Practical Parenting

The connection between your gut microbiome and mental health is fascinating. We explain how the gut and brain are intricately connected through physical and chemical pathways, and how the food we eat can influence mood, behavior, and mental wellbeing. Tune in to learn how you can use nutrition to enhance emotional wellness and mental clarity.

Small doses of practical parenting advice based on real-life experiences. Social media dominates conversations around effective parenting, and where it typically starts is managing screen time. Parents often struggle with setting effective, realistic boundaries, and we have practical tips for parents trying to navigate tech.

From everyday worries to more serious concerns like self-harm, this episode explores practical strategies for empowering kids with emotional regulation skills, building emotional awareness, and encouraging problem-solving. Tune in for actionable tips on supporting your child through life's stressors and fostering resilience.

Small doses of practical parenting advice based on real-life experiences. Sleepovers were a common childhood event growing up, but we've learned a lot since then. Should these still be a thing? Is there a way to say yes to sleepovers and feel good about it?

From middle school friendships to high school relationships, parents can help their teens develop healthy boundaries, recognize signs of unhealthy relationships, and navigate the tricky balance between trust and independence. We talk about respect, consent, and setting boundaries to ensure your teen is a part of safe and respectful relationships.Resources mentioned: gbmc.org/safeCall 1-866-331-9474Text "love is" to 22522loveisrespect.org

Small doses of practical parenting advice based on real-life experiences. Disciplining is often way more than teaching kids how to behave in the world. For parents, it brings up a lot from our childhoods. When two parents with different lived experiences try to blend their styles and beliefs, it can be a challenge. How do we navigate when our partner disagrees with our discipline approach?

Discipline is a loaded word and shows up in numerous ways during our parenting journeys. How parents show up when teaching children how to be in the world is laced with our own journeys and upbringings. How do we know the most effective and loving way to support our children while also preparing them to be confident, capable adults? 

On Feb. 26, 2025, a school-aged child died from the measles outbreak in West Texas. The child was unvaccinated and otherwise healthy. This was a preventable death. Vaccines. Save. Lives. They are imperative in keeping our children safe and healthy. We are revisiting this previously-recorded episode so parents can get all the facts from an expert. 

Small doses of practical parenting advice based on real-life experiences. Sibling dynamics are a learning curve for everyone, but adding in a child who needs extra attention can create an additional layer of challenge and potential resentment. How can parents help navigate sibling dynamics when one has higher level needs?

Sibling dynamics come down to teaching our children how to navigate conflict or problem solve, but it can be draining, especially when everyone is around each other all the time. Here, we outline common sibling conflicts and how to navigate them. 

Small doses of practical parenting advice based on real-life experiences. Tis the season … for illness. Coughs are one of the most prominent symptoms for a variety of illnesses, and how do we know when it is just a run-of-the-mill winter cold or something more serious?

We dig deeper on another touchy (no pun intended) topic parents can get hesitant to broach with their teens and tweens—sex and bodies. The Sex Talk as we knew it left something to be desired, but we have more tools now. This ongoing conversation prepares your kids for healthy relationships and comfort with their body for years to come. Listen for tips! 

Small doses of practical parenting advice based on real-life experiences. Routines during divorce are particularly important for kids and can be made complicated when the rules differ between households. How do you develop consistent routines, prevent children from using differences against parents, and keep the focus on what's best for the child?

Divorce is tricky. You can decide not to be life partners, but if you have children, you still need to maintain a partnership for your children. We help you navigate the mixed emotions, tricky situations, and tough decisions that come with this transition. 

Small doses of practical parenting advice based on real-life experiences. Pneumonia cases in children have been in the news a lot recently. We are here to give you all you need to know and look out for.

Young people don't need your advice on becoming an adult. It's counterintuitive to how you have been parenting up until this point, but when your child becomes an adolescent, your role needs to change. Hosts discuss how to support your young adult in developing agency, learning from mistakes, building the foundation of confidence and resilience, all while fostering connection between you and them. Dr. Nguyen's TEDx Talk on the subject: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9zkJejNlo4

Small doses of practical parenting advice based on real-life experiences. Sleep health is important, and time changes—whether it's Daylight Savings Time or jet lag after recent travel— can make it challenging to maintain a healthy schedule. We have tips for maintaining good sleep no matter what!

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for 10- to 24-year-olds in the United States and a global public health issue. Supporting the mental health of young people is a big topic of conversation on this podcast, so we wanted to make sure we tackled this difficult, yet critical piece of mental health struggles for adolescents. This episode touches on statistics, risk factors, protective factors and resources for help. 

Small doses of practical parenting advice based on real-life experiences. Talking about tough topics with teens is hard enough without the added factor of “all my friends are doing it.” How do we toe the line in these conversations when we think our adolescent's friends might be leading them in the wrong direction?

Today, we are going deep on tough topics like drugs and other substances with your teens and tweens: what you need to know, how to approach the conversation, how to make sure you keep talking about it and more. 

Small doses of practical parenting advice based on real-life experiences. As parents, we want to encourage our kids to try new things, but we also don't want to force them to do things they don't want to do. How do we find the balance? 

Kids are about to go back to school and for some, it's awesome. But for others, school comes with anxiety, and the transition to school and a schedule after a summertime of carefree time can feel really overwhelming. In this episode, we dive into school avoidance and how parents can help manage their children's school refusal. 

Small doses of practical parenting advice based on real-life experiences. Summer often means vacations. But we all know vacations with kids are not vacations; they are relocations. What can we do to make these trips more enjoyable and relaxing for the whole family?

Discussion around social media, its prevalence in our lives, and its effect on our mental health are pervasive right now, which is why we wanted to revisit this conversation following our June 2023 episode. Let's dive into what an unhealthy relationship with social media looks like, the 5 C's of social media use, and one of the big things we can do to support our kids with social media use. 

Small doses of practical parenting advice based on real-life experiences. Summer brings a lot more free time, which can be fun and allow the whole family to relax and recharge. But should we maintain some structure in the summer? And if so, how do we do it?

Summertime is fun time. There is less structure without school and a chance for all of us to rest, relax, and recharge. But there are also a lot of new things to keep in mind. In this episode, we tackle swim safety, signs of dehydration, and exposure to bugs and animals when outdoors.

Small doses of practical parenting advice based on real-life experiences. In celebration of our one-year anniversary, we are tackling listener questions, and we have one today about in-laws. How do parents respond when someone isn't caring for our child in a way that's aligned with our values?

This month celebrates one year of the podcast and we are diving into your questions! Listeners sent in scenarios about weaning pacifiers, getting kids to sleep in their own beds and summer tips on activities, hats and drinks for the heat. Enjoy and thanks for listening!

Small doses of practical parenting advice based on real-life experiences. This time: Krystina's 6-year-old got a makeup kit as a gift, which brought up a lot of feelings for her that she didn't want to bring into how she handled it. How did Dr. Terry Nguyen thinks she did?

One in 20 pediatric doctor's visits are about poop! Shocking. Dr. Terry Nguyen gives us all the information we never wanted about poop—what it should look like, what foods encourage or reduce constipation and if we need prebiotics. 

Small doses of practical parenting advice based on real-life experiences. Anxiety over big life transitions can be difficult to manage, especially when they are non-negotiable. How can we help our kids navigate their fears in a connected way?

For many parents, worries about our children meeting developmental milestones can be stressful and cause over-worry about how our kids “measure up.” Dr. Nguyen is here to break down what to look out for and how to intervene at home.  

Small doses of practical parenting advice based on real-life experiences. Getting into college, especially a top choice, can be a major stressor for teens. How can you support your senior if this happens?

About 1 in 8 women experiences postpartum depression after having a baby, yet it is something that remains heavily underdiagnosed and not talked about as much as it should. It's important we address this topic and find our coping mechanisms or get needed interventions early because parenthood does not get easier.Resources mentioned: Action Plan for Depression and Anxiety During Pregnancy and After Birth: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/ncmhep/initiatives/moms-mental-health-matters/moms/action-planNational Maternal Mental Health Hotline: 1-833-TLC-MAMA, https://mchb.hrsa.gov/national-maternal-mental-health-hotlinePostpartum Support International: 1-800-944-4773, www.postpartum.net/At GBMC: https://www.gbmc.org/services/postpartum-care-unit/after-you-deliver

Small doses of practical parenting advice based on real-life experiences. Intense moments can feel ... well, intense. Krystina gives 7 fun ways she has diffused intense moments in her household. Let us know yours! 

All parents have heard the phrase “I hate you” or some version of it at some point in our parenting journey. If you haven't, don't worry, it's coming! Oftentimes, there is more beyond the words, and we help you dig deep into finding out what that is and how to tackle the response.

The U.S. is experiencing the highest vaccine exemption rate for children in its history, including a 0.4% increase in Maryland. Doubts about the Covid vaccine prompted parents across the country to rethink other vaccines. The debate is getting deep and dangerous. Vaccines are safe and imperative to preventing the spread of disease. Learn more here on the importance and truth about vaccines.

Our kids are talking at school, they are overhearing the news, they are on social media. They are not escaping what is going on in the world. Tragedy, violence, war and death are hard topics. How can parents be the container that holds these important and complex conversations with our kids?

Small doses of practical parenting advice based on real-life experiences. Nutrition can be tricky. How do we know when our child is just being picky with their foods and when we have entered into something more serious that requires intervention?

In our new three-part series, Krystina Wales and pediatrician Dr. Terry Nguyen tackle the three foundational pillars we all need to focus on to practice better health. We have your recipe to eliminate food fights at mealtime (except the fun ones). Dive into nutrition with us as we break down introducing new foods, picky eating, disordered eating and more. 

Small doses of practical parenting advice based on real-life experiences. We all know movement is important, but where do we as busy parents find the time! We give you some simple, quick things to try no matter how much time you have. 

In our new three-part series, Krystina Wales and pediatrician Dr. Terry Nguyen tackle the three foundational pillars we all need to focus on to practice better health. Dr. Nguyen is allergic to the word exercise, but movement is important to for our physical, mental and emotional health. Hosts discuss how to create consistent, routine habits around these practices for the whole family.

Small doses of practical parenting advice based on real-life experiences! Bedtime is separation, and with that can come anxieties that make it hard for our children to quiet their minds enough for rest. How can we help them navigate through these tricky triggers?

Sit back, relax, and fall asleep to a Guided Imagery by Dr. Terry.

In a new three-part series, Krystina Wales and pediatrician Dr. Terry Nguyen tackle the three foundational pillars we all need to focus on to practice better health. First up, sleep. Sleep is complex with kids. We know they need it, but we can't force them to get it. The hosts review common sleep problems at different stages and recommend how parents can support.

Small doses of practical parenting advice based on your real-life experiences! Today's question is on highly sensitive kids whose window of tolerance for change or disruption is small. How can we support their extra needs?

It is normal, especially in the summertime, for kids to experience rashes, fevers, bumps and bites. But how do we know when these are par for the course, or when they require more serious attention? Krystina Wales and pediatrician Dr. Terry Nguyen break down common ailments, how to treat them at home and when to bring your child to the doctor's office for further intervention.

About 95% of U.S. teens today use some type of social media, and about a third say they use it "almost constantly," according to the Pew Research Center. Teens are also undergoing a mental health crisis, where suicide, depression and loneliness are on the rise. At this point, research shows these two are linked. How do we teach our kids to be detectives? How do we set boundaries for our kids around social media use? Dr. Terry Nguyen, Chair of Pediatrics at GBMC HealthCare, and co-host Krystina Wales, discuss how parents can manage and navigate the social terrain.

Mental health among adolescents is a crisis in the U.S. And, according to a Pew Research Center report, mental health of young adults was the greatest concern among parents. Dr. Terry Nguyen, Chair of Pediatrics at GBMC HealthCare, and co-host Krystina Wales break down this important topic—what signs to look out for, how parents can help their young adults—as well as practical tips for managing anxiety. Spoiler: It includes things like sleep, connection and presence.

Temper tantrums. Already the response in your body is probably indicating high stress levels and fear. Tantrums in our kids can feel untenable, but they are a healthy expression of your child's inability to regulate their emotions in the moment. They are also something you, as a parent, can manage.Dr. Terry Nguyen, Chair of Pediatrics at GBMC HealthCare, and Krystina Wales, co-host and parent of two young girls, dive into what you can do during a tantrum for you and your child as well as what to do before a tantrum happens to scale down the impact.Join us as we give you practical tips for your parenting journey.