• Home
  • About
    • New? Start Here.
    • Meet The Co-Hosts
    • Meet The Contributors
    • In The Media
  • Advertise
  • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter

The Mom Hour

Happier motherhood starts here.

  • New? Start Here.
  • Podcast
    • Recent Episodes
    • Complete Archives
    • Search By Topic
  • Blog
  • Ages & Stages
    • Babies
    • Toddlers
    • Preschoolers
    • Big Kids
    • Tweens & Teens
  • Shop
  • Our Partners

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

Related

Filed Under: Episodes Tagged With: listener questions

deals from our partners



When you click through these links and make a purchase, we earn a small commission at no additional cost to you (and we only partner with brands we’ve used and truly love!).

« 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

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Meet Meagan + Sarah

Listen + Subscribe

Subscribe in Apple Podcasts
Subscribe on Spotify
Subscribe in Google Podcasts
Subscribe on YouTube
Subscribe on Amazon Music

Featured Sponsor

Save 10% with code THEMOMHOUR at TheEssentialCalendar.com!

The “Surfboard Kid”

the story behind the "surfboard kid"

Click photo to read the full story behind Meagan's viral "bad parenting" moment...

Search

Voicemail!

On Instagram

themomhour

Top 10 parenting podcast hosted by @meaganfrancis (MI) & @powersofmine (SoCal). 8 kids between us, little to grown. Happier motherhood starts here.

The Mom Hour
New episode! Feeling overwhelmed, or like the sea New episode!

Feeling overwhelmed, or like the season is passing too quickly? Let today’s episode - a classic from the archives - help you pause, reflect, and reset. Meagan and Sarah offer our thoughts on how memories really "get made," why simply changing what we notice around us can shift our mood, and what busy moms can do to capture the fleeting season to look back upon later.

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! It feels good to complain once in a New Episode!

It feels good to complain once in a while – especially during the holidays. Today Meagan and Sarah laugh our way through a “vent sesh,” sharing mostly inconsequential gripes about what’s bugging us this year. While we often appreciate a positive reframe, we also know the cathartic power of airing a petty vent (or six). Plus, we share what’s new this holiday season for each of us. 

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
Head's up! @joannerevising from The Mom Hour team Head's up! @joannerevising from The Mom Hour team has a book out that makes a GREAT holiday gift - and right now it's 50% off through the publisher, @magiccatpublishing! Click this image at the link in our bio to grab it while the sale is on! (It's also available wherever books are sold.)

Each page offers a word and age-appropriate definition, along with a related activity, resource, or mindful prompt, all beautifully illustrated by @anneliesdraws. The book is split into four chapters that each includes relevant words: Feelings Matter (Afraid, Frustrated, Proud); You Matter (Authentic, Consent, Resilience); Differences Matter (Disability, Equity, Race); and Changemakers Matter (Conservation, Feminism, Teamwork). Check it out!

#thelittlebookofwordsthatmatter #wordsthatmatter #100wordsthatmatter
Has your family gotten a chance to play around on Has your family gotten a chance to play around on our partner @carnegiehall Kids website yet? 🎹 🎵 🎻 

It’s totally free and has some super fun resources for music education, like their Animal or Instrument? quiz and interactive Musical Explorers Around The World Map. (Swipe through for a peek!) Such a great option for kids who are ready to dive deeper into music . . . without requiring Mom's help or committing to lessons. 🙌 

Click on this image at the link in our bio to check out all @carnegiehall Kids fun, child-friendly games and quizzes! #ad #musicalkids #carnegiehall
New episode! Who came before us, and what can we New episode!

Who came before us, and what can we learn from them? We think there's a reason that ancestry research, genealogy, and discovering family stories holds a special interest for midlife women, and we're here to talk about it. Meagan shares her journey back through time (and up to the UP!) to better understand her family's roots. She shares what resources she used, her process for uncovering the unknowns, and what she's discovered so far. Sarah has less direct experience but lots of curiosity.

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 holidays! 🎄 It's time for our sponsor rou Happy holidays! 🎄 It's time for our sponsor roundup for November, where we thank our partners and remind you of their awesome 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.

We appreciate when you support the show by using our links + codes!

Check out our new partners . . . 
🌱 @giveaswegrow (FREE service-focused app for kids!)
🎅 @officialsantadotcom (magical, one-stop holiday hub!) 
🪥 @betterbiom (15% off Nobs Jr. kids toothpaste!)
👶 @cadenlane (20% off the cutest kids clothes!)

And welcome back . . . 
🧪 @kiwico_inc (50% off your 1st month!)
🎨 @minted (art, cards, decor & more!)
📚 @chatbooks (the easiest photo books ever!)
☑️ @todoistofficial (2 mo. free of Todoist Pro!)
🗓️ @theessentialcalendar (10% off calendars!)
🍃 @drinkag1 (1yr of Vit.D + 5 travel packs!)
👡 @vionicshoes (15% off your order!)
💊 @ritual (30% off your 1st month!)
💜 @zulily (10% off our fave picks!)
Today we're thankful YOU. Thank you for listening Today we're thankful YOU. Thank you for listening to the podcast, sharing your wisdom with us and with each other, and showing up for your families, your communities, and your fellow moms. We're honored to share this space with you. - Meagan & Sarah
New episode! While we try not to kick ourselves w New episode!

While we try not to kick ourselves when we're down and generally avoid second-guessing our parenting choices, we *are* human. And sometimes that means we experience regret. Today Meagan and Sarah reflect on some big and small choices we've made (or not made) throughout our parenting journeys, and why we'd do things differently if given the chance. We also reflect on regret as an emotion, and why sharing regrets can bring about connection with others.

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
Bonus episode! Do you have to identify as a music Bonus episode!

Do you have to identify as a musical person to nurture a love of music in your family? We think not. Meagan and Sarah look back at parenting babies, small kids, big kids and teens, reflecting on the role music has played in everything from bedtime to playtime, nurturing kids' passions and finding shared interests as a family. We talk about what it means to "be musical," how we thought our kids' music learning would happen vs. how it actually played out, and what we've learned from our kids as their tastes and appreciation develop.

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! Kassidi wants to become a more confi New Episode!

Kassidi wants to become a more confident home cook and asks us where to begin. Natalie needs strategies for easing the long wind-down at bedtime for her co-sleeping toddler. Joy is considering traveling with young kids on her own but wonders what age is best to go for it, what activities to partake in and what to avoid when you’re on a mom-only trip with kids. In Episode 439, Meagan and Sarah take these questions from our community and offer tips and validation. Enjoy! 

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
Hosting Thanksgiving this year? @CafeDuMartin put Hosting Thanksgiving this year? @CafeDuMartin put together a planning guide that helps hosts work backward from turkey day and break down the challenge into manageable parts. We're revisiting this *gem* of a blog post this week and re-sharing her tips and printable download - check it out at the link in our bio!
New episode! Spending time with extended family c New episode!

Spending time with extended family can bring on parenting challenges that don't come up as often in our day-to-day routines. If you're anticipating some uncomfortable situations this holiday season, don't fret! Meagan and Sarah have your back with this episode's round-up of some of the archive's best listener questions and our advice, focused on traveling for the holidays (or not), surviving group events with different parenting styles, handling criticism (and unwanted advice) and much 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
Load More... Follow on Instagram

as seen on

Send us an email

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Email hello@themomhour.com and we’re here to help!

listen on

looking for something?

New episode! Feeling overwhelmed, or like the sea New episode!

Feeling overwhelmed, or like the season is passing too quickly? Let today’s episode - a classic from the archives - help you pause, reflect, and reset. Meagan and Sarah offer our thoughts on how memories really "get made," why simply changing what we notice around us can shift our mood, and what busy moms can do to capture the fleeting season to look back upon later.

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! It feels good to complain once in a New Episode!

It feels good to complain once in a while – especially during the holidays. Today Meagan and Sarah laugh our way through a “vent sesh,” sharing mostly inconsequential gripes about what’s bugging us this year. While we often appreciate a positive reframe, we also know the cathartic power of airing a petty vent (or six). Plus, we share what’s new this holiday season for each of us. 

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
Head's up! @joannerevising from The Mom Hour team Head's up! @joannerevising from The Mom Hour team has a book out that makes a GREAT holiday gift - and right now it's 50% off through the publisher, @magiccatpublishing! Click this image at the link in our bio to grab it while the sale is on! (It's also available wherever books are sold.)

Each page offers a word and age-appropriate definition, along with a related activity, resource, or mindful prompt, all beautifully illustrated by @anneliesdraws. The book is split into four chapters that each includes relevant words: Feelings Matter (Afraid, Frustrated, Proud); You Matter (Authentic, Consent, Resilience); Differences Matter (Disability, Equity, Race); and Changemakers Matter (Conservation, Feminism, Teamwork). Check it out!

#thelittlebookofwordsthatmatter #wordsthatmatter #100wordsthatmatter
Has your family gotten a chance to play around on Has your family gotten a chance to play around on our partner @carnegiehall Kids website yet? 🎹 🎵 🎻 

It’s totally free and has some super fun resources for music education, like their Animal or Instrument? quiz and interactive Musical Explorers Around The World Map. (Swipe through for a peek!) Such a great option for kids who are ready to dive deeper into music . . . without requiring Mom's help or committing to lessons. 🙌 

Click on this image at the link in our bio to check out all @carnegiehall Kids fun, child-friendly games and quizzes! #ad #musicalkids #carnegiehall
New episode! Who came before us, and what can we New episode!

Who came before us, and what can we learn from them? We think there's a reason that ancestry research, genealogy, and discovering family stories holds a special interest for midlife women, and we're here to talk about it. Meagan shares her journey back through time (and up to the UP!) to better understand her family's roots. She shares what resources she used, her process for uncovering the unknowns, and what she's discovered so far. Sarah has less direct experience but lots of curiosity.

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 holidays! 🎄 It's time for our sponsor rou Happy holidays! 🎄 It's time for our sponsor roundup for November, where we thank our partners and remind you of their awesome 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.

We appreciate when you support the show by using our links + codes!

Check out our new partners . . . 
🌱 @giveaswegrow (FREE service-focused app for kids!)
🎅 @officialsantadotcom (magical, one-stop holiday hub!) 
🪥 @betterbiom (15% off Nobs Jr. kids toothpaste!)
👶 @cadenlane (20% off the cutest kids clothes!)

And welcome back . . . 
🧪 @kiwico_inc (50% off your 1st month!)
🎨 @minted (art, cards, decor & more!)
📚 @chatbooks (the easiest photo books ever!)
☑️ @todoistofficial (2 mo. free of Todoist Pro!)
🗓️ @theessentialcalendar (10% off calendars!)
🍃 @drinkag1 (1yr of Vit.D + 5 travel packs!)
👡 @vionicshoes (15% off your order!)
💊 @ritual (30% off your 1st month!)
💜 @zulily (10% off our fave picks!)
Today we're thankful YOU. Thank you for listening Today we're thankful YOU. Thank you for listening to the podcast, sharing your wisdom with us and with each other, and showing up for your families, your communities, and your fellow moms. We're honored to share this space with you. - Meagan & Sarah
New episode! While we try not to kick ourselves w New episode!

While we try not to kick ourselves when we're down and generally avoid second-guessing our parenting choices, we *are* human. And sometimes that means we experience regret. Today Meagan and Sarah reflect on some big and small choices we've made (or not made) throughout our parenting journeys, and why we'd do things differently if given the chance. We also reflect on regret as an emotion, and why sharing regrets can bring about connection with others.

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
Bonus episode! Do you have to identify as a music Bonus episode!

Do you have to identify as a musical person to nurture a love of music in your family? We think not. Meagan and Sarah look back at parenting babies, small kids, big kids and teens, reflecting on the role music has played in everything from bedtime to playtime, nurturing kids' passions and finding shared interests as a family. We talk about what it means to "be musical," how we thought our kids' music learning would happen vs. how it actually played out, and what we've learned from our kids as their tastes and appreciation develop.

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! Kassidi wants to become a more confi New Episode!

Kassidi wants to become a more confident home cook and asks us where to begin. Natalie needs strategies for easing the long wind-down at bedtime for her co-sleeping toddler. Joy is considering traveling with young kids on her own but wonders what age is best to go for it, what activities to partake in and what to avoid when you’re on a mom-only trip with kids. In Episode 439, Meagan and Sarah take these questions from our community and offer tips and validation. Enjoy! 

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

Copyright © 2023 · Life, Listened
Development by Cipher