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

Dr. Melissa Giglio, a child clinical psychologist and author based in Hong Kong, unpacks the often-misunderstood world of childhood shyness and anxiety. She clarifies the differences between the two, stressing that not all shy children have anxiety disorders. Dr. Giglio shares effective strategies to support anxious kids in new situations, emphasizing patience and encouragement. She also discusses the potential harm of labeling children as 'shy' and the importance of fostering a nurturing environment to promote their emotional growth.

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 life Mindset shifts and reframing to approaching strength training and working out during pregnancy and postpartum How to build strength training into our busy lives Connect with Amy and Krystle on Instagram @expectingandempowered. For more resources, visit expectingandempowered.com. Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠. 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

#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 protect our mental well-being AND focus on our postpartum feeding goals.    Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠. 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

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 development and parenting Why modeling for our kids is so important Connect with Chris on Instagram @behaviorbooster.Check out my weekly videos on child health & development by subscribing to PedsDocTalk on YouTube.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 Sponsors page of the website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 to independent sleep  What “habit-stacking” is and how to implement  What parents may struggle with when transitioning to an independent sleep space and how to approach Connect with Ashley on Instagram @heavensentsleep, and check out her website for more resources. For more watch Dr. Mona's "Is Sleep Training Harmful?" YouTube video. Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠. 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

Real estate entrepreneur and father of 11 kids, Moshe Popack, discusses chief adaptability in parenting, non-negotiables for family, letting go as a father of 11, and more. Insights on maintaining connections, unity with a partner, fostering sibling collaboration, self-care in marriage and parenthood, and balancing workload for personal growth.

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 new book, THE PARENTING HANDBOOK: Your Guide to Raising Resilient Children.  We discuss:  What play can show us about a child Why being bored and under-scheduled is important for kids  How and why play can look different in boys and girls  Connect with Tammy on Instagram @instituteofchildpsych. Check out the new book, and for more resources, visit the Institute of Child Psychology website. Check out Dr. Mona's "Open Ended Toys: Best Kids Toys And Why" on YouTube. Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠. 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 consider yourself an optimist? Although some people may be more optimistic than others, you can learn to foster an optimistic mindset – a key tool for parents to build resiliency and navigate the unexpected. I welcome Dr. Sue Varma, a psychiatrist, cognitive behavioral therapist, and author of the new book, Practical Optimism: The Art, Science and Practice of Exceptional Wellbeing. We discuss:  What is practical optimism, and how it differs from toxic positivity and pessimism   If there is a genetic component of optimism or if it can be learned  How some people survive, even thrive, despite profound challenges The 8 Pillars of optimism and the 3Ps of pessimism How optimism can help with dealing with the unexpected, especially as parents Connect with Dr. Varma on Instagram @drsuevarma. Remember to check out her book and visit her website for more resources. Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠. 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

May is Food Allergy Awareness Month, and part of that is recognizing that even if you or a family member may not have a food allergy, someone you know may have food allergies. I welcome Ina Chung, a food allergy mom, educator, and author of A Kids Book about Food Allergies, who is passionate about food allergy inclusivity.  She joins me to discuss:  Why food allergy inclusivity is important  Top 3 misconceptions people who don’t have food allergies have about food allergies  A four-step framework to safely include children with allergies in events such as parties Connect with Ina on Instagram @theasianallergymom. Remember to check out her book, and for more resources, visit her website! For more info on food allergies check out Dr. Mona's "Food Allergies and Kids" YouTube video. Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠. 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

Chelsea & Caitlin, founders of Mama Psychologists, discuss the line between normal postpartum adjustment and PPD, signs of postpartum anxiety and depression, and when to seek help. They emphasize the importance of social support and professional help for new parents.