The Calm Caterpillar

Toy Fair was such a good reminder of why we do this!! 🐛

We had hundreds of conversations with parents, retailers, therapists, and educators - and the themes were consistent:

“I wish we had this sooner.”
“My niece needs this.”
“These should be in every preschool.”
“Wow… I feel calmer already.”

It’s incredibly encouraging to see these tools connecting with so many people who care deeply about kids and emotional regulation.

If you stopped by and shared your story with us - thank you!! 🫶🫶

Guiding kids through sensory-seeking behaviors with patience and positive alternatives helps them satisfy their needs and regulate their emotions!

Here are some examples of how to redirect while validating their needs!

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As I reflect back on this year, I wanted to highlight some of the moments that really stood out with my daughter’s growth!

I know this account often focuses on the behaviors we’re navigating or working on—but I really wanted to take a moment to celebrate how far she’s come.

These aren’t necessarily major milestones. We are still working on learning how to read, swim and ride a bike,
but I’m so proud to see the progress she’s made mentally, socially, and emotionally. She’s worked so hard!! 👏👏

As you think back on this year with your own child, what were some of the behaviors that you’ve seen progress, or the areas where you’ve seen real growth since last year? 🫶🫶

Ps. I’m also really proud of my son and all the ways he’s grown and things he’s learned this year! He has increased his vocabulary, emotional intelligence and ability to play independently! ❤️❤️

Holiday gatherings can be full of big feelings—for kids and parents. Between hugs, gifts, and new faces, it’s easy for kids to feel overwhelmed.

Of course, most of the time we wish our kids would happily give hugs, jump right into playing with cousins, and say thank you for every gift.

And yes, we want them to hold it together at gatherings—we don’t want to be rude or offend the people we love.

But how we navigate these moments can really impact our children. Forcing hugs, shaming them for “being shy,” or criticizing their reactions can teach them to ignore their own comfort or perform for others.

These simple phrases help take the pressure off—they protect your child’s autonomy, give them space to regulate, and let adults step in without overexplaining or creating awkwardness.

You’re not being permissive. You’re setting realistic expectations for a developing nervous system.

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Happy Small Business Saturday from the moms behind The Calm Caterpillar! 🐛

As moms of young kids, we know how hard it can be to watch your child struggle with big feelings—and not know how to help. That’s why The Calm Caterpillar was created!

We make practical tools to navigate the challenges of raising little ones, whether neurodivergent or neurotypical, and teach them to build skills to regulate their emotions.

Meltdowns are a normal part of development, but they don’t have to feel so debilitating.

Sarah—the founder of The Calm Caterpillar—brings a strong background in education and research. She creates the toys, tools, and strategies that make emotional regulation more tangible and fun for kids.

And I’m Kathryn—the mom behind the brand’s voice. I share what it’s like to try these tools and techniques at home and connect with other parents who may be on a similar journey.

Together, our mission is to make emotional regulation strategies more accessible and approachable for families and educators.

If you’re shopping for calming toys for kids this holiday season consider checking out some of the soft plush items we have to offer! Comment “Black Friday” for 20% off today!

If you’ve been eyeing one of our calming tools, now’s the perfect time! ✨

These aren’t just toys, they’re tools that help your child build real emotional regulation skills that last for years!

So instead of another plastic gift that ends up forgotten, choose something that brings a little more calm into your home. 😄

👉👉 Comment “Black Friday” and we’ll send you a link with 20% off sitewide (applied automatically at checkout!).

Here’s a quick breakdown of our best-sellers:

💜 Flutter
✔ 3 lbs of calming, evenly-distributed weight
✔ Textured wings for tactile sensory input
✔ Adjustable wings for customizable deep pressure

🌸 Bloomie
✔ Teaches the Flower & Candle breathing exercise
✔ Great for tactile input and fidgeting
✔ Easy to use independently or on-the-go

🐛 Calmee
✔ Wrap around shoulders for gentle sensory input
✔ Stretch in and out with each deep breath
✔ Fidget-friendly feet for focus

🦁 Rory Junior
✔ Teaches Lion’s Breath
✔ Helps kids release energy + big feelings
✔ Perfect for routines and transitions

✨ Mindful Moments Bundle
Three calming pals + three expert-created guides to support daily calm, transitions, sensory play, and mindful routines!

Happy shopping! Feel free to DM if you have any questions 🫶

After all the excitement, costumes, and candy, getting your kiddo to bed can feel like a nightmare! 👻

Try these simple post–trick-or-treating techniques to help your little one wind down—so everyone can rest easy. 🌙✨

And yes, this may add a bit of time to your bedtime routine but it’s worth it to be calm and regulated! ☺️

💬 Comment “spooky” for a FREE Halloween Regulation Guide!

➕ Share this with your partner 🫶🫶

We’re so excited to be included in the Busy Toddler Gift Guide! ✨✨

If you’re not already following , Susie is an early childhood education advocate, former teacher, and mom of three—known for helping parents make childhood simpler, more playful, and filled with hands-on learning. Her guides are packed with creative ideas to help kids explore, grow, and thrive. 🫶

Calmee the Caterpillar made the list in Non-Toy Gifts for Kids—a category for products that go beyond play, helping kids build skills, explore interests, and spark new hobbies. 🧠❤️

Calmee teaches children how to regulate their emotions through deep breathing and sensory input—stretch in and out to slow your breathing, or rest Calmee around your shoulders for a comforting, hug-like feel. 🤗

Thank you so much, Susie, for including us and we’re so glad your kids are loving Calmee! 🐛🐛

👉 Comment “Busy Toddler” below to explore all of her favorite finds this season!

Bedtime used to be my least favorite part of the day.
Okay, let me be honest—the worst part. I would absolutely dread it. We’d have bedtime battles every single night: crying, screaming, meltdowns, resistance, all the pent-up energy that somehow hits right when you’re ready to collapse. 😅

It felt impossible… until we made a few small shifts that really seemed to make a difference.

Here’s what helped us go from chaos to calm:

1. Recite their day out loud.
Go through the day in as much detail as possible—what they did, where they went, who they saw. It helps them feel safe and process their experiences. They might add details or ask questions, which is a great sign their brain is winding down.

2. Talk to their stuffies (about them!).
It builds confidence and improves their self-talk. You can say something like “Did you see how hard Jack worked building that tower today? It fell a few times, but I was so proud of him for keep going!” Kids light up hearing you say something positive about them—especially when they “overhear” it.

3. Offer a healthy bedtime snack.
Sometimes their little bodies need one last bit of nourishment to settle down. A banana, cheese stick, a few crackers, or (low sugar) yogurt usually does the trick.

4. Try breathing exercises.
Deep breaths help regulate their nervous system and prepare their body for rest. You can make it playful—like “smell the flower, blow out the candle.”

5. Add calming sensory input.
Deep pressure helps them feel grounded. Try blanket wraps, gentle squeezes, or a weighted plush like Flutter the Dragonfly. 💜💜

If bedtime has been tough lately, try one or two of these tonight and see what changes. You’ve got this. 🌙

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I’ve been reading book on and off for the past year—always picking it up in a time of need.

Defiance, separation anxiety, sibling scuffles… it’s all in there!

It’s highlighted, circled, and full of notes—a reflection of how often I come back to it.

This isn’t a sponsored post in any way—I just really believe in this resource for parents and wanted to share a few snippets that have rewired my brain (and drastically improved my parenting) along the way. 💛💛

The book is called: Good Inside by Dr. Becky Kennedy and can be found on Amazon 🫶