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

What is your parenting style? Have you really thought about what goes into finding your parenting style and WHY finding your unique parenting style is important for you? i welcome Mercedes Samudio, a licensed psychotherapist, parenting coach, and author of Shame Proof Parenting: Find your unique parenting voice, feel empowered, and raise whole, healthy children. I welcome her on the podcast to discuss parenting styles, how a parent can find their unique parenting style, what a parent should consider when establishing this parenting style, and why it's important for a parent to find their unique parenting voice.  Listen in as we try to empower parents in their parenting journey through SHAME PROOF PARENTING.  For more resources visit: https://shameproofparenting.com/ Make sure to follow @Diversityinparentinginc and @pedsdoctalk on Instagram to continue the conversation. Check out the PedsDocTalk Courses for additional parenting information, tips, and support along your parenting journey. Check out my weekly videos on child health & development by ⁠⁠subscribing to PedsDocTalk on YouTube⁠⁠. Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠⁠⁠⁠ page of the website.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How many of you have heard the following myths in regards to your child?? "Wait for tummy time!" "Put alcohol on an umbilical cord to clean it." "Sleeping on your belly as a newborn is fine!" "Give your baby formula or oatmeal to make them sleep longer."  "Your baby needs a walker to help them learn how to walk." "Bouncing your baby on your legs will make them bowlegged."  "It's okay to give your baby/child aspirin for a fever."  "Slapping is a good way to discipline a child."  "Every boy should be circumcised."  "Wait until one year to give allergenic foods"  "Toddlers NEED cows milk and juice and should have milk with every meal" On this episode, I welcome my best friend, fellow Pediatrician and momma Dr. Marie Jones to bust these myths and why these are not true. This is an episode you may want grandma and/or grandpa to hear because I have a feeling you have heard many of these from them.  Check out my weekly videos on child health & development by ⁠⁠subscribing to PedsDocTalk on YouTube⁠⁠. Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠⁠⁠⁠ page of the website.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do you know what it really means to be a conscious parent? On today's episode I welcome Katherine Sellery, a 3x TEDx speaker, who has taught thousands of parents the Conscious Parenting Revolution  to help them raise resilient, considerate, centered and empowered kids who know their inner voice and honor it. We discuss what it means to be a conscious parent. Being a conscious parent requires us to dive deep into our insecurities as parents, how we approach discipline, and the high expectations we place on our children and ourselves. It's about being more aware of ourselves so we can better parent our children and meet their emotional needs. Listen in as we discuss what it means to be a conscious parent, how we can create boundaries, but still allow our child's inner voice to be head, how to find a balance between praise and acknowledgment, and so much more!  Make sure to visit https://www.consciousparentingrevolution.com/ for more resources on becoming a more conscious parent.  Check out my weekly videos on child health & development by ⁠⁠subscribing to PedsDocTalk on YouTube⁠⁠. Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠⁠⁠⁠ page of the website.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others." -Brene Brown  Why is it so hard to set boundaries with our relatives? Why is it important to set these boundaries?  On today's episode I welcome Jenny Mehrer. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (On Instagram as @jennywestmehrerlmft) who joins me to talk about boundary setting with our loved ones.  We discuss: Why we have difficulty setting boundaries with loved ones Why lack of boundary setting can cause friction in families Why lack of boundary setting can cause behavioral issues in children  First steps in creating boundaries How we can communicate to our parents who differ in various parenting philosophies  How to create boundaries during the holidays and surrounding COVID precautions Tune in for this very important episode. Follow @jennywestmehrerlmft and @pedsdoctalk to continue the conversation!  Check out my weekly videos on child health & development by ⁠⁠subscribing to PedsDocTalk on YouTube⁠⁠. Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠⁠⁠⁠ page of the website.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A healthy body image is one of the most important things I want to teach our children. How they look at their bodies, how they view food, and how they value themselves more than how they look is so important.  The medical community is guilty of causing issues with body image on how we sometimes report weight, percentiles, and BMI. The medical community doesn't take into consideration genetics and various body types when they come up with these "standards of health." On this episode, I welcome back Jessica Gust. She is a mother and Pediatric Dietician (@elementnutrition.kids on Instagram).  We discuss when percentiles are helpful, how they should be used, why we both don't love BMIs, how we tie in eating habits to body image, and how we can create a healthy body image for our children. Tune in to learn so much on this very important topic.  Remember to follow @pedsdoctalk and @elementnutrition.kids on Instagram to finish the conversation.  Check out my weekly videos on child health & development by ⁠⁠subscribing to PedsDocTalk on YouTube⁠⁠. Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠⁠⁠⁠ page of the website.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode I welcome Allison, the owner and founder of The Potty Training Consultant (@pottytrainingconsultant on Inatagram), to discuss the basics of potty training.  She is a mother of two and her company has helped thousands of families around the world in their potty training journey.  We discuss:  The average age of potty training in America Signs of readiness A couple methods to consider How to determine which method may be best for your child What a parent should do if their child is resistant to potty training What are some barriers to potty training  Tune is as we talk about potty training basics!  Make sure to follow @pottytrainingconsultant and @pedsdoctalk on Instagram to continue the conversation!  For more watch Dr. Mona's "Potty Training Do's and Don'ts" video on YouTube. Check out the PedsDocTalk Toddler Courses for all Dr. Mona's toddler essentials, including the No-Pressure Potty Training Course. Check out my weekly videos on child health & development by ⁠⁠subscribing to PedsDocTalk on YouTube⁠⁠. Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠⁠⁠⁠ page of the website.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Simply put, we can learn a lot from kids. They are the greatest teachers and I often find that when we are feeling the weight of the world on our shoulders, children can be the ones to make us feel like ourselves again. They are honest, they are full of love, and they are not afraid to be themselves! We can learn a lot more from kids!  In this episode, I share 15 ways we can be more like kids. Characteristics I love most about kids that inspire me every day to be a better adult.  Check out my weekly videos on child health & development by ⁠⁠subscribing to PedsDocTalk on YouTube⁠⁠. Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠⁠⁠⁠ page of the website.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s 2020. Why is there still a stigma surrounding mental health?! Especially around maternal mental health?  Women are celebrated for doing it all. Society tells us we can juggle it all, when in reality it is IMPOSSIBLE to do it all without help. Postpartum is the most critical time in a mother’s life. A baby is born, but so is a mother. We still tend to forget about mom when the baby arrives. How does that make a woman feel? Their body has changed, their hormones are all over place, and they are now responsible for caring for a new human being. We cannot underestimate the weight of this transition in a woman’s life.  We cannot diminish the emotional weight postpartum carries and motherhood carries.  We cannot tell women to brush their feelings under the rug. We need to be open about postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety so women know the signs and symptoms to look out for. I am so honored to speak to Dr. Pooja Lakshmin (@womensmentalhealthdoc on Instagram. She is a Perinatal Psychiatrist and contributor for the NY Times. We speak about “Mom martyr mode,” Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Anxiety, and how to know when you need to talk to someone about your mental health.  Our hope is to break the stigma surrounding maternal mental health. Understanding things are not okay take strength. Getting help takes strength. We want to normalize therapy and the medications and diagnosis of postpartum anxiety and depression.  Follow us @pedsdoctalk and @womensmentalhealthdoc to continue the conversation. IF YOU WANT SOMEONE TO TALK TO ABOUT HOW YOU'RE FEELING, CALL POSTPARTUM SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL AT 1-800-944-4773 Dr. Laksmin is also starting an online community called the Gemma Project, to empower mothers and guide them in their postpartum mental health journey. For more details, visit: https://www.gemmawomen.com/ Check out my weekly videos on child health & development by ⁠⁠subscribing to PedsDocTalk on YouTube⁠⁠. Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠⁠⁠⁠ page of the website.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There is nothing really basic about breastfeeding. Although it is something many women do, it is not easy by any means. Production, finding the right latch, and pain can all be common hurdles in establishing breastfeeding and enjoying the experience.  On this episode, I welcome Melissa Mancini (@more_than_milk on Instagram). She is a mother of two, registered nurse, and certified lactation consultant.  She answers breastfeeding and pumping questions such as:  How can a mother best prepare herself postpartum for BF? What are some must haves for a mother who is choosing to BF? What is the physiology behind BF? Why does cluster feeding happen? What is better? Feeding on demand or feeding on a schedule? When can we introduce a pacifier? What are the biggest hurdles to establishing BF? What can a mother do about pain with BF? Are nipple shields okay? When should we incorporate pumping, especially if a mother is going back to work? How often should a mother pump? What is powerpumping? Tune in to learn more about breastfeeding and pumping basics from Melissa! Follow her at @more_than_milk to learn more about breastfeeding in a supportive and empowering way! Check out the PedsDocTalk New Mom's Survival Guide for help navigating the first year of parenthood.  Check out my weekly videos on child health & development by ⁠⁠subscribing to PedsDocTalk on YouTube⁠⁠. Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠⁠⁠⁠ page of the website.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In honor of teething week on my Instagram, I welcome Dr. Erin Isaac, Pediatric Dentist and @dr_erin on Instagram. We have a great discussion about Pediatric Dental Health. We discuss:  When should babies see the dentist? What is typically done at these early visits? When should a parent start brushing and flossing and how? Is fluoride okay? What if there is fluoride in drinking water? What are risk factors for developing cavities? What do you do if a tooth falls out? How can a parent prep their child for a dentist visit? How can a parent help the dentist do their job as seamlessly as possible? Tune in to hear the answers to all of these questions and so much more. Follow @dr_erin for more information on your child's dental health and for inspiration as a practice owner.  FOR MORE information on all things teething, visit my Instagram @Pedsdoctalk. I will save all useful info to my Story Highlight-Dental Health.  Thank you to Lark Adventurewear for sponsoring this episode. Visit https://larkadventurewear.com/ to shop. Use promo code Pedsdoc15 at checkout to save 15% off your first order!  Check out my weekly videos on child health & development by ⁠⁠subscribing to PedsDocTalk on YouTube⁠⁠. Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠⁠⁠⁠ page of the website.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices