Jenna Dewan is no stranger to talking about real mom life, from juggling three kids at different stages to embracing the not-so-glamorous parts of parenting (hello, diaper duty). The actress and mom recently returned to The Breakdown with Bethany to discuss her latest project with Happy Baby: an adorable, hilarious, and surprisingly educational book titled Happy Baby’s Poop.
The book uses humor and rhyme to help parents and kids understand something that’s more important than it sounds: the gut microbiome. “I’ve always been into pre- and probiotics as an adult,” Dewan said. “But I never really thought about how my baby’s gut health develops in those first thousand days. It affects their whole immune system for life!”
Why She Wrote a Book About Baby Poop
When Dewan learned how crucial those early years are for gut health, she wanted to make the information less intimidating. Partnering with Happy Baby, she helped create a story that’s “fun and educational, not preachy.”
“As moms, we’re inundated with information and decisions,” she said. “The last thing we need is a book that makes us feel guilty. I wanted this to be something that makes life easier, something you can read and laugh about with your baby.”
The collaboration also felt personal. Dewan used Happy Baby’s USDA Organic formula, which includes pre- and probiotics, when transitioning her daughter Rhiannon off breastfeeding. “It made life easier,” she said. “You can relax knowing that part is taken care of.”
On Feeding, Flexibility, and Letting Go of Guilt
Dewan is refreshingly candid about her feeding journey across three children. “I’ve done every version, breastfeeding, pumping, formula, you name it,” she shared. “And I’ve learned that flexibility is key. If your plan changes, that’s okay. You’ll know what’s right for you and your baby.”
Her best advice for new moms? “Trust yourself. Every baby is different, and every situation is different. Be okay with plans changing, because they will.”
Mindfulness, Scheduled Self-Care, and Finding Peace in the Chaos
Between school runs, feedings, and filming, Dewan still finds time for mindfulness, but she admits it takes planning. “The thing I’ve learned with three kids is, if it’s not scheduled, I don’t do it, and regular weekly standing appointments work better for me than trying to be like, oh, I’ll find time for that,” she said.”
And when there’s no time? She finds moments where she can. Sometimes it’s a five-minute guided meditation in the car. It still counts.
A Laugh-Out-Loud Lesson in Gut Health
At the end of the day, Dewan hopes Happy Baby’s Poop helps parents take a breath,and maybe even laugh, while learning something meaningful. “It’s the cutest, most adorable book, but it’s also a really good learning moment for you and for the kid,” she said..
The book is available now through the Happy Baby website.
