Ashley Tisdale Gains ‘Increased Confidence’ in Motherhood with Baby No. 2
For Ashley Tisdale, the arrival of her 6-month-old daughter, Emerson, has been an “incredible transition.”
“Jupiter is such a wonderful big sister and is absolutely enamored with her little sister, to the point where I have to remind her, ‘Boundaries, Juju!’” Tisdale, 39, shared exclusively in the latest issue of Us Weekly. “I think the transition has been quite smooth for all of us.”
Tisdale and her husband, Christopher French, welcomed their first child, daughter Jupiter, in 2021. The couple, who tied the knot in 2014, revealed they were expecting their second child in March 2024 and happily welcomed baby Emerson that September.
For Tisdale, stepping into motherhood for the second time brings both advantages and challenges. “[With] your first child, there’s so much uncertainty about what to expect and how to handle things,” she explains. “It’s quite nerve-wracking. … With the second child, you just feel a lot more assured.”
One aspect that has eased Tisdale and French’s parenting journey is that Emerson has been “sleeping through the night” since she was about 3 months old. “She’s truly an easy baby,” Tisdale exclaims. “She’s adorable and has made our family feel wonderfully complete.”
Tisdale reflects on feeling “robbed” during her first time as a mother, having experienced postpartum depression after Jupiter’s birth. “Having the opportunity to experience motherhood again in such a positive way and being fully present makes me appreciate every single moment,” she shares with Us.
The actress admits that parenthood has indeed “changed” her relationship with French, and they took some time to establish their parenting rhythm. “I believe we complement each other,” she notes. “There are instances when Chris is the more playful parent, and I might be a bit stricter. At other times, he takes a tougher stance on scheduling while I’m the fun one.”
She adds, “We have a solid foundation. Though our parenting styles may differ at times, I think that’s fantastic. It’s essential to align on certain aspects. … Now with Emerson, we both understand how we function and what’s best to do.”
Another notable difference Tisdale observes between her early days with Jupiter and her current experiences with Emerson is breastfeeding. She tells Us that she had “a really tough time” breastfeeding her eldest. Fortunately, this time around has been smoother, aided by her partnership with the Willow wearable breast pump.
“When breastfeeding a newborn, it feels like you’re constantly seated in the rocking chair,” she explains. “Willow allowed me to feel optimistic, thinking, ‘I can step away and don’t have to be here constantly, every hour; I can have a life again and do other things.’ Having this support has been tremendously helpful.”
With reporting by Amanda Williams
