The PedsDocTalk Podcast: Child Health, Development & Parenting—From a Pediatrician Mom

• Raising Body-Positive Girls in a Filtered World

  We’re raising girls in a world where filters are the norm, “what I eat in a day” videos flood their feeds, and puberty hits earlier than ever. It’s no wonder body image struggles start young. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Melisa Holmes to talk about how parents can help their daughters build confidence in their changing bodies without shame, fear, or comparison. We’ll cover how to talk about puberty in age-appropriate ways, what to do when kids start noticing body differences, and how to handle tricky moments like when your child says, “I feel fat.” You’ll also learn: Why body image starts long before puberty What not to say (and what helps instead) How your own body talk shapes how your child feels about theirs How social media is shaping kids’ self-worth—and what parents can do about it To connect with Dr. Melisa Holmes check out all her resources at https://girlology.com/.  Follow her on Instagram at @dr.melisa.holmes and @girlology.  For 20% off an annual subscription (after a free 7 day trial) go HERE and use this code: PedsDocTalk to activate your discount. We’d like to know who is listening! Please fill out our Listener Survey to help us improve the show and learn about you! 00:00 – The First Signs of Body Image Struggles 02:03 – Welcome, Dr. Melisa Holmes 03:06 – Breaking the Silence Between Generations 04:01 – Media, AI, and the Shifting Ideal 04:48 – Why It Starts So Young 07:02 – Boys, Girls, and Body Pressure 08:33 – Growing Up in a Filtered World 09:34 – Teaching Media Literacy and Self-Protection 12:07 – Modeling Confidence from the Start 15:23 – How Parents Pass Down Body Shame 20:22 – Reclaiming Joy in Food and Movement 22:49 – Puberty Talks Without the Awkwardness 26:51 – Raising Compassionate Boys Too 30:33 – Supporting Emotional Changes in Puberty 33:33 – What Every Girl Should Know About Her Body 36:22 – Parents, Schools, and the Role of Education 38:40 – Final Takeaway Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠. Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠! And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  --------  

  42:36

  --------

  42:36
• The Follow-Up: Intimacy After Baby

  No one prepares you for how much your relationship changes after having a baby. The exhaustion, hormones, mental load, and body changes all take a toll on desire and closeness, and it’s rarely talked about honestly. In this Follow Up episode, Dr. Mona talks with Dr. Tracy Dalgleish about what really happens to intimacy after baby. They unpack why desire often dips postpartum, how to reconnect emotionally and physically, and why great sex isn’t about frequency. It’s about connection, communication, and redefining what intimacy looks like now. This episode is for any parent who’s ever thought something’s changed between us and I don’t know how to fix it. You’re not broken, you’re human, and this conversation will help you find your way back to each other. Why desire often drops after childbirth and how to understand it without shame How hormones, sleep, and stress affect intimacy The difference between spontaneous and responsive desire How to start rebuilding emotional connection in 10 minutes a day The role of small rituals like check-ins, laughter, and simple touch in rekindling closeness Why there’s no normal amount of sex, only what feels right for you and your partner Ways to talk openly about what you both want and need Dr. Tracy's new book, "You, Your Husband, and His Mother" is now on sale: Order your copy here. Want more? Check out the full episode. Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠. Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠! And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  --------  

  12:34

  --------

  12:34
• Benefits and risks of Chiropractic care in pediatrics: Does your kid need to see a chiropractor?

  What happens when a chiropractor decides to go to medical school? In this conversation, I sit down with Dr. Richard Schoonmaker, a former chiropractor turned osteopathic medical student, to talk about why he made the switch, what he learned about evidence-based care, and how chiropractic and medicine can actually work together when done responsibly. What We Discuss: Why Dr. Schoonmaker left chiropractic to pursue medicine The difference between chiropractic and osteopathic training How to spot red flags in online chiropractic content The truth about chiropractic care for babies and kids What evidence-based, collaborative care could look like How modern medicine can build trust by listening better To connect with Richard Schoonmaker follow him on Instagram at @richs_oms2 and TikTok at @rich_oms2.  We’d like to know who is listening! Please fill out our Listener Survey to help us improve the show and learn about you! 00:00 – Intro 02:00 – Meet Dr. Richard Schoonmaker 03:00 – From Chiropractic to Medicine 07:15 – What He Took From Chiropractic Into Medicine 08:15 – Evidence-Based Chiropractic vs. Online Myths 10:00 – Why Some Chiropractors Go Viral (and Off the Rails) 16:00 – How Chiropractors Are Trained (and Where Gaps Exist) 21:20 – The Lack of Oversight in Pediatric Chiropractic Care 24:00 – The Supportive (Not Substitutive) Role of Chiropractic 28:30 – Common Reasons Parents Seek Chiropractic Care for Kids 33:10 – What the Research Actually Supports 36:30 – Understanding OMM in Osteopathic Medicine 40:00 – Why Context Matters: Symptom Relief vs. Causation 43:00 – The True Meaning of Holistic Care 45:00 – Calling Out Misinformation Responsibly 48:00 – The Real Reason Patients Seek Alternative Care 49:40 – Building a Better Relationship Between Chiropractors and Physicians 51:45 – How Parents Can Find a Safe, Evidence-Based Chiropractor 54:50 – Final Thoughts and Where to Find Richard Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠. Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠! And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  --------  

  1:03:17

  --------

  1:03:17
• The Follow-Up: Is Breast Best?

  We’ve all heard the phrase breast is best. But is it really that simple? In this episode, I sit down with an expert to talk honestly about what the research actually says about breastfeeding and where the science gets murky. We break down what’s fact, what’s myth, and why so much of the “breast is best” messaging comes from data that’s more correlation than causation. From IQ to obesity to immune health, we unpack what studies really measure (and what they don’t). I also share my own story as a pediatrician who planned to breastfeed but ended up formula-feeding my son after a difficult birth and ICU stay. That experience shaped how I talk to parents today because feeding your baby should never come with shame. We discuss: Why most breastfeeding research isn’t based on randomized trials How socioeconomic factors shape the data we see on long-term “benefits” The difference between short-term and long-term outcomes What sibling studies tell us about IQ, weight, and immunity Why guilt over feeding choices can actually take away from connection The importance of supporting all feeding journeys—breast, bottle, or both Want more? Listen to the full, original episode. Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠. Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠! And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  --------  

  17:25

  --------

  17:25
• The Discipline Reframe Every Parent Needs: Teach Don’t Punish

  If you’ve ever wondered why traditional discipline like timeouts, threats, punishments feel off or doesn’t actually work, this episode will change the way you see toddler behavior. I’m joined by Devon Kuntzman, toddler expert and founder of Transforming Toddlerhood, to talk about how we can move from managing our kids’ behavior to teaching through it. We unpack why toddlers act out, how to handle power struggles without punishment, and how parents can stay calm (and human) in those messy moments. Devon shares her framework for effective discipline, the difference between natural and arbitrary consequences, and the long game of raising emotionally intelligent kids. We discuss: Why toddlerhood isn’t “terrible”—it’s transformational and  what’s really happening in the toddler brain Why punishment feels effective short-term but harms long-term growth The 3 parts of effective discipline: connection, limits, and teaching skills How to pause before reacting when you’re triggered and the power of noticing positive behavior How to reframe “bad” behavior as communication The one question that can change how you discipline To connect with Devon Kuntzman check out all her resources at https://www.transformingtoddlerhood.com/.  Follow her on Instagram at @transformingtoddlerhood. And purchase her brand new book “Transforming Toddlerhood” available now: https://urlgeni.us/amzn/TTBook We’d like to know who is listening! Please fill out our Listener Survey to help us improve the show and learn about you! 00:00 – The mindset shift: Teach, don’t punish 01:10 – Welcome & introduction to Devon Kuntzman 02:30 – Why toddlerhood isn’t terrible—it’s teachable 05:00 – Understanding your toddler’s brain and behavior 07:40 – Behavior as communication: decoding what kids are telling us 09:00 – From control to connection: the real purpose of discipline 10:45 – The recipe for effective discipline (connection, limits, teaching) 13:20 – Natural vs. logical vs. arbitrary consequences 17:00 – Why quick fixes don’t work and the long game of discipline does 25:30 – How to pause, stay grounded, and model emotional regulation 29:15 – Dr. Mona’s “bubble hack” and real-life calm-down strategies 31:30 – Positive reinforcement: noticing the behavior you want to see 35:00 – The ultimate reframe: what skill does my child need to learn? 37:00 – You’re human, your child’s human—progress over perfection 38:00 – Closing reflections and where to find Devon’s book Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠. Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠! And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  --------  

  42:13

  --------

  42:13

Más podcasts de Salud y forma física

Podcasts a la moda de Salud y forma física

Acerca de The PedsDocTalk Podcast: Child Health, Development & Parenting—From a Pediatrician Mom