Healthy Children
241 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 20 ratingsProduced in conjunction with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and their consumer site, HealthyChildren.org, Healthy Children is hosted by our favorite Mom: Melanie Cole, MS. Join Melanie as she interviews expert pediatricians and discusses all aspects of your children’s health and well-being. From infants to teens, potty training to bullying, to prom safety – this is your ultimate audio parenting guide available On Demand 24/7!
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Episodes
How to Survive Temper Tantrums
March 14, 2023 05:00 - 11.5 MBIt’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 environmen...
What to Do if Your Child Has Lice
March 07, 2023 06:00 - 15.5 MBEven 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...
Importance of Father Figures
February 28, 2023 06:00 - 315 BytesA 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 ...
Children, Seasonal Depression, and Staying Busy in the Winter
February 14, 2023 06:00 - 41.2 MBThe 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 be...
Setting Goals in the New Year
February 07, 2023 06:00 - 36.8 MBThe 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 A...
Fostering Healthy Goals & Attitudes
January 31, 2023 06:00 - 27.1 MBEveryone 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 Standa...
Preventing Winter Injuries: Indoors & Outdoors
January 17, 2023 06:00 - 31.2 MBWhen 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 degre...
Flu & Virus Prevention
January 03, 2023 06:00 - 31.3 MBBetween 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 gradu...
Organized Sports Participation
December 27, 2022 06:00 - 27.7 MBWatching 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.
When Should I Get My Child A Cell Phone?
December 20, 2022 06:00 - 22.2 MBToday'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 ...
Talking About Jaundice
December 06, 2022 06:00 - 28.2 MBYou'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 Phila...
Teen Driving
December 06, 2022 06:00 - 30.3 MBLet’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 cl...
Helping Children with Constipation
November 22, 2022 06:00 - 45.9 MBIf 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...
Why School Attendance is Important
November 08, 2022 06:00 - 37.7 MBNow 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 r...
Is Your Child Lagging Behind in School?
November 01, 2022 05:00 - 23.2 MBIf 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 difficu...
Internet Challenges and TikTok Trends
October 25, 2022 05:00 - 32.3 MBThe 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 Med...
Updated Recommendations on Breastfeeding
October 11, 2022 05:00 - 43.1 MBThe 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 nutr...
Safe Gun Storage & Preventing Gun Violence
October 04, 2022 05:00 - 28.3 MBThis 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 Co...
Conscious Parenting
September 27, 2022 05:00 - 28.9 MBWe 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 ...
The Power of Play
September 20, 2022 05:00 - 25.7 MBPlay 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 ...
Ensuring Access to Reproductive Healthcare for Teens
September 13, 2022 05:00 - 35.7 MBPediatricians 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 polic...
Mentally Preparing For Big Crowds & Classrooms
September 06, 2022 05:00 - 21.5 MBAfter 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 patie...
Adjusting Your Schedules for Back to School
August 30, 2022 05:00 - 24.4 MBAll 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...
Grandfamilies: Grandparents Raising Children
August 23, 2022 05:00 - 16.3 MBMillions 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 wi...
When to Include Children in Meal Preparation and Encouraging Healthy Eating
August 16, 2022 05:00 - 30.8 MBIn 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. An...
Digital Literacy in The Age of Misinformation
August 02, 2022 05:00 - 37.6 MBDigital 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 hospit...
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES)
July 19, 2022 05:00 - 33.6 MBACES 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 childr...
Alternative Birth Plans and Chances of Infection
July 04, 2022 05:00 - 29.1 MBGiving 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, immu...
Top 10 Questions Parents Google All the Time
June 21, 2022 05:00 - 39.4 MBWhat 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...
Eliminating Race-Based Medicine
June 14, 2022 05:00 - 39.4 MBIn 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, ...
Baby Formula Shortages: What Can We Do?
June 07, 2022 05:00 - 14 MB?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...
Kinship Care & National Foster Care Month
May 17, 2022 05:00 - 35.8 MBMay 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 wi...
Eating Disoders & Summer Bodies
May 03, 2022 05:00 - 27.5 MBHeading 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 Cif...
Tattoos & Piercings: What Parents Should Know
April 26, 2022 05:00 - 12.2 MBTattoos 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. - ...
Crying and Identifying Injuries During The Stress of the Pandemic
April 19, 2022 05:00 - 36.5 MBApril 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 ...
Dangerous Teen Behaviors: Internet Challenges
April 12, 2022 05:00 - 34.2 MBJust 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,...
COVID-19: Pregnancy, Vaccines and Effects on Your Baby
April 05, 2022 05:00 - 28.9 MBThese 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 Rand...
Showing Love to Your Children
March 29, 2022 05:00 - 12.6 MBIt 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 respec...
Keeping Masks on in Schools
March 22, 2022 05:00 - 20.6 MBMasks 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.
Gender Affirming Care and The Sweep of Anti Trans Opinions in the US
March 15, 2022 05:00 - 40.9 MBStories 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 Pub...
Gender Identity and Presentation: How To Support Your Child
March 08, 2022 06:00 - 46.2 MBTransgender, 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 ge...
The Dangers of Marijuana Edibles to Small Children
February 22, 2022 06:00 - 28.1 MBIt’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. L...
Formal Milk Sharing
February 22, 2022 06:00 - 19 MBHuman 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 i...
Fostering a Love of Reading
February 15, 2022 06:00 - 16.4 MBIt’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. L...
Latest CDC Report On Autism
February 08, 2022 06:00 - 31.8 MBThe 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 Disabili...
Herbal Supplements: Should You Use Them?
February 01, 2022 06:00 - 315 BytesParents 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 th...
Setting Goals In The New Year
January 25, 2022 06:00 - 36.8 MBJanuary 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 Nationa...
Beware Teen Dating Violence
January 18, 2022 06:00 - 14.7 MBDating 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 ...
The Power of Positive Discipline
January 11, 2022 06:00 - 39.2 MBWhen 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 ...
Coping with Setbacks
January 04, 2022 06:00 - 11.2 MBSetbacks and failures can be educational, but you hate to see your child experience disappointment. It’s important to differentiate between traumatic events and disappointments. Traumatic events are usually harmful and result in a permanent change of one’s psychological makeup. Disappointments come from reaching for something and falling short of that goal. Children manage disappointments differently over time. Youngsters may be upset and take action; shouting, hitting, crying. As they gro...