ParentingU

Back-to-school season is busy enough — snacks shouldn't be! In this episode of ParentingU Extra Credit, pediatric GI and healthy weight nutrition nurse April Hamilton, RN, shares her favorite smoothie pop hack: blend once, enjoy twice.   Start with a protein-packed Greek yogurt smoothie in the morning   Freeze the rest into after-school popsicles your kids will love   April walks us through buildi...

Summer can make screen limits harder to hold, but it's also a perfect time to reclaim imagination, connection and play. In this episode, pediatrician Dr. Sandy Reed shares her expert insight on how screen time affects child development, how to set boundaries that work for your family and why boredom might be the best thing for your child's brain. With more than 27 years of experience (and generati...

What's the key to safe summer fun? According to Dr. Nicholas George, it's all about modeling good habits, setting boundaries and never skipping the helmet. In this ParentingU episode, he shares personal stories (including a scary childhood injury), smart safety tips for bikes and scooters, and how parents can balance protection with play.   From concussions to goose eggs and everything in between,...

Summer's here, and that means more sunshine — and more sneezing! Join pediatric allergy expert Dr. Theron McCormick as he unpacks the mysteries of summer sniffles, itchy eyes and how to keep your kids smiling (not sniffling!) all season long. From allergy-busting hacks and myth-busting truths to travel tips and must-try remedies, this episode is jam-packed with advice that will help you breeze thr...

From bug bites to skinned knees, summer brings plenty of opportunities for adventure — and a few inevitable mishaps. In this episode of ParentingU , Dr. Kali Broussard, pediatrician and infectious diseases specialist with Our Lady of Lourdes Children's Health, shares practical tips to help parents manage common summer injuries and prevent bigger problems.   Dr. Broussard breaks down when to worry...

Summer fun means staying hydrated, and we're making it easy and tasty in this ParentingU ExtraCredit episode!    April Hamilton, RN, a pediatric gastrointestinal and healthy weight and nutrition nurse with Our Lady of the Lake Children's Health, joins host Stephanie and her daughter Riley Jo to share creative ways to help kids drink more water.   From spa-worthy cucumber-mint water to strawberry l...

Parents on the hunt for summer activities for their kids might want to look close to home: the kitchen!    In this ParentingU episode , Dr. Thira vat Choo j itarom , Our Lady of the Lake Children's Health pediatrician with a passion for culinary medicine, shares how time spent cooking can teach kids real-life skills that last far beyond summer.   From cracking eggs to choosing recipes, Dr. Choo br...

In this episode of ParentingU , Dr. Kristen Sandoz , pediatrician with Our Lady of Lourdes Children's Health, dives into one of the most important topics of summer: keeping kids safe around water .   From pools to puddle jumpers, Dr. Sandoz shares what every parent needs to know — including why drowning is so dangerous (and often silent), how to spot a real-life water emergency and what tools can...

Summer road trip season is here, and if you've got kids in the back seat, you know it's not all sunshine and sing - alongs. In this episode of ParentingU , Dr. Kyle Pontiff, sports medicine physician with Our Lady of the Lake Children's Health, shares his top tips to help families hit the road safely.   From seat belts and snack breaks to sun protection and screen time sanity, Dr. Pontiff covers w...

With less structure and more free time, summer can be challenging for kids with ADHD and their parents. Josh LeJeune, NP, with Our Lady of Lourdes Children's Health, offers advice on keeping kids engaged, creating light routines and incorporating activities that balance fun with focus.   Josh discusses the unique challenges faced by children with ADHD, including emotional regulation, the importanc...

This season, ParentingU is bringing you pediatrician-approved tips to help you keep your kids safe, healthy and having fun all summer long.   From water safety and road trip prep to bike helmets, bug bites, backyard allergies and screen time, we're talking about the real stuff that comes up when routines change and the days get longer. We've even got expert advice for navigating summer with kids w...

Measles is making a comeback — here's what parents need to know.    Kali Broussard , MD, pediatrician and pediatric infectious diseases specialist with Our Lady of Lourdes Children's Health, explains why measles cases are rising, what makes this virus so contagious and how vaccination offers powerful protection. Learn how to spot early symptoms, what to do if your child is exposed and why getting...

The holiday season brings a lot of active, outdoor fun for kids — trampolines, bikes and even ATVs can bring excitement but also risks. James Gutheil, MD, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon with Our Lady of Lourdes Children's Health, shares his advice to reduce kids' risk of injury during holiday activities. He share s the most common injuries, ways to prevent accidents and signs that an injury needs...

Lots of families struggle when it comes to the topic of introducing cell phones to tweens — parents don't want their children gaining free access to the internet on a phone, but they might need the convenience and safety that a mobile phone provides. What can a family do? Well, pediatrician  Nicholas George, MD — a recent guest on ParentingU, shares his favorite "parenting hack" to tackle this iss...

In this ParentingU ExtraCredit episode, Our Lady of Lourdes Burn Center physician assistant Rachel Stutes shares her insights on summer safety, especially for kids. She emphasizes the importance of taking precautions to prevent burns and injuries in the kitchen .   Key takeaways:   Maintain a kid-free zone of at least three feet around anything hot, whether in the kitchen or while grilling.   Plac...

Navigating breastfeeding challenges can feel overwhelming for many new moms. Elizabeth Wallis, MD, pediatrician with Our Lady of the Lake Children's Health, shares her personal journey with breastfeeding and encourages moms to take care of themselves and know it's OK if things don't go as planned . Listen to your body and your baby. A fed baby is best.   Read more from Dr. Wallis on our blog: http...

From changing voices and growing pains to first periods and teenage mood swings, puberty comes with so many changes. Empower yourself to support your child through puberty with confidence. This episode of ParentingU features expert insights from Karli Boggs, MD , Board Certified gynecologist with Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group, and Brett Hutchinson, MD , Board Certified pediatrician with Our...

Vaccines are a modern medical miracle according to "Dr. Hutch" (also known as Brett Hutchinson, MD , Board Certified pediatrician.) While we've talked about COVID vaccines on other ParentingU episodes, this time Dr. Hutch joins us to talk about what vaccines teens and tweens might hear about from their doctors at well check visits . If you've ever questioned why your teen or tween is recommended t...

Sports teams and athletics can be a formative, fun part of tweens and teens lives. How can parents make sure teens are participating in sports in a safe way , that avoids injury , while providing enrichment, exercise, and life lessons along the way? ParentingU welcomes Kyle Pontiff, MD , sports medicine physician with Our Lady of the Lake Children's Health to share his insights about getting the m...

Illness and injury seem to come up at any time (sometimes, the most inconvenient times!) How do parents of teens and tweens know when to go to urgent care and when to go to the Emergency Room ? Hannah Chachere, MD , a pediatrician with Our Lady of Lourdes Children's Health joins us on ParentingU to break down all the different choices parents have when encountering an illness or injury with a teen...

The teen years can be difficult—for parents and teens alike! Did you know there's a whole medical specialty dedicate to young people ages 12 to 21? It's called adolescent medicine, and Ruben Battley, MD joins ParentingU to talk about what adolescent medicine is and how it can help families. Dr. Battley shares his insights from seeing patients at the Adolescent Medicine Clinic in Baton Rouge. He of...

As children grow up, they gain more independence and autonomy in every aspect of their life, including healthcare . Nicholas George, MD , pediatrics and internal medicine physician with Our Lady of Lourdes Health , shares the advice he gives parents to help ease the transition from pediatric to adult primary care. Dr. George emphasizes that it's normal and natural for adolescents to want more priv...

Teens and tweens have their own needs when it comes to eating and food . Teens might be past the baby years when younger children are figuring out what they like to eat and what they need to grow, but not quite to the adult years when metabolisms change and most growing is done. How can parents help their teens develop healthy eating habits that will serve them well into adulthood? Lisa Le, MD , a...

Teenagers and tweens start asking about it early—first with colas and sodas , but soon after with coffee and energy drinks . It's all about caffeine . While adults might worry about caffeine hyping kids up and disrupting sleep, teens often seek out caffeine for the same reasons adults do. Caffeine is a stimulant, make no mistake about that, but some of the things people believe about caffeine migh...

It's a teenager milestone that fills some parents with fear and dread: teen driving . How can parents help teens learn how to be safe and responsible drivers without causing family strife? Grant Clinkingbeard, MD , pediatrician with Our Lady of the Lake Children's Health who practices on the Northshore, shares ways parents can help their teens develop safe driving habits . Dr. Clinkingbeard brings...