Parenting Relief

Mar De Carlo

Parenting Relief is for parents who love their kids deeply, but feel overwhelmed, exhausted, guilty, and stretched thin. Hosted by Mar De Carlo, founder of the International Parenting & Health Institute (IPHI, est. 2009) and with nearly three decades of coaching experience, you’ll receive practical tools and support for sleep, stress, communication, relationships, and health, plus simple physical and inner practices to reset and return to yourself. Mar is also the author of Awakening Through Sleep, 2026: A Compassionate Reset for Parents and the upcoming When Parenting Hurts.

Episodes

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    Sleep Training: What’s Missing, What We Know Now, and What to Do Instead

    In this episode, Mar De Carlo explores sleep training through a holistic lens, what popular methods focus on, what they often overlook, and how sleep is shaped by biology, nervous system regulation, emotional development, and the full family system. This episode is educational, non-shaming, and designed to expand perspective so parents can make informed decisions. You’ll learn: The biggest myth parents are sold about sleep What Ferber, the Chair Method, and Pick-Up-Put-Down focus on and what they may miss Why “gentle” doesn’t always feel gentle to a child Why sleep is a regulation process, not only a behavior Safety awareness signs to take seriously without fear-mongering What to do instead: a whole-system approach that supports sleep readiness A simple parent exercise to use tonight Note: This episode focuses on common emotional, relational, and lifestyle contributors to sleep challenges. Medical conditions, illness, and developmental differences can also impact sleep and should be explored with appropriate professionals when relevant. New episodes of Parenting Relief drop every week. Connect with Mar:Instagram: @mar_decarlo and @parentinghealthinstituteWebsite: https://parentinghealthinstitute.com/ Books:Awakening Through Sleep2026: A Compassionate Reset for ParentsWhen Parenting Hurts (coming soon) Shop:https://mar-de-carlo-official-store.myshopify.com/ Holistic Coaching Certification Programs for Professionals:• Integrative Adult Sleep Coach• Holistic Pregnancy & Child Sleep Consultant• Holistic Children & Teen Sleep Coach• Holistic Pre-Postnatal Nutrition Coach• Holistic Pregnancy & Postpartum Educator• Baby Planner Learn more at: https://parentinghealthinstitute.com/ Disclaimer:This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice. The content reflects general principles and personal insights and is not a substitute for professional care. Always consult a qualified healthcare or mental health professional regarding your specific situation. Any exercises shared should not be performed while driving, operating machinery, or doing activities requiring full attention.

    29 min
  2. 16 FEB

    Parenting Triggers: How to Recognize and Transform Them

    Parenting triggers are not signs of failure. They are signals from your nervous system. In this episode, Mar De Carlo explores how childhood conditioning shapes parenting reactions, how to recognize emotional triggers, and how to transform them through awareness, regulation, and practical tools. You’ll learn: • Why parenting triggers happen• How childhood experiences shape nervous system responses• How to release guilt and shame• Practical tools to regulate and respond instead of react• How to break inherited patterns and build healthier responses Parenting is not about perfection. It is about awareness and growth. New episodes of Parenting Relief drop every week. Connect with Mar:Instagram: @mar_decarlo and @parentinghealthinstituteWebsite: https://parentinghealthinstitute.com/ Books:Awakening Through Sleep2026: A Compassionate Reset for ParentsWhen Parenting Hurts (coming soon) Shop: https://mar-de-carlo-official-store.myshopify.com/ Holistic Coaching Certification Programs for Professionals: Integrative Adult Sleep CoachHolistic Pregnancy & Child Sleep ConsultantHolistic Children & Teen Sleep CoachHolistic Pre-Postnatal Nutrition CoachHolistic Pregnancy & Postpartum EducatorBaby PlannerLearn More at https://parentinghealthinstitute.com/ Disclaimer This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice. Exercises shared in this episode should not be performed while driving, operating machinery, or performing tasks that require full attention. Always consult a qualified healthcare or mental health professional regarding your specific situation.

    23 min
  3. 8 FEB

    Bedtime Battles: What Your Child Is Really Communicating

    Bedtime resistance isn’t misbehavior, it’s communication. In this episode of Parenting Relief, we explore what children are actually expressing when bedtime becomes difficult, stressful, or emotionally charged. From common challenges like overtiredness, under-tiredness, overstimulation, nutrition, and transitions, to deeper emotional needs around safety, connection, and regulation, this episode helps parents move beyond labels and into understanding. You’ll learn: ​Why bedtime is one of the most emotionally loaded moments of the day​How to listen for meaning instead of labeling behavior​What everyday factors (movement, screens, food, sunlight, stress) can affect sleep​When bedtime resistance may signal something that needs more attention​How to respond with connection instead of says​Practical ways to create emotional predictability and safety at nightThis episode is not about forcing sleep or “winning” bedtime.It’s about slowing down, uncovering the root cause, and building trust, night by night. Note: This episode focuses on common emotional and relational contributors to bedtime resistance. Medical conditions, illness, and developmental differences can also affect sleep and should be explored with appropriate professionals when relevant. New episodes of Parenting Relief drop every week.  DISCLAIMER This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice. The content shared reflects general principles, professional experience, and personal insight and should not replace individualized care from a qualified healthcare or mental health professional. Any grounding, breathing, or awareness exercises shared in this episode should not be performed while driving, operating machinery, or engaging in activities that require full external focus. Please listen only, or return to the exercises when it is safe to do so. Always consult an appropriate professional regarding your specific situation or concerns.

    26 min
  4. 1 FEB

    What to Do After You Yell: Repair That Builds Trust

    Yelling happens to even the most loving parents and it often leaves behind guilt, shame, and fear that you’ve caused harm. In this episode of Parenting Relief, Mar De Carlo explores what actually matters after you yell and why repair, not perfection, is what builds trust and emotional safety over time. You’ll learn why yelling is often a nervous system response rather than a personal failure, how chronic stress and overstimulation push parents past capacity, and what to do in the moments that follow a rupture. This episode includes grounding practices you can do while listening, practical tools to help shift reactive patterns, and clear, compassionate guidance on how to repair in ways that restore connection, without over-apologizing, over-explaining, or shaming yourself. This is an episode for parents who love their children deeply and want relief, understanding, and a way forward that actually works in real life. In this episode, we cover: Why yelling happens (and why it doesn’t mean you’re a bad parent) The role of the nervous system in snapping and reactivity How guilt and shame keep patterns stuck Simple daily practices to reduce overwhelm over time What effective repair really looks like and why it builds trust How repair can heal not just your child, but parts of you, too This isn’t about parenting perfectly. It’s about repairing honestly and growing through the work of parenting.  New episodes of Parenting Relief release every Monday. Additional Support for ParentsIf you’d like additional tools beyond the podcast, you can explore Mar’s resources for parents, including 2026: A Compassionate Reset for Parents, at: https://mar-de-carlo-official-store.myshopify.com/ Disclaimer This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice. The content shared reflects general principles and personal insights and should not replace professional care. Always consult a qualified healthcare or mental health professional regarding your specific situation. Any breathing, movement, or awareness exercises shared in this podcast should only be practiced when it is safe to do so. Do not perform these exercises while driving, operating machinery, or in any situation that requires your full attention.

    16 min

About

Parenting Relief is for parents who love their kids deeply, but feel overwhelmed, exhausted, guilty, and stretched thin. Hosted by Mar De Carlo, founder of the International Parenting & Health Institute (IPHI, est. 2009) and with nearly three decades of coaching experience, you’ll receive practical tools and support for sleep, stress, communication, relationships, and health, plus simple physical and inner practices to reset and return to yourself. Mar is also the author of Awakening Through Sleep, 2026: A Compassionate Reset for Parents and the upcoming When Parenting Hurts.