When your child is sick or hurt and it's nine o'clock at night, how do you decide where to go? The emergency room? Urgent care? Or can it wait until morning? For most parents, that moment of uncertainty is one of the hardest parts of raising kids — and making the wrong call can feel terrifying.

Back-to-school season can bring excitement, stress, and a lot of questions for both kids and parents. Whether your child is starting kindergarten, transitioning to a new school, or feeling nervous about a new teacher, the return to school can be a big adjustment for the whole family.

In this episode of Kids' Health Uncomplicated, host Dr. Patty Manning sits down with Cincinnati Children's psychologist Dr. Melissa Foti-Hoff to discuss how families can help children feel confident, prepared, and ready for a successful school year. Drawing from years of experience working directly with students, teachers, and school staff, Dr. Foti-Hoff shares practical strategies for managing back-to-school anxiety, building school readiness skills, and helping kids navigate big transitions.

From sleep schedules and school routines to handling worries and building confidence, this conversation offers practical guidance for parents who want to set their children up for success both inside and outside the classroom.

You'll learn:

• How to recognize signs of back-to-school anxiety in children

• Ways to help kids adjust to new schools, teachers, and routines

• Why school readiness is about more than academics

• Simple ways to practice important skills like waiting, taking turns, and asking for help

• How parents can avoid unintentionally passing their own anxiety onto their children

• What to do when a teacher raises concerns about learning, behavior, or school performance

• Why sleep may be one of the most important back-to-school tools for success

In this Kids Health Uncomplicated episode from Cincinnati Children’s, host Dr. Patty Manning talks with general pediatrician Dr. Nick DeBlasio about what to expect with newborn sleep and feeding in the first 90 days. They normalize how difficult the newborn period is and discuss common concerns that are often normal, including spitting up (usually a “laundry problem”) and wide variation in stooling patterns, while emphasizing that adequate wet diapers and weight gain are key signs a baby is getting enough.

They share practical sleep expectations, tips for day/night confusion, and the value of splitting nighttime duties and accepting help. Red flags include forceful vomiting, poor weight gain, fewer wet diapers, back-arching with spit-up, bloody stools, and excessive sleepiness or difficulty arousing. They also caution against data-overload tracking and close with myths and facts about sleeping through the night and feeding cues.

In this episode of Cincinnati Children’s Kids Health Uncomplicated, host Dr. Patty Manning talks with parent and disability-housing advocate Emily Kendall about what she wishes families knew sooner when a child’s health journey takes an unexpected turn. Emily shares her family’s story, including a premature daughter, a son born with Down syndrome and Hirschsprung’s disease who required early surgery and an ileostomy, and a youngest child later diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

They discuss releasing rigid expectations, moving through grief, and trusting that parents can learn complex care skills over time. Emily highlights helpful resources such as the Down Syndrome Association, Child Life, integrative medicine, financial assistance, DDBP, the Thomas Center, lactation support, and hospital play spaces, and emphasizes asking specifically for community help, advocating for your child, and balancing future planning with enjoying today.

Safe sleep is one of the most critical topics for families bringing home a newborn. This episode of the Kids Health Uncomplicated podcast focuses on actionable steps you can take to reduce risks and promote better sleep habits for your infant.

New parenthood can bring excitement, joy — and a lot of anxiety. In this episode of Kids’ Health Uncomplicated, Dr. Patty Manning sits down with Dr. Nick DeBlasio to discuss the common fears and pressures many new parents experience. From sleep concerns and feeding questions to knowing when to call the doctor, Dr. DeBlasio offers practical guidance, reassurance, and perspective for navigating the early stages of parenting with more confidence.

New Parent Anxiety, Uncomplicated is intended for informational and educational purposes only.

Eczema – you see it in commercials on TV, and you probably know someone who is affected by it. What exactly is eczema? On today’s episode of the Young & Healthy podcast, Dr. Jess Trygier and Dr. Mariam Iqneibi sit down with host Kate Setter to talk about this common skin condition that affects many children and families. 

They discuss what eczema looks like at different ages, why symptoms can come and go, and how parents can help manage flare-ups at home. The conversation also covers practical skincare tips, common treatment options, and when it might be time to talk with your child’s doctor or a specialist. 

If your child struggles with dry, itchy skin, or if you’ve wondered how to better manage eczema, this episode offers helpful insights and reassurance for families.

Full Transcript and show notes: Here

Resources:

To learn more about dermatology services at Cincinnati Children's, visit Pediatric Dermatology

To learn more about general pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's, visit General and Community Pediatrics | Cincinnati Children's

The topic of consent can feel tricky to navigate, but it’s a conversation that should start early and continue often. On the newest episode of the Young & Healthy podcast, Ashley Cremeans, a social worker with the Mayerson Center for Safe and Healthy Children at Cincinnati Children’s, sits down with host Kate Setter to explore how consent can be discussed across different ages and stages of development. 

Ashley discusses how families can approach conversations about consent during adolescence, reinforcing that consent is ongoing, can be withdrawn at any time and applies in many everyday situations. She offers practical guidance on helping children identify trusted adults and confidently communicate their boundaries — from playtime to physical affection and beyond. 

Ashley also dives into the complexities of teen relationships, including situations in which consent cannot be given. She explains consent laws within the tri-state area, equipping parents and caregivers with the knowledge they need if deeper conversations arise. 

This episode provides tools to help kids stay safe and feel empowered. Be sure to tune in and share it with your friends and family. 

Full Transcript and Show Notes Here: Consent and Communication: Building Healthy Relationships - Cincinnati Children's Blog

Resources: 

For more information from the Mayerson Center for Safe and Healthy Children at Cincinnati Children’s, visit Research | Mayerson Center for Safe and Healthy Children 

For resources on healthy dating relationships, visit Healthy relationships for young adults | love is respect 

Listen to Empowered Kids: A Guide to Boundaries | Young & Healthy and dive deeper into what boundaries for younger kids look like 

Check out amazon or other book distributors to find resources like Only for Me  

Blood donation has a vital role in care at Cincinnati Children’s and is truly a lifesaving resource. The impact of donating just once can make a meaningful difference in the lives of children who need care. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Kristina Prus, director of transfusion medicine and Emily Kimball, physician outreach consultant, to talk about why blood donation matters and how donated blood is used in hospitals like Cincinnati Children's.  

Did you know that nearly all of the blood used for Cincinnati Children’s patients comes directly from our local partner, Howorth Blood Center? Dr. Prus and Emily explain what the Hoxworth Blood Center is and how our partnership directly impacts patients. They also walk through what blood donation really entails, what the term “blood products” means and how much blood Cincinnati Children’s uses on an average day. In addition, they dive into the importance of different blood types and share practical tips on ways families can support blood donation efforts if they feel nervous about giving blood or aren’t able to donate themselves.  

This episode is filled with clear, helpful information about how blood donation works, why it matters and how each of us can take part in helping save lives. 

Full Transcript and Show Notes: Blood Donation Doesn’t Have to Be Scary: Tips for Families - Cincinnati Children's Blog

Resources  

Hoxworth.org  

Bronchiolitis is one of the most common illnesses affecting babies and young children during the winter months. It’s one of the leading reasons families end up in pediatric offices, urgent care and the emergency department. We know that this can be an exhausting and stressful experience for caregivers, so in this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Brad Sobolewski to break down what parents need to know to navigate bronchiolitis.  

Dr. Sobolewski explains how bronchiolitis is different from bronchitis, what causes it and why babies get it more often than older kids. We talk about RSV as the leading cause of bronchiolitis and what treatment looks like.  

As many as 90% of babies will get bronchiolitis by the time they’re 2, so it is important to know the early signs to watch for, and the best way to observe your baby’s breathing at home. You’ll hear practical, realistic guidance like why “suctioning, feeding, and love” are often the most effective treatments at home and which symptoms are reassuring versus concerning.   

Whether your baby is currently sick or you’re preparing for respiratory illness season, this is an episode you won't want to miss out on. 

To read more about bronchiolitis, check out: Bronchiolitis: A Parent’s Guide to One of the Most Common Winter Illnesses