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in Episodes on July 3, 2018 by The Mom Hour

Listener Questions (Vol.14): Episode 163



Helping a toddler with nighttime fears, the logistics of taking a baby to the beach, the ideal age-spacing between siblings, and helping a two-year-old feel special when a new baby arrives. These are the listener questions we answer in this week’s episode of The Mom Hour. Join us!

LINKS MENTIONED:

  • Dr. Laura Markham of Aha! Parenting responds to a similar question to Laura’s about toddler sleep separation anxiety–long but worth the read
  • Meagan’s beautiful essay at HuffPost Parents about older kids with nighttime fears
  • The Opposite of Worry, by Lawrence J. Cohen (the book Sarah talked about)

MORE HELPFUL LINKS:

  • Visit our website
  • Check out deals from our partners
  • Follow us on Instagram
  • Join our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)
  • Sign up for our newsletter

Filed Under: Episodes Tagged With: listener questions

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« Listener Questions (Vol.13): Episode 162
Sugar & A Song: Celebrating My Mother Through My Toddler’s Eyes »

Comments

  1. Laura Pruitt says

    July 6, 2018 at 9:30 am

    Thanks so much for answering my question on toddler bedtime fears! Love the tips, there’s a few we’ve been incorporating (with success!) and a few new ones to try. We had actually just gotten back to the point of bedtime going well for a few weeks when she had a regression just last week and it felt like we were starting back at square one. So this is perfectly timed!

    Reply
    • Sarah Powers says

      July 25, 2018 at 8:33 am

      Hi Laura! Yay! So glad you enjoyed the episode. Hopefully it will help others in a similar situation long after your bedtime struggles are past and you’re all sleeping through the night again. 😉

      Reply
  2. Ashley says

    July 6, 2018 at 5:42 pm

    We’re expecting our second child in a few months and I have been really struggling with how our 2 year old is going to handle it. When you said that a sibling is not something you did to your child, I burst into tears (hormones, right?). But it was exactly what I needed to hear so thank you!

    Reply
    • Sarah Powers says

      July 25, 2018 at 8:32 am

      Oh Ashley, I’m so glad that struck a chord with you. You’re going to do great!

      Reply
  3. Freddy says

    July 6, 2018 at 7:50 pm

    I very much enjoyed listening to the podcast again and only wanted to mention two more things I found helpful when having a newborn and a toddler:

    Babywearing. Being helpful with one child it was a real lifesaver with the second. Especially if you learn to carry baby on your back you can practically have one on one time with your toddler and still meet the baby’s needs at the same time.

    I also found it helpful to verbalise it, when I occasionally made the baby wait a little, because I wanted to finish something for the toddler: “Wait a second baby, I’ll nurse you right away, I just have to open this box for your brother.” I think it helped the toddler to understand, that both he and the baby had to wait occasionally and the baby was not aways first.

    I second your advice on not dwelling on the older sibling being “big”. In fact, they are pretty small and entitled to behave that way, too. When my oldest was six, that seemed pretty mature compared to his siblings. Now my oldest is 18 and the youngest at 12 seems to be still a little kid. It”s all very relative. 🙂

    Freddy from Germany
    who of course binge-listened to every episode, including the kitchen hour 😉

    Reply
    • Sarah Powers says

      July 25, 2018 at 8:32 am

      Freddy, I LOVE these suggestions, and I can’t believe we didn’t bring up babywearing in this particular question/answer! Also, I TOTALLY did that same thing about verbalizing when the toddler was getting priority but forgot about it! I actually still do that with my three kids, to emphasize that I’m giving one of them my full attention while the others need to wait (usually now it’s about letting somebody finish a sentence ;)). Thanks for the great comments, and for your support!

      Reply
  4. Ellen says

    July 8, 2018 at 3:09 am

    I just had some more thoughts for the parents expecting child number three. If you are considering child care (and have the budget) I would also consider what else that money could do. I don’t know how expensive kindergarden (or whatever) might be where you live but hpw far could that money go in helping you relax? For example I pay about 150 dollar per month whoch could instead be used for a meal service (30, twice a month) and someone to clean our house (80, once a month). Or maybe hire a babysitter to take care of the baby a couple hours, once a week, so you have time to go to the park with the toddler. I don’t know if I’m explaining that well but I hope you get it!

    Reply
    • Sarah Powers says

      July 25, 2018 at 8:30 am

      Totally makes sense, Ellen, and I love these thoughts. Thank you!

      Reply

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You can EMAIL questions to hello@themomhour.com with Listener Question in the subject line. (Please don't use the comments on this post to ask your question; we might miss it and it adds organizational clutter to our lives.)

Deadline is Sunday 5/11 at 11:59pm. It's a true 'last call', folks! Can't wait to read your questions! -Meagan & Sarah
New episode! What does it mean to "launch" a kid New episode!

What does it mean to "launch" a kid into adulthood? How does parenting change when you're still mom, but they're no longer children? With Meagan’s new book just a week from launch, we’re diving into five things she’s learned about parenting young adults. Sarah asks the questions, Meagan shares the wisdom—and we both reflect on how the parenting journey keeps evolving.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Happy Monday! 👋 It's time for our April sponso Happy Monday! 👋  It's time for our April sponsors roundup, where we remind you of our brand partners and special deals. ALL of our special promo codes and links can be found on the Deals & Offers page on our website. Tap on this image at the link in our bio to check it out.

Thank you for helping support the show by using our links + codes!

Check out our new sponsor . . .
🐻  @paddingtonmovie (available now on digital!)

And welcome back . . . 
🎵 @carnegiehall (fun music games & quizzes!)
🍋 @hiyahealth (50% off your 1st order!)
🪑 @wayfair (shop outdoor furniture online!)
👟 @vionicshoes (15% off your entire order!)
🎨 @minted (art, cards, decor & more!)
📚 @chatbooks (the easiest photo books ever!)
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Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
New episode! We've heard from so many listeners w New episode!

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Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
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Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
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From sandbox maintenance and the endless cycle of outgrown kids’ clothes to the rise of sourdough starters and evolving gardening ambitions, today's episode is about how our home management tasks have shifted as our kids have grown. We each share a few “then vs. now” snapshots, offering little insights into what domestic work looks like during different seasons of family life.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
New episode! Hey, book lovers! This week, Meagan New episode!

Hey, book lovers! This week, Meagan and Sarah catch up on our latest reading adventures. We share some books we’ve been loving lately, our TBR lists and check in on our library habits. We also discuss how reading habits change when we’re on vacation or just shaking up our routines. Oh, and with Meagan's book launch on the horizon, we’re giving you a peek into how she's keeping up with all the new releases and buzz in the book world. So grab a cup of your fav beverage and let’s dive into this bookish catch-up!

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
New episode! No April Foolery from us today, but New episode!

No April Foolery from us today, but we ARE talking about family culture around jokes and funny stuff. We touch on Sarah's very strong feelings about pranks and jump scares, the joy of watching our kids' unique senses of humor evolve as they grow, whether teasing and ribbing fit in our our families' culture, comedy styles in pop culture that catch on with our teens, and more.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts

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