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

On this last episode of my sleep series, I talk with six mothers. Six mothers who approached sleep in different ways with their children. I decided to do this episode for a few reasons: 1. To hear from real mothers about how they approached sleep-training for their child 2. To hear different methods 3. To hear how although the methods were different, they are loving mothers who are raising amazing children. It really shouldn't matter how or when a parent chooses to sleep-train their child. Some do it early, some never do it, some wean feeds, some don't, some use cry-method and some prefer more gradual. All methods discussed are great methods I have seen work and it's important for me to share these women's strategies with all of you! If you haven't already, make sure to listen to episode 17,18 and 19 of the sleep series where I share more about why I recommend sleep-training, various methods, and an interview with a sleep consultant! For more watch Dr. Mona's "5 Must-Follow Tips for Newborn Sleep" video on YouTube. Check out the PedsDocTalk New Mom's Survival Guide for more help navigating through 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

As part of my sleep series of podcast episodes, I wanted to welcome a sleep consultant. Sleep consultants are relatively new in the world of parenting. Over the past 10 years, they continue to gain in popularity. In Episode 18, I discuss my personal views on sleep consultants and if every family needs one to have a successfully sleeping child. I am so happy to welcome Andrea, a sleep consultant (@babysleep.answers on Instagram). We have a great conversation about infant/child sleep. We talk about sleep training (and sleep in general) including her thoughts on various methods and considerations when a family is deciding how to aid their child is self-settling. She also tackles common questions I get asked in regards to transitioning baby from a bassinet to a crib, naps, early wakings, and information on cry-methods of sleep training and methods with less crying. Tune in and make sure to also listen to episode 16, 17, and 18 as all episodes are jam-packed with useful info that pertains to sleep and sleep-training. Follow us at @pedsdoctalk and @babysleep.answers to continue the conversation! Check out the PedsDocTalk New Mom's Survival Guide for more help navigating through 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

No. It's never too late. You can choose when you feel is best for you! On this episode, I expand on episode 17 where I speak about various methods of sleep-training. This episode speaks about OLDER kids (kids that may be coming out of the bed and are developmentally capable of understanding some rules). Likely the 2+ crowd.  I speak about strategies to approach sleep with these kiddos and I also speak about common questions I get asked about sleep: Naps Swaddles Sleep-training in the same room Sleep regressions Travel Teething/illness Early risers Dream feeding  Twins  And I end with a final important message I want every parent to hear. For more watch Dr. Mona's "Toddler Sleep" video on YouTube. Check out the PedsDocTalk New Mom's Survival Guide for more help navigating through 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

This is Episode 2 of a 5 part sleep/sleep-training series). On this episode Im discussing my views on sleep and sleep-training. I discuss how as a generation we are overthinking sleep in general compared to our parent's generation and thus sometimes lose sleep over it. I discuss why I support sleep-training and the benefits it can provide for both the child and the parent. I also discuss various methods to help a child learn self-settling skills. You will hear methods that involve cry-methods and some that involve more gradual methods with less crying. I am aware that this episode doesn't nearly encompass ALL choices someone may make when sleep-training their child, but I just chose my favorite methods. This episode is for education. It's for everyone to hear all the methods I have seen work and for a family to choose what is best for them and their family. I also spend some time at the end discussing how we approached sleep-training with our son. A method that worked for us and one that I am sharing as many of my followers were curious. I hope as you listen to this episode, you listen with an open mind and an open heart. Understand and digest the various methods to find one (or a combo of some) that works for your family! For more watch Dr. Mona's "5 Must-Follow Tips for Newborn Sleep" video on YouTube. Check out the PedsDocTalk New Mom's Survival Guide for more help navigating through 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

The world of parenting is very divided. Especially when it comes to sleep-training. There is a whole lot of judgement, when in the end a parent needs to choose what is best for them. The reason why sleep-training is so confusing is that there truly is no right or wrong, contrary to what you may be told on social media. You can choose to sleep train or not. You can choose a cry-it-out method or not. Every baby is different and may require a unique method. Every parent is different and they may be comfortable with one method or another. The choice is truly up to the parent. You can raise securely attached children in whatever method you choose. On this episode, I welcome Dr. Brie Reid. She has a PhD in Developmental Psychology and studies stress and malnutrition in early childhood development. We have a fascinating discussion about early childhood stress and cortisol research in children. Research that has unfortunately been taken and misconstrued to say that infants/children should never cry in order for them to have secure attachment. Research that has been misconstrued to say that any stress a child feels in infancy and childhood is not good for them, when in fact not all stress is detrimental. Listen in as we discuss the impact this misconception can have on parenting including on maternal mental health, what exactly is considered toxic stress in childhood, and the importance in understanding that secure attachment can be obtained in many different parenting styles.  This episode is an important segway for the other sleep episodes as I discuss MANY methods of sleep training, including ones that involve more crying than others. This episode is not encouraging everyone to choose a cry-method of sleep-training because cry-methods don't work for every child and every parent. This is just to reassure those that do choose one that based on the evidence and our experience, there is no issue with choosing a cry-method of sleep training.  We all need to stop judging one-another for these choices. Parenting is NOT a one-size-fits-all approach Further reading: https://developingchild.harvard.edu/science/key-concepts/toxic-stress/  https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/130/4/643 https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2016/05/21/peds.2015-1486 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

"Make Your Mess Your Message." Birth trauma is an experience no woman expects. It leads to overwhelming grief at a time when mothers are experiencing overwhelming joy.  Six months later, I want to share more about my birth trauma. How I felt, what I learned, and how I will be forever changed as a Pediatrician, mom, and person.  Our son was born on December 16th after a healthy pregnancy. We both spent time in the ICU with complications from birth. If you haven't already, please head over to my Instagram @pedsdoctalk and read my birth story (Black and White Images) on my feed.  I am making MY MESS MY MESSAGE by sharing with you what I wish people would know about birth trauma survivors. I hope to use my recovery through a traumatic experience to help you heal if you are also suffering from any kind of trauma.  My hope is that if you have experienced trauma, this episode will resonate with you. If you know someone who is going through trauma, this may give you insight as well. And if you ever find yourself grieving in the future, I hope my words will always live with you.  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

As we process the tragic death of George Floyd on May 25th, 2020, it's important we take the events that transpired and make a positive effort for long-lasting change. I'm happy to welcome Dr. Tasha Brown, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist. We talk about racial injustice in America and how to speak to children about what they may be seeing in the media.  Where do you start in addressing these issues? Should you turn off the media? Why is understanding media bias important especially in racial issues? How can we make meaningful change for racial equality? Why does representation matter so much to minority communities?  How can you foster activism in your child for the BLM movement or any social justice movement? What are the long-term impacts of oppression and racism on a child? Dr. Tasha Brown and I share our thoughts on these questions. As a Black-American professional, it was great hearing how she is navigating this time on a personal and professional level.  Meaningful change means putting the work in and we hope this can be a starting point for you. Please follow us @pedsdoctalk and @dr.tashabrown on Instagram 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

On this episode, I welcome Brooke and Bridget. They are sisters and speech therapists in Southern California, who own their own practice. They also have a great Instagram account (@speechsisters) where they share day-to-day tips for parents to engage their child in speech. We discuss: 1. What parents can due in the "wait and see" period as development is being monitored. 2. Tips on engaging speech under the age of one and between one and two years of age. 3. What a typical speech therapy session looks like. 4. When a child should be referred to a speech therapist. Follow us at @pedsdoctalk and @speechsisters to continue the conversation. Check out the PedsDocTalk Toddler resources, including the Complete Roadmap to Toddler Development Guide. 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

Get ready to get the basis info on eczema! What it is, why it happens, and ways to manage it. As a general Pediatrician, I see TONS of eczema. Some mild, some moderate, some very severe. I always manage it the best we can in our office before sending patients to a specialist. But how do you know when you need to see an allergist for eczema? On this week’s episode, I speak with Dr. Shreya Patel (@shreyapatelmd). She is a mom and Allergist/Immunologist who owns her own private practice. We chat all about Eczema 101: What does eczema looks like? Are some children predisposed to eczema? Are there preventable measures?  When should a child see an allergist for their eczema? What would workup entail at the allergist? What are some basic skincare tips for eczema? Eczema is THE most common chronic skin condition I see in my office and it was such a pleasure discussing this topic with Dr. Patel. Please make sure to follow us @pedsdoctalk and @shreyapatelmd on INSTAGRAM o continue the discussion!  For more watch Dr. Mona's "Eczema in Kids" video on YouTube. 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

I personally don't like the word "colic" when talking about a newborn. Babies fuss and some fuss more than others. A fussy baby can be extremely difficult to take care of as sometimes it may seem nothing can soothe them.     In this episode, I discuss: The definition of colic and why I don't like labeling a fussy baby as "colicky." Infant gas. Why it happens and how to help babies. Tips to soothe a fussy baby When to be concerned about a baby who is inconsolable The psychological impact of taking care of a fussy infant and the correlation I see between postpartum depression/anxiety and colic. Some tips to help you through those tough moments.  I have been there too and I hope through sharing some of my experiences with our own son, you will find some guidance in finding a plan that works for your baby. Please make sure if you are exhibiting signs of postpartum depression/anxiety, you seek medical attention. It's important for mommas to take care of themselves.  https://www.womenshealth.gov/mental-health/mental-health-conditions/postpartum-depression For more watch Dr. Mona's "Weird Things Newborns Do: What's Normal and What's Not" video on YouTube. Check out the PedsDocTalk New Mom's Survival Guide for more guidance on 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