Transforming Toddlerhood - by Devon Kuntzman (Hardcover)

About the Book

Navigating Toddlerhood: Practical Solutions for Everyday Challenges.

Book Synopsis

Feeling overwhelmed by tantrums, sleep struggles, hitting, and potty training? In this groundbreaking quick-reference guide, toddler expert Devon Kuntzman provides the recipe for effective, healthy discipline to help your child finally listen and to make parenting so much easier.

Toddlerhood does not have to be terrible. Yes, sometimes it feels terrible, but it's actually one of the most important developmental stages of your child's life! Many of the behaviors labeled as "bad" are actually totally normal, so how you respond matters. It sets the foundation for your child's resilience, emotional regulation, and sense of self. Many parents want to do the right thing but are at a loss for how to discipline their children in an effective, developmentally smart way, and most parenting books gloss over this formative stage.

Enter Devon Kuntzman, PCC, a globally recognized toddler expert and the original toddler parenting coach on Instagram. Devon is one of the leading voices redefining what it means to parent kids ages one to five. Drawing from her years of experience helping tens of thousands of families worldwide, Devon has created the ultimate parenting manual you wish came with your toddler.

In Transforming Toddlerhood, you'll find bite-sized chapters packed with actionable advice, toddler tips, red flags, and easy-to-use scripts to respond effectively to everyday shenanigans. From understanding what's driving your child's behavior to surviving tantrums and encouraging independence, Devon gives you the tools to set clear, respectful limits while staying patient and teaching essential life skills. But what sets this book apart is its emphasis on working with your child's development, not against it.

You'll discover

• How to set clear, respectful limits without bribes, threats, or yelling
• Why your toddler's most frustrating behavior is actually developmentally appropriate
• The best strategies to handle power struggles, defiance, and "NO!" with more patience and less stress
• Your role as a parent and how to let go of "perfect parent" pressure
• Exactly what to say and do in tough moments with easy-to-follow scripts
• How to break cycles of fear-based or permissive parenting (even if your partner is unsupportive)
• Perfectly organized chapters so you can flip straight to what you need, when you need it
• The key to raising emotionally healthy, independent kids--and enjoying parenting along the way

Plus, this book holds answers to 27 of the most common toddler challenges!

Whether you're a parent, caregiver, or educator, this is a go-to resource specifically for these critical (and often chaotic) toddler years, so you can feel confident, patient, and connected, no matter what gets (literally) thrown your way.

Review Quotes

'A straightforward and empowering guide for parents, this book offers practical tools to regulate your own emotions while helping your toddler learn to do the same. Compassionate in tone, while grounded in research, it's a gift to every overwhelmed parent and caregiver. A must-read for anyone who wants to raise emotionally healthy kids while nurturing their own well-being.'--Christopher Willard, PhD, Harvard Medical School, author of Growing Up Mindful, Alphabreaths, and Feelings are Like Farts

'I call the twos the 'teachable twos, ' and Devon thinks the same. In Transforming Toddlerhood, she gives you practical scripts and tools to stay calm, hold space, and truly understand what's underneath the meltdown. As a mom of twins who's learned that emotional regulation starts with your own emotional regulation and presence, I found this book to be a game changer.'--Hilary Swank, actress, storyteller, mom of twins

'It's a great book to refer to when you feel stuck with your toddler--calm, respectful, and very aligned with Montessori values.'--Simone Davies, author of The Montessori Toddler

'More than anything, Transforming Toddlerhood is a toolkit. Parents can come back to it again and again to help them navigate the power struggles, big emotions, and growing independence that come with this important stage of development.'--Jessica Rolph, cofounder and CEO of Lovevery

'Raising resilient, thriving kids starts with connection--not control. As a holistic pediatrician, I see how overwhelmed parents can feel navigating tantrums, power struggles, sensory overload, and emotional meltdowns. In Transforming Toddlerhood, Devon Kuntzman offers a compassionate, science-backed road map that helps parents navigate toddlerhood with clarity, connection, and confidence. A must-read for every parent who wants to support their child's emotional well-being from the start.'--Dr. Elisa Song, MD, integrative pediatrician and bestselling author of Healthy Kids, Happy Kids

'Rooted in solid brain science and deep respect for both kids and their caregivers, Transforming Toddlerhood makes big concepts like emotional regulation feel clear and offers practical strategies you can start using today. Devon shows you that toddlerhood isn't just a difficult phase to survive--she explains why toddlers do what they do and how to respond in ways that actually help (without making you feel like you've been doing it all wrong). This book will help you see your child's behavior with more understanding, respond with more calm and confidence, and even enjoy this wild ride a little more.--Lane Rebelo, LCSW, best-selling author of Baby Sign Language Made Easy

'This is the guide I wish I'd had when my daughter was a toddler! Devon Kuntzman is the Toddler Whisperer, and she shares all her secrets in this very clear and digestible guide. Devon's approach is exactly the compassionate and firm perspective that toddler parents need to create positive, life-long relationships. With easy-to-follow bite-sized lessons, Transforming Toddlerhood will help the most sleep-deprived toddler parent. From a Mindful Parenting perspective, I heartily endorse Transforming Toddlerhood!'--Hunter Clarke-Fields, bestselling author of Raising Good Humans and host of the Mindful Mama Podcast

'Toddlers aren't tiny tyrants--they're just little humans with big feelings and undeveloped brains. In Transforming Toddlerhood, Devon Kuntzman doesn't sugarcoat the chaos but shows you how to meet it with connection, clarity, and calm. This book respects parents' instincts, offers real tools that work, and reminds you that discipline isn't about control--it's about teaching. A refreshingly grounded guide for anyone in the thick of toddlerhood.'--Jamie Glowacki, author of Oh Crap! I Have a Toddler and Oh Crap! Potty Training

'True transformation happens when we stop seeing toddler behaviors as problems to fix and start seeing them as opportunities to grow. Devon provides the perfect blend of conscious parenting wisdom and real-world tools, giving parents everything they need to stay connected and calm in their most challenging moments.'--Dr. Shefali Tsabary, New York Times bestselling author of The Conscious Parent and The Awakened Family

'If you're a parent who has ever felt like you were failing because your toddler wouldn't listen, or like you've lost yourself in the process of trying to stay calm through back-to-back meltdowns, this book will feel like a lifeline. Because when you know differently, you show up differently--and then everything changes. As you find yourself more effective in navigating the hard stuff, you'll have more bandwidth to play, to have fun, and to delight in your child.'--Tina Payne Bryson, PhD, Co-Author of The Whole-Brain Child, No-Drama Discipline, The Yes Brain, The Power of Showing Up, The Way of Play; Author of The Bottom Line for Baby