Blog & Resources

 Potty Training, Sleep training, and parenting tips, stories, and more!
Parent Coaching Dawn Whittaker Parent Coaching Dawn Whittaker

Stress-Free Travel with Kids Ages 0–5: Tips by Age + Must-Have Products

Traveling with young kids can feel overwhelming—but with the right tools and prep, it can be fun and memorable (in a good way!). Whether you’re flying, road-tripping, or staying somewhere new, here are tried-and-true travel tips broken down by age group—from newborns to preschoolers. Plus, I’ve included product suggestions that make traveling smoother for everyone

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Parent Coaching Dawn Whittaker Parent Coaching Dawn Whittaker

Pot Luck Parenting: Real Advice, Real Food, Real Fun (Yes, Really!)

Let’s be honest—parenting is hard. Like, “why is there Play-Doh in my shoe and why won’t my toddler sleep past 5am?” hard.

Add in the pressure to do it all right, and it can feel overwhelming. You probably don’t have time for another parenting book, and Zoom workshops? Not exactly your idea of a relaxing night.

That’s where Pot Luck Parenting comes in.

It’s a parenting support session, disguised as a low-key hangout. You bring the friends. I bring the expertise. Together, we turn chaos into calm—with snacks.

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Sleep Training Dawn Whittaker Sleep Training Dawn Whittaker

Is Co-Sleeping Dangerous?

Ah, co-sleeping. The age-old tradition of sharing a bed with your baby, and possibly a few stray Goldfish crackers, a sippy cup, and a plush elephant named Mr. Snuggles. It’s cozy. It’s warm. It’s sweet.

It can also a battlefield between what’s idealistic and what’s realistic.

Some parents swear by it. Others swear because of it. And somewhere in between lies a very tired mom Googling “Is co-sleeping dangerous?” at 2 a.m. with a foot in her ear.

So, let’s talk about it—seriously, but with a side of humor (because you’re probably too sleep-deprived for anything else).

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Parent Coaching Dawn Whittaker Parent Coaching Dawn Whittaker

Toddler Chore Ideas

Can my toddler do chores?

Let’s be honest. Toddlers aren’t exactly known for their helpfulness. More often, they’re known for pulling all the Tupperware out of the drawer, finger painting with yogurt, and screaming because their banana broke in half. But here’s the plot twist you didn’t see coming: your little chaos machine is actually the perfect candidate for household chores.

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Dawn Whittaker Dawn Whittaker

Tummy Time Tips: How to Make It Fun and Effective for Your Baby

Tummy time is more than just adorable—it’s essential for your baby’s development. Spending time on their stomach while awake and supervised helps strengthen neck, shoulder, and arm muscles, prepares them for milestones like rolling and crawling, and helps prevent flat spots on the back of their head.

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Sleep Training Dawn Whittaker Sleep Training Dawn Whittaker

Pacifiers: The Tiny Plug of Peace or the Root of All Dental and Sleep Evil?

A Humorous Look at the Pros and Cons of Soother Use (With Real Research!)

Ah, the pacifier. That magical piece of silicone that can silence a newborn scream faster than you can say, “Where is it?! I know I put it in the diaper bag!”

But is it a gift from the parenting gods—or just another gateway to orthodontic doom? As a sleep consultant I am anti-soother but keep reading for an unbiased or as unbiased as I can be, breakdown.

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Parent Coaching Dawn Whittaker Parent Coaching Dawn Whittaker

The Nanit Sees All: When Baby Monitors Become CIA Operatives

Ah, the joys of modern parenting! You brought home a baby, not a covert government experiment. But somewhere between the smart crib that rocks your infant to sleep and the pacifier that reports temperature, you now have a nursery that looks like NASA’s command center. And at the heart of it all? The Nanit. The baby monitor that knows more about your child than you do… and possibly more than it should.

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Parent Coaching Dawn Whittaker Parent Coaching Dawn Whittaker

The Evolution of Parenting

The Evolution of Parenting: From “Go Play Outside” to “Let’s Talk About Your Feelings (While You Pee on Me)”

It’s a fun read for anyone raising littles in today’s world. Let me know which era you relate to most!

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Dawn Whittaker Dawn Whittaker

Breast vs. Formula: Navigating the Feeding Debate with Confidence

Hey mamas (and papas!)—this is one of those topics that comes up a LOT: breastfeeding vs. formula feeding. And if you’ve ever felt judged, overwhelmed, or unsure, you are not alone.

Here’s the deal: breast milk is amazing. It’s packed with nutrients, antibodies, and it’s free. But let’s also be real—breastfeeding isn’t always easy or even possible. Some of us struggle with supply, latch issues, pain, exhaustion, or just don’t want to breastfeed. And guess what? That’s okay.

Formula is safe, nutritious, and some families find it’s the best option for their baby and their mental health. Choosing formula doesn’t mean you love your baby any less or that you’re missing out. It means you’re feeding your child in the way that works best for your family.

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Dawn Whittaker Dawn Whittaker

Crying It Out Method – Sleep Training or Emotional Neglect? Let’s Talk

Few parenting topics stir as much emotion as sleep training—and within that, the "cry it out" method stands out as one of the most hotly debated. Is it a useful, research-backed tool to help babies learn to sleep independently? Or does it cross the line into emotional neglect? Let’s unpack this, parent to parent—without judgment, just understanding.

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Sleep Training Dawn Whittaker Sleep Training Dawn Whittaker

The Silkberry Sleep Sac

As parents, ensuring our little ones get a good night's sleep is a top priority. From choosing the coziest crib to the softest blankets, creating a comfortable and safe sleep environment is essential for a baby's well-being.

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Sleep Training Dawn Whittaker Sleep Training Dawn Whittaker

Is thumbsucking harmful?

I often speak to parents who are worried about their little one sucking their thumb or fingers, so I wanted to put a post together encompassing, why babies suck their thumbs, when it starts, how long it might last and if its something you should be worried about it. I also added some feed back from some of my clients who have children who are or were addicted to their thumb or digits.

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Parent Coaching Dawn Whittaker Parent Coaching Dawn Whittaker

How to offer food allergens to your baby

I’ve been working with parents for years and over those years, the age that you should test out the higher allergen foods has changed. More recently, it has come back around to adding in the allergens early, where as for a while, it was not to add in higher allergies such as tree nuts, until the age of 2.

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Parent Coaching Dawn Whittaker Parent Coaching Dawn Whittaker

Toddler tantrums and how to deal with them

First things first, toddlers are prone to having overwhelming feelings that result in a big release that ‘we’ call a tantrum. How a tantrum is handled can also result in how long it will last, how many more will follow and allow you to feel more empowered in the moment, instead of overwhelmed too.

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Sleep Training Dawn Whittaker Sleep Training Dawn Whittaker

Whats a lovey?

Many parents will resort to having a lovey in the crib with their little one, usually once they are at least 6 months old, or when the parent feels confident to do so. What is a lovey and how can I get my child to attach to one?

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