Have you ever wondered what parents truly desire from their pediatricians? 

In this week's episode of Pediatric Meltdown, Dr. Lia goes into the heart of parental needs, drawing from her 34 years of experience and insights gleaned from her podcast interviews. She explores the universal desire for reassurance, the challenges of modern parenting in the age of social media, and the importance of fostering positive childhood experiences.

Dr. Lia emphasizes the critical role of relational health in supporting families, especially those facing adversity. She reminds us that the most powerful tool in a pediatrician's arsenal isn't fancy gadgets or cutting-edge treatments, but the ability to listen and validate parents' experiences. From navigating preschool expulsions to dealing with developmental milestones, this episode offers a compassionate perspective on the complexities of raising children. Whether you're a healthcare professional or a parent, this episode promises to leave you with valuable insights and a renewed appreciation for the power of human connection in pediatric care. Remember, in the journey of parenting, you're not alone – and sometimes, that's the most important message of all.

     [0:00 -01:46]  Observations from a Seasoned Pediatrician: Parental Needs

• Episode focuses on what parents want most from pediatricians
• Addresses the pressure parents face, especially from social media
• Emphasizes that fancy gadgets aren't necessary; however, relationship with the baby is key

[1:47 - 17:48]  Reassurance: The Foundation of Parent Support 

• Parents need reassurance that they're not failing
• Importance of praising parents for their efforts
• Reminder that the parent-child relationship is more important than material things

[17:48 - 18:29]  Navigating Challenges: A Collaborative Approach

• Addresses issues like preschool expulsions and daycare problems
• Encourages pediatricians to "ride the ride" with parents
• Suggests calling in reinforcements when needed (e.g., social work, community mental health)

[18:30 - 26:14] Building Relational Health and Positive Experiences

• Focuses on fostering positive childhood experiences
• Explains how supportive adults can help children overcome adversity
• Emphasizes teaching parenting skills, as they're not innate

Resources mentioned on the show

https://www.healthychildren.org

The Healthy Children Podcast:  Healthy Children (pod.link)

Other episodes mentioned on the show:

https://pediatricmeltdown.com/episodes

202.  Functional Neurologic Disorders: Recognition and Management

175.  Beyond Trauma: Strengthening the Caregiver-Infant Dyad

162.  Migraine Headaches: Assessment, Management and Relief

152.  The Mysteries of Abdominal Pain: Disorders of the Gut-Brain Interactions

115.  Chronic Pain Syndromes: Assessment and Management 

114.  Palliative and Hospice Care: A Conversation on Grief and Joy

Building Better Workflows Podcast

Building Better Workflows 

Key quotes for Twitter:

"Vaccines are the most important public health endeavor that has ever occurred that has improved the lives of children and adults."... Dr. Lia Gaggino on the importance of Vaccines

"Be careful about what you see on social media because there will be some people that are touting, stuff like, this is the only way they can only have homemade organic food. And that's great if that's what you wanna do, but, you know, not everybody has the time or access to those sorts of things."....Dr. Lia Gaggino on the truth about feeding children

**Transcript of Episode Available upon request**

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Pediatric Meltdown was listed as a Top 20 Pediatric Podcast on FeedSpot.

If you’d like to connect with me, you can Tap the “What Are Your Thoughts” button at the top of the notes or you can find me on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, or email me at [email protected]. To learn more about me visit https://www.pediatricmeltdown.com/ or reach out, DM me on IG, FB or LI and if you’d like to chat set up a discovery call to talk about your needs and challenges:  https://calendly.com/gagginol/discovery-call