More than Milestones

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 Swiat, 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

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!

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!

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:
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Inclusive playgrounds, accessibility, and why play matters for everyone.
In this episode of More Than Milestones, I am joined by Cody Goldberg, co-founder and Chief Play Officer of Harper's Playground, to explore the power of inclusive playgrounds and why accessible play spaces are about so much more than play.
Inspired by his daughter Harper's experience navigating the world with a rare genetic disability, Cody shares how a simple moment at a local playground sparked a movement to transform communities through radically inclusive design. Together, we discuss the difference between ADA compliance and true accessibility, the importance of designing spaces that foster belonging, and how thoughtful play environments can benefit people of all ages and abilities.
This conversation challenges us to think beyond ramps and regulations and consider what it really means to create communities where everyone feels welcome, connected, and included.
If you are passionate about accessibility, disability inclusion, child development, community connection, or creating spaces where all people can thrive, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we cover:
• The story behind Harper's Playground and how one family's experience sparked a global movement
• Why accessible playgrounds are about belonging, not just compliance
• The difference between ADA compliant and truly inclusive design
• How playgrounds impact child development, social skills, and emotional growth
• Why play is a fundamental human need across the lifespan
• The hidden barriers that exist in many public spaces
• How nature, community, and thoughtful design create better play experiences
• The connection between inclusive spaces and reducing social isolation
• What makes a playground physically, socially, and emotionally inviting
• Practical steps for advocating for an inclusive playground in your own community
• The future of accessibility and inclusive public spaces

Inclusive design is not about creating separate spaces for people with disabilities. It is about building communities where everyone belongs. When we design for connection, accessibility, and play, we create environments that benefit all of us.

Connect with G Cody QJ Goldberg and Harper’s Playground:
💻 Website: https://www.harpersplayground.org/ 
📱 Harper’s Playground: https://www.instagram.com/harpersplayground/ 
🔗LinkedIn: G Cody QJ Goldberg

Connect with KC and Milestones & Motherhood:
💻 Website & Blog:
 https://www.milestonesandmotherhood.com/
📱 Follow KC for daily motor milestone tips and parenting support:
 https://www.instagram.com/milestones.and.motherhood/
🎧 Follow podcast updates and new episode drops:
 https://www.instagram.com/more.than.milestones/
📬 Join the email list for milestone tips and podcast updates
 https://idyllic-hat-942.myflodesk.com/fwefz61097
🛒 Shop KC’s favorite mom and baby finds:
 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