The Rising Parent Podcast

Tim Vartko + Edna Vartko | Parenting Coaches

Details

Master toddler tantrums, navigate screen time, and survive the fourth trimester without losing your mind. The Rising Parent Podcast is a practical guide to positive parenting and child development, hosted by Certified Parenting Coaches Edna and Tim. Ditch the rigid rules and parental guilt. Tune in twice a week for actionable hacks on emotional intelligence, newborn essentials, postpartum mental health, and stress-free discipline. Go from surviving to thriving—subscribe today to build a calm, connected, and emotionally supportive home.

Recent Episodes

SEP 28, 2026
Low-Stimulation Parenting: Sensory Hacks for Overwhelmed Moms and Dads
Overwhelmed parents, you are not alone! Discover how low-stimulation parenting can transform your noisy house into a peaceful, joyful sanctuary. If you ever feel like your home is a giant pinball machine of flashing toys and loud noises, experiencing sensory overload in parents is incredibly common. For the highly sensitive parent or introverted moms navigating the beautiful, messy journey of raising kids, constant noise can quickly lead to severe parental burnout. In this uplifting episode of The Rising Parent Podcast, hosts Edna and Tim share the life-changing magic of creating a low sensory home. Whether you are navigating neurodivergent parenting or just need some daily relief, we offer actionable sensory hacks for parents to help you reclaim your peace and thrive. Learn how to master nervous system regulation and redefine parental self care through realistic micro-moments of sensory rest. We will guide you through practical steps like initiating a liberating toy purge to minimize visual clutter and reducing auditory chaos without ignoring your children's needs. Discover the beauty of quiet time routines and how to implement dedicated toddler quiet time. We discuss how using visual timers for toddlers can help establish guilt-free, rejuvenating breaks for the whole family. Remember, a regulated parent equals a regulated child! Amazon Products Mentioned: - Loop Quiet earplugs https://amzn.to/4yONyqx - Himalayan glow salt lamp https://amzn.to/4jjX1BN - Secura 60-minute visual timer https://amzn.to/4dtCcjC - Magnetic tiles https://amzn.to/4yTIukS Your listener support also directly helps the Selfless Outreach mobile food bank. If this episode brought you comfort and inspiration, please subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with a friend who might need it! Always remember to visit RisingParent.org for more tips and resources! #LowStimulationParenting #HighlySensitiveParent #SensoryHacks #OverwhelmedParents #IntrovertedMoms #ParentalBurnout #NeurodivergentParenting #SensoryRest
8 MIN
SEP 25, 2026
10 Safe First Foods for Baby-Led Weaning and How to Prep Them
Ready for starting solids at 6 months? Discover the best BLW first foods to conquer baby mealtime anxiety and empower your self-feeding baby! Welcome to an uplifting episode of The Rising Parent Podcast! Transitioning to solid foods is a magical milestone that should be celebrated. Before you begin, we discuss the essential signs of baby readiness for solids, including the disappearance of the tongue thrust reflex, ensuring your little one is developmentally prepared to thrive at the table. In this episode, we share an inspirational BLW prep guide featuring 10 safe foods for baby. From perfectly roasted sweet potato wedges for baby to gently steamed broccoli florets for baby, we teach you exactly how to prepare nutritious finger foods for infants. You will leave feeling fully empowered to trust your baby's innate abilities as they explore baby-led weaning! We also tackle the hurdles every parent faces. Learn the critical differences of baby choking vs gagging so you can stay calm and supportive. Plus, we share a stress-free, step-by-step approach to introducing allergens to babies, setting them up for a lifetime of healthy eating habits. Set your kitchen up for ultimate success! We highlight the best gear to support your journey, including EZPZ bowls for zero-slip meals, the Bapron baby bib for mess-free eating, and the Joie crinkle cutter to easily create safe, easy-to-grip shapes. Let your baby take the lead and turn mealtime into a joyful sensory adventure! Products Mentioned in This Episode: - Joie crinkle cutter https://amzn.to/4hnMLGb - EZPZ bowls (First Foods Set / Suction Bowl) https://amzn.to/4h4YDxR - Bapron baby bib (Smock Bib) https://amzn.to/4cYKboD Support our non-profit partner, Selfless Outreach, by visiting SelflessOutreach.org to help serve the underserved in our communities. If this episode helped you feel more confident, please subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with another parent who needs a boost of encouragement! Always remember to visit RisingParent.org for more parenting tips, resources, and expert guidance! #BabyLedWeaning #BLWFirstFoods #StartingSolids #FingerFoodsForInfants #RisingParentPodcast #BLWPrepGuide #SelfFeedingBaby #BabyMealtime #BabyFoodIdeas
10 MIN
SEP 21, 2026
The Ghost Credit Risk: How to Prevent and Detect Child Identity Theft
Protect your child's social security number from the ghost credit risk! Learn to prevent child identity theft and secure their bright future today. Imagine your teenager applying for a student loan, only to discover their kids credit score is ruined by defaulted debt. In this inspiring episode of The Rising Parent Podcast, hosts Tim and Edna tackle the silent epidemic of child identity theft. Scammers are increasingly pairing the clean SSNs of minors with fake names to commit synthetic identity theft. But you have the power to stop them! Protecting kids' financial future starts with a solid foundation in family financial planning. We break down the exact child credit freeze process so you can easily freeze minor credit profiles. You will learn how to navigate the credit bureaus for minors, including the specific steps to contact Equifax Experian TransUnion via certified mail. Empower yourself with actionable parenting financial tips focused on preventing identity fraud. We will show you how to request a child credit report to check for red flags, why safe document storage is essential at home, and the critical importance of shredding sensitive documents before they reach the trash. By taking these proactive steps, you are setting your child up for a lifetime of financial success and peace of mind. Products Mentioned in This Episode: - Amazon Basics 12-Sheet Cross-Cut Shredder https://amzn.to/46Tqbk1 - SentrySafe Fireproof and Waterproof Safe https://amzn.to/4hlAhik - Fireproof Document Bag https://amzn.to/4dPJGxt If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with other parents! For more resources and to support our mission, be sure to visit RisingParent.org! #ChildIdentityTheft #GhostCreditRisk #FamilyFinancialPlanning #ParentingTips #CreditRepair #IdentityTheftProtection #RisingParent
11 MIN
SEP 18, 2026
8 Secrets to Teaching Your Child to Play Independently for 30+ Minutes
Ready to reclaim your peace? Discover the magic of teaching independent play in today’s inspiring parenting podcast! In this episode, Tim and Edna reveal "8 Secrets to Teaching Your Child to Play Independently for 30+ Minutes." If you are overwhelmed work from home parents, we are here to help you reduce parent guilt and unlock the beauty of toddler independent play. We will teach you how to build cognitive endurance in your little ones so they can develop healthy independent play habits. You will learn exactly how to create a 100% child-proof yes space for toddlers that naturally invites curiosity. By minimizing toy clutter and setting up a simple toy rotation system, you can instantly cure toddler boredom and foster deep, imaginative toddler solo play. Looking for practical toddler behavior tips? We explain why you must stop entertaining toddler requests every single minute and instead step back to watch them thrive. Plus, discover how establishing a visual timer toddler routine with the Time Timer for kids can gently stretch their focus and transform your daily life. Products Mentioned in this Episode: - IRIS USA clear plastic storage bins https://link.amazon/B03Ath9l6 - Time Timer 60-minute visual timer https://amzn.to/3TdoaeZ Please consider supporting our featured non-profit, Selfless Outreach, by visiting SelflessOutreach.org. If this episode brought you value, please subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with a friend! For more resources, visit RisingParent.org! #ParentingPodcast #ToddlerIndependentPlay #WorkFromHomeParents #ToyRotationSystem #ToddlerBehavior #IndependentPlayHabits
11 MIN
SEP 14, 2026
5 Crucial Tummy Time Milestones and How to Help a Baby Who Hates It
If your baby hates tummy time, you aren't alone! Learn how to stop baby crying tummy time and turn early tears into joyful developmental triumphs. Welcome to the most uplifting episode of our parenting podcast! Today, hosts Tim and Edna share expert tummy time tips to transform this daily struggle into a beautiful bonding experience. We cover essential infant development stages and break down the 5 crucial tummy time milestones you need to celebrate, from newborn tummy time basics to confident rolling. Building baby core strength and early motor skills shouldn't be stressful. We'll explore inspiring tummy time alternatives like chest-to-chest holds and creative sensory play for babies. Learn how to use engaging tools like high contrast art cards or a tummy time water mat to keep your little one captivated. Worried about physical hurdles like torticollis in babies? We discuss how to spot developmental red flags and why seeking baby physical therapy can be an incredibly positive, empowering step for your child's growth. We also share how tools like the Boppy tummy time pillow can provide the perfect support to lift your baby's spirit and chest. Products mentioned in this episode to make tummy time fun: - Boppy Tummy Time Prop Pillow https://amzn.to/4xRrM5v - Wee Gallery High Contrast Art Cards https://amzn.to/4ila2dY - InFino Inflatable Tummy Time Water Mat https://amzn.to/4yF8aSl Please subscribe, share this episode with other parents, and leave us a 5-star review! Help us support families in need by donating to our mobile food bank at SelflessOutreach.org. And as always, remember to visit RisingParent.org for more empowering parenting resources and support! #TummyTimeMilestones #BabyHatesTummyTime #InfantDevelopment #ParentingPodcast #BabyCoreStrength #EarlyMotorSkills #TummyTimeTips #NewbornTummyTime
21 MIN