More than Milestones

Hosted by pediatric physical therapist, wife and mom of three, Dr. KC Rickerd, More Than Milestones is the podcast that goes beyond baby checklists and dives deep into real motherhood, real development, real relationships, and everything in between. Whether you’re supporting your baby’s motor development, navigating big kid emotions, or navigating a new stage of life & parenting, this show blends expert-backed education with the honest, unfiltered reality of motherhood. Each week, KC brings you conversations with trusted professionals—pediatricians, therapists, sleep and feeding experts, mental health pros, and more—plus raw, relatable stories from fellow moms and caregivers. No pressure to be perfect. Just honest conversations, support, humor, and community for the journey you’re on. If you're looking for clarity, connection, and a reminder that while supporting our children’s developm

More than Milestones is a kids podcast hosted by Kaitlin Rickerd, with 46 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Kaitlin Rickerd hosts More than Milestones, a kids show with 46 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #45

  45. Are Babies Actually Different Now, or Is Everything Around Them? What's Really Behind the Shift in Baby Development (Part 2 with Carly Clearwater)

  Sep 22, 202650 minS1

  Six weeks. Eight weeks. That's when so many of us are back at work, pumping in a bathroom or a shuttle bus or wherever we can grab a few minutes. Nobody tells you that stretch, the schedule, the container time, how much of a village you actually have, is quietly shaping how your baby moves and grows too. This is part two of the conversation I started with my mom about how infant milestones have shifted across generations. Last time, what changed. This time, I sat down with Carly Clearwater, a pediatric occupational therapist and lactation consultant who works with infants and their families, and the founder of ClearPath OT in New Jersey, to get into why. We talk about what going back to work that early actually does to breastfeeding, and why the "convenience" products on the shelf exist because families genuinely need them, not because anyone's doing something wrong. We get into how social media can take one rare, scary video and make it feel like something about to happen to your own baby, and why the "village" we're missing isn't really about who lives nearby anymore. And we talk about something I think about constantly in my own practice: how one small, early thing, like a baby who hates tummy time because of reflux, can quietly snowball if nobody catches it early. Carly walks through what early intervention actually is, why you can usually self-refer for a free evaluation, and how to spot a typical hard stretch versus something worth a closer look. If part one left you finally able to stop second guessing your gut, I think this one does the same thing, just from the why behind it. More about Carly: Carly Clearwater, OTR/L, IBCLC is a pediatric occupational therapist and international board certified lactation consultant, in addition to her role as a mom of two toddlers. She's passionate about helping parents confidently support their babies through all their daily occupations (eat, sleep, poop, and play) to build a strong foundation for continued development. Website: clearpathotservices.com Instagram: @clear.path.ot Resources mentioned in this episode: Free baby containers guide: idyllic-hat-942.myflodesk.com/baby-containers-guide Early intervention contact info by state (CDC): cdc.gov/act-early/early-intervention/contact-information-by-state Connect with me: Website: milestonesandmotherhood.com Instagram: @milestones.and.motherhood and @more.than.milestones ✍️ Substack: https://substack.com/@morethanmilestones Tummy Time Masterclass: https://milestonesandmotherhood.com/tummy-time ️ Amazon storefront: https://a.co/d/03ucPZbo ✉️ For sponsorship or guest inquiries: podcast@milestonesandmotherhood.com If this one helped make sense of the shift you've been feeling, follow the show and leave a rating or review. It genuinely helps more parents find these conversations. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Meet Carly Clearwater, pediatric OT and lactation consultant (part two of the generations conversation) 01:31 – Are babies actually different, or is the environment different? 02:57 – Why this isn't about blaming parents 05:56 – The four building blocks of infant development: eat, sleep, poop, play 07:21 – Why development is all connected (the reflux → tummy time snowball) 09:19 – Going back to work at six and eight weeks postpartum 12:16 – How early return to work affects breastfeeding 15:40 – Container use, busier schedules, and losing the line of moderation 16:54 – Social media, misinformation, and the "age of parenting anxiety" 19:11 – Baby wearing as a modern compromise (and its own misinformation problem) 20:49 – The lack of village and what "community" really means now 26:13 – What's missing without generational modeling 29:02 – The difference between a delay and atypical development 33:10 – Why preventative care beats reactive care 34:55 – A real example of how one missed early step snowballs 37:24 – How to self-refer to early intervention (and why it's often free) 39:05 – The lactation visit most insurance covers that almost no one uses 41:46 – What parents can actually do: real, practical solutions 43:51 – Yellow flags vs. red flags 44:45 – Normalizing floor time and tummy time today

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  Episode #44

  44. Baby Milestones Then vs. Now: What’s Changed & Why - Perspectives from a Pediatric PT of 40+ Years

  Sep 15, 202650 minS1

  Bonus Episode: My Mom, the OG Pediatric PT, on What Tummy Time Really Looked Like Surprise! This one's a bonus episode, and it's personal. I sat down with the OG pediatric PT herself, my mom, Susan Świat, who spent 40 years in early intervention, to talk about what parenting actually looked like before the Back to Sleep campaign changed everything and before the baby container industry figured out how to profit off of new parents being scared. We get into why babies used to sleep and play on their stomachs without anyone calling it "tummy time," how swings, bouncers, and car seats quietly created something called container baby syndrome, the real rise in torticollis and flat spots on baby's heads, and why crawling was recently and quietly pulled from the pediatrician's milestone checklist without much explanation. If you've ever second guessed your gut because of something you saw online, I think this conversation is going to bring you a lot of relief. Connect with me: Website: milestonesandmotherhood.com Instagram: @milestones.and.motherhood and @more.than.milestones ✍️ Substack: https://substack.com/@morethanmilestones Tummy Time Masterclass: https://milestonesandmotherhood.com/tummy-time ️ Amazon storefront: https://a.co/d/03ucPZbo ✉️ For sponsorship or guest inquiries: podcast@milestonesandmotherhood.com If this one gave you a little relief about trusting your gut, follow the show and leave a rating or review, it genuinely helps more moms find us. There's a part two coming soon with an OT's take on all of this too. ⏱️ Timestamps (00:00) Meet the OG pediatric PT: my mom, Susan (02:00) What sleep and tummy time looked like before Back to Sleep (05:30) How the baby container industry capitalized on new parent fear (08:15) What container baby syndrome actually means (12:00) The rise in torticollis, plagiocephaly, and baby helmets (16:00) What cultural differences taught her about early movement (19:30) Screens, tablets, and losing the instinct to just play with your baby (23:00) Milestone ranges then vs. now, and why crawling quietly disappeared from screenings (27:30) Why crawling matters more than people realize (31:00) Growing up anxious in the social media era vs. her generation (34:30) Her advice for new moms and new therapists

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  Episode #43

  43. What 8.5 Years of Not Sleep Training Taught Me About Trusting My Gut (Season 1 Finale)

  Jul 28, 202619 minS1

  After eight and a half years of helping my three kids fall asleep every single night, no sleep training, no cry it out, this past weekend they told me they were ready to try it on their own. This is the story of that night, what I didn't expect to feel, and the honest update on what's happened since I'm getting real about what it took to trust my gut through years of doubt, comments, and exhausted nights, sleep trained or not, and why this is the first thing in parenting I have zero regrets about. If you're in the thick of sleepless nights right now and unsure which way to go, or tired of people weighing in on your choices, this one's for you. In this episode, you'll hear: Our sleep backstory: 8.5 years of no sleep training, and how we made it work What it actually felt like the night my kids said they were ready to sleep on their own Why trusting my gut on this one decision became my anchor through years of doubt The honest, unexpected update on what happened just days later My biggest advice if you're in the thick of sleepless nights right now, no matter which path you're on This also happens to be our season one finale, and I could not be more grateful for this community. Thank you for listening, sharing, and being here. If there's a topic, guest, or story you want next season, please send it my way Connect with me: Website: milestonesandmotherhood.com Instagram: @milestones.and.motherhood and @more.than.milestones ✍️ Substack: https://substack.com/@morethanmilestones Tummy Time Masterclass: https://milestonesandmotherhood.com/tummy-time ️ Amazon storefront: https://a.co/d/03ucPZbo ✉️ For sponsorship or guest inquiries: podcast@milestonesandmotherhood.com LMNT: http://drinklmnt.com/MILESTONE Get a free 8-count Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular drink mix flavors with any purchase. If you loved this episode: ⭐ Please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a parent who needs to hear it See you next season on More Than Milestones!

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  Episode #42

  42. Beyond Stretching and Exercises: How the Nervous System Impacts Pain, Movement & Your Child's Development with Taylor Kruse

  Jul 7, 202642 minS1

  I am so excited to share this conversation with you 🎙️ I sat down with Taylor Kruse, co-founder of Kruse Elite and a strength and mobility coach specializing in applied neurology, and honestly, this episode opened my eyes in ways I wasn't expecting, even as a physical therapist myself. We break down why so many pain and movement issues actually start in the nervous system, not the muscle or joint we tend to blame. Taylor walks me through the difference between "inputs" (the sensory information your brain takes in through vision, touch, and the vestibular system) and "outputs" (the movement, posture, or pain you actually experience), and why changing the input is often the fastest way to change the output. I share one of my favorite examples from my own practice 👶, why a "torticollis" diagnosis is sometimes actually a vision issue in disguise, and we get into why the vestibular system plays such a huge role in muscle tone, gait, and posture in kids. If you have ever felt like you were just told to "stretch it out" or "give it time" without anyone explaining the why behind your child's movement pattern, this one is for you 💛 And if you're a healthcare or movement professional who has sensed there's more going on than the textbook explains, I think you're really going to love this. In this episode, you'll learn: 📝 - What applied neurology and applied kinesiology actually mean, explained in plain language - The difference between sensory "inputs" and movement "outputs" and why it matters - Why the vestibular (inner ear) system can directly affect muscle tone, posture, and gait - A real example from my own caseload of how a vision issue can be misdiagnosed as torticollis - Why fast, dramatic results from nervous system work aren't a "hack," they're a sign the brain feels safer - How applied neurology can apply to pediatric populations, and what that looks like in practice - How to evaluate whether a provider is qualified in this space, and where the field is headed Connect with Taylor Kruse: 🔗 📸 Instagram: @kruseelite 🎧 Podcast: The KRUSE ELITE Podcast 📚 Courses: Neuro Foundations and The Neuro Dojo (https://www.kruseelite.com/) Connect with me: 💛 🌐 Website: milestonesandmotherhood.com 📸 Instagram: @milestones.and.motherhood and @more.than.milestones ✍️ Substack: https://substack.com/@morethanmilestones 🍼 Tummy Time Masterclass: https://milestonesandmotherhood.com/tummy-time 🛍️ Amazon storefront: https://a.co/d/03ucPZbo ✉️ For sponsorship or guest inquiries: podcast@milestonesandmotherhood.com If you loved this episode: ⭐ Please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a parent or provider who needs to hear it 🙏 New episodes of More Than Milestones drop every other Tuesday!

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  Episode #41

  41. Raising a Highly Sensitive Child: The Neuroscience of Big Feelings with Dr. Aoife Durcan

  Jun 23, 202641 minS1

  Raising highly sensitive children: the neuroscience of big feelings, co-regulation, and supporting sensitive kids. In this episode of More Than Milestones, I am joined by Dr. Aoife Durcan, chartered counseling psychologist, author of Your Highly Sensitive Child , and founder of Highly Sensitive Psychologist, to explore what it really means to raise a highly sensitive child. Roughly 30% of children are born with a finely tuned nervous system that processes the world more deeply, feels emotions more intensely, and is more attuned to subtle changes in their environment. Drawing on both her clinical work and her experience parenting three highly sensitive boys, Dr. Durcan breaks down the neuroscience behind sensory processing sensitivity and offers compassionate, practical guidance for parents who feel like their child experiences everything more. Together, we talk about why some babies are so hard to soothe and what that means for postpartum mental health, the difference between high sensitivity and neurodivergence, and why co-regulation matters so much for these kids. We also get into emotional dysregulation, the "window of tolerance," holding boundaries without breaking connection, and how supporting a sensitive child early builds confident, self-assured adults. If you are a highly sensitive parent, raising a deeply feeling child, or simply trying to understand the big emotions in your home, this conversation will leave you feeling seen, validated, and equipped. In this episode, we cover: What sensory processing sensitivity actually is, from a neuroscience perspective Why roughly 30% of kids are born highly sensitive How high sensitivity shows up in babies and what it means for postpartum mental health The difference between high sensitivity and neurodivergence (and why the distinction matters) Why co-regulation is so important for a highly sensitive child Understanding the "window of tolerance" and emotional dysregulation How to become a "sensory detective" for your child and yourself Setting and holding boundaries without harming connection Why supporting sensitive kids early builds confident, resilient adults Neuroplasticity, repair, and why it is never too late to change your approach The number one thing every parent of a sensitive child should know Sensitivity is not a weakness to fix. It is a trait to understand and nurture. When we lean in, co-regulate, and help our children feel seen, we raise kids who grow into adults who feel assured in exactly who they are. Chapters / Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome & introducing Dr. Aoife Durcan 00:34 – Aoife's background and her own highly sensitive boys 01:33 – The neuroscience: what high sensitivity actually is 04:52 – Sensing subtle shifts in tone (KC & Aoife's real-life examples) 07:14 – High sensitivity vs. neurodivergence: is there a difference? 08:57 – Just how common is it? (the 30% figure) 09:40 – What parents notice, including in babies 12:31 – Postpartum mental health and hard-to-soothe babies 14:28 – Why co-regulation matters so much 18:02 – When siblings feel the same thing differently 19:12 – Beyond the physical: the relationship is everything 22:10 – Emotional dysregulation and the "bucket" that overflows 23:40 – The window of tolerance & becoming a "sensory detective" 28:12 – "The only kid who won't leave my lap" and why support pays off 30:05 – Repair, neuroplasticity, and hope for parents 31:58 – Holding boundaries without breaking connection 36:03 – You don't have to say the perfect thing 37:27 – The number one thing every parent should know 39:26 – Where to find Dr. Durcan and her book Connect with Dr. Aoife Durcan: 📖 Book: Your Highly Sensitive Child https://www.amazon.com/Your-Highly-Sensitive-Child-overwhelming/dp/1804581585 📱 Instagram: @highlysensitivepsychologist 💻 Website: https://www.instituteofhighsensitivity.com/ Connect with KC and Milestones & Motherhood: 💻 Website & Blog: https://www.milestonesandmotherhood.com/ 📱 Follow KC: @milestones.and.motherhood 🎧 Follow the podcast: @more.than.milestones.pod 📬 Subscribe to the newsletter: https://idyllic-hat-942.myflodesk.com/fwefz61097 🛒 Shop KC's favorites: https://links.milestonesandmotherhood.com/amazon/amazonstorefrontmm 🔥 Go deeper with KC on Substack — More Than Milestones: Unfiltered is my subscription channel where I release 2 exclusive bonus episodes every month. Even more raw, unfiltered motherhood conversations you will not hear anywhere else. https://substack.com/@morethanmilestones 🤝 Sponsor or guest inquiries? Contact us at podcast@milestonesandmotherhood.com Love this episode? It would mean so much if you: ⭐ Rate and review the podcast 🎧 Follow or subscribe so you do not miss an episode 📲 Share this episode with a friend who is navigating the same questions LMNT: Get a free 8-count Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular drink mix flavors with any purchase at http://drinklmnt.com/MILESTONE . Find your favorite LMNT flavor, or share with a friend.

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