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

As a pediatrician, I was not asking enough questions about my patients' periods. We ask when the last one was. We rarely go deeper than that. And after this conversation, I will never approach it the same way again. I sat down with my friend and colleague Dr. Natalie Crawford, reproductive endocrinologist, fertility specialist, and author of The Fertility Formula. Here is what I want every parent raising a girl to understand: the menstrual cycle is not just a monthly inconvenience. It is one of the most important windows into your daughter's hormonal health, her long-term fertility, and her overall wellbeing. And the symptoms we keep brushing off as "just puberty" or "just a bad period" are often the first clues to conditions that will matter deeply later in life. In this episode, we cover: Why the menstrual cycle is a vital sign and what that means for the girls in your life The warning signs parents and pediatricians too often dismiss as normal What a first period should actually look like, and when irregular cycles need to be taken seriously Hypothalamic amenorrhea: the condition linked to over-exercising, under-eating, and chronic stress that silently affects estrogen during some of the most critical years of development PCOS in teens: why it does not always look the way doctors expect, and why so many girls get missed Thyroid disease and how it shows up in the menstrual cycle before anything else Endometriosis in adolescents: when period pain is not normal and what to do about it Why birth control is sometimes the right treatment but not always the full answer How to advocate for your daughter when you feel dismissed at the doctor's office The referral path from pediatrician to OB to specialist, and when to push for more Connect with Dr. Natalie Crawford on Instagram @nataliecrawfordmd, visit her site https://www.nataliecrawfordmd.com/ and buy her new book: https://a.co/d/0byHPtzr Here is the revised list of 20 chapters, spaced out chronologically to cover the entire duration of the provided text for "Podcast Natalie Crawford Final.mp3.txt": 00:00:00 The Paternalistic History of Women's Health 00:01:19 Introducing Dr. Natalie Crawford & The Fertility Formula 00:02:56 The Stigma of Cycle Tracking and Menstrual Shame 00:04:53 Dr. Mona's Personal Battle with Secondary Infertility 00:06:00 Overcoming the Unknown and Paternalism in Medicine 00:08:11 Empowering Younger Women to Advocate for Their Bodies 00:10:27 Raising Children to Trust Their Physical Cues 00:11:32 Dr. Crawford's Personal Experience with Pregnancy Loss 00:13:13 Shifting Medical Research Toward Natural Fertility 00:16:33 Cultivating Fast Vulnerability in Doctor-Patient Bonds 00:18:15 The Ovarian Vault and the Biology of Puberty 00:20:25 The Brain-Ovary Dance: Follicular vs. Luteal Phases 00:21:59 Static on the Walkie-Talkie: Environmental Disruptors 00:23:40 Red Flags: School Refusal and Endometriosis Risk 00:26:03 Beyond the Basics: Upgrading Pediatric Screening Questions 00:30:11 Deep Dive into Hypothalamic Amenorrhea 00:33:14 The Metabolic Realities of Living with PCOS 00:41:43 The Diagnostic Criteria for PCOS and Clinical Workups 00:44:16 Thyroid Disease and Its Impact on Reproductive Hormones 00:48:15 Long-Term Health Risks Linked to Untreated Infertility 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

As a pediatrician and mom, I know firsthand how easy it is to get overwhelmed by standard parenting tips and the pressure to have a perfect family life. In a culture obsessed with quick fixes and curated social media fairy tales, so many couples feel like they are constantly falling short. On this channel, my goal is to share the beautiful, unglamorous reality of making relationships work. We cannot just hope for a happy marriage and connection to happen by chance…we have to be intentional about creating it. That is why I love bringing authentic guests onto the podcast to share real, unfiltered relationship advice. In this episode, I’m sitting down with former Navy SEAL sniper instructor and author Brandon Webb to talk about his brand new book, Puddle Jumpers. Brandon reminds us that we don’t have to succumb to public judgment or relationship anxiety. Real growth happens in our everyday routines, like setting core family values, prioritizing intentional quality time, and learning how to celebrate failure. By breaking down the illusion of perfection and working through messy parenting moments, we can move past the comparison trap and build a resilient, peaceful home. Why treating presence as an intentional choice rather than a balancing act is the key to lasting connection with your children. How choosing fewer distractions and putting down your phone can completely eliminate family disconnect and parenting anxiety. Easy, practical ways to establish a united co-parenting front and protect intentional habits like individual father-child trips. Why elite military instructors, pediatricians, and parents must embrace failure and small stressors as necessary stepping stones to confidence. Breaking down the distinct transition from a dictator parent to a counselor role as your children mature into adulthood. How a legendary Olympic coach used a mental management curriculum to teach positive self-talk, self-reflection, and unshakable grit. How to find joy in the mundane, unglamorous phases of parenting—like letting your kids jump in a messy mud puddle. Connect with Brandon Webb on Instagram @brandontwebb, visit his substack: https://brandontwebb.substack.com and buy his book Puddle Jumper: https://go.shopmy.us/p-65451601 (paid link) 00:00 – Intro: Why Small Daily Challenges Build Confidence in Kids 02:45 – Meet Brandon Webb: Navy SEAL Sniper Instructor, Author, and Father of Three 03:37 – Brandon's Origin Story: Sailboat Childhood, Leaving Home at 16, and What It Taught Him About Fatherhood 09:33 – Why Parenting Content Ignores Dads and Why That Needs to Change 11:17 – What Navy SEAL Mental Training Has to Do With Raising Resilient Kids 15:22 – Why Modern Dads Feel Like Strangers in Their Own Homes (And How to Fix It) 21:01 – Ask Better Questions: Why "How Was Your Day?" Is a Dead End 25:09 – How Your Words Become Your Child's Inner Voice 28:36 – Ordinary Magic: Why Letting Kids Do Small Hard Things Is the Most Powerful Thing You Can Do 33:03 – Co-Parenting After Divorce: Staying a United Front When It's Hard 39:23 – How to Know When to Push Your Kid and When to Back Off 44:06 – Madison's Letter: The Return on Investment of Showing Up as a Parent 49:46 – Modeling Emotional Regulation: Kids Learn What They Live 53:22 – From Boss to Coach: How Your Parenting Role Has to Shift as Kids Get Older 58:11 – Final Advice for Dads: Be Present, Ask Better Questions, and Raise Good Decision-Makers 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

Infant sleep has become one of the most polarizing topics in modern parenting. In this thoughtful and nuanced conversation, I sit down with sleep consultant and family therapist Chrissy Lawler to unpack co-sleeping, sleep training, safety data, and the emotional charge surrounding these decisions. As a pediatrician, I was trained to follow AAP safe sleep guidelines, but real-world parenting, cultural practices, and honest conversations with families have pushed me to approach this topic with more openness and clarity. We discuss what the data actually shows, where the gaps exist, and why shame and fear-based messaging don’t help families make safer decisions. Whether you co-sleep, sleep train, or are still figuring it out, this episode focuses on evidence, harm reduction, attachment, parental well-being, and finding what works for your unique family system. In this episode, we discuss: Why co-sleeping is so controversial, especially coming from a pediatrician AAP guidelines vs cultural sleep practices around the world The dangers of polarized, shame-based sleep messaging Harm reduction principles for families who choose to co-sleep Risk factors that increase sleep-related infant deaths What the data does and does not tell us about co-sleeping safety The “Safe Sleep Seven” and its limitations Sleep training myths, cortisol concerns, and attachment Why parental sleep and mental health matter just as much as baby sleep The impact of sleep deprivation on relationships and long-term family dynamics How to filter social media noise and make evidence-based decisions Foundational newborn sleep strategies to reduce desperation and unsafe practices The role of resilience, stress tolerance, and “good enough” parenting To connect with Chrissy Lawler follow her on Instagram @the.peaceful.sleeper, check out all her resources at https://www.thepeacefulsleeper.com/ and buy her book “The Peaceful Sleeper: An Intuitive Approach to Baby Sleep”: https://go.shopmy.us/p-65452726 (paid link) 00:00 – Intro 01:15 – A Pediatrician’s Experience With Unsafe Sleep 02:07 – Why Parents Secretly Bedshare 02:54 – Introducing Chrissy Lawler and Her Work 05:04 – Why Safe Sleep Messaging Often Misses Real Life 07:03 – The Cultural Differences Around Infant Sleep 11:03 – Why Parents Feel Pressure Around Sleep Training 16:04 – What Actually Makes Co-Sleeping Dangerous 20:01 – Harm Reduction: If Families Choose to Bedshare 28:00 – Sleep Training Myths and Misunderstandings 38:00 – The Emotional Side of Infant Sleep Decisions 39:01 – How Shame Impacts Honest Conversations With Pediatricians 45:01 – Practical Ways to Make Infant Sleep Safer 48:02 – The Bigger Takeaway: Safety, Support, and Informed Choices 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