Starting solids can mess with your head, even if it’s not your first baby. Scarlette just turned six months, and I’m right back in that place of feeling excited, overwhelmed, and weirdly intimidated by the whole process especially after our past feeding struggles. So I brought on someone I trust: Bridget Levine, a certified child nutritionist and mom of two who’s known for keeping baby nutrition simple, nutrient-dense, and realistic for actual busy parents.

We get into what baby’s first foods can look like when you prioritize iron, zinc, healthy fats, choline, and omegas instead of trying to build a perfect Pinterest plate. Bridget explains why she starts with savory foods like meat stock, liver, bone marrow, and egg yolk, how to think about fruit without making it the foundation, and why tiny portions once or twice a day are plenty at the beginning. We also talk baby-led weaning vs spoon-feeding (and why a flexible mix often works best), plus a practical way to introduce allergens like peanut and egg without spiraling.

If you want a low-stress meal prep strategy, Bridget breaks down her “cook once, freeze into cubes” system and what meals can look like from 6 months to toddlerhood.

If this helped you breathe a little easier, subscribe, share this with a mom who’s about to start solids, and leave a review so more parents can find these conversations.

More Of What We Discuss:
• starting solids around six months and keeping portions tiny
• why meat stock and bone marrow are essential foods to start with and how to prep them
• why building a savory palate is important BEFORE leaning on fruit
• choosing baby-led weaning, spoon-feeding, or a mix based on the baby
• focusing on iron, zinc, healthy fats, choline, and omegas early
• understanding why iron needs change around six months
• introducing allergens with a plan and repeating exposures
• using pouches strategically and picking higher-protein options
• supporting chewing, jaw strength, and oral motor skills
• sharing the reality of major feeding and sensory challenges
• batch cooking once a month and freezing foods into cubes
• what meals can look like at nine months, twelve months, and toddlerhood

Follow Bridget’s account and grab her Baby’s First Foods ebook HERE and free allergy guide on Instagram at @bridgetmlevine

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You asked, I’m spilling. In this episode of Spill the Milk, I’m answering your questions about everything from surviving two under two and transitioning from one child to two, to postpartum anxiety, mom guilt, toddler sleep, family travel, and all the everyday decisions no one really prepares you for.

We start with a little life update—summer chaos, craving routine again, and why the state of my house has an alarming amount of control over my mood. Then we get into the bigger questions: How do you make sure your first child still feels seen when a new baby arrives? What actually helps when you’re pregnant with your second and feel like you’ve forgotten everything? And is balancing self-care with three kids a real thing—or are we all just doing our best?

I’m sharing the mindset shifts and practical strategies that have helped me through pregnancy, postpartum, and raising three little ones—including why a postpartum support plan is far more helpful than panic-Googling at 2 a.m., how I separate mom guilt from the kind of guilt that might actually be telling me something, and my honest thoughts on postpartum recovery, fatigue, and the pressure to “bounce back.”

We also get into:

• Surviving two under two and going from one child to two
• Helping your oldest adjust to a new baby
• Making time for yourself when traditional “balance” isn’t realistic
• Pregnancy fears, postpartum anxiety, and avoiding social media spirals
• Returning to movement when you’re exhausted
• Bottles and formula feeding on the go
• Thumb sucking and starting a consistent bedtime routine
• Managing toddler sleep during international travel
• ISR, swim safety, and the role of continued swim lessons
• Deciding when preschool feels right
• How we handle bedtime with multiple kids
• Choosing a first home and neighborhood for a growing family

As always, these aren’t perfect-parent answers—they’re what has worked, what hasn’t, and what I’ve learned while mostly winging it alongside you. Pour the milk, grab the coffee, and let’s get into it.

Follow The Milk Podcast on all platforms for weekly episodes that remind you you're not alone, you're not crazy, and you're doing way better than you think.

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Four and a half years engaged, three kids later… WE’RE FINALLY GETTING MARRIED!

Scotty is back on the mic for a very overdue life update, and we’re finally sharing all the details behind our decision to get married, why we waited this long, and why the timing suddenly feels so right.

We get into our slightly unconventional timeline of getting engaged, having three babies, surviving pregnancy and postpartum approximately 400 times, and then planning a wedding. For a long time, the idea of adding wedding planning to everything else going on in our lives felt more stressful than exciting—and we always said we wanted to wait until it felt like something we genuinely couldn’t wait to do. Well… we’re finally there.

We’re sharing why we chose a destination wedding in Italy, how we want our kids incorporated into the entire experience, and what we’re actually prioritizing when it comes to the wedding. Plus, our introduction to the absolutely unhinged world of wedding pricing because apparently flowers can cost the same as a small car??? Fun!

Then, naturally, we spiral into life with three kids. We compare going from zero to one, one to two, and two to three kids (and have some VERY different opinions on which transition was hardest), talk about how important having support has been for us, and catch you up on the latest chaos happening in our house.

Including Aspen’s first preschool “boyfriend,” the body spray incident that turned into an elaborate four-year-old cover-up, Bash turning THREE and our ongoing battle to potty train him, Scarlette’s latest baby updates, sleep training, surviving summer break, and the backyard construction project that may or may not ever end.

Basically: wedding bells, three kids, preschool drama, potty training, and general parental chaos. Just another day at The Milk.

In this episode, we get into:

• Why we’re finally getting married after 4.5 years engaged
• Why having kids before marriage ended up being the right timeline for us
• Our destination wedding in Italy + why the location is so meaningful
• Making the wedding feel like a celebration of our whole family
• Going from 0→1, 1→2 and 2→3 kids—and which was actually hardest
• Aspen’s body spray incident and subsequent web of lies
• Her first preschool crush (and our amateur detective work)
• Bash turning three + why potty training a boy is testing us
• Scarlette’s latest milestones + our sleep training update
• Surviving summer with three kids and a backyard still under construction

Subscribe to The Milk wherever you listen to podcasts so you don’t miss what’s coming next!

Follow The Milk Podcast on all platforms for weekly episodes that remind you you're not alone, you're not crazy, and you're doing way better than you think.

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Sleep training might be one of the most controversial topics in motherhood — but does it really mean shutting the door and letting your baby cry until they fall asleep? Spoiler alert: no.

This week, I’m sitting down with pediatric sleep consultant Iliana Pineda, who has personally helped our family through multiple stages of baby sleep, to break down everything you actually need to know about sleep training.

We’re talking Sleep Training 101: what it really means to teach your baby independent sleep, the biggest misconceptions (including the dreaded “cry it out” debate), how to know when your baby is ready, and the different methods you can use depending on your baby’s temperament and what feels right for your family.

Iliana also breaks down the science behind baby sleep in a way that actually makes sense — from wake windows and sleep pressure to circadian rhythm, short naps, early morning wake-ups, and that infamous four-month sleep regression.

And because every exhausted parent has found themselves Googling a VERY specific sleep question at 2 a.m., we end with a rapid-fire listener Q&A covering some of the most common baby and toddler sleep struggles.

In this episode, we get into:

• What sleep training actually is — and what it isn’t
• The biggest myths and misconceptions surrounding sleep training
• The four common methods: extinction, check-ins, chair method + pick-up/put-down
• How to figure out which approach may work best for your baby and your family
• When babies are developmentally ready for sleep training
• Wake windows, sleep pressure + circadian rhythm explained
• Why sleep can suddenly fall apart around four months
• How daytime activity and schedules can impact nighttime sleep
• The benefits of independent sleep for babies, parents + the entire family
• Why consistency is one of the biggest pieces of successful sleep training
• Early morning wake-ups, short naps + overnight feeds
• Babies who only want to sleep while nursing or being held
• Toddler sleep struggles + needing a parent in the room
• Transitioning from the Snoo to a crib and from a swaddle to a sleep sack
• Teething, regressions + what to do when life inevitably throws off the schedule

Whether you’re considering sleep training, currently in the thick of it, or just trying to understand why the heck your baby won’t sleep longer than 30 minutes, this episode is packed with practical information you can actually use — without the judgment or one-size-fits-all advice.

And if you decide to reach out to Iliana for some extra sleep support, make sure to tell her you heard her on The Milk or found her through me!

Reach out to Iliana:

Email: ncsservices2019@gmail.com

Follow The Milk Podcast on all platforms for weekly episodes that remind you you're not alone, you're not crazy, and you're doing way better than you think.

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YouTube: @TheMilkPodcast

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Sleep training sounds great in theory… until you’re sitting outside your baby’s room on night one, realizing just how hard it is to watch them learn a brand-new skill, while the “oh my gosh, what have I signed up for?!” thoughts start creeping in. Spoiler alert: a few days later, I couldn’t believe the difference — and for us, it was SO worth it.

In this episode, I’m taking you through our real, unfiltered experience sleep training Scarlette at 15 weeks old — from a brutal first night to the moment everything finally started to click.

I’m breaking down exactly what happened night by night and nap by nap: how long she cried, how often she woke up, the methods we used to comfort her, the little schedule changes that made a surprisingly big difference, and the moment we realized she was actually learning how to put herself to sleep.

Because even when you feel confident in your decision, sleep training can still be hard. Learning any new skill comes with an adjustment period, and for us, those difficult first few days were worth it when we saw the end result: a happier, more rested baby who had learned a new skill — and a much calmer household because of it.

This isn’t a “how-to” guide or me telling you how to sleep train your baby. It’s simply our diary: what worked, what didn’t, what surprised me, and what I wish I knew before night one.

In this episode:
• Why we decided to sleep train at 15 weeks
• Our approach to “gentle” sleep training and timed check-ins
• The full play-by-play of nights 1, 2 & 3
• The crying, wake-ups and moments that were the hardest
• Nap training + the tiny schedule tweak that changed everything
• The sleep habits we had to break along the way
• When we first saw Scarlette start to self-soothe
• What her sleep and schedule look like now
• Why those difficult first few days were so worth it for our family

If you’re in the thick of baby sleep, considering sleep training, or just wildly curious about what those first few nights actually look like — this one’s for you.

Follow The Milk Podcast on all platforms for weekly episodes that remind you you're not alone, you're not crazy, and you're doing way better than you think.

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YouTube: @TheMilkPodcast

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Twelve weeks postpartum is supposed to feel like a turning point, but what if it feels… weirder? I’m officially past the “fourth trimester,” and I still don’t feel magically restored. My hormones are doing their own thing, my anxiety flares when I try to control the uncontrollable, and just when I think our routine is set, my baby changes the rules again. If you’ve ever wondered why postpartum recovery doesn’t come with a clear end date, you’re going to feel seen here. I share what’s hard right now, what’s getting better, and the mindset shifts that help me stop racing my own recovery.

I talk honestly about the pressure to bounce back and why I don’t buy the idea that postpartum is a competition. We get into the real factors that shape healing, including birth recovery, mental health, and baby temperament. I also share my decision to stop breastfeeding and pumping at eight weeks, how a cow’s milk protein allergy influenced that choice, and the practical antibody insight that helped me release a ton of feeding guilt.

Then we zoom into the day-to-day: inconsistent newborn sleep, developmental leaps, treating reflux, nap refusal, babywearing exhaustion, and the comparison trap when other babies “sleep through the night.” I also tell the story of flying alone with my newborn, what I packed, what surprised me, and why traveling with a baby can actually build confidence. If you’re in the messy middle of postpartum anxiety, body changes, and identity shifts, hit play, then subscribe, share with a mom who needs it, and leave a quick review with your biggest 12-week postpartum surprise.

More Of What's Discussed:
• redefining postpartum as a long season, not a deadline
• letting go of bounce back pressure and postpartum comparison
• stopping breastfeeding at eight weeks, processing mom guilt, choosing what works
• navigating cow’s milk protein allergy, pumping and storing milk for antibodies, leaning on formula
• newborn sleep reality, leaps, reflux symptoms, and what changed after medication
• crib nap refusal, babywearing fatigue, and why “sleep when the baby sleeps” can feel impossible
• flying solo with a baby, what helped, and how people actually respond
• the 12-week “in between” stage: not survival mode, not fully yourself
• body changes, body indifference, postpartum workouts for strength, and shifting personal style
• healing not being linear, and celebrating the wins you’ve already earned

As always, DM me with any questions, anything you want to hear about on the podcast, any special guest you want to hear from. xo Tayla

Follow The Milk Podcast on all platforms for weekly episodes that remind you you're not alone, you're not crazy, and you're doing way better than you think.

Follow & Subscribe For More:
YouTube: @TheMilkPodcast

Instagram: @TheMilkPodcast_@TaylaBurke
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Two hours of sleep will tell you the truth faster than any journal ever could. At eight weeks postpartum, I’m sharing where I’m actually at: exhausted, deeply in love with my baby, and fully aware that having three kids four and under is stretching me in ways I didn’t expect. If you’re in the newborn trenches, I want you to hear this clearly: struggling can exist right next to gratitude, and you don’t have to pretend you’re fine to be a good mom.

We get into the hard logistics and the emotional weight of postpartum life with a baby who has reflux, fights naps, and prefers contact naps in the carrier. I talk about learning Scarlette has a cow’s milk protein allergy, the trial-and-error of finding a formula that works, and trying reflux medicine while we wait for real relief. I also share the not-talked-about-enough stuff: newborn gas around weeks six to eight, the “newborn bubble” popping after the first month, and why simply getting out of the house can be a mental health lifeline during postpartum recovery.

Then we pivot to two stories that sum up motherhood perfectly: my chaotic attempt at newborn photos in San Diego, and our first family-of-five trip to Mexico, which was going great until Scarlette spiked a 103.8 fever overnight. I walk through the fear, the decisions, and how much more confident my mom instincts feel the third time around. We also touch on the six-week postpartum checkup, pelvic floor weakness after returning to workouts, and the constant anxiety of older siblings bringing home germs from school.

If any of this hits home, listen all the way through and share it with a mom who needs a reality check and a little hope. Subscribe to The Milk, leave a review, and tell me what part of postpartum feels hardest for you right now.

Follow The Milk Podcast on all platforms for weekly episodes that remind you you're not alone, you're not crazy, and you're doing way better than you think.

Follow & Subscribe For More:
YouTube: @TheMilkPodcast

Instagram: @TheMilkPodcast_@TaylaBurke
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What if postpartum recovery started with food? We sit down with Holly Stein, founder of Restorative Roots, to talk about the part of postpartum care that too many of us never get taught: food that actually supports healing, digestion, hormones, and mood after birth (and the ones that DO NOT).

Holly shares how her first postpartum left her depleted and struggling, then explains what changed when she discovered the “First 40 Days” framework rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda. We get specific about what warm, easy-to-digest meals do for a postpartum body, why bone broth shows up in so many traditional cultures, and which nutrients moms are commonly low in after delivery, including iron, omega-3s, magnesium, B vitamins, and collagen-building amino acids.

We also talk practical postpartum meal prep, comforting freezer-friendly options, and the reality that recovery still matters even if you are months postpartum and feel like it is “too late.” If you’re pregnant, planning a baby shower gift, or craving a postpartum redemption, this conversation will help you build a plan that feeds the mom first, without guilt.

More Of What We Cover:

• Holly’s first postpartum experience and what felt missing

• Why warm soups and stews matter in early postpartum recovery

• How Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda frame the first 40 days

• Key postpartum nutrients and how depletion can affect mood and energy

• Bone broth, healthy fats, organ meats, and warming spices as recovery staples

• Herbal tea blends for replenishment and daily support

• Meal prep ideas like breakfast burritos and energy balls for the freezer

• How Restorative Roots ships frozen postpartum meals nationwide

• The mental load of motherhood and why planning postpartum changes everything

Check out Restorative Roots for your own postpartum healing or to gift a friend for theirs!

www.restorativeroots.com

Use discount code: TAYLABURKE10

Subscribe for more honest motherhood conversations, share this with a friend who is pregnant or newly postpartum, and leave a review so more moms can find the support they deserve.

Follow The Milk Podcast on all platforms for weekly episodes that remind you you're not alone, you're not crazy, and you're doing way better than you think.

Follow & Subscribe For More:
YouTube: @TheMilkPodcast

Instagram: @TheMilkPodcast_@TaylaBurke
TikTok: @TheMilkPodcast @Tayla_Burke