After Bedtime with Big Little Feelings

Real talk? Modern parenting is a doozy. There’s never been more pressure to be perfect with social media readily at our fingertips - mixed with total isolation and no help. Where the f*ck is that village everyone talks about? Consider After Bedtime your village. Led by Kristin and Deena - founders of the largest online parenting community, Big Little Feelings - After Bedtime is the place you can go at the end of a long hard day to find your “enough”-ness. We’ll laugh, we’ll cry, we’ll maybe pee our pants a little as we unpack things we’re ALL experiencing but too ashamed to talk about: imperfect marriages, miscarriages, managing toddler mania, apologizing to our kids and everything in between. You’ll leave with actionable, realistic tips to make this whole parenting thing smoother - small changes, big impact. In an age where parents need more *real* connection than ever, let’s talk honestly about the hard - and remind ourselves we are not alone, we are not failing. In fact, we’re f*cking crushing it.

  1. 1d ago

    Your Brain Is Begging for These 5 Things (And it could help you prevent Alzheimer’s disease)

    You walk into a room and have absolutely no idea why you’re there. You can’t find the word you were JUST about to say. You’re exhausted, foggy, forgetful - and everyone tells you: welcome to motherhood. But… what if we stopped brushing all of it off?? Today, Deena sits down with Emma Heming Willis and clinical psychologist Dr. Nicole Beurkens from Make Time Wellness for a fascinating (and refreshingly non-doom-and-gloom) conversation about women’s brain health and why we should be thinking about our brains LONG before there’s a problem - especially in the context of potential Alzheimer’s disease prevention.  We’re getting into brain fog, hormones, perimenopause, sleep, movement, stress, dementia risk, and the simple things we can start doing now to support our brains for the long haul. And thankfully, this is NOT another episode telling you to wake up at 5 a.m., meditate for 45 minutes, eat superfoods, hit 10,000 steps and become a completely different person by Tuesday. You’ll learn: When brain fog and forgetfulness are part of a season (and when it’s worth talking to your doctor)The five basic pillars that support brain health over timeWhat’s actually happening inside your brain while you sleepWhy you absolutely do NOT need a perfect workout routineWhy women are at greater risk for Alzheimer’s disease - and why prevention starts decades before we think it doesHow to advocate for yourself when a doctor tells you everything is “normal” but you know something feels off Plus why 10,000 steps is not the magical number we’ve been led to believe, why the exercise you’ll actually do wins, what your 30s and 40s have to do with your brain decades from now, and how to advocate for yourself when a healthcare provider dismisses what you know you’re feeling. This isn’t about becoming afraid of getting older. It’s about realizing we have more power than we think - and your brain deserves to be part of the conversation NOW. After Bedtime listeners can get 20% off with code AFTERBEDTIME20 at maketimewellness.com  This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode. Boll & Branch - Get 15% off your first set of sheets plus free shipping at bollandbranch.com/BLF with code BLF.  Jones Road Beauty - Use code BIGLITTLEFEELINGS at jonesroadbeauty.com to get a FREE full-sized MASCARA with your first purchase! #jonesroadbeauty #ad Ladder - If you have an iPhone, head to ladder.fit/blf and take a quiz to find your perfect Ladder plan. Get a free seven-day trial with no credit card and ten dollars off your first month if you do join. Naturepedic - Visit www.naturepedic.com and use code FEELINGS to get 20% off safer, healthier sleep products for the whole family. Nutrafol - Head to nutrafol.com and enter the promo code FEELINGS for $10 off your first month’s subscription and free shipping.  REBEL - Visit fromrebel.com for up to 70% off the brands you already love! Wayfair - Head to wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Wayfair. Every style. Every home. Produced by Dear Media See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  2. Sep 16

    Would You Let Your Kid Do This? Our Most Unfiltered Parenting Takes

    Would you let your kid wear pajamas to school? Forget their homework and face the consequences? Tell Grandma they don’t want a hug? Quit a sport halfway through the season? Eat candy for breakfast? You probably have an immediate answer to at least a few of those. But here’s where it gets interesting: What if the parenting “rule” you’re following is actually making things harder for your kid… and for you? SO much of parenting is spent wondering: Am I holding a healthy boundary…or am I fighting a battle that literally does not matter? Am I helping my kid…or rescuing them? Am I teaching resilience…or ignoring what my specific kid actually needs? If you’ve ever spiraled over whether you’re being too strict, too permissive, too involved, or somehow doing the exact thing that’s going to screw up your kid forever, this is the episode you need. We're playing an unfiltered round of “Would You Let Your Kid...?” and get into the parenting decisions that sound black-and-white online but get a whole lot messier IRL. We get into: * Pajamas at school and how to know when a battle is actually worth fighting * Forgotten homework and when helping is NOT the same thing as “rescuing” * Why your kid should always be allowed to say no to a hug — even with Grandma * Allowance, chores, and whether you let them blow their own money on something completely ridiculous * Sleepovers, birthday party exclusions, and quitting a sport mid-season * How neurodivergence can completely change what the “right” answer looks like Between the hot takes and spicy debates, we get into the fact that there usually isn’t one clear answer for every kid. Sometimes it's yes. Sometimes it’s absolutely no. And sometimes you just have to know the kid standing in front of you before you can answer at all. If you’ve been second-guessing your parenting lately, listen to this one. You might walk away realizing you can let go of way more than you thought. This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode. Aquaphor Baby - Find the new Aquaphor Baby Sensitive Lotion now at Walmart, Amazon andTarget. Visit aquaphorus.com to learn more Boll & Branch - Get 15% off your first set of sheets plus free shipping at bollandbranch.com/BLF with code BLF.  Hiya Health - Receive 50% off your first order of Hiya’s best selling children’s vitamin. Head to hiyahealth.com/BLF.  Quince - Go to quince.com/BLF for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  Yoto -  Head to yotoplay.com and use my code BIGLITTLEFEELINGS  to save 10% off all eligible items. Zocdoc - Head to zocdoc.com/BLF to get started and check that appointment off your to-do list! Produced by Dear Media See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  3. Sep 9

    Amanda Kloots Thought She’d “Conquer” Grief. Six Years Later, She Knows Better.

    If you watched Amanda Kloots during the early days of COVID, you probably remember her story. Her husband, Nick Cordero, spent 95 days in the hospital before dying from complications of COVID-19. Their son, Elvis, had just turned one. And Amanda was suddenly living a life she never, ever imagined for herself. But this conversation isn't just about what Amanda lost. It's about everything that comes after. Six years later, Amanda sits down with Kristin for an incredibly honest conversation about grief, motherhood, resilience, love, and what it means to keep building a life when the one you planned disappears. Amanda opens up about something we don't talk about enough: you don't actually "get over" the people you lose. You don't have to stop loving them in order to love someone new. And finding moments of happiness doesn't mean you're grieving them any less. In this episode, you’ll learn: - The tiny rule Amanda swore by to get her through her darkest days - Why the best thing her friends did after Nick died involved almost no words at all - The advice she'd immediately retire when talking to someone who's grieving, - Why she refuses to pretend her marriage was perfect just because Nick is gone. - Her perspective on what grieving people ACTUALLY need We also talk about the signs Amanda still receives from Nick, raising Elvis with his dad's memory woven into their everyday life, her unexpected friendship with Harry Jowsey, and the part of her future she's still scared might never happen. And maybe the biggest takeaway: grief and joy aren't opposites. You can be devastated and laugh. You can miss someone forever and still want something new. You can deeply love the life you have while still grieving the life you thought you'd have. You'll leave this episode with a completely different perspective on grief, what it actually means to "move forward," and how to show up for someone you love when there truly are no right words. This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode. Aquaphor Baby - Find the new Aquaphor Baby Sensitive Lotion now at Walmart, Amazon andTarget. Visit aquaphorus.com to learn more ResortPass - Visit resortpass.com/BLF to get $20 off your first booking of $100 or more. Quince - Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to quince.com/BLF for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  Boll & Branch - Get 15% off your first set of sheets plus free shipping at bollandbranch.com/BLF with code BLF.  Our Place - Stop cooking with toxic cookware and upgrade to Our Place today! Visit fromourplace.com/BLF and use code BLF for 10% off sitewide. Momcozy - Right now you can get 10% off the Night Pro Bottle Warmer and 10% when you pre-order the DeepClean Bottle Washer D8 at momcozy.com with code BIGLITTLEFEELINGS Ladder - If you have an iPhone, head to ladder.fit/BLF and take a quick quiz to find your perfect Ladder plan. Use my link and get a free 7-day trial with NO credit card, and $10 off your first month if you join. Produced by Dear Media See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  4. Sep 2

    Your Hardest Parenting Questions, Answered: Part 2

    Our last Q&A became our MOST-LISTENED-TO episode, so Besties: WE’RE BACK. You sent us your hardest parenting questions, and once again, we’re answering them all. Your kid was doing GREAT, and then school started and suddenly they’re melting down, fighting everything, and acting like a completely different person. Your three-year-old has turned absolutely feral since the new baby arrived. And what do you do when you KNOW you need therapy, but adding one more thing to your schedule feels literally impossible? We cover: Back-to-school meltdowns and why your kid suddenly seems like a completely different person What’s actually happening when kids hold it together all day at school and completely fall apart at home How to make the back-to-school transition easier (and why now might be the time to LOWER demands) Why three-year-olds can feel absolutely feral, and the small shifts that can prevent some of the biggest daily power struggles New sibling jealousy, meltdowns, and helping your older child adjust to a new baby What to do when YOU are completely at capacity How to make time for therapy when you literally do not have one more hour to give The mindset shift that can completely change how you think about taking care of your own mental health Plus: Kristin is in an anxiety spiral, Deena is officially having a midlife crisis, we reveal what we’re watching right now (or why Kristin is watching absolutely f*****g nothing), and somehow we land on spa baths as a legitimate mental health intervention. Basically: feral toddlers, back-to-school chaos, nervous systems, therapy, and the real-life strategies that will help your whole family get through this season with a little more ease. This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode. Aquaphor Baby - Find the new Aquaphor Baby Sensitive Lotion now at Walmart, Amazon andTarget. Visit aquaphorus.com to learn more Egglife - Find Egg Life wraps chilling in the fridge at Aldi, Whole Foods, Kroger, Target, Walmart, and more. Visit egglifefoods.com to find a retailer near you. Jones Road Beauty - Use code BIGLITTLEFEELINGS at jonesroadbeauty.com to get a FREE FULL-SIZE MASCARA with your first purchase! #jonesroadbeauty #ad Naturepedic - Visit www.naturepedic.com and use code FEELINGS to get 20% off safer, healthier sleep products for the whole family. Osea - Get 10% off your order sitewide with code BLF at oseamalibu.com. Ross - Find your nearest Ross at rossstores.com Produced by Dear Media See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  5. Aug 26

    Your Kid Lied to Your Face. Now What?

    If your kid has ever looked you directly in the eyes and lied, even when you KNOW they know that you know the truth…you probably know the immediate panic spiral: Why are they lying to me? Is this normal? Can I trust them? If they're doing this at five, what happens when they're FIFTEEN?! And suddenly, this isn't about who ate the cookie or knocked over the toy, you're imagining your teenager lying about where they are, who they're with, what happened at the party, or something much, much bigger. But here's what most of us get wrong: If we want to raise kids who tell us the truth when it really matters, we have to be careful that our reaction to lying doesn't accidentally teach them that telling us the truth is dangerous. In this episode, Deena puts on her child therapist hat and breaks down what's actually happening when kids lie and why lying doesn't automatically mean you're raising a dishonest kid. In fact, there are several completely different reasons kids lie, and each one needs a different response. You'll leave this episode knowing why your kid is lying, what their lie is actually trying to accomplish, and exactly how to respond in the moment plus: - What to say when you know they're lying - When to use consequences - Why you don't need to force a confession - How to hold your boundary without making your kid afraid to tell you the truth next time. Most importantly, you'll learn exactly what to say and do when your kid lies to your face, without being permissive, letting them "get away with it," shaming them, or turning the whole thing into a 45-minute interrogation. Someday, the mistake won't be a stolen cookie, an iPad after bedtime, or marker on the table. It'll be something bigger. And in that moment, we want the thought that's louder than I'm going to be in so much trouble to be: I need to tell my mom. This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode. Aquaphor Baby - Find the new Aquaphor Baby Sensitive Lotion now at Walmart, Amazon andTarget. Visit aquaphorus.com to learn more Egglife - Find Egg Life wraps chilling in the fridge at Aldi, Whole Foods, Kroger, Target, Walmart, and more. Visit egglifefoods.com to find a retailer near you. ResortPass - Visit resortpass.com/BLF to get $20 off your first booking of $100 or more. Ross - Find your nearest Ross at rossstores.com Superpower -  Head over to superpower.com and use code BLF for $20 off your $199 SuperPower membership.  Produced by Dear Media See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  6. Aug 19

    Billy Eichner: How His Parents Gave Him the Audacity to Be Himself

    If you've ever worried that loving your kid too much, supporting them too much, or NOT giving them enough "tough love" is going to leave them completely unprepared for the real world, you need to hear this episode. Because Billy Eichner’s story might be the best evidence I've ever seen that the opposite of "tough love" is what actually makes a kid strong. Billy's parents loved the absolute hell out of him. They celebrated exactly who he was, and when he grew up and faced more than a decade of rejection, that endless love from his parents didn't make him soft, it gave him the audacity to keep believing in himself. He went from not being able to get an agent to creating Billy on the Street, earning four Emmy nominations, and making history with the film Bros. And THAT is where this conversation completely changed something for me. What if the way we prepare our kids for a hard world isn't by toughening them up, but by loving them so deeply that the world can't convince them to abandon themselves? We talk about rejection, resilience, success, why even wildly successful people still fixate on the people who don't like them, and what Billy believes his parents gave him that made everything else possible. And then Billy says something every parent needs to hear: there is enough tough love waiting for our kids in the world. We don't have to be the ones who give it to them. Whether you already love Billy Eichner or have no idea who he is, you will walk away from this episode knowing exactly how to raise an emotionally healthy, resilient, “strong” kid, and what they need most from us. This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode. Aquaphor Baby - Find the new Aquaphor Baby Sensitive Lotion now at Walmart, Amazon andTarget. Visit aquaphorus.com to learn more Egglife -  Find Egg Life wraps chilling in the fridge at Aldi, Whole Foods, Kroger, Target, Walmart, and more. Visit egglifefoods.com to find a retailer near you. Naturepedic - Visit www.naturepedic.com and use code FEELINGS to get 20% off safer, healthier sleep products for the whole family. Osea - Get 10% off your order sitewide with code BLF at oseamalibu.com. ResortPass - Visit resortpass.com/BLF to get $20 off your first booking of $100 or more. Ross - Find your nearest Ross at rossstores.com Yoto -  Head to yotoplay.com and use my code BIGLITTLEFEELINGS  to save 10% off all eligible items. Produced by Dear Media See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  7. Aug 14

    Is Everything Toxic Now?! Here’s What Parents Actually Need to Know

    File this under: things we genuinely did not realize we needed to know as parents. 🙃 Our kids spend SO MUCH of their lives sleeping, but… have you ever actually thought about what their mattress is made of? Yeah. Neither had we. Today we’re joined by Arin Schultz, Chief Growth Officer at Naturepedic and dad of four, to pull back the curtain on mattresses: what can actually be inside them, why certain materials are worth knowing about, what all those certifications and “organic” labels actually mean, and what parents should look for when they’re shopping. 
Most importantly: this is information, not another parenting assignment. Deena gets very real about how easily learning this stuff can tip from “good to know” into “OH GOD NOW I’M WORRIED ABOUT EVERYTHING,” and why none of us need to live our lives trying to eliminate every potentially questionable thing our kids will ever encounter. And because this is After Bedtime, we obviously do not stay on mattresses. 😂 We somehow end up debating whether sharing a drink with your own child is absolutely disgusting, hearing what it’s REALLY like to raise four boys, and, perhaps most importantly, adding Arin to the growing list of podcast guests Deena has recruited to help make her case for baby #4. 
You’ll leave knowing a little more about something your kids spend a huge chunk of their lives on, what’s actually worth looking for, and a few realistic options for making a change if and when it makes sense for your family. No throwing your entire house away required. This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode. Naturepedic - Visit www.naturepedic.com and use code FEELINGS to get 20% off safer, healthier sleep products for the whole family. Produced by Dear Media See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  8. Aug 12

    If We Could Only Teach Our Kids 5 Things, It Would Be This

    What if the most important thing you ever teach your child isn't a parenting strategy... it's a belief they'll carry for the rest of their life? Someday our children are going to get their heart broken, they'll fail, They'll wonder if they're enough, they'll navigate in tricky relationships, they'll be choosing career paths. And in those moments, they won't remember your lecture about cleaning their room, but they will remember what they believe about themselves. In this episode, fan favorite VP Hype Squad (my husband) is back, and we share the five beliefs we're intentionally trying to pass on to our kids, the things that will shape every friendship, relationship, career, and decision our kids make for the rest of their lives. You'll leave this episode knowing: The belief that protects kids from becoming lifelong people-pleasers. How to raise a child who doesn't spend their life trying to earn love or approval. The one mindset shift that completely changes what you focus on as a parent. Five core beliefs that will outlast every parenting hack, consequence, and script. This ended up becoming one of my favorite conversations we've ever had. It's about parenting, yes. But it's also about us. The beliefs we inherited, the ones we're still trying to unlearn, and the ones worth passing on instead. I have a feeling this is going to be one you'll think about long after it ends. This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode. Aquaphor Baby - Find the new Aquaphor Baby Sensitive Lotion now at Walmart, Amazon andTarget. Visit aquaphorus.com to learn more. Egglife -  Find Egg Life wraps chilling in the fridge at Aldi, Whole Foods, Kroger, Target, Walmart, and more. Visit egglifefoods.com to find a retailer near you. Hiya Health - Receive 50% off your first order of Hiya’s best selling children’s vitamin. Head to hiyahealth.com/BLF.  Quince - Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to quince.com/BLF for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  ResortPass - Visit resortpass.com/BLF to get $20 off your first booking of $100 or more. Zocdoc - Head to zocdoc.com/BLF to get started and check that appointment off your to-do list! Produced by Dear Media See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

4.5
out of 5
5,552 Ratings

About

Real talk? Modern parenting is a doozy. There’s never been more pressure to be perfect with social media readily at our fingertips - mixed with total isolation and no help. Where the f*ck is that village everyone talks about? Consider After Bedtime your village. Led by Kristin and Deena - founders of the largest online parenting community, Big Little Feelings - After Bedtime is the place you can go at the end of a long hard day to find your “enough”-ness. We’ll laugh, we’ll cry, we’ll maybe pee our pants a little as we unpack things we’re ALL experiencing but too ashamed to talk about: imperfect marriages, miscarriages, managing toddler mania, apologizing to our kids and everything in between. You’ll leave with actionable, realistic tips to make this whole parenting thing smoother - small changes, big impact. In an age where parents need more *real* connection than ever, let’s talk honestly about the hard - and remind ourselves we are not alone, we are not failing. In fact, we’re f*cking crushing it.

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