
Hosted by Dr. Mona Amin · EN

In this "Follow-Up" episode of the PedsDocTalk Podcast, Dr. Mona catches up with pediatric occupational therapist Jessica Irwin (Rooted in Routine) to discuss how simple daily rhythms create predictability, lower stress, and reduce decision fatigue for both parents and kids. They break down why routines focus on the order of steps rather than rigid clock-watching, how to build healthy habits early on, and the simple non-negotiable areas that anchor a child's day. Episode Highlights: Routine vs. Schedule: A routine is about following the same steps in the same order, offering flexibility without the stress of strict clock-watching. Lower Stress & Tantrums: Predictability calms a child’s stress response, which improves mood, enhances sleep, and helps curb challenging behaviors. Empowered Parenting: Consistent daily flows eliminate constant decision fatigue, giving parents more confidence in their parenting approach. Early Circadian Rhythms: Starting on day one, exposing infants to morning sunlight and keeping nights dark helps lay the foundation for daytime/nighttime routines. The 5 Routine Non-Negotiables: Building simple rhythms around sleep, mealtimes, playtime, and outdoor time creates a solid, supportive daily structure. Evolving Bedtime Habits: Bedtimes naturally transition from quick newborn feeds to structured infant/toddler sequences (like baths, massages, and songs) that clearly signal sleep. 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! Shop Dr. Mona’s favorite products: https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk (paid link) 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

Have you ever felt the crushing weight of looking at your monthly bank statement and realizing your childcare bill costs more than your housing? It is a staggering reality facing modern families, but why is a system so crucial to our society treated like a personal luxury instead of essential infrastructure? In this episode, I sit down with working mom and leading childcare advocate Paige Connell to pull back the curtain on the skyrocketing costs and systemic failures of American childcare. Paige shares her viral journey of transparency, explains how the math of the current system forces women out of the workforce, and dismantles the oversimplified myths about simply relying on family or grandparents for help. The Viral Truth: Why breaking the taboo of discussing exact childcare costs resonated with millions of families online. The Sneaky Reality of Public School: Why childcare stress doesn’t end at kindergarten and the hidden shock of summer camps and school breaks. The Real Economic Hit to Women: How temporary gaps in a career to handle childcare shortages cause permanent, long-term damage to women's salaries and retirement. Dismantling the Grandparent Narrative: Why relying on aging or working family members is a short-sighted and often dismissive answer to a policy problem. Childcare as Infrastructure: Why an economy built on capitalism is failing itself by pulling productive parents out of the workforce. How to Be "Squeaky": Tangible ways parents can advocate for changes within their corporate workplaces and local town levels. A Magic Wand Reform: Paige’s three essential national shifts regarding paid leave, subsidized care, and workplace flexibility to completely transform family life. Connect with Paige Connell on Instagram @sheisapaigeturner and visit her site www.sheisapaigeturner.com/ 00:00 – Introduction & The Reality of Childcare Costs 02:18 – Page's Journey: Going Viral & Advocating for Change 03:48 – The Hidden Expenses: Beyond Preschool to Public School Years 05:07 – The Broad Financial & Emotional Impact on Families 07:54 – The Mental Load & Work Flexibility Challenges 09:23 – Dr. Mona Shares Her Personal Childcare Expense Story 11:15 – Disproportionate Effects on Women & Career Trajectories 13:58 – Why Alternative Care (Like Grandparents) Isn't Always the Answer 17:15 – Systemic Issues: Why America Lacks Childcare Infrastructure 19:24 – Logistical Nightmares: School Calendars vs. Work Hours 21:56 – Actionable Advice & Reassurance for Struggling Parents 24:34 – 3 Key Changes Needed to Fix the Childcare Crisis 27:14 – Closing Thoughts & How to Connect 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! Shop Dr. Mona’s favorite products: https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk (paid link) 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

In this "Follow-Up" mini-episode, Dr. Mona revisits the topic of starting solids and baby-led weaning with guest Jenna Helwig—Food Director at Real Simple magazine and author of Baby-Led Feeding (paid link). Together, they bust common feeding myths, share simple meal prep hacks, and discuss how to take the guilt and pressure out of feeding your baby. Whether you're team puree, team baby-led weaning, or doing a bit of both, this episode is a reminder that responsive feeding and a stress-free environment matter far more than rigid rules. Purees and finger foods can coexist: Combining purees with baby-led weaning is safe and does not make a baby more likely to choke. Responsive feeding matters most: Regardless of the feeding method, the priority is respecting your baby's pace and cues when they show they are full or need a break. Baby-led weaning isn't a guarantee against picky eating: Picky eaters can develop using any feeding style, so focus on creating a pressure-free environment instead. You don't need to cook new meals daily: Simplify mealtime by serving simple, single-ingredient foods like eggs and avocado, or by offering leftovers. Cook one meal for the whole family: Save time and stress by adjusting the texture or salt content of your own meal for the baby rather than short-order cooking. Prep vegetables early in the week: Washing and chopping vegetables ahead of time makes it effortless to add healthy options to busy weeknight dinners. Prioritize meal planning over heavy meal prepping: Planning just four dinners a week removes the mental fatigue of deciding what to cook every evening. Drop the mealtime guilt: Releasing rigid expectations and lowering stress allows both you and your baby to actually enjoy mealtimes together. 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! Shop Dr. Mona’s favorite products: https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk (paid link) 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

Have you ever felt the urge to yell or hand out a punishment during a chaotic grocery store meltdown? It is a moment meant to stop the behavior fast, but what if it is actually turning off the exact part of your child’s brain that learns lessons? In this episode, I sit down with parenting author Jon Fogel to dismantle the massive misconceptions around discipline and childhood tantrums. Jon shares how traditional punishments backfire on our kids' nervous systems, and explains why our child’s biggest meltdowns are actually a cry for connection and emotional tools rather than a sign of a bad kid. In this episode we cover: Why traditional punishments work against a child's brain and block them from learning lessons The power of getting curious instead of furious when your child has a major behavioral blowout Simple neuroscience brain hacks, like the color game, to bring a dysregulated child back online Why society holds toddlers to adult standards while adults throw tantrums with road rage The history of terrible parenting advice from the 1930s that is still impacting our families today How to take a beat and do no harm when your own triggers flare up in public Why doing the hard work to build emotional trust now makes the teenage years a total breeze Connect with Jon Fogel on Instagram @wholeparent, visit his site myparentlab.com and buy his two books Punishment-Free Parenting: https://go.shopmy.us/p-71062269 and Set My Feelings Free: https://go.shopmy.us/p-71062356 (paid links) 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! Shop Dr. Mona’s favorite products: https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk (paid link) 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

In this episode, Dr. Mona and special education lawyer Amanda Selogie dive into the critical role of early intervention in childhood development. They break down the realities families face today, including navigating insurance, dealing with staff shortages, and facing lengthy evaluation waitlists. They emphasize how accessing developmental support early lays the foundation for inclusive education. This ensures children of all abilities have an equal opportunity to thrive alongside their peers when entering the school system. We discuss: Defining Early Intervention: Amanda Selogie explains how services support babies and preschoolers with developmental delays or specific diagnoses before they enter the school system. Cost and Coverage: The guests discuss how initial developmental evaluations are typically free through state agencies, while ongoing therapy services can sometimes carry out-of-pocket costs or insurance copays. Systemic Roadblocks: The conversation addresses how pandemic-related burnout has caused severe provider shortages and extensive waitlists, particularly affecting families in rural areas. Kindergarten Readiness: Dr. Mona and Amanda highlight how early support prevents children from falling behind behaviorally and being prematurely excluded from general education classrooms. Inclusive Education: The episode concludes by showcasing how fully integrated classrooms foster empathy and lifelong acceptance among all children. 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! Shop Dr. Mona’s favorite products: https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk (paid link) 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

Have you ever uttered the phrase, "Don't worry, kids are resilient"? It’s a line meant to comfort us as adults, but what if it’s actually giving us permission to skip over our kids' real struggles? In this episode, I sit down with children's therapist and author Stacy Schaffer to dismantle the massive misconceptions around childhood coping and resilience. Stacy shares her own powerful story of navigating a traumatic childhood under the guise of being the "perfect, shiny" kid , and explains why our well-behaved children might actually be suffering in silence. In this episode we cover: What "kids are resilient" really means, and why we overuse it The difference between true resilience and just shutting down Why the well behaved, easy kid might actually be a red flag worth paying attention to What perfectionism can be a sign of, and why it is not the goal The one thing research shows can change a kid's whole trajectory How to actually support your kid without fixing or minimizing what they feel Stacy's own story of being labeled resilient, and what she wishes had been different Connect with Stacy Schaffer on Instagram @hoperestored, visit her site https://stacyschaffer.com/ and buy her new book: https://go.shopmy.us/p-69552166 (paid link) Check out her new course: Staying Connected to Your Kids in a Digital World. www.stacyschaffer.com/workshop 00:00:00 - The Danger of the "Kids Are Resilient" Myth 00:02:16 - Meet Child Therapist Stacy Schaffer 00:04:24 - Why Adults Overuse the Word "Resiliency" 00:06:53 - Rescue Parenting vs. Building Real Resilience 00:08:39 - True Resilience: You Don't Have to Do It Alone 00:12:12 - Stacy's Personal Story: "Shiny" Coping vs. Safe Containers 00:14:38 - Destigmatizing Therapy & Embracing Imperfect Parenting 00:18:14 - Red Flags: Is Your "Good Kid" Coping in Isolation? 00:23:38 - The Power of Being Seen: Stop Fixing, Start Listening 00:29:26 - Restoring Hope for the Next Generation 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! Shop Dr. Mona’s favorite products: https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk (paid link) 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

So many moms feel they must always be gentle, patient, and nurturing. When intense irritability, sudden anger, or rage bubbles up during pregnancy or the postpartum period, it’s easy to suffer in silence out of fear of judgment. Dr. Mona and Dr. Ashurina pull back the curtain on why parental rage happens, how to recognize the clinical signs of a flooded nervous system, and why getting help early—before reaching a crisis point—is the best thing you can do for yourself and your family. Here are the key takeaways from this episode: Perinatal Rage is Wrapped in Shame: Many mothers suffer in silence because societal expectations dictate that moms should always be gentle, patient, and nurturing, making it incredibly difficult to admit to feeling intense anger or rage. It Can Start During Pregnancy: Mood shifts and anxiety during the perinatal period are often incorrectly dismissed as "just hormones," but symptoms of depression, anxiety, and rage can actively begin during pregnancy. Depression Doesn't Always Look Like Sadness: Perinatal and postpartum depression can manifest as extreme irritability, hostility, snapping, and yelling over minor incidents rather than just tearfulness or isolation. Driven by Overstimulation and Unmet Needs: Rage is rarely a standalone issue; it is typically a combination of extreme sleep deprivation, sensory burnout, and unmet basic needs like adequate nutrition, rest, or feeling seen and validated. Don't Wait for a Crisis to Get Help: You do not need to be in an absolute crisis to benefit from mental health support; seeking out a therapist early makes navigating care much easier and helps you recover before reaching a breaking point. 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! Shop Dr. Mona’s favorite products: https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk (paid link) 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

Have you read all the parenting books, followed the expert social media accounts, and known exactly what you want to say to your child—only to find yourself frustrated and yelling in the heat of the moment? You are not alone. In this episode, I welcome back licensed therapist, author, and crowd-favorite social media follower, Dr. Cassidy Freitas. Together, we take the shame out of "mom rage" and explore the painful gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it when it matters most. Dr. Cassidy dives into the core concepts of her new book, Mom Needs a Moment, explaining how our childhood "rulebooks," sensory overload, and a lack of societal "margins" trigger our nervous systems into survival mode. Tune in to learn how to catch your triggers, build a buffer between stimulus and reaction, and use the ultimate parenting superpower: the power of repair. In this episode, we cover: The deep shame mothers face when they know the right parenting techniques but still find themselves yelling in moments of frustration. How Dr. Cassidy pulled together a decade of clinical themes and personal experiences as a mother of three to write her new book, Mom Needs a Moment. How childhood survival "rulebooks" and an overstimulated nervous system cause parents to default to reactive habits like fight, flight, or freeze. The desperate need for modern parents to consciously protect empty "margins" of space on their calendars to regulate their bodies outside of stressful moments. A powerful look at how breaking generational cycles allows parents to build a lasting emotional legacy for future generations. Connect with Dr. Cassidy Freitas on Instagram @drcassidy, visit her site https://www.drcassidymft.com/ and buy her new book: https://go.shopmy.us/p-69435027 (paid link) Check out our earlier episode on EMDR: https://pedsdoctalk.com/podcast/trauma-therapy-why-you-may-need-emdr/ 00:00 - Introduction & The Parenting Gap 01:54 - EMDR Therapy & Processing Motherhood 03:49 - A Psychic Medium's Prediction & Toxic Perfectionism 06:33 - Impact vs. Notoriety 08:55 - How the Book Got Its Title 11:31 - The Overstimulated Digital Parenting Era 13:40 - Why Do We Snap? (The Survival Rulebook) 19:57 - Dr. Mona’s Instagram Troll Trigger 22:59 - Why Insight Alone Isn't Enough to Change Behavior 24:42 - What Are Margins? (Before, During, & After) 32:50 - The Chocolate Popsicle Story 37:46 - The Power of a Child Expecting Repair 42:20 - ADHD, Hyperfocus, and Managing Interruptions 43:53 - Breaking Generational Cycles Without Blame 49:27 - Reclaiming Your Intuition 52:24 - Building Legacy & Finding Joy 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

I'll be honest with you - this episode hit differently for me as a mom. My son is six and learning Spanish in school, and my parents speak our native language with him, but listening back to this conversation with Alicia made me wish we had been more intentional from the start. No guilt though... just real talk about what the research actually says. Alicia Gandhi is a bilingual speech language pathologist and clinical assistant professor at NYU, and she is the person you want in your corner when it comes to separating fact from fiction on raising kids with multiple languages. There are so many myths floating around out there, from pediatricians, from teachers, from well-meaning family members, and we break them all down. In this episode we cover: The real cognitive benefits of raising bilingual and multilingual kids (hint: it goes way beyond language) Why code switching and mixing languages is not confusion - it is actually a sign your child is doing exactly what they should be The milestone myth: bilingual kids are not on a different developmental timeline Why you should speak your strongest language at home, even if it is not English The harmful practice of "forced monolingualism" and who it hurts most Whether kids with language delays or disabilities can still be raised multilingual (spoiler: yes) What happens when kids enter a new language environment like daycare or school 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! Shop Dr. Mona's favorite products: https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk (paid link) 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

BED SHARING DISCUSSIONS SHOULD BE CLEARED WITH YOUR CHILD’S CLINICIAN. This episode is not personal advice. If there is one topic that makes parents go quiet in my exam room, it is this one. Where is your baby actually sleeping? Not where you planned for them to sleep. Not what you told your mother-in-law. Where are they really sleeping at 2am when you are exhausted and just need everyone to rest? I brought Dr. Michael Milobsky on the show because he is one of the few pediatricians willing to have this conversation out loud. Twenty-seven years in practice, father of seven, grandfather of five, and someone who has been in every corner of pediatric medicine. We sat down and got honest about bedsharing in a way that I wish every parent could hear from their own doctor. Here is what I want you to know before you hit play. I used to be the doctor who said independent sleep space and moved on. No room for nuance, no real conversation. And what I have come to understand over the last several years is that when parents feel judged, they stop telling us the truth. And when that happens, we lose the chance to actually keep babies safe. This episode is not about telling you what to do. It is about giving you the information you deserve so you can make the most informed choice for your family. What We Talk About Why so many parents are not being honest with their pediatrician about where their baby sleeps, and why that silence is the bigger safety problem What the AAP guidelines are actually designed to do, and where they fall short in a real clinical conversation The specific risk factors that make bedsharing significantly more dangerous, including smoking, alcohol, sedating medications, soft bedding, prematurity, and very young infants The Safe Sleep Seven, what it covers, what its limitations are, and why it is still a useful harm reduction tool How bedsharing is practiced in other countries and why the surface and setup matter as much as the decision itself Why breastfeeding changes the biology of bedsharing and shifts the risk picture in meaningful ways What both of us did with our own kids, because real talk requires real transparency Room sharing versus bedsharing, and what the updated AAP recommendations actually say Why most pediatricians default to the hard line, and why it is usually about time in the system, not ignorance of the nuance What to do if your pediatrician will not have this conversation with you Connect with Dr. Michael Milobsky on Instagram @drmichaelmilobsky and visit his site linktr.ee/milobsky . 00:00 - Pediatric Sleep Guidance: The Nuance of Bed Sharing 04:15 - Meet Dr. Michael Milobsky: From the ER to Raising 7 Kids 08:30 - Why Strict AAP Safe Sleep Guidelines Fail Exhausted Parents 13:10 - Co-Sleeping Around the World vs. Mainstream US Pediatrics 17:45 - Understanding Risk Stratification in the Marriage Bed 21:20 - Navigating Survival Mode and Chronic Sleep Deprivation 25:55 - Infant Temperaments: Evaluating Your Baby's "Cuddle Quota" 30:15 - High-Risk Factors: Alcohol, Sedating Medications, and Sobriety 34:40 - The Biology of Breastfeeding Proximity vs. Formula Feeding 38:10 - Breaking Down the Safe Sleep Seven Framework 42:50 - The Hidden Dangers of Couches, Armchairs, and Recliners 46:15 - Systemic Issues: Why Pediatricians Lack Time for Nuanced Advice 50:30 - How to Safely Discuss Your Sleep Choices with Your Doctor 53:20 - Outro: Shifting to Supportive, Non-Judgmental Pediatric Guidance 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! Shop Dr. Mona's favorite products: https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk (paid link) 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