All it Takes is a Plan

Lauren Engler
  • 5.0 (32)
  • Parenting
  • Updated Weekly

If you're looking for real talk about all things sleep and parenting, you're in the right place! Lauren Engler, pediatric sleep consultant and mom of three, shares her sleep tips and tricks for babies, toddlers, and young kids, so your family can get the best sleep possible. She also interviews other guest experts to help you feel confident in your parenting journey.

  1. 3d ago

    Nervous System Regulation for Parents: Practical Tools for You and Your Kids

    What does nervous system regulation actually look like when you have kids? In Part 2 of my conversation with Amanda Armstrong of Regulated Living, we're getting much more practical about nervous system regulation for parents and children, and how we can support our kids when they're overwhelmed, dysregulated, tantruming, or struggling to settle down for sleep. One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is that co-regulation comes before self-regulation. Our kids' nervous systems are constantly communicating with ours, which means that learning to regulate ourselves is one of the most powerful things we can do to support our children. Amanda shares practical strategies she uses with her own kids, including breathing exercises, movement, sensory activities, getting outside, and creating a home environment that supports the nervous system. We also talk about why it's important to practice these tools during calm moments rather than waiting until your child is in the middle of a full-blown tantrum. (She shares this great song she found recently: Big Feelings Emotional Regulation Song) And there's of course an important connection to sleep! If you haven't listened to Part 1 yet, start there for the foundation on the vagus nerve, nervous system regulation, and sleep. Then come back here for the practical, kid-focused conversation. Amanda Armstrong is the founder of Regulated Living, a mental health coaching practice focused on anxiety, depression, and nervous system regulation. She is also the author of Healing Through the Vagus Nerve and host of the Regulate and Rewire podcast.

  2. Oct 7

    The Vagus Nerve & Sleep: How Your Nervous System Affects Sleep

    What does the vagus nerve have to do with sleep? More than you might think. In this episode, I’m joined by Amanda Armstrong of Regulated Living to talk about the vagus nerve, nervous system regulation, and the connection between our nervous system and sleep. We talk about what the vagus nerve actually does, how our nervous system responds to stress, and why regulation can play such an important role in our ability to settle, rest, and sleep. Amanda also shares practical ways to support nervous system regulation, including breathing, movement, time outside, and creating an environment that is more supportive of our biology. We also talk about why there isn't one magic trick for regulating your nervous system, and why understanding your own body and what helps you feel settled is so important. And while much of this conversation applies to adults, there's a lot here for parents, too. The way we regulate ourselves can have a direct impact on the people around us, including our children. This is Part 1 of my conversation with Amanda. In Part 2, we'll dive much more specifically into nervous system regulation with kids, including practical ways parents can support their children—and why our own regulation is such an important part of that process. Amanda Armstrong is the founder of Regulated Living, a mental health coaching practice focused on anxiety, depression, and nervous system regulation. She is also the author of Healing Through the Vagus Nerve and host of the Regulate and Rewire podcast.

  3. Sep 30

    Split Nights: Why Your Child is Awake for Hours in the Night

    Is your baby or toddler waking up in the middle of the night and staying awake for hours? If so, you may be dealing with a split night. In this episode, we’re breaking down what a split night actually is, why they happen, and most importantly, how to fix them. We’ll talk about the most common causes for split nights, including a lack of independent sleep skills and/or a schedule issue. Snag our FREE schedule guide for babies! If you’re exhausted from being awake with your child for hours every night, this episode will help you understand what’s happening and give you practical steps to start getting those nights back on track. And if you need more help, learn about how we can do that here.

  4. Sep 23

    Relapse Treatment: Olivia's Cancer Journey

    In August of 2022, our oldest daughter, Olivia, was diagnosed with cancer. Just 9 days before her 5th birthday, she was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma. Her main tumor was in her jaw muscle, and she had a handful of tumors in her lungs, as well. Two weeks ago, I shared all of the details of Olivia's diagnosis: what led us to the ER that day and what those initial days and weeks looked like as we got more information and treatment started. Last week, I shared about what her 40 weeks of frontline treatment looked like, including chemo and radiation. I also shared the many ways we were supported and loved on during her treatment. This week, I'm sharing all about Olivia's relapse treatment, why we switched hospitals and chemo regimens, and surgery. And I'm also sharing a bit about what life looks like now, post-treatment!

  5. Sep 16

    Frontline Treatment: Olivia's Cancer Journey

    In August of 2022, our oldest daughter, Olivia, was diagnosed with cancer. Just 9 days before her 5th birthday, she was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma. Her main tumor was in her jaw muscle, and she had a handful of tumors in her lungs, as well. Last week, I shared all of the details of Olivia's diagnosis: what led us to the ER that day and what those initial days and weeks looked like as we got more information and treatment started. This week, I'm sharing all about her frontline treatment - what our day-to-day and week-to-week looked like for 40 weeks of chemo, as well as radiation. I also share the many ways we were loved on and supported during treatment.

  6. Sep 9

    The Diagnosis: Olivia's Cancer Journey

    In August of 2022, our oldest daughter, Olivia, was diagnosed with cancer. Just 9 days before her 5th birthday, she was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma. Her main tumor was in her jaw muscle, and she had a handful of tumors in her lungs, as well. In this episode, I'm sharing all of the details of Olivia's diagnosis: what led us to the ER that day and what those initial days and weeks looked like as we got more information and treatment started.

  7. Sep 2

    Q&A: September

    In this episode, I'm answering YOUR questions! Here's what we're walking through: How do we adjust our sons' sleep schedule (ages 9 and 6.5)? We want them to go to bed later at night and wake up later in the morning. We've pushed bedtime later, but they're now waking up even earlier in the morning.Is my toddler (2 years 7 months) ready to drop her nap or should we push bedtime back later?Should we give our 2.5-year-old a toddler clock or is he okay without it? Sometimes he wakes up in the morning and wants out of his crib right away, whereas other mornings he's content to play in his crib by himself!How can I stretch my 5-month-old's wake windows? He struggles in the morning, especially.Do you have any tips for juggling multiple nap schedules/bedtimes with multiple little ones, while still trying to have a life? I feel like I’m trapped in the house playing "musical kids all day."What are your tips for transitioning a toddler from a crib to a bed? And here are the FREE resources I mentioned in the episode: FREE sleep schedule guide for babiesFREE bedtime boundary cards for toddlers

  8. Jun 3

    Sleeping in a Hotel Room with Kids: How to Survive (And Actually Sleep)

    One of the questions I get most often from families preparing ot travel is: "How do we all sleep when we're sharing a hotel room?" If you're nervous about sharing a hotel room with your baby or toddler, you're not alone. In this episode, I'm sharing practical tips we've used with our own family and the strategies I recommend to clients for making hotel room sleep easier. We'll cover everything from creating separation in a shared space and packing the right sleep essentials to wake-ups and maintaining realistic expectations while you're away. Travel sleep doesn't have to be perfect to be successful. And a few simple adjustments can make a big difference! Make sure you snag our FREE packing list here! The SlumberPod is our favorite product when traveling with kids. And you can use the code "VIAGRACESPOD" for a discount! Check out our comprehensive travel guide that will help you navigate not only hotel stays but also time change, airplane travel, naps on the go, adjusting back home, and more. And finally, if sharing a hotel room is the least of your worries, because restful nights aren't even the norm at home right now, we would love to help! Learn more about what that would look like here.

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5
out of 5
32 Ratings

About

If you're looking for real talk about all things sleep and parenting, you're in the right place! Lauren Engler, pediatric sleep consultant and mom of three, shares her sleep tips and tricks for babies, toddlers, and young kids, so your family can get the best sleep possible. She also interviews other guest experts to help you feel confident in your parenting journey.

Information

  • Creator
    Lauren Engler
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    117
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Lauren Engler
  • Show Website
    All it Takes is a Plan

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