ParentingU

The teen years can be difficult—for parents and teens alike! Did you know there's a whole medical specialty dedicate to young people ages 12 to 21? It's called adolescent medicine, and Ruben Battley, MD joins ParentingU to talk about what adolescent medicine is and how it can help families. Dr. Battley shares his insights from seeing patients at the Adolescent Medicine Clinic in Baton Rouge. He offers practical tips for how parents can be positive role models for teens, plus how to openly discuss topics teens need to hear about.

This episode will give parents of teens and tweens hope and clarity for navigating these formative years with their children.

- Read our blog post all about adolescent medicine for teens and tweens here: https://health.fmolhs.org/body/childrens-health/a-foundation-for-self-esteem-and-healthy-tween-and-teen-relationships-parentingu-podcast/

- Watch Dr. Battley and Stephanie on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ayXBd62lk5c

Season 4 of ParentingU is all about Teens and Tweens! You can hear all episodes of ParentingU on our website or Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. New! Watch videos of our podcast on YouTube: ParentingU playlist.

As children grow up, they gain more independence and autonomy in every aspect of their life, including healthcare. Nicholas George, MD, pediatrics and internal medicine physician with Our Lady of Lourdes Health, shares the advice he gives parents to help ease the transition from pediatric to adult primary care. Dr. George emphasizes that it's normal and natural for adolescents to want more privacy during medical appointments.

We hope this episode of ParentingU gives you some ideas for supporting your tweens and teens as they continue the journey through adolescence.

• - Why might I need to leave the room during my older child's healthcare appointment?
• - How can I help my child feel comfortable speaking openly with their physician?

- Read more on Helping Kids Feel Empowered at the Doctor's Office

We'll be back with more and another regular ParentingU episode soon. You can hear all episodes of ParentingU on our website or on your favorite podcast app including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or Google Podcasts. New! Watch videos of our podcast on YouTube: ParentingU playlist.

Teens and tweens have their own needs when it comes to eating and food. Teens might be past the baby years when younger children are figuring out what they like to eat and what they need to grow, but not quite to the adult years when metabolisms change and most growing is done. How can parents help their teens develop healthy eating habits that will serve them well into adulthood?

Lisa Le, MD, a pediatrician with Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group Prairieville joins host Stephanie on this episode of ParentingU to talk about what teens need in terms of nutrition and calories as they grow into adults. This episode is filled with great practical tips that will help get teens involved in their own health and nutrition, developing what can be positive, life-long food habits.

- Read our blog post all about healthy eating for teens: https://health.fmolhs.org/body/childrens-health/the-adolescent-appetite-healthy-eating-tips-for-tweens-and-teens/

- Watch Dr. Le and Stephanie on YouTube: https://youtu.be/QZjll7W9vik

Season 4 of ParentingU is all about Teens and Tweens! You can hear all episodes of ParentingU on our website or Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. New! Watch videos of our podcast on YouTube: ParentingU playlist.

Teenagers and tweens start asking about it early—first with colas and sodas, but soon after with coffee and energy drinks. It's all about caffeine. While adults might worry about caffeine hyping kids up and disrupting sleep, teens often seek out caffeine for the same reasons adults do.

Caffeine is a stimulant, make no mistake about that, but some of the things people believe about caffeine might not be fact-based. On this episode of ParentingU, Kali Broussard, MD joins host Stephanie to get the straight story about caffeine for teens and tweens. How much caffeine is too much? Does caffeine stunt kids' growth? What is really in those energy drinks? Dr. Broussard provides some great guidelines all parents can use when making decisions about caffeine.

- Read our blog post all about caffeine for teens: Beyond the Buzz: Insights on Teens, Tweens and Caffeine

- Watch Dr. Broussard and Stephanie on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cFvSa9sEVUw

While you pour yourself another cup of coffee, if you know a parent who is interested in how much caffeine their kids are consuming, you're invited to share this episode of ParentingU.

Season 4 of ParentingU is all about Teens and Tweens! You can hear all episodes of ParentingU on our website or Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. New! Watch videos of our podcast on YouTube: ParentingU playlist.

It's a teenager milestone that fills some parents with fear and dread: teen driving. How can parents help teens learn how to be safe and responsible drivers without causing family strife? Grant Clinkingbeard, MD, pediatrician with Our Lady of the Lake Children's Health who practices on the Northshore, shares ways parents can help their teens develop safe driving habits. Dr. Clinkingbeard brings the facts—and shares many actionable tips—to help make this stage of the parenting journey as productive and peaceful as possible.

- Read our blog post all about driving in the teen years: Roadmap to Safety: Teen Driving Tips

- Watch Dr. Clinkingbeard and Stephanie on YouTube: https://youtu.be/C6FIcLAcYKI?si=RHJymEViqXSCLFpv

What was your favorite teen driving tip from Dr. Clinkingbeard? If you know someone with a teen driver, you're invited to share this episode of ParentingU.

Season 4 of ParentingU is all about Teens and Tweens! You can hear all episodes of ParentingU on our website or Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. New! Watch videos of our podcast on YouTube: ParentingU playlist.

Is your teen getting enough sleep? Or are they trying to "catch up" on the weekend? Or do you worry they're sleeping too much, staying in bed as much as they can? Teens and tweens have different sleep needs than toddlers or young adults. Natalie Derouen, MD joins host Stephanie on the Season 4 premiere of ParentingU podcast to talk about sleep for teenagers.

Sleep habits and sleep routines can be forged in the teen years, and may help (or hinder!) young people in these important years. Dr. Derouen shares tips and tricks for helping teens get quality sleep, and provides helpful facts about sleep needs from ages 11-18. We all know sleep is important, but parents will have all their top sleep questions answered on this episode.

- Read our blog post all about sleep for teens and tweens here: Unlock the Secrets to Teen & Tween Sleep – ParentingU Podcast

- Watch Dr. Derouen and Stephanie on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZeAZigCa8Ck

Season 4 of ParentingU is all about Teens and Tweens! You can hear all episodes of ParentingU on our website or Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. New! Watch videos of our podcast on YouTube: ParentingU playlist.

As temps fall, we all experience the instinct to bundle up. Not so fast for our littlest passengers.

Rachel Dewey, DO, family medicine physician with Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group, shares why parents should remember to remove children's coats before buckling them into a car seat in this ParentingU Extra Credit episode.

Read more about car seat safety on our blog: https://health.fmolhs.org/body/childrens-health/winter-wonders-coats-off-for-car-seat-safety/

We'll be back with more full-length ParentingU episode soon. You can hear all episodes of ParentingU on our website or on your favorite podcast app including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or Google Podcasts. New! Watch videos of our podcast on YouTube: ParentingU playlist.

As children grow up, they gain more independence and autonomy in every aspect of their life, including healthcare. Nicholas George, MD, pediatrics and internal medicine physician with Our Lady of Lourdes Health, shares the advice he gives parents to help ease the transition from pediatric to adult primary care. Dr. George emphasizes that it's normal and natural for adolescents to want more privacy during medical appointments.

We hope this extra credit episode of ParentingU gives you some ideas for supporting your tweens and teens as they continue the journey through adolescence.

- Why might I need to leave the room during my older child's healthcare appointment?

- How can I help my child feel comfortable speaking openly with their physician?

- Read more on Helping Kids Feel Empowered at the Doctor's Office

We'll be back with more and another regular ParentingU episode soon. You can hear all episodes of ParentingU on our website or on your favorite podcast app including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or Google Podcasts. New! Watch videos of our podcast on YouTube: ParentingU playlist.

Kids can get sick anytime, including outside of business hours. In this ParentingU Extra Credit episode, Brian Bailey, MD, pediatrician with Our Lady of Lourdes Children's Health, walks parents through what they should consider when trying to decide where to go to receive the right care.

- When should I take my child to urgent care?

- How do I know an illness requires emergency care?

- Download our Where to Go When quick guide

- Read more about choosing the right care in the right place in our blog post, What Type of Care? It's Tricky, But We're Here to Help

- Try our online pediatric symptom checker

We'll be back with more and another regular ParentingU episode soon. You can hear all episodes of ParentingU on our website or on your favorite podcast app including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or Google Podcasts. New! Watch videos of our podcast on YouTube: ParentingU playlist.

Technology use and screen time increase for kids as summer break begins. Nicholas George, MD, pediatrics and internal medicine physician with Our Lady of Lourdes Health, shares the advice he gives parents about screen time as tweens and teens begin to use social media.

Dr. George emphasizes how parents serve as role models for our children in many ways. We should watch our own technology use to demonstrate good screen time and social media habits.

We hope this extra credit episode of ParentingU gives you some ideas for continuing the conversation about technology with your tweens and teens.

- How can I help my kids develop healthy habits around technology?

- What's a good "cyber citizen"?

- What are signs and symptoms that social media is impacting my child's mental health?

- Read more on Healthier Screen Time Habits here

We'll be back with more and another regular ParentingU episode soon. You can hear all episodes of ParentingU on our website or on your favorite podcast app including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or Google Podcasts. New! Watch videos of our podcast on YouTube: ParentingU playlist.