Seattle Mama Doc

Pediatrician, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson, highlights what you need to know about the current measles outbreak. Take solace if you and your family members have been vaccinated, the vaccine is wildly effective with protection rates at 98% after your second dose. If your child is too young to be immunized, Dr. Swanson gives her recommendations about what you should do to protect your baby.

What to do when waiting for an autism evaluation? Pediatrician, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson, and Jim Mancini, a speech-language pathologist and coordinator of parent education and support at the Seattle Children’s Autism Center, discuss the autism diagnosis process. Mancini shares his tips and recommendations for parents who may be on long wait lists.

Pediatrician, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson, and pediatric dermatologist, Dr. Markus Boos, provide straight forward ways to treat teen acne. Lots of myth busting and over the counter recommendations for treating acne. It’s not about vanity, it’s about self-esteem, healthy habits, and putting your best face forward.

Pediatrician, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson, and pediatric dermatologist, Dr. Markus Boos, review guidelines for treating mild, moderate, and severe teen acne.

Pediatrician, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson highlights recent studies on teen depression and suicide ideation. The number of kids hospitalized for thinking about or attempting suicide doubled in less than a decade. Half of parents whose child had suicidal thoughts were unaware. Even if you’re feeling in tune with your teen, it’s important to have every child over age 12 screened for depression.

Pediatrician, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson dives deep into technology and the impact it’s having on our children’s developing brains and well-being. From Fortnight, to screen time, and smartphones, our tweens and teens are growing up digital and many parents are feeling overwhelm and angst. She shares her tips and what parents need to know.

Pediatrician, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson shares her tips for surviving and soothing toddler tantrums. When you come from a place of empathy and compassion, instead of anger, the outcome may surprise you.

Pediatrician, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson highlights a recent study that found that more than 10% of U.S. adults have a food allergy -- and nearly double that believe they do. 50% of people with a food allergy develop them in adulthood. If you think you have a food allergy or sensitivity, make an appointment with your doctor, you may be avoiding foods you don’t need to.

Pediatrician, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson and pediatric dermatologist, Dr. Markus Boos explain diaper dermatitis (or diaper rash) and how to take care of your baby’s skin. Use the “cupcake” method by layering thick cream on each diaper change and avoid wiping it off all the way with diaper wipes.

Pediatrician, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson, and pediatric dermatologist, Dr. Markus Boos, explain causes of eczema and ways to treat flares. Protective, emollient barrier creams used daily are key to preventing eczema. Always go for the “scoop-able” creams when you can (lotions just have more water). Often topical steroids (they are safe to use for 10 days at a time) help dramatically. More on bleach baths, staph overgrowth, and ways to control itching, too.

Tips for parents on the new car seat guidelines out from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson explains that infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing car safety seat as long as possible. Parenting tip: don’t let your children ride in the front seat until they are age 13 and keep them in their booster seats until they are 4’9” tall and around age 10.

The flu shot is your best shot at reducing the likelihood of influenza. Pediatrician Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson explains the 2018-2019 influenza vaccine recommendations and highlights a new Amazon Alexa skill called Flu Doctor. Enable the skill on your Alexa app and ask her to “open Flu Doctor” to learn more about the flu vaccine, where to get the shot, how to help children with needle fear, and much more.

Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson and reproductive endocrinologist, Dr. Lora Shahine discuss the emotional and physical complexities of pregnancy loss, statistics, and steps you can consider taking if you have suffered from recurrent pregnancy loss.

Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson and reproductive endocrinologist, Dr. Lora Shahine discuss infertility & secondary infertility. If you’re less than 35 years old, almost 80% of women will become pregnant within 12 months. If you’re over 35 and have been trying for 6 months, you should consider seeing a doctor. Amazing statistics, words of hope and Dr. Shahine’s expert recommendations.

Pediatrician, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson discusses preeclampsia with expert, Dr. David Reuter. PSA to all pregnant moms out there: treat yourself (and your baby) to 4-6 hours of “belly down” time each day after 20 weeks. Lay on your side, float in a pool, get a prenatal massage on a tummy pillow. When you lie on your back, blood flow can sometimes increase congestion to your kidneys causing elevated blood pressure. Women with preeclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy) often have babies prematurely and with increased complications. Tell every pregnant mom you know! Belly-down-time-goodness!

Parents can learn how to curb disruptive behaviors in their children with autism. Pediatrician, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson, and Clinical Child Psychologist, Dr. Karen Bearss discuss autism and disruptive behaviors. Up to half of children with ASD exhibit high rates of disruptive behaviors, such as tantrums, aggression & property destruction. Dr. Bearss guides parents in ways that they can get ahold of this challenge and correct it.

Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson discusses ways we can consider redesigning healthcare for children who have disabilities with bioethicist, Dr. Holly Tabor from Stanford University Medical Center. When we fix and improve things to help make healthcare more accessible to people with disabilities, we’ll end up helping everyone, a win-win for all!

“My worry is many teens believe e-cigs are safe to use. More and more, I’m certain they are not,” Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson. We know that e-cigs pass along carcinogens (cancer-causing chemicals) to those who use them and are associated with future tobacco cigarette smoking in teens.

Screen and smartphone addiction is becoming (or has already become) a real threat to all of us, I’m afraid, as we depend more and more on our devices for connection and organization. Smartphones are smart and are built, designed and strategically engineered to draw us in and play off some of our greatest human traits and urges to love, be connected, and be respectful. If you’re feeling guilty, ashamed, and/or frustrated, you’re not alone. I’m sharing one tip to help combat phone addiction: go grey and be nice to yourself.

Clearly teens respond to what they read about e-cigs. Teens who engage with online tobacco marketing are more likely to try and use tobacco and are less likely to stop. Teens are clearly at risk. Learn more, stats and data from pediatrician, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson.

How we talk about eating and how we talk about dieting really changes how our kids eat and how they feel. Pediatrician, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson, explains a recent study that found there are serious, long-term, harmful associations when parents encourage a teen to diet. Things like severe dieting, binge eating, low self-esteem and a less favorable body image can stem from being encouraged to diet. Even more, these negative associations are learned and are passed from one generation to the next.

Teens are changing our awareness of what we can do to help prevent tragedies. In the wake of recent school shootings, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson gets personal and discusses the importance of gun safety in high-risk populations. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for children aged 10 - 17 years and firearms are often involved. Store your firearms locked, unloaded and separate from ammunition, especially if someone in your home struggles with mental health.

My podcast typically features parenting advice, but I’m often asked about all the different hats I wear: mom, doctor, Chief of Digital Innovation at Seattle Children’s Hospital, Chief Medical Office at Before Brands, reporter at KING5 News and more. So, this is my first attempt at detailing what I’m working on each month. Let me know what you think!

Head lice…yuck. All parents fear it and it inevitably happens to many families. Pediatrician, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson reviews how lice spread, how to treat them with over-the-counter medications and how some head lice are becoming resistant to standard treatments. Tip: if your child’s lice isn’t going away after following the recommended treatment plan, you may need a prescription. More here…

Happy New Year! Don’t have your resolutions totally planned out yet? Pediatrician Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson shares what she’s learned from BJ Fogg about creating “tiny habits” to help drive change.

Here are 7 concussion tips from expert Dr. Sara Chrisman and Pediatrician, Wendy Sue Swanson. We aren’t just talking football here; lots of other sports may put your child at risk for concussion. That being said, there are so many wonderful benefits sports offer our children. Here is what you need to know…

More than 1 million children get concussed every year. The recommendations for recovery after concussion have changed over the years and are confusing, they share the latest tips for parents! Pediatrician, Wendy Sue Swanson and Dr. Sara Chrisman, a pediatrician who researches sports-related concussion discuss how to guide families, coaches and teens in understanding concussions.

Trying different baby formulas is ok! Pediatrician, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson explains the differences between certain types of formulas the not-so rigid rules for feeding your baby.

Pediatrician, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson shares ways to reduce painful gas in babies and highlights other tips from gastroenterologist, Dr. Bryan Vartabedian’s book: Looking Out For Number Two.

Pediatrician, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson & cardiologist, Dr. Jack Salerno discuss what happens when a child faints, it’s terrifying for most parents. We help you sort out when it’s concerning and when it’s not. About 25% of children will faint by the time they reach teen years. Some kids may need to see a cardiologist if they do.

Learning how to manage stress productively, and develop resilience in the face of ongoing challenges, is a set of skills all families need. Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson and psychologist, Dr. James McKeever discuss the science behind resiliency. “Resiliency is the ability to adapt well in the face of adversity or trauma or tragedy.”

Pediatrician, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson discusses the threat of antibiotic resistance and the importance of appropriate antibiotic prescribing and use. Animal agriculture uses 4x the amount of antibiotics as human medicine! One thing you can do is buy antibiotic-free meat and an antibiotic-free turkey this Thanksgiving. Here are a few quick reminders for better use in our homes knowing that up to 50% of all the antibiotics prescribed for people are not always needed.

Self-harm is used as a way to regulate intense negative emotions and puts you at an elevated risk for suicide. This can be an extremely scary situation for both parents and their children, but there are ways to work with a therapist to learn new communication strategies and skills for coping with stress & pain. Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson and Dr. James McKeever, a pediatric psychologist explain more about self-harm.

Ahem….children and teens can be moody. Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson and clinical psychiatrist, Dr. Robert Hilt discuss when it’s moodiness or when it might be something more.

It’s chemical! Which is why SSRIs (i.e. Prozac) can help with anxiety and depression. Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson and clinical psychiatrist, Dr. Robert Hilt discuss a variety of approaches and highlight the importance of psychotherapy.

What you do today could contribute to preventing a mass shooting. Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson shares tips for talking to children and teens about guns and violence in age-appropriate terms. If there is a gun in your home, keep it locked, unloaded & separate from ammunition. Safe storage leads to a 75% reduction in the risk of firearm suicide & unintentional shootings.

Magnets, batteries and other small object can cause serious harm and even death. Pediatricians, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson & Dr. Julie Brown share what you need to know about what happens when toddlers and teens swallow magnets or batteries.

Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson discusses what parents need to know about this year’s flu shot. Your entire family (all those over 6 months of age) should get a flu shot before Halloween. No nasal flu mist again this year, so don’t promise a no-poke visit!

Pediatrician, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson and Emergency Medicine expert, Dr. Julie Brown discuss food allergies and the importance of knowing how to dose & use epinephrine. Their mantra: “epi first and epi fast.”

Pediatrician, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson highlights the importance of extending support, compassion and understanding to children and families with food allergies. Special guest, Dr. Julie Brown who works in Emergency Medicine at Seattle Children’s provides her clinical expertise on anaphylaxis and anecdotal knowledge from parent support groups for children with life-threatening allergies.

Pediatrician, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson and Dr. Mary Jennings, Director of the Odessa Brown Dental Clinic share 6 tips to keep your entire family’s teeth cleaner and healthier. Easy ways to master the mouth!

Pediatrician, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson and the Seattle Children’s Hospital Medical Director of Laboratories, Dr. Mike Astion explain what you should do if you get bad or potentially inaccurate lab results. Tip: always repeat the test if the result is surprising.

Pediatrician, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson and the Seattle Children’s Hospital Medical Director of Laboratories, Dr. Mike Astion explain when labs are medically necessary, where to get them done and what questions to ask. There are many labs and lab companies that are less reputable than others. The bottom line: when you’re not sick the less labs, the better.

Pediatrician, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson shares tips to keep your family safe in hot weather. Here's how to avoid heat stroke, stay safe with hot cars, open windows and keep up with hydration during sports.

Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson discusses child sedation in the pediatric dental space. Child sedation is different than adult sedation and can be riskier. Ask about who will administer sedation and who will be there to rescue your child if something goes wrong. Work to ensure that there is someone administering sedation who is different than the person doing the procedure.

Pediatrician Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson and Dr. Danielle Dolezal of the Pediatric Feeding Program at Seattle Children’s Autism Center share 6 tips to help children with Autism Spectrum Disorders have a healthy relationship with food. (1) Create a team (2) Take a parenting class (3) Find an occupational therapists / speech and language pathologist (4) Know the role constipation plays (5) Work with what you have (6) Try adventure bites.

Pediatrician Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson talks with Dr. Danielle Dolezal, clinical supervisor of the Pediatric Feeding Program at Seattle Children’s Autism Center about the struggles Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) patients and families face when it comes to eating. Nearly 90% of children with ASD have feeding difficulties & struggle with chronic constipation.

Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson discusses what submersion injuries are including what people call “dry drowning” and “secondary drowning.” These submersion injuries are exceedingly rare, accounting for only 1-2% of all drowning deaths. The best way to keep your child safe is to always watch them when they’re near water.

Pediatrician Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson and psychologist Dr. Tyler Sasser talk about lying and how parents should respond in these situations. They also discuss the age lying typically begins and common reasons why children may lie.

Pediatrician Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson and psychologist Dr. Tyler Sasser provide tips on what to do when your child misbehaves. (1) Positive reinforcement (2) Strategic, planned ignoring (3) Logical consequences (4) Time out to calm down.

Pediatricians Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson and injury expert Dr. Beth Ebel discuss risks when driving, the new distracted driving law in Washington and how and why laws change behaviors. Make the car as important as the dinner table!