emotionally from your older child
• How the transition affects your relationships with your older child and partner

Describing strategies to use in your own parenting:

• Prepare your child, but don’t oversell the baby
• Protect the older child’s connection with you - even 10 to 15 minutes uninterrupted a day
• Expect regression from your older child and don’t panic
• Keep routines as consistent as possible and make big changes before or months after
• Involve your child as much as they want but don’t parentify them
• Validate your older child’s feelings (especially jealousy)
• Avoid blaming the baby - tiny wording shifts make a big difference!
• Let your older child stay little - give cuddles, support, etc. as much as you can
• Don’t force sibling love - sibling relationships grow from thousands of interactions
• Let your older child hear you tell the baby to “wait” too
• Give yourself and your partner grace!

Suggesting books:

• “I Am a Big Brother / I Am a Big Sister” by Caroline Jayne Church
• “Julius, Baby of the World” by Kevin Henkes
• “Hello in There!: A Big Sister’s Book of Waiting” by Jo Witek
• “You Were the First” by Patricia MacLachlan
• “The New Small Person” by Lauren Child
• “Being the Biggest” by Molly Mead

Support my show! I’d love it if you would subscribe, rate, and review my podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to show your support of the show.

Connect with me on Instagram:

@parentempowerance for tips, tools & real-life parenting

@parentempowerancepodcast for the podcast!

If you want more support with understanding your child’s behaviors, emotions, or development:

• Join my FREE Parenting in Real Life group on Telegram: https://parentempowerance.myflodesk.com/freetelegramgroup
• Book a 1-time 60-minute Parent Strategy Session: https://calendly.com/amarabradetich/parentstrategysession
• Book a 1-time Right Fit Childcare Consult: https://calendly.com/amarabradetich/parent-empowerance-right-fit-childcare-consult
• Download my parent coaching service guide to learn more about how I can help you and your family: https://parentempowerance.myflodesk.com/serviceguide