How To Get Your Toddler To Sleep In A Big Kid Bed · Certified Sleep Coach Jessica Berk

Toddler Meltdowns, Tantrums, BIG Emotions | Interview with Danielle Bettmann

·45 min·4 clips

Jessica Berk reveals hostage negotiator tactics to handle toddler meltdowns and big emotions.

This episode features sleep coach Jessica Burke interviewing parenting coach Danielle Bettman, who specializes in strong-willed children. They discuss managing the intense emotions and bedtime resistance common when toddlers transition to a big kid bed. Danielle shares strategies derived from her experience and podcast, "Failing Motherhood," which aims to combat parental isolation. The conversation centers on practical approaches for handling toddler tantrums and meltdowns, particularly at bedtime. Danielle references techniques used by hostage negotiators to de-escalate high-stress situations with children. She draws from her personal experience raising two daughters who are only 15 months apart. The hosts emphasize that the challenges of parenting strong-willed kids are universal and shared by many families. A key insight is that emotional outbursts are often a child's way of communicating unmet needs or frustrations. The hostage negotiation strategy involves staying calm and using specific verbal tools to acknowledge the child's feelings without escalating the conflict. Danielle's approach focuses on connection and understanding rather than immediate behavioral correction. The episode reassures parents that feeling overwhelmed is normal and does not equate to failure. The tone is supportive, conversational, and focused on providing actionable advice. The style is educational but relatable, drawing on both professional expertise and personal parenting experiences. This episode is ideal for parents of toddlers struggling with bedtime transitions, emotional regulation, or frequent power struggles. Listeners seeking purely medical sleep advice or developmental theory might find it less directly applicable.

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