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

Revenge isn’t a word we typically use when we talk about toddlers. But if you’ve ever taken something away and gotten a swat in return, you’ve seen it in action. In this episode, I sit down with James Kimmel Jr., a Yale researcher and lawyer who was the first to describe revenge as a behavioral addiction. James shares how bullying as a teen almost led him somewhere he could never take back and how that moment shaped his life’s work. We don’t need a prescription to fix this - just forgiveness - and it starts with parents modeling this at home.   We discuss: How years of bullying as a teenager pushed James to a breaking point What happens in the brain when we feel wronged and why revenge works like an addiction Why a lost turn or a taken TV remote can feel huge to a child How the urge to get even shows up as early as the toddler years Why forgiveness is a gift to yourself, not the person who hurt you Seeing the “bad kid” as a hurt kid who needs help managing a very natural feeling Why kids learn forgiveness best when they see their parents doing it first To connect with James Kimmel Jr. follow him on X @jameskimmeljr and check out all his resources at https://www.jameskimmeljr.com/. Buy his book The Science of Revenge https://link.amazon/B00csEYQV (paid link) 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

I know how heartbreaking and confusing it can be when a child seems fine and compliant at school only to experience meltdowns the moment they step foot at home. Today, I sit down with Meredith Carder, an ADHD coach, to dive deep into masking in ADHD. Meredith shares her own journey of being diagnosed later in life and sheds light on the immense mental and physical toll that trying to fit in takes on kids and adults. We explore how masking leads to late diagnoses (especially in girls) and discuss practical strategies to help our kids feel safe enough to drop the mask and get their regulatory needs met.  We discuss: Meredith Carder shares her experience as a late-diagnosed adult and parent advocate How children exert so much mental energy masking at school that they experience meltdowns once safely home That many girls especially mask their symptoms, leading to missed or delayed diagnoses How chronic masking can lead to adult perfectionism, people-pleasing habits and burnout cycles Indicators of masking like extreme rigidity, hair twirling, leg bouncing, excessive apologizing and school refusal To connect with Meredith Carder follow her on Instagram @Hummingbird_adhd  and check out all her resources at https://meredithcarder.com/. Buy her book It All Makes Sense Now: Embrace Your ADHD Brain to Live a Creative and Colorful Life https://link.amazon/B0fwsM6F9 (paid link) 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

⁠Many videos make you panic because your baby skipped crawling or didn’t get enough tummy time today. Social media can make motor milestones scarier than they need to be. I sat down with Jena Schultz, a pediatric physical therapist and mom of two to cover tummy time, crawling, W sitting and toe walking. Jena also shares two areas where she says don’t wait, act early. My hope is that you walk away calmer and more confident in your mom gut.  We discuss: Why fear-based posts spread so fast online How pediatricians and therapists can work as a team Where tummy time came from and why Grandma never did it Army crawling, butt scooting and the slippery floor favor Head flattening and why early referral matters Why development happens in a sequence, not a stopwatch How to tell your intuition apart from fear To connect with Jena Schultz follow her on Instagram @drivingdevelopment and check out all her resources at https://www.drivingdevelopment.org/  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

⁠I’m joined by Laura Petix, pediatric occupational therapist and the founder of The OT Butterfly, to unpack your child’s sensory processing differences. Behaviors like meltdowns, crashing, restlessness or selective eating often stem from their unique “sensory code”. Recognizing these underneath-the-surface needs allow us to move away from reactive power struggles and toward proactive connection. We discuss:  The three hidden internal systems: vestibular, proprioceptive, and interoceptive Oversensitivity to internal sensations during moments of distress or embarrassment Kids who constantly climb, crash or spin and what needs they need met Sensory overload in environments like school cafeterias  Adults who accommodate their own sensory preferences daily How dysregulation is usually a gradual buildup Simple sensory tools like cooling items, fidgets and crunchy foods To connect with Laura Petix follow her on Instagram @theOTbutterfuly and find all her resources at https://theotbutterfly.com/. Buy her new book, “The Sensory Code: Understanding Sensory Processing Differences to Support Your Child’s Unique Needs”: https://link.amazon/B0fDglrrK (paid link) 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

Today I sat down to talk about something I think about a lot…the crunchy mom movement. Why are so many families walking away from traditional healthcare unheard? Caitlyn Shollmeier, a certified nurse midwife and founder of Lila Maternity, joins me to dig into why this is not really about essential oils or cloth diapers. When women do not feel like a person in the room any more they lose trust and feel like just another number on a chart. Caitlyn shared her own birth story with twins that stuck with me. She felt dismissed by almost her entire care team, except for one nurse who took the time to listen. That relationship changed her birth story. It is a good reminder that as clinicians, the small stuff, like explaining what is happening and why, is never actually small. We discuss:  Why the crunchy mom movement is growing and what is usually underneath it How shame and lack of time in modern health care push families toward alternative spaces The difference between correcting misinformation and actually building trust Why compassion works better than fact checking when someone feels dismissed How to spot red flags in online parenting communities Caitlyn’s own birth story and that one nurse who changed everything What real informed consent should sound like in a room To connect with Caitlyn Schollmeier follow her on TikTok @themodernmidwife and check out her laborwear line: https://www.wearlila.com  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

Motherhood is often shown as something women should handle effortlessly while we are expected to also lose ourselves in total self-sacrifice. Today, I sit down with digital creator, speaker and author Libby Ward to discuss what happens when we stop pretending and start getting real about raising kids. Libby shares her own journey of burnout after being pressured to “do it all”. We break down why being honest about motherhood can shift the narrative for our generation. Libby dives into the story behind her book “Honest Motherhood: On Losing My Mind and Finding Myself”. She explains how letting go of perfectionism and prioritizing rest doesn’t make us bad moms, it makes us human. Whether you’re feeling overstimulated, guilty or just want to be fully yourself today, this conversation is a gentle (and sometimes funny) reminder that you are not alone. We discuss: Libby’s personal breaking point that set her on a path to address her burnout  The pressure moms daily face that can lead to resentment How trauma, upbringing and neurodiversity can drive woman to put others first while masking their struggles How being an honest mother starts with self-awareness and acknowledging your own limits That letting go of the pressure and focusing on micro-moments allows us to be genuinely present with our kids To connect with Libby Ward follow her on Instagram @libbyward and check out her new book: https://go.shopmy.us/p-86552555 (paid link) 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 eye-opening and deeply needed episode, I sat down with Clayton Cranford—a 20-year law enforcement veteran, former school resource officer, crisis negotiator, national award winner, and founder of Cyber Safety Cop. Drawing from decades of experience at the intersection of youth culture, law enforcement, and online safety, Clay offers a clear-eyed look at the real-world impact smartphones and social media are having on kids today. We dive into the growing movement toward "bell-to-bell" phone-free school policies, why parental pushback is often rooted in misplaced fear rather than reality, and how to successfully navigate screen-time standoffs at home. Clay shares actionable negotiation strategies to help parents recruit their kids as partners in building healthier digital habits, protect their mental health, and delay high-risk tech exposure. We discuss: Clay’s transition from law enforcement and school resource officer to digital safety advocate What actually happens when schools enforce "bell-to-bell" phone-free policies during the school day Addressing common parental fears around school safety, abductions, and emergency access The real digital risks: fractured attention spans, exposure to explicit content, and mental health challenges Using crisis negotiation skills to handle screen-time standoffs without screaming matches The power of parenting pacts and delaying social media until high school How parents can advocate for phone-free policies within their local school districts and states Connect with Clayton Cranford on Instagram @cybersafetycop and see all his resources at https://cybersafetycop.com/  Buy Clayton’s books: Parenting in the Digital World: A Step-by-Step Guide to Internet Safety https://link.amazon/B06f8YHhJ and Radicalized Online: How Digital Platforms Shape the Path to Targeted Violence And How We Stop It https://link.amazon/B09IWsdSF (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

Have you ever entered a medical environment feeling like your voice was completely secondary to the fast-moving machines and rigid hospital policies around you? It is a vulnerable position that leaves far too many birthing parents carrying psychological scars, but what if knowing the right language ahead of time is the ultimate shield against a traumatic birth? In this episode, I sit down with board-certified Ob-Gyn and author Dr. Jennifer Lincoln to demystify the intense world of labor, delivery, and postpartum recovery. Dr. Lincoln discusses why true informed consent requires deep clinical communication, provides practical tips on how to build a flexible birth preference sheet, and fearlessly tackles the complex systemic hospital policies that families are rarely warned about. Writing the Legacy: What drove Dr. Lincoln to write a comprehensive, doctor-backed guide dedicated entirely to the raw realities of giving birth. The Hidden Trauma Metric: Why up to half of birthing people experience psychological birth trauma and how clinical dismissal fuels it. Birth Plans vs. Birth Preferences: Why shifting your terminology can protect your mental health and set you up for empowered choice in any delivery scenario. The Corporate Blindspots of Delivery: How hidden out-of-network insurance bills can strike you even when you deliver at an in-network hospital. Why Hospital Ideology Matters: The quiet systemic impact of a hospital's religious affiliation on your personal birth control options during a C-section. The Candy Wrapper Analogy: Why the current healthcare system abandons moms immediately after birth and the 3 things you must know before being discharged. Normalizing the Unspoken: A refreshing, unfiltered look at bodily functions in the delivery room and a vital resource for navigating the heaviest pregnancy outcomes. Connect with Dr. Jen Lincoln on Instagram @drjenniferlincoln, visit her site drjenniferlincoln.com and buy her new book: The Birth Book https://go.shopmy.us/p-76800588 (paid link) 00:00 - Introduction to the Episode and Guest 02:42 - The "Labor of Love": Publishing a Book 05:35 - The Role of Social Media in Medical Education 07:00 - Why Focus on Labor and Postpartum? 10:40 - True Informed Consent in the Delivery Room 14:53 - The Impact of Feeling Heard vs. Dismissed 20:04 - Birth "Preferences" vs. Birth "Plans" 24:08 - Navigating Hidden Hospital Policies 30:41 - The Reality of Out-of-Network Medical Bills 33:00 - Three Crucial Postpartum Realities 39:42 - How to Advocate for Yourself in a Medical Setting 44:25 - Discussing Stillbirth and Delivery Fears 46:47 - Finding Joy and Setting Boundaries 48:56 - Episode Outro and Final Reflections 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