There is no such thing as a healthy kid with poor oral hygiene. That’s why it’s so important to make taking care of your child’s dental health a priority – even before their first tooth comes in.

Find out everything you need to know regarding dental hygiene for kids by tuning into the latest episode of the Because They’re Kids podcast, where Anne Baum sits down with Deborah Campbell, DMD, dentist and Chair of Dental Medicine at Lehigh Valley Health Network.

Kids are curious by nature, which is why keeping your child safe can feel like a full-time job. Oftentimes, it’s only when you’re in the comfort of your home that you feel like you can take a breath, knowing they’re completely safe. However, that’s not always the case.

While we tend to associate safety with areas in which we are most familiar, like our home, research shows that children are more likely to get injured at home than anywhere else. That’s where thoroughly childproofing your home comes into play.

Find out how you can turn your home into a safe haven for kids by tuning into the latest episode of the Because They’re Kids podcast, where Anne Baum sits down with Teresa Romano, MD, a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital to discuss all things home safety.

Sometimes children may need additional support with developing certain skills. It’s important to remember each child’s journey is unique. While there are milestones that should be reached, it’s not uncommon for children to face challenges as they grow up.  

As a parent, you know your child best. Knowing what issues to be on the lookout for can help you determine if your child would benefit from seeing a pediatric rehab specialist. 

Learn about pediatric rehabilitation on the latest episode of the Because They’re Kids podcast, where Anne Baum talks about feeding disorders, speech and language delays and motor skills with Tyler Lawson, outpatient pediatric rehabilitation manager and speech-language pathologist, and Sarah Smith, outpatient pediatric rehabilitation physical therapist with Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital. 

Chapters:                                                                                                                                                                     

·         0:01 – Intro

·         1:04 – About pediatric rehab 

·         1:52 – Common diagnoses 

·         3:41 – Feeding disorders

·         5:41 – Resources for parents

·         6:16 – Helping your child if they have a feeding disorder

·         10:53 – Food avoidance in kids

·         12:33 – Common speech disorders

·         13:41 – How to know if your child needs support

·         14:43 – Motor skill milestones 

·         18:43 – Red flags in physical development

·         20:43 – Programs offered at the Children’s Hospital

·         23:00 – Gross vs. fine motor skills

·         27:30 – How to know when speech or language support is needed

·         29:34 – Tips for improving speech

·         33:44 – About pediatric group therapy

·         36:23 – Advice for parents

For more kid-focused health tips, advice and must-know news about Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital, follow us on Facebook and Instagram @LVHNChildren.

Vaping, or e-cigarettes, continues to be marketed toward kids and teens with colorful packaging made to look like highlighters or their favorite gum. It’s an enticing product that can lead to addiction and long-term health issues if not addressed. 

Learn about the dangers of vaping and what to do if you discover your child is vaping by tuning in to the latest episode of the Because They’re Kids podcast, where Anne Baum talks about the dangers of vaping with Kristen Hoben, manager of Weller Health Education and Foundational Career Programming with Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital.

Chapters:
• 0:01 – Intro
• 1:01 – About Weller Health Education
• 2:19 – What is vaping?
• 3:30 – Vaping vs. smoking
• 6:09 – Vaping myths
• 8:04 – The chemicals inside vape juices
• 12:02 – Vapes are marketed to kids
• 15:01 – How to talk to your kid about vaping dangers
• 18:26 – Drug testing your kid
• 20:30 – Why education on vaping is important
• 23:34 – What to do if you discover your kid is vaping
• 27:42 – What is “dabbing?”
• 31:23 – What vaping does to a kid’s brain, heart and lungs
• 32:59 – Signs of addiction to watch for
• 34:19 – Advice for parents

For more kid-focused health tips, advice and must-know news about Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital, follow us on Facebook and Instagram @LVHNChildren.

Parenting in this digital era can be challenging. But with the right tools and resources, you’ll know how to navigate screen time and social media to keep your kids safe and healthy. Learn how to manage screen time and technology with your kids by tuning in to the latest episode of Because They’re Kids podcast, where Anne Baum talks about screen time and social media with Maria Aramburu, MD, pediatrician with LVPG Adolescent Medicine–3080 Hamilton and Katie Kindt, DO, pediatrician with LVPG Pediatrics–Center Valley.

Chapters:
• 0:01 – Intro
• 1:05 – Positive and negative effects of kids using technology
• 2:39 – At what age is it appropriate to introduce children to screen time activities?
• 4:23 – How to ensure your kids have quality screen time
• 5:21 – Screen time recommendations
• 7:05 – The impact technology has on your child’s cognitive, social and emotional development
• 10:11 – Screen time and health problems
• 11:16 – Too much screen time
• 13:12 – Healthy screen time boundaries
• 16:31 – Is there a right time or age for kids to have social media?
• 19:02 – Social media rules to set
• 22:00 – Protecting your kids from the dangers on social media and the internet
• 23:21 – For older children, how can parents find the right balance of monitoring their kid’s social media use but also trusting and respecting their privacy?
• 25:31 – When is a good age to consider getting your child a cellphone? How do you know if your child is ready for one?
• 26:48 – Tech-free time at home
• 30:18 – Advice for parents

For more kid-focused health tips, advice and must-know news about Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital, follow us on Facebook and Instagram @LVHNChildren.

Anne Baum sits down with Tibisay Villalobos, MD, a pediatric infectious diseases specialist at Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital, and Dominique Bailey, MD, a pediatrician with LVPG Pediatrics–Easton, to discuss what you can do to help keep your kid healthy.

Chapters

• 1:17 - Why kids get sick so often
• 2:12 - How to build your child's immune system
• 3:13 - What things weaken a child's immune system?
• 5:06 - Immunity-building versus a child that's always sick
• 7:28 - Are autoimmune diseases something a kid can develop or are they born with it?
• 8:49 - What actually are autoimmune diseases?
• 9:46 - Signs to watch for with autoimmune diseases
• 11:11 - Autoimmune diseases most prevalent for children
• 12:03 - Importance of your child having a varied diet
• 13:17 - How do you introduce new foods to your child?
• 14:30 - At what point is a "picky eater" a problem?
• 16:08 - What does a good deal look like on a plate?
• 17:14 - Guidelines for vitamins, prebiotics and probiotics
• 18:28 - Importance of playing outside
• 21:05 - Can your house be too sanitary?
• 22:54 - Boosting your child's immune system with vaccines

Anne Baum sits down with Dr. Monica Lancellotti, a pediatrician with LVPG Pediatrics, and Thespina Godshalk, director of Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital’s School-Based Behavioral Health program, to discuss children’s mental well-being and how you can support your child’s mental health and wellness.

Chapters

• 00:01 - Intro
• 1:03 - Importance of mental health of our youth
• 1:28 - Difference between mental health and wellness and mental illness
• 2:40 - Promoting mental health
• 4:45 - How do you know when your child is struggling emotionally?
• 8:25 - Activities to help nurture your child's mental health and well-being
• 10:31 - Supporting your child by "being present"
• 12:23 - How does mental illness affect mental health?
• 13:48 - Diagnosing a mental illness
• 14:57 - Which mental disorders are often seen in children and teens?
• 15:35 - What is the most misdiagnosed mental illness in children?
• 16:32 - Explaining a mental illness diagnosis to your child
• 17:45 - What are signs of anxiety in kids and adolescents?
• 19:13 - Different types of anxiety
• 20:50 - Potential triggers for anxiety
• 22:03 - At what age does anxiety starts for kids?
• 23:02 - Anxiety treatments
• 24:06 - What can untreated anxiety lead to?
• 24:52 - Tricks and tips for helping kids or teens through anxiety attacks or anxious moments
• 26:40 - Signs of depression in youth
• 27:46 - What can cause depression in youth?
• 28:23 - How can you help your child with depression?
• 31:09 - How does your family and your family environment impact mental health and emotional well-being?
• 32:28 - How does does the family environment impact the mental health of kids?
• 33:38 - Effects of divorce on a child
• 35:55 - At what age is a child most affected by divorce?
• 37:42 - Unhappy marriage impact on a child

To learn more about children’s mental health, visit lvhn.org/childrensmentalhealth. For more kid-focused health tips, advice and must-know news about Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital, follow us on Facebook and Instagram at LVHNChildren. And remember, every parent needs a partner through parenthood, so make sure to subscribe or follow Because They’re Kids wherever you get your podcasts, so you never miss an episode.