Nurtured Noggins Blog - Nurtured Noggins

#83: Simple Ways to Create Mental Space Daily

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #83: Simple Ways to Create Mental Space Daily As a mom, the days often feel like a whirlwind of responsibilities and cherished moments with our little ones. However, amidst the chaos, we must carve out...

#82: Why Young Children Bite (and How to Respond)

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #82: Why Young Children Bite (and How to Respond) What are some effective strategies parents and caregivers can employ to help their children outgrow the biting behavior while maintaining a supportive...

#81: The Benefits of Risky Play with Dr. Catherine O’Brien

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #81: The Benefits of Risky Play with Dr. Catherine O'Brien How can we empower our children through risky indoor and outdoor play and embrace a facilitator parenting approach? Play is an essential part...

#80: Mom Story: How I Created Financial Wealth As a Single Mom with Eileen Joy

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #80: Mom Story: How I Created Financial Wealth As a Single Mom with Eileen Joy Wondering how you can secure your family's finances without missing out on those precious moments with your kids? We've got you...

#79: A (Step) Dad’s View: How to Connect with Your Kids with Michael Gonzalez

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #79: A (Step) Dad’s View: How to Connect with Your Kids with Michael Gonzalez Are you curious about how to nurture your kid's social-emotional growth while also creating a community with other parents? We all...

#78 – Q&A Breastfeeding and Pumping with Dr. Andrea Braden

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #78: Q&A - Breastfeeding and Pumping with Dr. Andrea Braden Embarking on the incredible journey of breastfeeding brings a mix of complexities and wonders. Let's unravel the myths, delve into the fluid...

#77 – Stages of Play – What to Expect From Your Child When They’re with Other Kids

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #77: Stages of Play - What to Expect from Your Child When They're with Other Kids with Gabrielle Holt How can parents help their child transition from playing primarily with them to playing with other...

#76 – How to get more energy so you aren’t slugging through the day

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #76: How to Get More Energy so You Aren't Slugging Through the Day with Krizia Graham Have you ever experienced the mix of exhaustion and reward that comes with being a mom of a toddler? Being a mom of a toddler is...

#75 Mom Story: I became an entrepreneur so I could stay home with my babies

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #75: Mom Story: I Became an Entrepreneur so I Could Stay Home with my Babies with Kelsey Newcomb How can a mom entrepreneur overcome challenges and achieve empowerment in both their professional and parenting lives?...

#74 The good and bad of social media for new parents with Julie Bogart

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #74: The Good and Bad of Social Media for New Parents with Julie Bogart Have you ever experienced the mixed emotions of being both motivated and disheartened by what you see on social media? How do these...

#73 – Setting Up Your Home For Learning

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #73: Setting Up Your Home for Learning with Jeanne-Marie Paynel Have you ever wondered what to do or how to set up your home when you have other children over to play? In this episode, Jeanne-Marie Paynel, M.Ed,...

#72 – Understanding the Stages of Parenting with Ellen Galinsky

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #72: Understanding the Stages of Parenting with Ellen Galinsky Our children go through developmental stages from the moment they are born, but how many of you know that parents also go through stages of...

#71 – Mom Story: Recognizing My Son’s Autism Symptoms with Diane Fleming

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #71: Mom Story: Recognizing My Son's Autism Symptoms with Diane Fleming Did you know that you can often recognize the signs of autism around 18 months of age? In this episode, Diane Fleming explains what it was...

#70 – Overcoming Common Fears of Parenting

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #70: Overcoming Common Fears of Parenting In this episode of "Parenting in the First Three Years," Ann discusses the common fears and worries parents may experience. She shares a recent personal story of feeling fear and...

#69 – What New Parents Need to Know About Food Allergies with Katie Larson

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #69: What New Parents Need to Know About Food Allergies with Katie Larson, PA-C In this episode of "Parenting in the First Three Years," host Ann McKitrick interviews Katie Larson, a physician's assistant with personal...

#68 – What to Do When Your Toddler Hits Someone

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #68: What to Do When Your Toddler Hits Someone In this episode of "Parenting in the First Three Years," host Ann McKitrick discusses whether parents should insist that their child says sorry when their toddler hits...

#66 – How to Find the Best Childcare Center

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #66: How to Find the Best Childcare Center In this episode, we explore the world of childcare and share practical tips for parents who are on the hunt for the best care for their children. We explore some important...

#62 – Mom Story: I want to normalize my “mom struggles”

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #62: Mom Story: I want to normalize my “mom struggles” with Christine Amerman Being a parent and an entrepreneur simultaneously can be challenging yet rewarding. Balancing the responsibilities of parenthood with the...

#61: How to Make Tummy Time Fun with Michele Napierkowski

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #61: How to Make Tummy Time Fun with Michelle Napierkowski If you are a new parent, then you have probably heard that tummy time is important for your baby. It’s equally important to be knowledgeable about the container...

#58: Mom Story: What It’s Like Being a New Mom and an Entrepreneur with Allie Martin

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #58: Mom Story: What It's Like Being a New Mom and an Entrepreneur with Allie Martin New moms love to hear each others' stories and today Allie Martin, an entrepreneur who's a visibility expert and owner of ⁠Fame...

#57: Nurturing Children’s Curiosity with Dr. Diane Schnoor

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #57: Nurturing Children's Curiosity with Dr. Diane Schnoor Children's curiosity and wonder about the world around them is observable from the first months of your baby's life. In this episode, Dr. Diane, an early...

#56: Surviving the First Year of Motherhood with Becky Viera, author of Enough About the Baby

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #56: Surviving the First Year of Motherhood with Becky Viera, Author of Enough About the Baby Surviving the first year of motherhood can be an incredibly challenging experience, yet many of the struggles that new...

#55: 5 Myths about Newborns with Deborah McNelis

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #55: 5 Myths about Newborns with Deborah McNelis It's easy to feel lost and overwhelmed when it comes to caring for your newborn, but don't worry! Let me introduce you to Deborah McNelis, who's here to help guide...

#54: Mom Story: How I Helped My Only Child Welcome a New Baby

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #54: Mom Story: How I Helped My Only Child Welcome a New Baby with Zlata Stankovic-Ramirez When she found out she was pregnant, today's featured mom wondered how she could help her only child welcome a new baby...

#52: Mental Self-Care for New Moms with Colleen O’Grady

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #52: Mental Self-Care for New Moms with Colleen O'Grady What are the habits new moms can begin now to ensure a healthy mindset throughout the all the stages of parenting? In this episode, Colleen O'Grady explains...

#51: The Benefits of Play with Dr. Stephanie Goloway

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #51: The Benefits of Play with Dr. Stephanie Goloway What are the benefits of play, besides entertaining your child? Our guest today says there's lots more going on when you simply play and interact with your...

#45: Wisdom from a Montessori Mom with Maranda Deason

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #45: Wisdom from a Montessori Mom with Maranda Deason In this mom story, you'll meet Maranda Deason, Montessori teacher and mother of 7 children including 3 under age two! She shares her thoughts on the cultural changes...

#44: Language Development in the First Years with Lenora Edwards

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #44: Language Development in the First Years with Lenora Edwards Language development in the first years seems to just happen on its own. But is this really true? Will babies just naturally say their first words...

#43: Attachment Parenting Explained

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #43: Attachment Parenting Explained with Diane Goyette and Gabrielle Holt There's a lively conversation on social media about attachment parenting and sometimes it feels like just one more thing to get right, or...

#42: How Your Enneagram Type Affects Parenting

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #42: How Your Enneagram Type Affects Parenting with Rochelle Bridges What's your Enneagram type? I'm a 9 all the way, straight up. I have all the quirks and characteristics of this Enneagram personality type. I'm...

#41: 5 Ways to Soothe a Crying Newborn with Dympna Kennedy

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #41: 5 Ways to Soothe a Crying Newborn with Dympna Kennedy The sound of a crying newborn... oh my goodness. It sends shivers up our spine, creates emotional tension and we just want to do all we can to help them....

#39: What Happens When Your Child Puts on a Costume? Developmental Play!

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #39: What Happens When Your Child Puts on a Costume? Developmental Play! with Ann McKitrick It's that time of year when kids like to wear their Halloween costume any chance they get and I say, let 'em! It seems like just a...

#38: What to Expect in the Fourth Trimester

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #38: What to Expect in the Fourth Trimester with Meg & Carly of Fourth Trimester Foundations The "fourth trimester" is the term coined for the first 3 months after birth. Those first weeks are beautiful, memorable and...

#35: Postpartum Mental Health: Are These Feelings Normal? with Sherry Duson

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #35: Postpartum Mental Health: Are These Feelings Normal? with Sherry Duson Postpartum mental health is often a not-talked-about-enough topic. Most new parents experience up and down emotions in the first weeks and months...

#34: What Grandparents Need to Know

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #34: What Grandparents Need to Know Grandparents, aunties, uncles, extended family all play an important role in your baby's life. Babies have a way of bringing a new dimension to families and learning what works for your...

#33: How to Break Negative Cycles in Parenting with Lorena Seidel

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #33: How to Break Negative Cycles in Parenting with Lorena Seidel, Joyful Parenting In this episode, we discuss parenting strategies that enable you to break free from negative cycles you may have experienced as a child....

#32: Birthday Party Planning for Babies and Toddlers with Kim Morrison

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #32: Birthday Party Planning for Babies and Toddlers with Kim Morrison, The Hygge Gathering It's an amazing milestone ~ you all made it through the first year! Now it's time to do some birthday party planning....

#31: How New Parents Can Support Secure Attachment with Annie Brook

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #31: How New Parents Can Support Secure Attachment with Annie Brook, Therapist & Founder of the Brook Institute In this episode, Annie Brook and I explore ways to support secure attachment between parents and...

#30: 5 Things to know about starting preschool

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #30: 5 Things to know about starting preschool Starting preschool is an exciting milestone for your child and will build a strong foundation for kindergarten. In this episode, you'll learn what types of programs are...

#29: How Motherly Helps New Mothers with Liz Tenety

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #29: How Motherly Helps New Mothers with Liz Tenety, Co-Founder of Motherly Liz Tenety, co-founder of Motherly, gives behind-the-scenes insight on trends, what she sees as a big source of struggles for new mothers,...

#28: Exploring Parenting Styles: RIE with Erica Orosco Cruz

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #28: Exploring Parenting Styles: RIE with Erica Orosco Cruz Finding your own personal parenting style when you first have a baby takes time. There are so many people and approaches to glean from as you find what...

#27: The 6 Stages of Parenting

Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #27: The 6 Stages of Parenting with Ann McKitrick Just as our children are going through phases of development throughout their lives, we too are going through stages of parenting as our kid get...

Why your toddler needs to play with puzzles

Why should you get some puzzles for your toddler? Play is essential for toddlers - it's how they figure things out. They need opportunities to play with good toys and materials and use their imagination. Puzzles fit the bill! They provide lots of learning - from...

Can toddlers write?

Can toddlers write? As soon as your little one becomes interested, you can give them some big paper and a marker to get them started. Learning to make a mark on the page is actually an important part of early literacy, which begins in the first three years of life....

How to make playdough with your child

Making playdough with toddlers. We had a tray on the shelf with all the playdough ingredients and made a fresh batch about every 2 weeks. When I was a teacher, our class loved making playdough. We pull out the tray of ingredients and the kids would take turns dumping...

Why you should have a tea party

Tea parties. We started them early on at our house. I think it started that time I spotted Good Mood Tea at Whole Foods. I bought a box for the next time the crankies set in. Because um, that happened often with three kids under age four. I bought it for myself, then...

How to Sanitize Your Baby’s Toys

Do you need to sanitize your baby's toys? Um, yeah. Today I was scrolling through facebook and saw a picture of my friend's baby wearing a cute little outfit she'd made by hand. In the background their dog was licking a baby toy lying on the floor. This is why we need...

What new parents need to know about loveys

What's a lovey? It's a blanket, a teddy bear or some other object that children attached to. They use loveys to comfort themselves at bedtime and in other situations where they feel the need for something cozy and familiar. The psychological term for this is...

How to choose toys for babies

We've got a closet full of toys upstairs in the kids room. When the grandkids are here, they spend LOTS of time playing up there! In fact, sometimes when we're FaceTiming now, I'll walk up there and we'll "visit" the toys and they get so excited! 😂 If you were here,...

Toddler snacks they’ll actually eat

Toddlers can be picky and it’s not because they’re trying to be difficult. Eating is a developmental process, it takes time to master. Try these toddler snacks!

How to make your own toddler books

It’s one of those things that connects us all. We love to look at pictures of people we love! How about making some toddler books with pictures of familiar people and places?

Pregnancy Cookies

What’s the difference between a pregnancy cookie and a regular cookie? Do labor cookies really make your labor begin?

Reading supports emotional development

Make reading a part of your daily routine. You’ve heard about the importance of social-emotional development in the first years. But what does that actually look like in the day to day? Social-emotional development includes your child’s experience, expression, and...

How to read books to your baby

There's not much better than snuggling up with a good book. It's one of my favorite things, especially when I'm snuggling with a child. 🥰 If your brand new to parenting, you may feel unsure how to go about reading a book to a baby that's so young they can't talk yet....

How to Choose Books for Your Baby

When do you really need to start reading to your baby? Now's a good time! Early literacy begins early. Research shows that newborns are born equipped to respond to the language they've heard in the womb. They've been listening to you all this time and they love your...

Tips for great sleep patterns for your newborn

It's one of the first things people ask, "Is he keeping you awake at night?" (Um, yes he's awake at night, he's a newborn) This week I sat down with Joanna Clark of Blissful Baby Sleep Coaching to talk about sleep patterns for newborns. I asked her what you should...

How to Choose a Day Care Center for your Baby

Talk about adulting. This is it. Likely one of the first big decisions you'll make when you become a parent. It's a decision that will deeply impact your family, especially your baby. The folks who care for your baby while you work will become your partners in...

Who is that baby? Mirror fun

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4 Questions about babies and pandemics

Oh my goodness... I don’t know about you but it feels to me like unknowns of COVID are lasting a lot longer than I expected. As this all unfolds, new parents are faced with questions that weren’t even in our grid 8 months ago! Pregnancy can be filled with a lot of...

What Does A 10-Day Old Baby Look Like?

A 10-day old baby will present many different changes from when it was brought into the world. Here are some of the changes that you may want to watch out for…

How Infant Attachment is Formed Between Baby and Caretaker

While infant attachment is sometimes overlooked by some parents and caretakers, it matters to the baby’s communication development a lot. Here’s how the process usually begins and the reasons why it’s vital for the baby’s progress…

Baby Feeding Essentials Every Mom Needs

Having baby feeding essentials with you before the baby comes is important. For that reason, here’s a list of items you may want to get before the big day.

Newborn Care: Q&A

Every baby is unique, and you are the expert on your own child. I do everything based on a career in early childhood education, coaching early childhood teachers and parents.

Critical Periods of Development in The First Years of Your Child’s Life

Are you a new parent looking for parenting tips? Read about why the first 3 years are important for your child’s development and learn how you can help.

Toddler Fun With Boxes

Are you looking for fun activities you can do at home with your toddler? Learn about how you can use shipping boxes to create fun activities for your toddler.

How to Make Homemade Teethers for Your Baby

Is your baby teething and wanting to chew on everything in sight? Learn how you can make delicious teething sticks from banana bread.

Feeding Your Newborn Baby

How do you know if your little baby is taking in enough formula in order to get what they need nutritionally to grow? In this article, I will talk about some guidelines to follow that will help you decide on how much to feed your baby.

Parent Tip – Natural Consequences for Behavior Management

Have you wondered why toddlers make silly decisions? Read about how this is due to them learning about the consequences to behavior and how you can help them with their behavior development.

Labor Stories

I love labor and delivery stories. Every story has the features of an exciting docu-drama — the inklings of early labor, the wondering of “should I call the doctor?”, “should we just wait or go ahead and go?” The thrill of the birth and the flood of emotion that follows. Then the calm after the storm as everyone, including baby, begins the process of healing and resting up from the experience of labor/delivery and settles into the new life of being a family. One of my favorite labor stories comes from my friends, Glen and Laura.

Bond With Your Baby and Help Them Grow

For many new parents, the first time they hold their tiny bundle of joy triggers an instant bonding. In the early years, a baby’s brain grows rapidly making millions of neural connections, so a variety of experiences and exposure aids physical, cognitive, social and language development. Read about a few ways in which bonding and baby development in the early years can go hand-in-hand.

Playing Peekaboo With Your Child

Do you have a young child and wonder why they love to play Peekaboo? Read about why they love to play this popular game and how it helps with their development.

Setting Rules to Guide Your Toddler’s Behavior

House rules are important, but did you know that it is also beneficial for their behavior development? Learn about why house rules promote good behavior

Language Development with Babies and Toddlers

Curious about the speech and language development process for toddlers and babies? Learn about how electronic devices can help aid the process.

How You Can Organize Fun Activities for Your Kids at Home

Are you looking for ways that you can organize and create fun activities for your kids while at home? Learn about some fun activities that we think will help!

Why Do Toddlers Bite?

Do you have a toddler that bites others and don’t understand why? Learn why biting is a part of a toddler’s development and suggestions that you can do for when it happens

How to Create Fun Learning Activities with Tape

Have you ever wondered how you can create fun learning activities for your kids with items around the house? Learn about how a roll of tape is all you need!

Giving Toddlers Choices

Are you tired of your toddler constantly demanding that they get their way ? Learn about how offering choices can help reduce the amount of arguing.

4 Ways to help your little extrovert thrive at home

Social distancing is easier for some of us than others. Especially our children. For those on the more introverted side, they're delighted to stay home and hang with the family. They are content! For your children who are extroverted, it’s a little like torture not...

Stages of parenting

I was recently in Minneapolis, hanging out with the grandkids. I get up there a couple of times of year - usually once in the dead of winter and once to enjoy their beautiful summertime. One way I cement a long distance relationship with them is to have consistent...

The secret to a happy baby (it’s you!)

You are really, really important to your child. You see it in the way your baby gazes at you, prefers you over others and cries when you leave. We know we’re important in our child’s life but do we truly understand this? Attachment researchers tell us that we become...

Love on that baby

Love on your baby. Then they'll be really smart. Love is in the air. Even though Valentine's day focuses on romantic love, it’s a great time to hone in on the love connection between you and your child. It’s amazing to realize that your child’s brain...

How to make mom friends

When I became pregnant with my first I quickly realized how few friends I had in the same boat. The handful of friends I had with kids lived in different states and I found myself scrambling to find friends undergoing the same life transition. Having a community full...

Tips for new parents

5 tips for new parents Anytime you begin a new job there’s a period of orientation. And depending on the complexity of the work you’ll be doing, you might have months of training before you’re on your own with full responsibility. When you become a parent, while...

3 Reasons newborns are irresistible

We really can't help ourselves. Something inside us kind of melts. Have you ever noticed the feeling you get when you see little tiny puppies or kittens, or even a baby elephant at the zoo? Or had complete strangers stop to talk to you as you walk your puppy? We...

3 Ways you can actually see brain development happening

Recently I had the privilege of presenting a training to over 150 Head Start teachers in Houston. The topic was understanding autism and we covered lots of information about neurological development that happens in the first several years of life. One of the word...

Cheers to parenting!

I love new beginnings. Today we not only ring in a new year, but a new decade. Your baby will be doing all kinds of things in 10 years! As we begin the new year there are so many things to think about. Goals, intentions, dreams and visions. I don't know about you,...

Gift ideas for new parents that won’t break the bank

Holiday shopping can be one of the most stressful parts of the year as we look for ways to stretch budgets a little further to buy the gifts we really want to give. If you need to save money but have a long list of people to buy for, it’s a good idea to check online...

5 Amazing ways your newborn communicates

That little person is very tuned in to you. From the moment they're born, babies are ready to listen, respond and try to figure out how to be in relationship with you. Research gives us really interesting insight into how equipped newborns are to do this. Let's take a...

What to do with a newborn

I was surprised at the amount of downtime I had with a new baby. I remember the first few months of staying home with my first baby. I assumed I’d be swamped with my new tasks of parenthood: nursing around the clock, diaper changes, rocking baby to sleep, etc....

What happens when a child puts on a costume?

What's going on in that little mind? If you are one who joins the celebration of this holiday, you’ve probably got a costume for your child and depending on their age, they either tolerate being dressed up (or not!) or love putting it on and instantly becoming the...

5 important things that happen in the first two years

The all-important first two years Your child's early learning and development has far-reaching implications for the future of the economy, the political climate and international relations. Crazy to think that what you do each day as a parent has that kind of...

How to help your child adjust to childcare

This year while my daughter goes to morning preschool, I’ve been looking forward to exercising for a bit at the gym. The only problem? My two year old. My darling, highly-attached, cries-if-I’m-gone-for-two-minutes two year old. I knew dropping off my kiddo at the gym...

When Parenting Fears Overwhelm

I’ll never forget the stress I felt about miscarriage when I was pregnant. Every day I worried the pregnancy might end. I remember counting down the days to when I’d be past the first trimester, longing for it to come. I was sure once I made it past that date, my...

Unlock what your child reveals through their artwork

A given for many parents is a refrigerator plastered with photos and children's artwork. You can learn a lot from their drawings. Children’s art gives us insight into their development - the way they hold a marker, the amount of space they use on a page, the...

Becoming a parent

The moment a pregnancy test is positive or the foster/adoption approval comes through, you begin to wonder... What am I going to do? What does it feel like to be a parent? How will I be the same and how will I be different? Will I still be able to be spontaneous, do...

How to raise kind kids

We all want to teach kids to be kind and compassionate with others. When does this begin? When they start playing with others? When they have the cognitive capacity to share? Does it happen naturally or do you have to 'teach' it? Recent research tells us that infants...

3 Things That Every Parent Does Naturally

Even people who say they have "no clue what to do with babies" will instinctively do exactly what's necessary to enhance development as they singsong talk, make faces and gaze at their face as they hold them. We act differently with infants than we do with adults or...

The slow-fast experience of parenting

How does time go slow and fast at the same time? I love the Slow Food Fast recipe column in the Wall Street Journal. It features recipes from notable chefs across the country representing traditional and regional cuisines - recipes simple enough to cook at home...

6 Things to know BEFORE your baby begins child care

Odds are, someone else will care for your baby at some time in the first year. The average length of maternity/paternity leave in US is 12 weeks (often unpaid) with many moms returning to work when the baby is 6 weeks of age. In fact, of the 12 million infants and...

24 One-minute parenting lessons it took a lifetime to learn

We had 3 babies in four years. Then when those 3 were teens, we started fostering babies. And while I may have thought I was ready to be a parent with that first pregnancy, I was not. No matter what you think you already know going in, the experience of being a parent...

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