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

Early Intervention is an incredible service for young children under 5, but accessing it and knowing WHEN to access it can often be confusing. I welcome Amanda Selogie who is a special education lawyer and the Executive Director and Co-founder of the Inclusive Education Project.  She joins me to discuss:  What Early Intervention is  How can a parent get early intervention services for their child...

We can’t protect our kids from failure, but we can guide them to how to learn from failure and part of this is having a growth mindset versus a fixed mindset. Join me on this important episode as I discuss:  The difference between a growth and fixed mindset 5 ways to raise our child with a growth mindset from the toddler years and beyond Why a growth mindset is beneficial to children  Episode Link...

Is praising our children okay? Will they end up seeking a life of external validation? On this episode, I welcome Dr Jenicka Engler, developmental neuropsychologist, clinical scientist, and mom to discuss: If praise is really all bad? How to effectively use praise What the research tells us about praise  Find Dr. Jenicka on Instagram @drjenicka Check out my weekly videos on child health & developm...

Motherhood can feel like a never-ending checklist. On this episode, I speak with Nicole—a mom from the PDT community—about handling the guilt and stress of the never-ending checklist. We discuss: How to get our minds out of “checklist-mode” The importance of communication with partner, support system, and asking for help Ways to free up time when time seems scarce  Are you looking to scratch off d...

Labor, delivery, and postpartum are filled with a roller coaster of activity and being informed about this process is crucial. I welcome my friend and social media powerhouse, Liesel Teen, who is a labor and delivery nurse and founder of Mommy Labor Nurse to educate you about 5 things she wants you to know about labor, delivery, and postpartum  She joins me to discuss:  Fear women have about poopi...

On the Finding Joy Episodes of this podcast I talk about real-life good and not so good of being a parent, particularly sharing my perspective as a mom and woman. I share ways to navigate feelings of judgement, mom guilt, or that not good enough feeling we may feel as parents. I’ve had my husband come on the show and I’m now excited to welcome another guest, one of my favorite ABC News Television...

Basic episode description: Is your toddler “high energy?” Do they lack impulse control. Tune in as I talk with Janelle from the PDT community about her 3 year old daughter. We discuss: Typical impulse control and attention span of toddlers under 4  Questions a clinician would ask in evaluating a hyper-active toddler What not to do between 1-2 years of age when your child lacks any impulse control ...

Do we as adults cause our child to be anxious and does their anxiety cause us to be anxious? On this episode, I welcome Dr. Helen Egger, a child Psychiatrist to discuss the clyclical effect of anxiety in families. We discuss: If anxiety in a home can be cyclical in nature? How to address a child’s worries and anxieties while simultaneously managing our own worries/fears How complete avoidance of f...

Dropping feeds, sleep, and is your child getting enough calories? So many important questions I discuss with Kate from the PDT Community. We discuss: Feeding schedules and overcoming calorie anxiety Ways to eliminate (or wean) overnight bottles If self-weaning night feeds is possible in toddler years Check out all the PedsDocTalk Courses for more guidance, tips, and support during parenthood. The...

The fourth trimester refers to the first three months when the baby is born. This is an adjustment period both for parents and the baby. Parents are often told that sleep deprivation is the norm in those early months; and although that is somewhat true there are some things that can be done to comfort baby and prolong sleep stretches. On this episode, I welcome Dr. Harvey Karp who is a world renow...

You may have heard the terminology “strong-willed child“, but how do they differ from just say a typical toddler who also desires independence, control, and wants what they want? And what to do about power struggles and how can we reduce them? In this episode, I discuss: What makes the strong-willed child unique in temperament  How you know you’re in a power struggle How to reduce power struggles...

Kindergarten readiness is on a lot of parent’s mind as they child approaches this big milestone, but the pressure it can place on parents (and kids) can be a lot.  On this episode I welcome Susie Allison, who is a former kindergarten teacher and has a Masters in Education, author, blogger, mom and creator of Busy Toddler to discuss :  Why kindergarten readiness has become stressful  Why these stan...

Many times in parenting, there won’t be a course or article that covers every parenting situation or decision you find yourself in. I LOVE getting to chat with parents from the PedsDocTalk community on these nuanced topics. Today. I welcome Allyson who wants to sleep train her 4-month-old, but the infant will eventually room-share with a 3 year old. We discuss: Things to consider when making paren...

 I invite back Dr. Sarah Mitchell the creator of The Helping Babies Sleep Method to discuss common misconceptions on terminology and sleep training in general. We discuss: Defining what “CIO” is What does “sleeping through the night” really mean Two main reasons babies and toddlers struggle with sleep What the term sleeping through the night means After this, tune in to another episode with Dr. Sa...

There are so many decisions and things we do in parenting that can fill us with guilt. In this episode, I go over 5 things I commonly hear parents feel bad about, but they shouldn’t (Frankly, the list could have been even longer).  On this episode I go over:  Looking at your goals and what makes sense to you as a parent Following recommendations and remembering that can be just recommendations Cre...

We’ve all been there: feeling judged about our choices as parents. And maybe, you have dished out judgement too.  On this episode I go over judgement in parenting: Why judgement blocks our joy as parents Why it’s so hurtful The judgement cycle and how to break it How to block out and navigate judgmental people in your life  Check out my weekly videos on child health & development by ⁠subscribing t...

I welcome a mom from the PDT community, Susmitha, to chat about guilt and feelings around traveling for work as a mom. We discuss: Why this guilt exists What internal work needs to be done before accepting and enjoying travel for work How to manage the feelings we have about inconveniencing others who care for our child Check out my weekly videos on child health & development by ⁠subscribing to Pe...

I welcome Psychiatrist, New York Times Contributor, and author Dr. Pooja Lakshmin to discuss what real self-care really is. Her book REAL SELF-CARE: A Transformative Program for Redefining Wellness (Crystals, Cleanses, and Bubble Baths Not Included) is out today and we discuss: The difference between faux self-care and real self-care What the wellness industry forgets when it comes to true wellnes...

Listen up, moms! We don’t have to be Pinterest perfect moms to be a good mom. If this is something that brings you joy, that is INCREDIBLE; but it’s not a checkbox that defines your worth as a mother. I welcome Anna—a mom from the PedsDocTalk community to chat about that mom guilt created by not being crafty and the elaborate activity planner. We discuss: Where guilt surrounding our actions as mom...

Moving past purees can sometimes be trickier and oftentimes it’s the parents who are more nervous about this than the child. I welcome Katie Ferraro, registered dietician specializing in baby led weaning, mom of seven, and founder of Baby Led Wean Team to discuss moving past purees to more textured foods. We discuss: Why parents are sometimes nervous to move past purees Recognizing gagging versus...

OOOF. Toddler or child aggression: biting, kicking, hitting.. It can all seem overwhelming to manage, but how much is too much? I welcome Joia, a mom from the PDT community to chat with how much is too much when it comes to aggression. Listen in as we discuss: How to manage aggression Missteps to avoid  When is toddler aggression a concern Check out all the PedsDocTalk Courses for more guidance, t...

In modern parenting, TV shows have played a huge role in our children’s lives. We know amount of screen-time matters, but what about the TYPES of shows are children are watching (especially our young toddlers)? I welcome Dr. Cara Goodwin (@parentingtranslator) who is a clinical psychologist, mom, and who translates the research on child development and parenting in an easy to understand way for pa...

Do you find yourself feeling more irritable since becoming a mother? Have you felt guilty about this or have not known how to approach it? I welcome back Dr. Cassidy who is a licensed marriage and family therapist to talk about overstimulation in parenthood (and especially motherhood). We discuss:  Why we may become more irritable after becoming a mom  What irritability in motherhood can really be...

We’ve all been there. The feeling of groundhog day that motherhood can bring. In this episode, I answer a question from a mom in the PDT community about how to enjoy the day-to-day grind more as a mom. I discuss: 5 tips to getting out of the monotony that can be the day-to-day grind Signs that you may be in a grind  How to break out of the grind while still getting things done Check out my weekly...

Many of us as adults are familiar with diet culture. We are familiar with what it means to have an unhealthy relationship of food whether we were raised in it or we have met others who have. I welcome Kate Kiersey, a dietician and founder of Well Fed Family, to discuss how we can create boundaries with snacks and meals (think promoting variety and managing excessive snacking) while simultaneously...