In the last couple of years with this pandemic and these unprecedented times, we've seen anxiety and stress-related disorders really shooting up among our youth. Many times, these can lead to disordered eating and eating-related issues. So this is a very important time for parents and families to certainly be aware of how to nurture positivity around food and the eating experience and for kids also to support and listen to their own bodies in terms of what makes them hungry and full. Dr. Anisha ...
Aug 16, 2022
Drug abuse has been an issue that really all generations have had to deal with. And Gen Z is no different. But what should we tell our teens about using drugs, and what should we mention about our own history with drugs? Dr. Gary Kirkilas is back to help us discuss drugs with our teens and young adults. He is a pediatrician in Phoenix, Arizona with a unique mobile practice, as well as a spokesperson for the AAP. He'll tell us all about what age to start talking about drugs, how to approach these...
Aug 09, 2022
Digital and social media grow at such a fast, continual pace it's difficult to keep up. But our kids sure are good at it. In the last couple of years, we've seen a barrage of misinformation online, making it hard to discern what is real and what is fake. Dr. Donald Shifrin joins us today to discuss digital literacy in an age of misinformation today. He is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics Emeritus at the University of Washington School of Medicine and was a practicing clinician and hospital att...
Aug 02, 2022
The stereotype stepparents we saw in the movies growing up are outdated. Step-parents of all genders, blended families, co-parenting, and more are becoming more the norm. Elizabeth Meade is a pediatric hospitalist, the Medical Director of Patient Safety for Pediatrics at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, and a step-parent herself! She joins Melanie Cole in this encore episode from August 2020 to talk about the journey of introducing a new parent figure to children, how and when to discipline as...
Jul 26, 2022
ACES or Adverse Childhood Experiences is a broad term for a number of stressful and negative events that can happen in a child's life and affect them for years to come. Well today, we are going to discuss what exactly this phrase means. We are joined by Andrew S. Garner, MD, Ph.D., FAAP, who is a pediatrician with Partners in Pediatrics in Westlake, Ohio, and is a member of the UH Rainbow Care Network, the region’s largest coordinated group of medical professionals providing care to children. He...
Jul 19, 2022
As a parent, we do our best to know what our children are doing when we can't be with them. But when it comes to vaping and e-cigarettes, they're a bit easier to hide than traditional marijuana use or cigarette smoking. Dr. Susan Walley is a Pediatrics Specialist, as well as the chair of the AAP Section on Tobacco Control. In this back-to-school episode from September 2021, she breaks down what e-cigarettes are, why people think they're "safer" when they're really not, and all of the lung proble...
Jul 12, 2022
Giving birth is such an intimate and unique experience for every parent & couple. But when it comes to creating a birth plan, there are actually a range of options other than just rushing to the closest hospital, to make you as comfortable as possible. Dr. Dawn Nolt specializes in caring for children with infectious diseases at OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital, one of America's leading pediatric hospitals. She has a particular interest in infections in children with malignancies, immunod...
Jul 04, 2022
If you're a parent of preteens, tweens, or teenagers, you're going to want to listen to this episode, as we dive into talking to your kids about their sexual health. Information is more accessible now than ever, but it's not always correct, so it's still important to sit down and have this conversation with your child. Joining us is Dr. Laura Grubb, an adolescent medicine specialist, and general pediatrician. In this encore episode from November 2020, Dr. Grubb and Melanie discuss the patterns w...
Jun 28, 2022
What should we do about lice? Why does my child keep getting strep? Why does my child hate me? As a parent, you've probably run to the computer with questions like these. Well, you're not alone, they are just some of the Top 10 Questions Parents Google All the Time. Dr. David Hill wrote an article on these common questions for Parents Magazine and joins us to discuss! So it's ok, step away from the phone or laptop. As a pediatrician and a dad of five, he has got answers you can trust. Dr. Hill c...
Jun 21, 2022
In a powerful new call to action, the American Academy of Pediatrics is demanding critical self-evaluation and fundamental changes in the practice of medicine to end long-standing inequities in health care. In a new policy statement, “Eliminating Race-Based Medicine,” the AAP observes that race is a historically derived social construct that has no place as a biological proxy. Over the years, the medical field has inaccurately applied race correction or race adjustment factors in its work, resul...
Jun 14, 2022
?Since the outbreak of COVID-19, there have been significant shortages of infant formulas in some stores. Shortages continue to be caused largely by supply chain issues and a recall of several contaminated baby formula products. To help ease the impact of shortages, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises buying no more than a 10-day to 2-week supply of formula. But if you're still struggling to access baby formula at this time, we are going to discuss today what we can do until we get ...
Jun 07, 2022
Today we're diving into an important conversation: how to understand and support your children when they come out as gay, bisexual, lesbian, or any other sexual identity and/or sexuality. Dr. Naveen Mehrotra is joining us again for this episode, he is a board-certified pediatrician with a special interest in child development and early intervention. He utilizes his interest in complementary and alternative medicine to bring an integrated approach to improving a child's health. In this encore epi...
May 31, 2022
May is National Foster Care Month. And with 463,000 American children and youth in foster care, it's important to know how this system works, and the many types of fostering available. And to remember that no child who has been removed from their home has had it easy. Dr. Sarah Springer is a general pediatrician with Kids Plus Pediatrics, who thoroughly enjoys spending time with children. She especially enjoys caring for children with complex medical and developmental needs and partnering with t...
May 17, 2022
A new dog or other family pet has brought so much joy to uprooted lives during this pandemic. But with increased numbers of pet adoptions come more opportunities for bites, scratches, and other dog or pet woes. Dr. Alison Tothy is back on the show, she is a pediatric emergency medicine physician and a spokesperson for the AAP, and says dog bites have increased with kids being home more this past year. She tells us in this encore episode from June 2021 about this strange side effect of the pandem...
May 10, 2022
Heading into the warmer, summer months can bring up a lot of feelings when our kids & teens think about wearing shorts, T-shirts, and bathing suits. Eating disorders and body dysmorphia occur all year long, but wearing fewer clothes in the summer heat can trigger a lot of emotions. So today we are focusing on eating disorders: signs and symptoms, mental illness, and treatments, and how to talk about bodies & weight with our children. Joining us today for this conversation is Dr. Nicole C...
May 03, 2022
Tattoos and body piercing are gaining popularity as a form of personal expression. The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommendations for your child’s safety with these body modifications. Basic Guidelines: - Know that each state has a set of rules and regulations for minimum age. Proper identification is needed and so is parental accompaniment in some cases. - Look for a clean and sanitary establishment. - Watch someone else undergo a tattoo or piercing at your chosen establishment. - Metic...
Apr 26, 2022
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. What are we looking for, and some real workable advice on why your baby might be crying, and how to calm them down with Dr. Shalon Nienow. Dr. Shalon Nienow is division director of Child Abuse Pediatrics at Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego, interim medical director at the Chadwick Center for Children and Families, assistant clinical professor of pediatrics at the UC San Diego School of Medicine, and clinical director of Child Abuse Pediatrics at UC San Di...
Apr 19, 2022
Just when it seems like these challenges are out of the news, something else pops up. Social media rewards outrageous behavior. No one is getting “likes” for cleaning up their bedroom. Teens are impulsive. Their brains haven’t developed enough to fully grasp the consequences of dangerous behaviors. How do you talk to kids about these dangerous challenges? If it says "challenge," it’s probably a horrible idea. There are exceptions, like the ALS ice bucket challenge. But, as a general rule, they s...
Apr 12, 2022
These have been unprecedented times for medical care really across the board. But for pregnant women, this was an especially difficult time to navigate. Dr. Wendy Hasson joins Melanie this episode to talk about pregnancy during COVID-19, the safety of vaccines, and how they affect the baby and shares her own story of how she got vaccinated & boosted while carrying her second child. At the time of this taping, she was 37 weeks pregnant! Dr. Hasson is the Medical Director of the PICU at Randal...
Apr 05, 2022
It seems straightforward to show love to your kids. But, every parent and every child is different. First, your words have an impact. Sarcasm and mocking can be upsetting to your child. Be positive and find kinder ways to communicate that don’t make your child feel inferior. Second, express gratitude and respect for your child. “Please,” “thank you” and “you’re welcome” are important phrases for communication. They may just help you get that smart device set aside for family time by respectfully...
Mar 29, 2022
Masks are still an incredibly important tool in the fight against COVID-19. But protests, politics, and overall COVID fatigue are leading to many people taking them off in public now. But masks can still help our kids head into big crowds at school whether it's a kindergarten class or a college lecture. Dr. Hannah Lichtsinn joins us today to talk about the history of masks, how they're still helping and why you should still send your children to school masked up for the time being....
Mar 22, 2022
Stories on gay, trans, and gender-nonconforming kids have been all over the news lately with Florida's "Don't Say Gay" Bill and Texas suggesting state agencies investigate certain gender-affirming services as child abuse. So what can we do to combat this harmful rhetoric? Joining us for this conversation is Dr. Kathryn Lowe. She is a pediatrician on the executive committee of the Section on LGBT Health and Wellness with the AAP. She is also an author of the new book called You-ology : A Puberty ...
Mar 15, 2022
Transgender, Gender Diverse, Non-Binary, Cisgender. There are a lot of new words to describe sexual identity and presentation especially if your child is figuring out who they are, and this may be new to you. So today we've brought in Dr. Ilana Sherer to break down some of these terms and answer some common questions on gender and more. Dr. Ilana Sherer has a general pediatrics practice in Dublin, California at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation/Sutter Health with a specialty in caring for gender-...
Mar 08, 2022
Human milk has been shared since the olden days. Informal milk sharing takes place when one mother has a surplus of breast milk and another has a need. These moms get together so their babies both receive sufficient nourishment. Formal milk sharing or milk banking takes place when moms donate their surplus breast milk to a profit or non-profit agency. That agency then screens, pasteurizes, and distributes the milk. With informal milk sharing, there are some risks. The health of the donors is the...
Feb 22, 2022
It’s imperative to encourage reading in your family. Reading to your young child can boost vocabulary and reading skills before entering school. Cultivating a love of reading in your older children can open up a world of imagination and opportunity. Time spent reading with your infant is actually conversation time. You can still read the words in the board book but interact with your child by talking about the pictures. Make time to read as a family. Younger children will enjoy the tale. Look up...
Feb 22, 2022
It’s imperative to encourage reading in your family. Reading to your young child can boost vocabulary and reading skills before entering school. Cultivating a love of reading in your older children can open up a world of imagination and opportunity. Time spent reading with your infant is actually conversation time. You can still read the words in the board book but interact with your child by talking about the pictures. Make time to read as a family. Younger children will enjoy the tale. Look up...
Feb 15, 2022
The CDC released its latest numbers in a report on autism in December of 2021. An estimated 1 in 44, 8-year-old children have been identified with autism according to an analysis of 2018 data. This is higher than the previous estimate published in March 2020. We are discussing these findings today including racial and ethnic disparities in autism, and early identification with Dr. Kristin Sohl. Dr. Sohl chairs the AAP subcommittee on autism as part of the Council on Children with Disabilities an...
Feb 08, 2022
Parents want to help kids feel great. Many look to herbal supplements to aid health and performance. How do you know these supplements are safe? First, the health supplement industry is not regulated. They could potentially be contaminated with something unsafe. There can also be potency irregularities on the shelf. However, many companies self-regulate. Check the label for evidence of screening by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP). This means it isn’t contaminated and potency matches the lab...
Feb 01, 2022
January is always a time of New Years Resolutions, and resetting your goals and intentions. This year is no diffferent, but COVID sure has thrown us some curveballs in health, lifestyle, and wellness. So today we're chatting with Dr. Lanre Falusi about action vs. avoidance goals, reward systems, and good resolutions for our kids, such as drinking more water, looking out for bullying, making new friends, and getting more sleep. Dr. Falusi is a primary care pediatrician at Children’s National Hosp...
Jan 25, 2022
Dating can be thrilling for teens. However, some young relationships can become violent. As teens try to figure out how the world works, they may endure emotional, mental, and physical abuse in the name of “love.” Red flags can include social media control, sexting stalking, cyberbullying, and bruises Open conversation with your child to find out who is being texted and how young relationships are going. Don’t pass judgment but ask questions and listen. You have to be an ally if your teen needs ...
Jan 18, 2022
