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Talking Toddlers

Talking Toddlers

Erin Hyer 155 episodes Latest May 12, 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

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 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 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 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 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 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 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
Why Your Toddler’s Behavior Isn’t Really About Them Ep 150 Apr 7, 2026 1653 Have you ever reacted to your toddler… and then immediately wondered, “Why did I just do that?”In this episode, we look beneath the surface of toddler behavior and explore a truth that can feel both confronting and freeing: sometimes our reactions have less to do with our child - and more to do with our own history.I share how early patterns, survival strategies, and emotional wiring can quietly s
Your Toddler’s Brain Is Built at Night (Most Parents Miss This) Ep 149 Mar 31, 2026 3933 What if the most powerful thing you could do for your toddler's development happened while they were asleep?In this episode, licensed pediatric speech-language pathologist Erin Hyer breaks down the neuroscience of sleep in early childhood — and why it is the most underestimated factor in your child's brain development, language acquisition, and emotional health.Drawing on Dr. Matthew Wal
5 Well-Meaning Habits That Delay Speech - And the Simple Fix (Part 2) Ep 148 Mar 24, 2026 2729 Last week I introduced the first two habits quietly getting in the way of your toddler's speech.This week we go deeper.In Part 2 I'm sharing Habits 3, 4, and 5 - and these are the ones that tend to stop parents cold. Not because they're complicated. But because nobody told them these things mattered.We start with the neuroscience - and I mean real neuroscience, the kind that complet
5 Well-Meaning Habits That Delay Speech - And the Simple Fix (Part 1) Ep 147 Mar 17, 2026 1798 If you've ever watched your toddler at a playground - wanting to join in, but not quite knowing how - this episode is for you.After nearly 40 years as a speech-language pathologist, I've worked with hundreds of families whose children were bright, loved, and well cared for - and still not talking the way they should be.In most cases, it wasn't a diagnosis that was getting in the way
What Our Kids Lose When We Stop Eating Together - And How to Get It Back Ep 146 Mar 10, 2026 2749 What if one of the most powerful things you can do for your child's brain, language, and emotional development isn't a program, a therapy, or a curriculum — it's dinner?In this foundational episode, speech-language pathologist and child development expert Erin Hyer, unpacks the science behind what we lose when family mealtime disappears — and what our children's behavior, atten

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