Healthy Children

It's your worst nightmare. Your child throws a tantrum in a public place. You're stressed out and are ready to have a tantrum of your own.How can you deal?The most difficult -- yet most important -- thing to do is to ignore your child during the temper tantrum. See if the tantrum dies down.If that doesn't work, divert your child's attention. Remove him from the environment. This may be tough because you're pressed for time and are in a public place for a purpose. Leaving that environment shows him that you mean business.You may have to physically move your child. There could be thrashing and resistance. Try hugging him to calm him down. Talking to him might not work until he is calm.Don't make false promises or threats. Uphold your rewards and consequences so your child knows your promises have integrity.Maintain your composure. Enlist the help of your spouse or partner. Make sure you're both on the same page with rewards and consequences.The good news is that kids tend to outgrow the tantrum phase. If the tantrums are greatly stressful for you as a parent, speak with a professional.Listen as Dr. Naveen Mehrotra joins Melanie Cole, MS, to advise on dealing with temper tantrums in this encore episode from March 2017.

Even the cleanest children get lice. Those little bugs tend to nest in certain colors and textures of hair, which is why some people get repeat visits.Lice are bugs that crawl from one scalp to another. They can crawl from combs, brushes, and clothing onto a fresh scalp. The bugs look like sesame seeds, and their eggs stick to the hair shaft.A louse will only live one to two days when not on a scalp. Eggs don't hatch if they aren't in a warm environment. Of course, you should still vacuum and clean linens. It can take up to two weeks for eggs to hatch. It's better to be cautious.It takes four to six weeks for itching to start because of the lice saliva. When the note comes home with your child, the lice have had plenty of time and opportunity to spread.You can check your child for lice at home with a couple of sticks, sifting through the hair. Your pediatrician can also check the scalp, make recommendations, and provide prescriptions as needed.Lice are treated with over-the-counter medications like Nix (permethrin) and Rid (pyrethrum). Nix is used on wet hair and can kill eggs. Be sure not to use a conditioner before application. Rid is used on dry hair but doesn't kill eggs. Consider the life cycle of the eggs. You should repeat treatment on day nine, and perhaps once more. Follow your pediatrician's recommendation for the right medication.In this encore episode from March 2017, Listen as Dr. Corinn Cross joins Melanie Cole, MS, to share how to get rid of lice.

A recent report published by the American Academy of Pediatrics proves the importance of fathers in the development of young children.Engaged fathers are associated with better academic success, health, social skills, and confidence. Their children also have less delinquency and reduced likelihood of substance abuse.It really matters to get dads involved with children. They don't have to serve the same functions as mothers. It's great when fathers will jump in and change diapers and rock babies to sleep, but they can be involved in other ways. Daddies tend to be more playful with babies and tend to get more belly laughs. Fathers encourage their littles to climb to the top of the monkey bars and take risks on the playgrounds.Encouraging all fathers to get involved with children will improve those children's lives. Giving fathers paid parental leave will help with this.If your child's father is unavailable, this role can be filled by any male or person identifying as male in the child's life. Grandfathers, uncles, adopted fathers or males who are committed to the child's well-being can assist in the positive development of children.Listen in to this encore episode from June 2016 as Dr. Michael Yogman shares the importance of fathers (or father figures).

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 is also the Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.In this encore episode from July 2022, Dr. Garner & Melanie Cole cover the different types of ACES, toxic stress, and the differences between ACES & trauma.

The slowness of winter and the stress of the holidays can be a lot, even for our children. Hilary Bowers, MD, is the Director of Behavioral and Mental Health Services and a board-certified pediatrician providing care through the Children's Primary Care Medical Group (CPCMG). She is also a member of the UC San Diego Health Physician Network, and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP).She chats with Melanie Cole, MS, about the continued trends in mental health issues we've been seeing since the COVID-19 pandemic started, red flags parents can look out for in their kids in the wintertime, and how we get our kids up and moving in the cold, dark days of winter.

The beginning of a new year is always a time of resolutions and resetting your goals and intentions. So today we're chatting with Dr. Lanre Falusi in this encore episode from January 2022 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 Hospital in Washington, DC, and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics.Her work as a pediatrician for over 15 years has focused on ensuring that all children have the opportunity to reach their full potential. She and her husband are the parents of 3 energetic little girls. She is also the co-host -- along with another doctor- mom -- of a podcast called “Health and Home with the Hippocratic Hosts” about parenting, health, and finding balance in life.

Everyone craves a fresh start sometimes, even our children. Whether it's a brand new year, or just wanting to try something new at any point in the year, it's important to be realistic and healthy when it comes to setting goals. Joining us for this conversation is Nicole Cifra, MD, MPH, MHPEd, an attending physician in the Division of Adolescent Medicine at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Her main area of interest is eating disorders, and she currently serves on the Medical Care Standards Committee of the Academy for Eating Disorders.How to set achievable and holistic goals with focus, harness gratitude, and avoid focusing on things like weight loss and physical appearance.

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, resulting in differential approaches to disease management and disparate clinical outcomes.Dr. Tiffani J. Johnson, MD, MSc, FAAP is a board-certified pediatric emergency medicine physician at UC Davis, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, and a scholar on race, racism, and its impact on child health. Her research portfolio reflects her commitment to improving the quality of care for underserved children. She is currently exploring the root causes of inequities in the healthcare and early childhood education settings, including research on bias and discrimination and their impact on the health and well-being of children.She is also the co-author of the AAP policy statement and joins Melanie in this encore episode from June 2022 to break down what it means, what critical changes need to be made, and what providers can do.

When we're out of our routines, that is the best time for chaos to enter the home. And with the holidays and winter breaks, all kinds of crazy injuries can happen. Even in the depths of winter. So today we're talking about the most common injuries doctors see this season (a lot of injuries in the kitchen), keeping kids out of medications, fireplace safety, and staying warm and safe when playing outside.Dr. Christina Johns is our guest for this episode. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and her medical training at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. After completing her pediatric residency at Hopkins, she moved to Washington, D.C. for a postdoctoral fellowship in pediatric emergency medicine at Children's National Medical Center.She continued on the faculty at the George Washington University School of Medicine working as an attending physician and assistant division chief in the Emergency Medicine and Trauma Center at Children's National for 15 years. During that time Dr. Johns obtained a master's degree in education from the George Washington University School of Education. She is board certified in both pediatrics and pediatric emergency medicine.

Marijuana is now legal for medical or recreational use in many U.S. states, with its use on the rise. Unfortunately, so is the unintentional THC poisoning risk these products pose to kids who get a hold of them.Kevin Osterhoudt, MD, MSCE, FAAP, FACMT, serves on the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention. He is an attending physician in the Emergency Department and Medical Director of The Poison Control Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.In this encore episode, learn more about accidental overdose, what to do if kids do get into your edible stash, and how to talk to teens about marijuana.

Between the seasonal flu, COVID-19, and the rising number of kids with RSV, it's time to talk about this triple-demic.Today we'll talk about the slight differences between these 3 big illnesses hitting us this winter, what kind of symptoms to look for, and what to expect for the rest of the year's flu season. Our guest for this conversation is Dr. Upma Suneja. Dr. Suneja is a Board-certified Pediatric Physician currently working as a part-time General Pediatrician at USF, Tampa. She graduated from Government Medical College in India after which she moved to the United States to pursue her Residency training in Pediatrics at Lincoln Hospital affiliated with Weill Cornell Medical College, New York.

Watching your child play sports is exciting. You can support your child as an organized sports participant both emotionally and physically.Benefits of Organized Sports weight control time management organization skills better bone density improved mental health social skills feeling of competence Listen to this encore episode from September 2019 as Dr. Kelsey Logan joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss how all children can participate and benefit from organized sports.

Today's children grow up immersed in digital media, which can have both positive and negative effects on healthy development. And it can be difficult to know when your child should have a phone of their own. Well, to help you out, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and AT&T have teamed up to launch a new, free PhoneReady Questionnaire and a free, enhanced Family Media Plan tool to help parents and caregivers create healthy digital habits for their families.Dr. Suzy Tomopoulos is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine and a member of the AAP Council on Communications and Media. She joins host Melanie Cole today to discuss cell phone use in children, monitoring what they use their devices for, and deciding the right time for your child to get a phone.

You've probably heard the term jaundice before, and that it makes yellow babies, but you may not really understand what it is.New guidelines released recently say jaundice is not something that we consider to be pathologic, but more physiologic, and it's actually quite common in newborn babies. In this episode, we cover just what jaundice is and how our doctors treat it with Dr. Joanna Parga-Belinkie. She is an assistant professor of clinical pediatrics at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Let's face it, your child learning to drive can be very stressful for you as a parent. You want them to gain independence while still keeping them safe.The most important investment you can make in terms of the safety of your driving teen is giving them a structured experience behind the wheel. The biggest single risk factor for teens is their lack of driving experience. Introduce them to safe but stressful situations while you're in the car, like interstate driving and country roads. Be clear about driving restrictions for the first few months your child has a license.Before that learner's permit is in your child's hand, you can be a good role model as a driver and avoid distractions.Consider implementing the Parent-Teen Driver Contract provided by the AAP.Listen as Dr. Brian Johnston joins Melanie Cole, MS, in this encore episode from July 2019 to discuss safe driving for teens.

Transgender, Gender Diverse, Non-Binary, Cisgender. There are a lot of words to describe sexual identity and presentation. And it can be difficult, especially if your child is figuring out who they are, and this may be new to you.So we've brought in Dr. Ilana Sherer to break down some of these terms and answer some common questions on gender and more in this encore episode from March 2022.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-nonconforming and transgender youth. She is also a member of the AAP Section on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health and Wellness.

If you're a parent, you know that it can be incredibly frustrating and even scary at times when your kids are constipated. It's really common and it's something that so many parents go through, but we're gonna learn about it today and get all the information that you need so that you have informed decisions and you know what's really going on with your children.Joining us to discuss constipation in children is Dr. Patrick Reeves. He's an officer in the United States Army Medical Core with a clinical specialization in pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition. He's an assistant professor of pediatrics adjunct to the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.He chats with Melanie about what causes constipation, how dangerous it could be, and some supplements and tips for frustrated parents.

Now that our kids are back to in-person schooling, some of them don't always wanna go. But there are a number of reasons for that.So today we're talking to Dr. Heidi Schumacher. She's a practicing pediatrician and she also serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Health and Wellness at the DC office of the State Superintendent of Education. So she is seeing many sides of this attendance issue, the anxiety issue, the whole school avoidance, and also the health implications and benefits of really that routine, that school attendance. In this episode, Melanie and Dr. Schumacher look at the research on school attendance, why kids are missing school these days, dealing with technological distractions and sleep, and how parents fit in the mix.

If your child is having trouble at school, your pediatrician may be able to help.If your child is having trouble at school, your pediatrician may be able to help. Risk factors or difficulties during pregnancy or early life could contribute to a learning difficulty.First, speak with your child's teacher and/or principal. Ask questions about what's happening inside and outside the classroom. Get more information on your child's school life.Next, speak with your pediatrician. As possible sources are eliminated, ask your pediatrician what else could be causing the difficulty.Then, ask your child what kind of help you can provide to assist in learning. They may prefer help from a tutor instead of your watchful eye.All children want to succeed.Listen as Dr. Laura McGuinn joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss how your pediatrician can help with learning challenges.

The milk crate challenge, the blackout challenge, the sleepy chicken challenge, and of course the Tide pod challenge.The milk crate challenge, the blackout challenge, the sleepy chicken challenge, and of course the Tide pod challenge. These were all internet games based around the social media app TikTok.While social media can be good for children who want to learn about the world at large or find other kids with common interests outside their school, it can also be quite dangerous when these challenges get risky or even lethal. Dr. Nicole Baldwin is a member of the AAP Council on Communications and Media and joins Melanie to talk about how these challenges come to be, the allure of going viral, and how to keep your kids from doing stunts for social media attention.

When confronting the challenge of disciplining their children, moms and dads often default to the ways their own parents disciplined them, sometimes with harmful results.But mom and practicing pediatrician Dr. Candice Jones shows parents a better way, helping parents understand child development and how the ways that children are disciplined shape not only their behavior but their overall health and well-being.Dr. Jones coaches parents to understand their child's developmental stages and their own motivations to create a family discipline plan that manages misbehavior and encourages good behavior. Her advice is packed with developmentally appropriate strategies to tame tantrums, stop sibling squabbles, and reward better behavior, to create a calmer, more harmonious home.Listen to this encore episode from January 2022 as she talks about the power of positive discipline, different styles of parenting, and her new book High Five Discipline.

Today we're talking about anxiety, depression and how that manifests physically in eating disorders.Kids are now back in school and social situations with their peers. And we know that anxiety levels have been at an all-time high throughout this pandemic. So today we're talking about anxiety, depression and how that manifests physically in eating disorders, and more. We talk about how the easing of the pandemic is changing the mindset in our kids, why anxiety is increasing now in kids even as restrictions decrease, and how we can help our kids get through this tumultuous time. Dr. Katherine Williamson is board certified in pediatrics and is a member of the CHOC Primary Care Network, treating kids and teens in Orange County California. She is also the AAP Orange County President, as well as a spokeswoman for the AAP.

The AAP released updated recommendations on breastfeeding a few months ago, which have been a bit controversial.The AAP released updated recommendations on breastfeeding a few months ago, which have been a bit controversial because they call for supporting moms who breastfeed 2 years or beyond (from the previous recommendation of 1 year.)Our goal is to normalize breastfeeding in the U.S. and help women achieve whatever breastfeeding goals they have surrounding feeding their babies. So today, Dr. Lauren Crosby joins our host Melanie Cole to discuss the new guidelines, giving our newborns the best nutrition in those early days & weeks, and how we can get rid of stigmas surrounding breast & bottle feeding moms. Dr. Lauren Crosby is a nationally recognized parenting expert and pediatrician.  She is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics, is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and is an Official Spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics. She is a Pediatric Expert for television news, serves on the Board of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, is a medical reviewer for What to Expect, and is a Founding Member of Hope in A Suitcase.

This is not a discussion any parent wants to have with their kids. We don't even wanna think about it but think about it we must.This is not a discussion any parent wants to have with their kids. We don't even wanna think about it but think about it we must. Our kids have a unique issue that we did not have.They must be prepared for school shootings, mass attacks, and gun violence in a way that we never did. I hate that we even have to talk about this, but. We have to do this because it is incumbent on us to bring these issues out into the open so that parents can have these discussions. Joining our host Melanie Cole, MS for this critical conversation is Dr. Lois Lee, she's an attending pediatric emergency medicine physician at Boston Children's Hospital and an associate professor of pediatrics and emergency medicine at Harvard Medical.In this episode, Melanie and Dr. Lee discuss the humbling statistics of gun-based deaths, teen suicide, how to discuss safe gun storage with your child's friends' parents, and teaching kids to be aware and alert to what they see on social media.

The advice Melanie gives all the time as a parent of a 19 and 22-year-old is "don't blink" because if you do, you miss it, it goes by in an instant.We do a lot of podcasts here at Healthy Children on parenting tips and ways we could be better parents and ways to keep our kids healthy and safe.But what about being a conscious parent? These days with so many distractions and cell phones, we are not very present. The advice Melanie gives all the time as a parent of a 19 and 22-year-old is "don't blink" because if you do, you miss it, it goes by in an instant. Pediatrician and medical geneticist, Dr. Bob Saul has been guiding parents and their children's physical, behavioral, and mental care for over 40 years.  Dr. Bob Saul developed the Parental Awareness Threshold, a simple framework that guides parents and guardians to actively parent with self-awareness, empathy, and compassion. Dr. Saul has been a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics since 1982.He joins Melanie today to discuss the importance of raising community-oriented children, radical empathy, and teaching our kids to be good citizens! These ideas are all based on his most recent book,  "Conscious Parenting: Using the Parental Awareness Threshold."

Play is important to child development.Play is important to child development. It should be a priority in children's lives.Why Play is Priority Play with caregivers, peers and teachers affects brain structure and function. Playful learning is a fundamental part of healthy development. Play helps develop the safe, nurturing relationships with parents and caregivers to mitigate toxic stress and promote resilience. Fifty percent of parents don't go outside to play with their children. Thirty percent of kindergartens don't have recess--a sacrifice made in order to focus on testing skills. Unsafe outdoor conditions often lead children to stay indoors with screens.Toys are fantastic for developing problem-solving ability. Parents may limit the child's interactions by telling the child how to play. You can ask prompting questions if the child seems stuck, but let the youngster resolve the toy.Listen as Dr. Michael Yogman joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss the importance of play.

Pediatricians around the country are voicing concern over federal and state actions that could threaten the medical rights and safety of teenagers seeking reproductive healthcare.Pediatricians around the country are voicing concern over federal and state actions that could threaten the medical rights and safety of teenagers seeking reproductive healthcare, including pregnancy counseling and abortion services.Joining us for this very important topic today is Dr. Elise Berlin. She's a professor in the department of pediatrics at the Ohio State University College of Medicine and a specialist in adolescent medicine in Columbus, Ohio.She is a co-author of two AAP policy statements regarding protecting teens' rights to reproductive health care and the right to confidential care when considering abortion.Listen as Dr. Berlan and our host Melanie discuss adolescents being at high risk for unplanned pregnancy, increasing access to quality sexuality education, barriers to abortion care, and their hopes for the future of this type of care in the US.

After spending so much time at home these last few years, and doing school online, some children may not be excited to go back to the classroom. And we know anxiety and depression have been on the rise in young people as well. So how can we get our kids eased back into the old ways of socialization and in-person school?After spending so much time at home these last few years, and doing school online, some children may not be excited to go back to the classroom. And we know anxiety and depression have been on the rise in young people as well. So how can we get our kids eased back into the old ways of socialization and in-person school? Dr. Emily Frank is an assistant professor of pediatrics at UCSF and a public school teacher in Oakland. In addition to providing primary care in the clinic, she treats patients with urgent medical needs in the emergency departments at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals. Seeking to inspire and bring about change, she has a particular interest in working with young people to develop their abilities to obtain and use health-related information and to advocate for better care.She shares some ways anxiety can manifest in our children, signs to look out for that might be worrisome, creating a support system at school for when kids feel overwhelmed, and how we can prep our anxious kids in these last days of summer.

All summer long, your children most likely have been staying up all night, sleeping in, and have lost track of any type of schedule.All summer long, your children most likely have been staying up all night, sleeping in, and have lost track of any type of schedule. So as the season comes to an end, its time to prep your kids for going back to school, and getting back into the rhythms that will help them succeed in the classroom.Dr. Emily Frank is an assistant professor of pediatrics at UCSF and a public school teacher in Oakland. In addition to providing primary care in the clinic, she treats patients with urgent medical needs in the emergency departments at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals. Seeking to inspire and bring about change, she has a particular interest in working with young people to develop their abilities to obtain and use health-related information and to advocate for better care.She talks with Melanie in this episode about how we can get that good sleep, resetting bedtimes, and getting your kids all around active and focused for a new school year.

Grandparents step into parents' shoes when necessary. Grandfamilies are presented with unique challenges.Millions of children across the United States are being raised by their grandparents.Grandparents have always played a role in children's lives, but their involvement in raising the children has increased in the past twenty years. Their involvement can go beyond serving as a sitter or providing care while the parents are working.Grandfamilies are often formed under stress. Grandparents typically step in as primary caregivers because of a crisis. Relearning how to parent in modern times with today's challenges means a learning curve for grandparents.Listen as Dr. Andrew Adesman joins Melanie Cole, MS, in this encore episode from January 2019 to discuss how grandfamilies are formed and resources available to families to manage the new commitment and responsibilities these grandparents have.

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.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 Abraham, MD, MPH is a board-certified pediatrician and adolescent health specialist with 25 years of global experience.  Anisha treats and counsels young people with a variety of issues including social media use, drug use, and stress.  As a recognized educator, Anisha provides training on adolescent health and wellness to faculty, teens and parents.  Anisha's clinical and research work combined with her experience with cultures and transition is the basis for her passion and interest in making the lives of global teens better. She gives us tips for balanced eating and cooking vegetables for kids (including her own), how parents can be the best role models for their kids, and fostering a love of a variety of foods.

Drug abuse has been an issue that really all generations have had to deal with. And Gen Z is no different.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 conversations, and what the future of legalization means for teenage drug use in this encore episode from February 2021.

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.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 attending in the Seattle Area for 39 years.He talks about using the internet to self-diagnose, credible sources, critical thinking skills, and how parents can help children parse out quality information vs. junk.

The stereotype stepparents we saw in the movies growing up are outdated.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 a step-parent, and tips to settle disputes.

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.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 is also the Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.In this episode, Dr. Garner & Melanie Cole cover the different types of ACES, toxic stress, and the differences between ACES & trauma.

Vaping is everywhere these days, even more than traditional cigarette smoking.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 problems that affect vape users.

Giving birth is such an intimate and unique experience for every parent & couple.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, immunodeficiencies, and cystic fibrosis. She also is the medical director for infection prevention and control, antimicrobial stewardship, and transplant/oncologic infectious diseases.She walks us through the history of alternative birth plans and shares some of those birthing options such as vaginal seeding, lotus births, and water births.

Information on sex and sexual health is more accessible now than ever, but it's not always correct.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 we're seeing in teens these days, how to answer questions about sex and our bodies, and when to start those conversations.

What should we do about lice? Why does my child keep getting strep? Why does my child hate me?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 currently works as a hospitalist pediatrician for Goldsboro Pediatrics in Wayne County, NC. He admits and cares for newborns and pediatric inpatients, including stabilizing critically ill children and consulting in the emergency department. Dr. Hill is also the co-host of the AAP's flagship podcast, Pediatrics on Call.

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 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, resulting in differential approaches to disease management and disparate clinical outcomes.Dr. Tiffani J. Johnson, MD, MSc, FAAP is a board-certified pediatric emergency medicine physician at UC Davis, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, and a scholar on race, racism, and its impact on child health. Her research portfolio reflects her commitment to improving the quality of care for underserved children. She is currently exploring the root causes of inequities in the healthcare and early childhood education settings, including research on bias and discrimination and their impact on the health and well-being of children.She is also the co-author of the AAP policy statement and joins Melanie to break down what it means, what critical changes need to be made, and what providers can do.

​Since the outbreak of COVID-19, there have been significant shortages of infant formulas in some stores.   ​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 back to normal.Joining us for this important conversation is Dr. Steven Abrams. Dr. Abrams is a professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Dell Medical School. Abrams has developed and championed the use of stable isotopes to determine mineral requirements and physiological turnover rates in infants and children.

How can you best understand and support your children when they come out as gay, bisexual, lesbian, or any other sexual identity and/or sexuality.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 episode from April 2021, we'll talk about what to say to your children when they open up and come to you with this announcement, what NOT to say, and how we can help families come together and discuss this.