The PedsDocTalk Podcast: Child Health, Development & Parenting—From a Pediatrician Mom

Have you ever uttered the phrase, "Don't worry, kids are resilient"? It’s a line meant to comfort us as adults, but what if it’s actually giving us permission to skip over our kids' real struggles? In this episode, I sit down with children's therapist and author Stacy Schaffer to dismantle the massive misconceptions around childhood coping and resilience. Stacy shares her own powerful story of nav...

So many moms feel they must always be gentle, patient, and nurturing. When intense irritability, sudden anger, or rage bubbles up during pregnancy or the postpartum period, it’s easy to suffer in silence out of fear of judgment. Dr. Mona and Dr. Ashurina pull back the curtain on why parental rage happens, how to recognize the clinical signs of a flooded nervous system, and why getting help early—b...

Have you read all the parenting books, followed the expert social media accounts, and known exactly what you want to say to your child—only to find yourself frustrated and yelling in the heat of the moment? You are not alone. In this episode, I welcome back licensed therapist, author, and crowd-favorite social media follower, Dr. Cassidy Freitas. Together, we take the shame out of "mom rage" and e...

I'll be honest with you - this episode hit differently for me as a mom. My son is six and learning Spanish in school, and my parents speak our native language with him, but listening back to this conversation with Alicia made me wish we had been more intentional from the start. No guilt though... just real talk about what the research actually says. Alicia Gandhi is a bilingual speech language pat...

BED SHARING DISCUSSIONS SHOULD BE CLEARED WITH YOUR CHILD’S CLINICIAN. This episode is not personal advice. If there is one topic that makes parents go quiet in my exam room, it is this one. Where is your baby actually sleeping? Not where you planned for them to sleep. Not what you told your mother-in-law. Where are they really sleeping at 2am when you are exhausted and just need everyone to rest?...

Both my husband and I have anxiety. So yeah, we are two anxious people raising kids and watching closely for signs of anxiety in them. The irony is very real. But it also means I am deeply invested in understanding where childhood anxiety comes from, and how much of it we as parents are actually influencing. In this Follow Up episode, I brought back child psychiatrist Dr. Helen Egger to break down...

As a pediatrician, I was not asking enough questions about my patients' periods. We ask when the last one was. We rarely go deeper than that. And after this conversation, I will never approach it the same way again. I sat down with my friend and colleague Dr. Natalie Crawford, reproductive endocrinologist, fertility specialist, and author of The Fertility Formula. Here is what I want every parent...

If your toddler begged for mac and cheese, took one bite, and declared it disgusting, this episode is for you. Picky eating is one of the most common and most stressful phases of childhood, but the good news is there are real, practical things you can do before it starts and when you are already deep in it. Dr. Mona sits down with Jennifer Friedman, registered pediatric dietitian, picky eating exp...

As a pediatrician and mom, I know firsthand how easy it is to get overwhelmed by standard parenting tips and the pressure to have a perfect family life. In a culture obsessed with quick fixes and curated social media fairy tales, so many couples feel like they are constantly falling short. On this channel, my goal is to share the beautiful, unglamorous reality of making relationships work. We cann...

In this episode, Dr. Mona is joined by Chelsea and Caitlin, the founders of Mama Psychologists, to unpack a crucial topic that many new mothers face: the difference between the "baby blues" and more serious perinatal mood disorders. Together, they challenge the misconception that postpartum anxiety and depression always look like crying on the floor. Instead, they discuss the subtle, real-world si...

As a pediatrician and mom, I know firsthand how easy it is to get overwhelmed by standard parenting tips and the pressure to have a perfect family life . In a culture obsessed with quick fixes and curated social media fairy tales, so many couples feel like they are constantly falling short . On this channel, my goal is to share the beautiful, unglamorous reality of making relationships work . We c...

Eczema is common, frustrating, and often misunderstood. In this episode, we break down what eczema actually looks like at different ages, how specialists determine severity, and why treatment should always start with strengthening the skin barrier. We discuss: • How to recognize eczema, including how it differs in infants vs older children • How doctors determine mild, moderate, and severe eczema...

As a pediatrician, I spent years looking at firearm safety through a clinical lens—as a major public health crisis and a tragic statistic. But after practicing in South Florida during the Parkland shooting and becoming a mother myself, the stakes became deeply personal. My husband is an ER doctor who sees the devastating aftermath of gun violence firsthand, and as a parent, I refuse to accept that...

Strength training in pregnancy can feel confusing with so much mixed advice online. In this Follow-Up episode, I revisit my conversation with Amy Kiefer and Krystle Holland of Expecting and Empowered to talk about how movement can support your body during pregnancy, prepare you for postpartum recovery, and help with the real physical demands of motherhood. We also cover warning signs to watch for...

In this episode, I sit down with a scientist and science communicator who has spent the last five years in the middle of online health conversations, especially during and after the pandemic. We talk honestly about why accurate information often feels boring on social media, while fear based content spreads fast. This is not a conversation about blaming parents or shaming curiosity. It is about un...

The early days of breastfeeding can feel overwhelming when you are recovering, tired, and trying to sort out what is normal. In this Follow-Up episode, I revisit my conversation with Melissa Mancini, RN, IBCLC, to talk through what helps in those first days and weeks, from prenatal prep to milk production, skin to skin, feeding cues, and cluster feeding. In this episode, we cover: How to prepare f...

In this powerful and honest conversation, I sat down with Sharon McMahon to talk about something so many parents are quietly carrying right now - political exhaustion, moral tension, and the question of how to raise good humans in divided times. We unpack the difference between disagreement and dehumanization, politics and morality, optimism and hope. Sharon shares why feeling defeated is not a pe...

Practical optimism is not about pretending everything is fine or forcing happy thoughts when life feels hard. In this Follow-Up episode, I revisit my conversation with Dr. Sue Varma, psychiatrist, cognitive behavioral therapist, and author of Practical Optimism, to break down what it really means to build a hopeful mindset that is grounded in action, not denial. We talk about how optimism differs...

Parents often want to talk to their kids about puberty and periods, but many don’t know where to start. In this episode, I’m joined by pediatric and adolescent gynecologist Dr. Charis Chambers to talk about how we can change the way families approach these conversations. From stigma and misinformation to the fear of saying the wrong thing, we break down why avoiding these discussions can leave kid...

Many parents worry when their child seems shy. But is it actually shyness, or something more? In this episode, we unpack the difference between a “slow to warm” temperament and an anxiety disorder. We talk about why labeling kids as shy can unintentionally limit them, how social expectations play a role, and what supportive parenting really looks like in those hesitant moments. We discuss: • What...

Motherhood is often painted as pure joy, endless patience, and unconditional love. But what about the moments of frustration? The resentment? The overwhelm? The quiet thought of, “I love my child… but this is really hard.” In this episode, I sit down with psychotherapist Dr. Margo Lowy to talk about maternal ambivalence – the completely normal experience of holding love and difficult emotions at t...

A question I get often is: “How do I know if EMDR might be right for me?” In this episode, we break down what EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) actually is, who it can help, and what a session really looks like. Originally developed to treat PTSD, EMDR is now used to support people struggling with birth trauma, childhood experiences, anxiety, panic, phobias, depression, parentin...

In this solo episode, I reflect on a question that stopped me in my tracks: Why am I not worthy of my own love? Inspired by the passing of James Van Der Beek and a clip that deeply moved me, this conversation opens up a bigger discussion about self-love, self-worth, and how both begin taking shape in childhood. As a pediatrician and mom, I share why helping our children build a strong sense of wor...

We talk a lot about maternal mental health postpartum. But we do not talk enough about dads. In this episode, my husband joins me for an honest conversation about paternal mental health, birth trauma, pressure, and what it felt like to become a father while navigating medical complications and the early days of the pandemic. We discuss the silent expectations placed on fathers to be “the strong on...

This week on The PedsDocTalk Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Lucky Sekhon, board-certified reproductive endocrinologist, infertility specialist, OB-GYN, and author of The Lucky Egg, for a conversation about the fertility basics so many adults were never actually taught. We talk about the fertility knowledge gap, what ovulation really means, how to time intercourse more effectively, and when it may be t...