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In recognition of SIDS Awareness Month every October, we sit down with Beth and Jimmy for a powerful, deeply personal conversation about losing their son, Lucas, to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

While October highlights safe-sleep education, the reality of child loss extends far beyond statistics. Beth and Jimmy open up about the immediate aftermath of the unthinkable, the heavy isolation of grief, and how they transformed their pain into vital community advocacy. This episode also covers the latest pediatric safe sleep standards, what modern science reveals about the biology of SIDS, and the advocacy efforts required to keep vital public health programs funded.

Whether you are an expecting parent, a family navigating grief, or a listener wanting to understand how to support a loved one, this episode offers a blend of essential education, cutting-edge science, and profound emotional truth.

Episode Highlights & Key Information Covered
1. Local Context & Hospital Milestones
The Regional Reality: In Kentucky, SUID rates run roughly double the national average, frequently documenting unsafe sleep factors in state reviews.

A Full-Circle Milestone: Kentucky Children’s Hospital—where Lucas was transported—earned the prestigious Cribs for Kids National Safe Sleep Hospital certification.

2. What Pediatricians Recommend Now (The AAP Standard)
The Foundation — The ABCs: Always place babies Alone, on their Backs, and in a bare Crib (with a firm, flat, tight-fitting mattress and a fitted sheet) for every sleep, every nap, by every caregiver, for the entire first year.

Critical Changes Since 2016:

No inclined sleep surfaces (anything sloped over 10 degrees is banned by the CPSC).

No weighted swaddles or weighted sleep sacks, which can restrict an infant's chest and breathing.

No home cardiorespiratory monitors as a SIDS strategy, as they create false reassurance.

Never using a couch, sofa, or armchair, which carries up to 67 times the risk and is a leading exhaustion-related hazard.

The Protective Factors: Room-sharing without bed-sharing (reduces risk by up to 50%), breastfeeding, pacifiers at nap and bedtime, routine immunizations, and maintaining a room temperature between 68°F and 72°F without overbundling.

3. What Research Thinks is Happening: The Triple Risk Model
SIDS is increasingly understood as a biological vulnerability rather than a failure of care. Safe sleep rules are risk-reduction tools designed to remove outside stressors.

The framework requires three elements to align at once:

A vulnerable infant (underlying differences in brainstem regulation of breathing and heart rate).

A critical developmental period (the first 6 months, especially 1 to 4 months).

An outside stressor (such as a minor cold or sleep position challenge).

Recent biological evidence highlights brainstem serotonin abnormalities, lower levels of the enzyme butyrylcholinesterase, and genetic variants linked to cardiac and serotonin pathways.

4. The Advocacy Angle: Why Parent Voices Matter
Federal funding for critical safe-sleep campaigns faced severe threats recently, but through relentless advocacy from organizations like First Candle, funding was restored by Congress to protect public health messaging.

5. Support and Resources: First Candle
First Candle is a national non-profit organization dedicated to ending sleep-related infant deaths and supporting grieving families.

What They Offer Families:
- 24-Hour Grief Line: 1-800-221-7437 for immediate, one-on-one support and local referrals.
- Peer-to-peer online support groups.
- Bereavement libraries and welcome packets covering milestones like birthdays, holidays, and navigating future pregnancies.
- Comprehensive safe-sleep and breastfeeding education programs (such as Let’s Talk and NICU staff training).
Website: firstcandle.org

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Are recurring ear infections leaving your child in pain and putting their speech development on hold? In this episode of Help, I Have Kids, host Pam Marshall (Occupational Therapist and mom of 5) sits down with pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist Beth Blankenship to discuss all things ear tubes and speech delays. 

Together, they break down the connection between middle ear fluid and speech delays in toddlers, explain what actually happens during PE tube surgery, and share practical advice for managing night-time ear pain and pressure changes. 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Middle Ear Fluid vs. Swimmer’s Ear: How fluid behind the eardrum differs from outer ear infections and why middle ear fluid causes temporary hearing loss. 
• The Speech Delay Connection: How hearing with middle ear fluid sounds like listening underwater, causing toddlers to drop final consonants and miss high-frequency speech sounds like S, Z, TH, and F. 
• PE Tubes Surgery Explained: What happens during pressure equalization tube placement, anesthesia expectations, and the fast post-surgery recovery. 
• Practical Ear Pain Relief: Tips for nighttime ear pain, positioning, and bottle/pacifier tricks to equalize pressure during airplane flights. 
• Post-Surgery Speech Support: How pediatric speech therapy and telehealth options can help your child catch up on language development. 

✨ CONNECT WITH US:

• Instagram: @helpihavekidspodcast
• Facebook: Help! I Have Kids Podcast Community
•  Website: https://marshallpediatrictherapy.com/

👇 SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A REVIEW: If this episode spoke to your mom heart, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a fellow mom who needs encouragement today! New episodes drop every Wednesday. 

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What if the thing a child was once told they might never do became the moment they found belonging, confidence, and a team cheering them on?

In this episode, we explore the heart of Toyota Bluegrass Miracle League baseball—a place where every child gets the opportunity to play, bat, run the bases, and score. Through modified equipment, supportive buddies, and flexible rules, the league creates a joyful and inclusive environment for children with different abilities.

Our conversation covers the emotional journey families may experience after a diagnosis, the power of seeing a child participate in sports, and the way Miracle League brings entire families together. We also discuss how older players become mentors, how siblings become part of the cheering section, and how families find connection with others who understand their experiences.

You’ll hear why Miracle League is about much more than baseball. It is about community, confidence, leadership, celebration, and making sure every child has a place to play.

Celebrate 20 years of Miracle League:
RSVP for the 20-year celebration 🎉: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=HGEbHejQOEmZmKFFwS4-CZUzRBG1ceVLpPLYByCo2MBUMk9YNVhEMzRJM0ozRjk5VjkyNlRFVkkwSi4u

Learn more:
Miracle League website: https://bgml.org/

Connect with us:
Our social media:  @HelpIHaveKidsPodcast

Marshall Pediatric Therapy social media:  @MarshallPediatricTherapy ​

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Are you picking up a happy child from school, only to have them explode into a massive meltdown the second you walk through the front door? You aren’t doing anything wrong—your child is experiencing After-School Restraint Collapse! 

In this episode, Pam Marshall (Occupational Therapist and mom of 5) breaks down exactly what is happening to your child’s nervous system after holding it together all day at school. She shares relatable, practical OT tips to help your child co-regulate, reset, and transition smoothly from school to home without the daily after-school battle.

✨ CONNECT US:
Instagram: @helpihavekidspodcast
Facebook: Help! I have Kids Podcast 

👇 SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A REVIEW:
If this episode spoke to your mom heart, please give us a thumbs up, subscribe, and share this with a fellow mom who needs some encouragement today!

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If you are in a hard season of motherhood, feeling overwhelmed by a tough medical diagnosis, or struggling to catch your breath—this episode will speak right to your heart.  

Mama to four little ones, Abbigale Stewart joins us to share her story of navigating life with her sweet two-year-old son, John-Baylor. From open-heart surgery at just two weeks old to a rare genetic diagnosis (PMM2-CDG), Abbigale knows the terrifying feeling of being on an isolated island. But she also knows what it feels like to reach the other side of that fear.  

In this episode, Abbigale gives moms permission to feel the hard emotions, trust their maternal instincts, and give themselves grace. She shares how leaning into faith, leaning on family, and taking things "one day, one appointment, and one milestone at a time" helped her trade dark, uncertain moments for days filled with joy, progress, and hope.  Abbigale also breaks down the game-changing power of intensive therapy—how pushing through three weeks of hard work helped John-Baylor sit up independently, bear weight, and build momentum toward walking.  

Tune in for an honest, encouraging conversation that will remind you that you are never alone and that brighter days are truly ahead.  

Episode Links & Resources:
Curious about the intensive therapy program Abbigale mentioned in this episode? Listen to our full episode with her intensive therapy team, Meredith and Chloe, here: https://youtu.be/5bTyBY7YRWg 

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Does it wake you up at night wondering, "is my child doing what they need to be doing?". In this episode, we address a common and often stressful concern for parents: Is my baby developing on track? 

Pediatric physical therapist Julia Wood joins us to  dive into the importance of trusting your "mom gut" and seeking early intervention instead of the "wait and see" approach. You will get expert advice on building core stability, avoiding "container syndrome," and creative ways to make tummy time fun and functional using items already in your home, like couch pillows and kitchen counters. Whether your baby is hitting every mark or getting a little "stuck," this episode helps you identify the right next step for your child's growth.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

CDC Milestone Tracker: https://www.cdc.gov/act-early/resources/videos.html — Provides fantastic developmental videos for various ages (e.g., 18 months) so you can see exactly what your child should be doing.

Marshall Pediatric Therapy: https://marshallpediatrictherapy.com/assessment— Offers a free developmental screener where you can enter your child's age to receive an assessment of their progress.

Pathways: https://pathways.org/milestones  — A resource noted by experts for having excellent developmental research.

Kentucky Early Intervention System (KEYS): https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dcbs/dcc/Pages/parents.aspx  — Formerly known as First Steps, this is an educational coaching model for children aged 0–3 that provides support in the home or daycare.

Pediatricians: Always reach out to your pediatrician or a nurse to discuss concerns and request a referral for a therapy evaluation. 

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If dinner with your kids currently feels like an extreme sport, take a deep breath—you are not doing it wrong, and you are definitely not alone. 

In this episode of Help, I Have Kids, host and pediatric OT Nicole Haney sit down for an honest chat about one of the most stressful parts of parenting: feeding our little ones. From the anxiety of starting solids to the toddler stage where suddenly only goldfish and fruit roll-ups are accepted, we’re unpacking what’s actually normal and how to get through it without losing your mind. 

What we're diving into:

• Starting Solids Without the Panic: How to handle purees, table foods, and the difference between normal gagging vs. choking. 
• Winning the Picky Eating Battles: Real-life OT tricks to get your toddler to tolerate new foods (without forcing "just one more bite"). 
• Ending the Power Struggles: Why kids use food for control and how simple boundaries like the "Division of Responsibility" bring peace back to the table. 
• Practical Mealtime Hacks: Fun ways to present food, avoiding the "grazer" trap, and why screen-free meals are worth the effort. 
• Knowing When to Call in Support: Red flags to look for and how feeding therapy can help your family thrive. 

Put down the third plate of rejected nuggets you just warmed up, hit play, and let’s turn mealtime meltdowns into small wins! 

Connect with Us & Get Extra Support:

• Need hands-on feeding support? If you're in the Lexington area and want individualized help for your child, reach out to Nicole and the expert feeding team at Marshall Pediatric Therapy. Visit them online at marshallpediatrictherapy.com to learn more or schedule an evaluation. 
• Follow the Pod: Stay connected for more practical parenting tips by following us on Instagram @helpihavekidspodcast.
• Follow Marshall Pediatric Therapy: Get daily pediatric OT, PT, speech, and feeding tips by following @marshallpediatrictherapy on Instagram.

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If you’re a tired mom sitting with a cold cup of coffee, listening to the baby monitor, and wondering how to finally get some rest—this episode is for you! 

Host Pam Marshall sits down with Jenna Clarke, certified pediatric sleep consultant and founder of Mālama Mama Sleep Consulting. Jenna works with families with children ages 0 to 5 to help problem-solve sleep, navigate controversies, and clear up the endless noise on social media. From AAP guidelines to safe bed-sharing alternatives, Jenna breaks down how to tailor a sleep plan that honors your family's unique lifestyle and values. 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Sleep Conditioning vs. Sleep Training: Why 0–4 months requires a different approach than 4+ months. 
• Decoding Sleep Regressions: What’s happening at 4, 9, 12, and 18 months—and how to survive them. 
• The Truth About Popular Methods: A realistic look at the Ferber (check-and-console) method and why it’s more responsive than you think. 
• Toddler Bedtime Battles: Practical tools for 3-to-5-year-olds who refuse to stay in bed. 
• Sensory & Environmental Hacks: How lights, TV screens, and even linear vs. vertical motion impact your child's sleep hygiene. 

Whether you want to follow strict AAP guidelines, explore contact napping, or teach independent self-settling, Jenna reminds us that there’s no single "right" way—only the way that brings peace to your heart and home. 

👉 Connect with Jenna Clarke: Visit malamamama.com to learn more about her virtual and in-home sleep consulting services. 

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As parents, we know that every single milestone our kids hit is a victory—and no one understands the fight to protect those milestones quite like another mom.

In this episode, we sit down mom-to-mom with Brittany True to talk about her son, Weston, and what Kentucky’s Medicaid funding decisions really mean at home. While lawmakers recently put a temporary, one-year pause on proposed Medicaid cuts, Brittany breaks down why a pause isn't enough to give parents peace of mind. To keep our pediatric therapy clinics open and our favorite therapists funded, we need real rate increases—not just a pause.

Grab a cup of coffee and join us for an honest, encouraging conversation on navigating healthcare, protecting our kids' routines, and how everyday moms can raise their voices to create real change.

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Is your child struggling in school, but you aren’t sure what kind of support to ask for? Hearing terms like 504 Plan, IEP, RTI, and educational evaluations can feel overwhelming—especially when you just want your child to succeed.

In this episode of Help I Have Kids, host Pam Marshall (pediatric OT with 35+ years of experience) sits down with special education teacher, BCBA, and mom Jill to break down everything parents need to know about navigating 504 plans and IEPs.

Whether you’re just starting the evaluation process or wondering why a medical diagnosis wasn't enough to get school services, this episode gives you the exact tools and legal timelines you need to advocate with confidence.

💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
The Core Difference: Accommodations (504 Plan) vs. Specialized Instruction (IEP) and how to know which one your child qualifies for.

The 10-Day Rule: How to make a formal parent request for special education testing (and the strict timeline schools must follow).

Medical vs. Educational Diagnosis: Why a doctor’s diagnosis doesn’t automatically guarantee an IEP at school—and how to bridge the gap.

Re-evaluations & Timelines: What happens during 3-year IEP re-assessments and what checklist items parents can request.

How to build a strong partnership with your child's homeroom teacher to get data collected faster.

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