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

SIDs is scary but research has shown us there are many ways to reduce the risk. We’ll discuss the “ABCs” of sleep and how evidence-based information can help reduce the number of SIDs cases there are. This week, I welcome Dr. Darria Gillespie, an ER doc and mom of three, to discuss how safe sleep practices can greatly reduce the risk of SIDs in your home. She joins me to discuss:  Safe sleep pract...

Lying is a common behavior in young children, especially as they begin to explore their imagination and test boundaries. In this episode, I share insights on why kids lie, including developmental stages and emotional motivations. Teach how to respond with empathy, encourage honesty, and create a safe space for your child to tell the truth. Whether your child is exaggerating a story or avoiding con...

Society wants us to raise our boys to be “tough” but boys are more complex and as parents we need to help them navigate the cultural pressures and protect their emotional well-being. We need to understand the impact of feeling inadequate and the importance of fostering empathy towards boys during their development. This week, I welcome Ruth Whippman, an author, essayist and cultural critic, to dis...

Parents have many stressors and fears when starting solids: the mess, what to give, how to give it, schedules, gagging and choking, and allergies. The fear of allergies can make parents AVOID giving allergenic foods when that can actually be more of a detriment. I welcome Malina Malkani who is pediatric registered dietitian, mom of three, and author of the new book Safe and Simple Food Allergy pre...

Intimacy after childbirth is…COMPLICATED.There are so many societal pressures for postpartum sex but what is more important is to have open communication about desires and readiness. We need to redefine sexual experiences beyond intercourse to include emotional connection and playful touch. This week, I welcome Dr. Tracy Dalgleish, a couples therapist, to discuss how healthy relationships positive...

Dealing with a whiny child can be challenging, often leading parents to feel overwhelmed. I emphasize that whining is developmentally normal and a sign that your child is still learning how to communicate their emotions. Instead of giving in to the whining, which reinforces the behavior, I encourage parents to adopt strategies to encourage better communication. Today I’ll discuss:  How to recogniz...

Is your four-year old lining up toys? Do they love washing their hands over and over? Does your child get frustrated if routines are broken? Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a diagnosis we see, but not all behaviors are considered OCD. In honor of OCD Awareness Week, I welcome Michelle Massi who is a mom and a therapist (LMFT) specializing in working with kids, families and adults who strugg...

I have a shared love of child behavior and development with Alyssa Blask Campbell-CEO of Seed & Sew and host of the Voices of Your Village Podcast. She has a master’s degree in early childhood education and she joins me today to really get into the WHY behind tantrums and find more peace in the process. She joins me to discuss:  The different sensory systems we have and why knowing your child’s go...

October is ADHD awareness month and I invited Lori Long and Katie Severson founders of The Childhood Collective an online resource to help parents of children with ADHD. Whether you or your child has ADHD or not; we discuss some very important parenting strategies that you may find useful even if your child does not have ADHD.  We discuss:  What to remember about the ADHD brain and how to better a...

What does your Pediatrician ACTUALLY know? It seems on social media this is the narrative: “They have no education on lactation!” “They make money if they vaccinate our kids!” “They know nothing about nutrition.” “They know nothing about child safety!” “And why do they keep asking how my child is sleeping??!” I welcome Dr. Krupa Playforth, fellow pediatrician and mom and owner of her own practice...

As parents in the modern age; we want to undo a lot of the things that didn’t serve us as children and sometimes in our attempts to do better we can swing completely in the other direction and over-validate our children and enable undesired behaviors rather than encourage positive ones. I welcome Zack Kasabo who is a certified school counselor and parent coach.  We discuss:  What enabling of behav...

There is a lot of division and polarizing views when it comes to sleep and things like sleep-training. Sleep training is not a necessity; but many families want to approach it and want to know what the evidence does or doesn’t show. I welcome Sujay Kansagra who is a pediatric neurologist and sleep medicine physician at Duke who has dedicated his life to helping kids (and their parents) sleep bette...

We are constantly going through life transitions and as a new parent it can feel like it’s a CONSTANT. As your child develops, you are constantly going through major transitions as well. Becoming a new mom (or caregiver), maybe going back to work, your child starting school, health issues, etc. Change is constant in our lives but it can sometimes FEEL so hard. I welcome Dr. Krista Klein who has a...

Early and open conversations with children about sex are important and especially key to start from a young age. Using proper anatomical terms avoid shame and foster safety. I welcome moms Mary Flo Ridley and Megan Michelson from Birds & Bees, who are helping parents stop feeling nervous about these conversations and instead find empowerment through their guidance and practice. We discuss:  That o...

If you have ever had to triple feed OR if someone ever recommends 'triple feeding,' you need to listen to this episode. Triple feeding is when a mom nurses, pumps, and supplements breast milk or formula, and IT IS EXHAUSTING and not sustainable. I welcome Victoria Facelli, a fellow IBCLC-lactation consultant and author of Feed the Baby, who is changing how we talk about feeding babies. We discuss:...

The model-minority myth is harmful to our mental health, particularly within immigrant communities. The myth promotes an idealized image of Asian Americans as universally successful, hardworking, and problem-free, which sets unrealistic standards and pressures individuals to conform to a narrow definition of success. I welcome Prachi Gupta to talk about the model-minority narrative and the impact...

#PhilipsPartner Sharing the responsibilities during the fourth trimester is crucial, especially when balancing motherhood and a career. Prioritizing self-care while leaning on baby’s care team helps you find joy in everyday moments.   In this episode, I chat with Robin Arzón, a Peloton instructor and mother of two, to discuss:  The importance of maintaining physical and emotional well-being throug...

The Red Light, Green Light food labeling system has been around to categorize foods as good and bad and was initially created to support weight loss in children with obesity. However, there are many flaws to this system that can backfire when it comes to child health. I welcome Dr. Taylor Arnold, a PhD, registered dietician, and founder of Growing Intuitive Eaters. She is on a mission to foster a...

Some children jump right into new situations, and some are slow to warm. But when is it shyness? And when is it something more? I welcome Dr. Melissa Giglio, a child clinical psychologist, author, and director of a private practice in Hong Kong. We discuss: How are shy kids misunderstood The difference between shyness and anxiety Strategies to support our slow-to-warm or anxious children in new si...

On this show, I welcome guests to chat about parenting and parental health, especially maternal physical and mental health. Taking care of ourselves is just as important as caring for our children. On this episode, I welcome sisters Amy Kiefer and Krystle Howald, founders and creators of Expecting and Empowered. They join me to discuss:   Why strength training is important in various stages of our...

#PhilipsPartner The fourth trimester is hard for many reasons, and feeding difficulties can impact a parent’s mental well-being. But how so, and why do feeding difficulties play a role in our mental state?     On this episode, I’ll discuss:  How challenges in newborn feeding can impact maternal mental well-being. Why we need to utilize our support system and #ShareTheCare postpartum. How to protec...

Mirror neurons are one of the keys to child development. Our babies and kids are watching and observing us and how we interact with them, others, and ourselves. On this episode, I welcome Chris Lake, a young childhood development expert and educator, and founder of Behavior Booster, to discuss: The science behind mirror neurons How we as parents can use mirror neurons to our benefit in child devel...

As a board-certified pediatrician in the U.S., the recommendations are usually independent sleep for a baby. But I know firsthand that many families do co-sleep and, at some point, want to transition their baby out of co-sleeping. I welcome Ashley Olson, a certified pediatric sleep consultant and founder of @heavensentsleep. We discuss:  The biggest mistake parents make when going from co-sleeping...

I created this podcast because I believe we can learn so much through community and hearing people’s stories, whether we are experiencing something similar or not. I connected with Moshe Popack, a real estate entrepreneur, the co-founder of a national community gardens non-profit that serves to enrich and empower children, and the father of 11 kids.  He joins me to discuss: The importance of “chie...

Does ‘playing’ with your kids stress you out? Are you overthinking what play should look like, or if you have enough time for play? Playing with your kids does not have to be stressful, and we’re here to take the stress out of it and normalize a few things when it comes to play. I welcome Tammy Schamuhn, a child psychologist and co-founder of the Institute of Child Psychology and co-author of the...