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Talking Toddlers

Talking Toddlers

Erin Hyer 155 Episodes Jul 21, 2026

Talking Toddlers offers calm, developmentally grounded guidance for moms of babies and toddlers. Hosted by Erin Hyer, a licensed speech-language pathologist with nearly 35 years of experience, the podcast breaks down how the young brain learns and why certain behaviors or challenges show up. It aims to help parents gently support development through relationships, everyday routines, and meaningful language experiences, without fear or guilt.

Episodes

You Already Do the Most Important Thing — You Just Don't Know Why Ep 162
You Already Do the Most Important Thing — You Just Don't Know Why Ep 162 Jul 21, 2026 1864 You've been narrating everything. Labeling. Reading. Filling the room with language. And nothing seems to be sticking.That's because your words only land when your child's attention and yours are on the same thing, in the same moment. It's called shared attention — and you're already doing it without knowing how much it matters.In this episode I unpack what shared attentio
Why Your Toddler Hits and Bites — It’s Not a Discipline Problem Ep 161
Why Your Toddler Hits and Bites — It’s Not a Discipline Problem Ep 161 Jul 14, 2026 2291 Why does your toddler hit, bite, or throw things—even when you are trying to parent calmly and consistently? Toddler hitting and biting may look like a discipline problem, but for many young children, it begins as a communication gap.Your toddler is not necessarily choosing to be “bad.” He may be using his body because the language, regulation, and impulse-control skills that should replace the hi
Stop Chasing Words. Here's What Comes First. Ep 160
Stop Chasing Words. Here's What Comes First. Ep 160 Jul 7, 2026 1766 Your toddler isn't talking yet — or at least not as much as you think he should be. And every piece of advice you've found tells you to do more or wait it out. Neither one is the answer.There's a sequence to how talking develops. It doesn't start with words — it ends with them. And if nobody's handed you that sequence, you're either frozen or doing everything at once
He'll Talk When He's Ready — Why Waiting Isn't a Plan Ep 159
He'll Talk When He's Ready — Why Waiting Isn't a Plan Ep 159 Jun 30, 2026 2501 Everyone keeps telling you not to worry. "He'll talk when he's ready." You smile, you nod — but somewhere underneath, your gut isn't buying it.Trust that. Because "ready" is the wrong word — and "wait and see" is not the gentle, neutral choice it pretends to be.After almost forty years with toddlers and the families raising them, Erin Hyer, speech langu
How to Help Your Late Talker — Without More Words Ep 158
How to Help Your Late Talker — Without More Words Ep 158 Jun 16, 2026 2177 You talk to your toddler all day long. You narrate everything. And still — he's not talking, or not very much. So you do what everyone tells you: talk to him even more.After almost forty years with toddlers and the families raising them, here's what Erin Hyer, speech-language pathologist, can tell you: talking more isn't the fix.Language isn't built by the number of words you p
Why "No" Doesn't Work for Toddlers Under 3 — And What to Say Instead Ep 157
Why "No" Doesn't Work for Toddlers Under 3 — And What to Say Instead Ep 157 Jun 9, 2026 3056 If you've ever said "no" to your toddler and watched them do it anyway — you're not failing. You're just missing one piece of information that changes everything.The developing brain under three cannot reliably process negation. "Don't throw" registers as "throw." "No hitting" registers as "hit." And the more you escalate, the m
Is My Child Really a Late Talker? Use This Checklist to Find Out Ep 156
Is My Child Really a Late Talker? Use This Checklist to Find Out Ep 156 Jun 3, 2026 2551 Is your child a late talker? Or is something else going on? After 40 years working with toddlers and their families, I can tell you that the term "late talker" gets thrown around so loosely — by pediatricians, educators, and early intervention teams — that most parents are left more confused than helped.In this episode I'm giving that term its definition back. We walk through a six-
Is My Baby Behind? What Milestones Really Mean Ep 155
Is My Baby Behind? What Milestones Really Mean Ep 155 May 12, 2026 1646 Is my baby behind? Should she be crawling, walking, talking, or doing more by now?If you’ve ever found yourself Googling developmental milestones late at night, this episode will help you breathe, think clearly, and know what to watch.In this episode, Erin explains what milestones really are — not rigid deadlines, but guideposts that help parents notice progress, ask better questions, and support
The Problem Isn’t the Meltdown - It’s How You Respond Ep 154
The Problem Isn’t the Meltdown - It’s How You Respond Ep 154 May 5, 2026 1712 Your baby fusses in the car seat and your chest tightens. Your toddler falls apart when the block tower tumbles. Every instinct says — fix it, fast. But what if rushing in is quietly preventing the very thing you want to build?This week on Talking Toddlers, Erin pulls back the curtain on one of the most misunderstood pieces of early development: resilience.After nearly four decades in private prac
The Baby Gear Mistake Almost Every Parent Makes Ep 153
The Baby Gear Mistake Almost Every Parent Makes Ep 153 Apr 28, 2026 2349 Your baby didn't ask for a nursery full of gear. She asked for you.In this episode, Erin breaks down three of the most common baby products on the market — containers, weighted blankets, and white noise machines — and explains exactly why, after nearly 40 years of clinical practice, misusing them concerns her deeply.You'll learn:Why babies need movement, not containmentThe connection bet
The Hidden Skills Your Child Needs Before They Talk Ep 152
The Hidden Skills Your Child Needs Before They Talk Ep 152 Apr 23, 2026 1784 If you’ve ever wondered, “Should my child be talking by now?”  or "Is he talking enough?" -- this episode will give you clarity.Before children use words, they build the skills that make talking possible.In this episode, I walk you through the 7 stages of play in the first three years—and how each one helps your child learn to talk, listen, and engage.You’ll learn: What your child should
Listening Is a Skill - Here’s How It Develops Ep 151
Listening Is a Skill - Here’s How It Develops Ep 151 Apr 14, 2026 2664 "My toddler isn't listening."If you've said those words - or thought them - this episode is for you.In this episode of Talking Toddlers, speech-language pathologist Erin (with nearly 40 years in early intervention) unpacks one of the most misunderstood parts of toddler development: listening.Spoiler: it's not what you think. And it's probably not what your toddler is

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