The PedsDocTalk Podcast: Child Health, Development & Parenting—From a Pediatrician Mom

The PedsDocTalk Podcast: Child Health, Development & Parenting—From a Pediatrician Mom

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The PedsDocTalk Podcast: Child Health, Development & Parenting—From a Pediatrician Mom episodes

  • ADHD Masking Explained: School Success, Home Struggles, and the Emotional Toll

    I know how heartbreaking and confusing it can be when a child seems fine and compliant at school only to experience meltdowns the moment they step foot at home. Today, I sit down with Meredith Carder, an ADHD coach, to dive deep into masking in ADHD. Meredith shares her own journey of being diagnosed later in life and sheds light on the immense mental and physical toll that trying to fit in takes on kids and adults. We explore how masking leads to late diagnoses (especially in girls) and discuss practical strategies to help our kids feel safe enough to drop the mask and get their regulatory needs met. 

    We discuss:

    • Meredith Carder shares her experience as a late-diagnosed adult and parent advocate

    • How children exert so much mental energy masking at school that they experience meltdowns once safely home

    • That many girls especially mask their symptoms, leading to missed or delayed diagnoses

    • How chronic masking can lead to adult perfectionism, people-pleasing habits and burnout cycles

    • Indicators of masking like extreme rigidity, hair twirling, leg bouncing, excessive apologizing and school refusal

    • To connect with Meredith Carder follow her on Instagram @Hummingbird_adhd  and check out all her resources at https://meredithcarder.com/. Buy her book It All Makes Sense Now: Embrace Your ADHD Brain to Live a Creative and Colorful Life https://link.amazon/B0fwsM6F9 (paid link)


      Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠.

      Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠!

      Shop Dr. Mona’s favorite products: https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk (paid link)

      And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support.

      We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website. 

      Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

      46 min
    • The Follow-Up: Sleep Training Misconceptions

      In this Follow-Up episode, Dr. Mona and sleep consultant Dr. Sarah Mitchell break down common sleep training misconceptions. They clarify that tears during sleep training stem from changing routines rather than emotional damage. Most sleep struggles boil down to two main issues: an over-reliance on external soothing props and being stuck in an overtired cycle.


      Want more? Listen to the full, original episode.


      Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠.

      Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠!

      Shop Dr. Mona’s favorite products: https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk (paid link)

      And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support.

      We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website. 

      Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

      15 min
    • Milestones and Myths: The Truth About Tummy Time, Crawling, and More with a Pediatric Physical Therapist

      ⁠Many videos make you panic because your baby skipped crawling or didn’t get enough tummy time today. Social media can make motor milestones scarier than they need to be. I sat down with Jena Schultz, a pediatric physical therapist and mom of two to cover tummy time, crawling, W sitting and toe walking. Jena also shares two areas where she says don’t wait, act early. My hope is that you walk away calmer and more confident in your mom gut. 

      We discuss:

      • Why fear-based posts spread so fast online

      • How pediatricians and therapists can work as a team

      • Where tummy time came from and why Grandma never did it

      • Army crawling, butt scooting and the slippery floor favor

      • Head flattening and why early referral matters

      • Why development happens in a sequence, not a stopwatch

      • How to tell your intuition apart from fear

      • To connect with Jena Schultz follow her on Instagram @drivingdevelopment and check out all her resources at https://www.drivingdevelopment.org/ 


        Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠.

        Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠!

        Shop Dr. Mona’s favorite products: https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk (paid link)

        And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support.

        We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website. 

        Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

        52 min
      • The Follow-Up: Validating Our Children

        How do we raise expressive children with a voice while still holding firm and loving boundaries? Dr. Mona and Dr. Siggie Cohen explore the balance in this Follow-Up episode. They break down common parenting traps (over-explaining, negotiating, and over-praising) and share how to build internal validation and true connection with your child.


        Get Dr. Siggie's new book: https://link.amazon/B09cDlEyf (paid link)


        Want more? Listen to the full, original episode.


        Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠.

        Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠!

        Shop Dr. Mona’s favorite products: https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk (paid link)

        And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support.

        We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website. 

        Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

        15 min
      • The Sensory Code: What Your Child's Behavior Is Trying to Tell You with Occupational Therapist Laura Petix

        ⁠I’m joined by Laura Petix, pediatric occupational therapist and the founder of The OT Butterfly, to unpack your child’s sensory processing differences. Behaviors like meltdowns, crashing, restlessness or selective eating often stem from their unique “sensory code”. Recognizing these underneath-the-surface needs allow us to move away from reactive power struggles and toward proactive connection.

        We discuss: 

        • The three hidden internal systems: vestibular, proprioceptive, and interoceptive

        • Oversensitivity to internal sensations during moments of distress or embarrassment

        • Kids who constantly climb, crash or spin and what needs they need met

        • Sensory overload in environments like school cafeterias 

        • Adults who accommodate their own sensory preferences daily

        • How dysregulation is usually a gradual buildup

        • Simple sensory tools like cooling items, fidgets and crunchy foods

        • To connect with Laura Petix follow her on Instagram @theOTbutterfuly and find all her resources at https://theotbutterfly.com/. Buy her new book, “The Sensory Code: Understanding Sensory Processing Differences to Support Your Child’s Unique Needs”: https://link.amazon/B0fDglrrK (paid link)


          Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠.

          Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠!

          Shop Dr. Mona’s favorite products: https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk (paid link)

          And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support.

          We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website. 

          Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

          1 hr 2 min
        • The Follow-Up: Lessons from a Father of 11

          ⁠You don't need 11 children to learn a valuable lesson or two from a parent who does! In this Follow-Up, Dr. Mona sits down with Moshe Popack to discuss what raising a large family has taught him about parenting and managing relationships. They discuss letting go of perfectionism, adapting to the child that is in front of you and maintaining a balance as both a parent and partner.


          Want more? Listen to the full, original episode.


          Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠.

          Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠!

          Shop Dr. Mona’s favorite products: https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk (paid link)

          And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support.

          We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website. 

          Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

          15 min
        • How the Healthcare System can fuel the Crunchy Mom Movement: Distrust, Trauma, and the Future of Maternal and Pediatric Care

          Today I sat down to talk about something I think about a lot…the crunchy mom movement. Why are so many families walking away from traditional healthcare unheard? Caitlyn Shollmeier, a certified nurse midwife and founder of Lila Maternity, joins me to dig into why this is not really about essential oils or cloth diapers. When women do not feel like a person in the room any more they lose trust and feel like just another number on a chart.

          Caitlyn shared her own birth story with twins that stuck with me. She felt dismissed by almost her entire care team, except for one nurse who took the time to listen. That relationship changed her birth story. It is a good reminder that as clinicians, the small stuff, like explaining what is happening and why, is never actually small.

          We discuss: 

          • Why the crunchy mom movement is growing and what is usually underneath it

          • How shame and lack of time in modern health care push families toward alternative spaces

          • The difference between correcting misinformation and actually building trust

          • Why compassion works better than fact checking when someone feels dismissed

          • How to spot red flags in online parenting communities

          • Caitlyn’s own birth story and that one nurse who changed everything

          • What real informed consent should sound like in a room

          • To connect with Caitlyn Schollmeier follow her on TikTok @themodernmidwife and check out her laborwear line: https://www.wearlila.com 


            Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠.

            Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠!

            Shop Dr. Mona’s favorite products: https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk (paid link)

            And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support.

            We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website. 

            Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

            55 min
          • The Follow-Up: Sleep Cultural Barriers

            In this Follow-Up episode, Dr. Mona revisits the conversation about the role culture plays in sleep practices for our kids. Joined by certified sleep consultant Diana Martins, the episode shows parents how to navigate cross-cultural and cross-generational expectations - like dark rooms, early bedtimes and crying it out - while staying true to their own parenting choices and maintaining boundaries with family.


            We discuss:

            - How to get your whole family aligned before starting a sleep plan

            - The way to shift the mindset around crying

            - The importance of parents learning to calm themselves during the sleep-training process

            - Balancing structure with one-off cultural gatherings or light night family events by planning ahead

            - Strategies for handling disagreements with grandparents or joint family members

            - Acknowledging that previous generations parented differently and we have now learned new ways to help children thrive


            Want more? Listen to the full, original episode.


            Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠.

            Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠!

            Shop Dr. Mona’s favorite products: https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk (paid link)

            And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support.

            We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website. 

            Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

            14 min
          • Motherhood Is Hard, Honesty Helps: Libby Ward on the Power of Honest Motherhood

            Motherhood is often shown as something women should handle effortlessly while we are expected to also lose ourselves in total self-sacrifice. Today, I sit down with digital creator, speaker and author Libby Ward to discuss what happens when we stop pretending and start getting real about raising kids. Libby shares her own journey of burnout after being pressured to “do it all”.

            We break down why being honest about motherhood can shift the narrative for our generation. Libby dives into the story behind her book “Honest Motherhood: On Losing My Mind and Finding Myself”. She explains how letting go of perfectionism and prioritizing rest doesn’t make us bad moms, it makes us human. Whether you’re feeling overstimulated, guilty or just want to be fully yourself today, this conversation is a gentle (and sometimes funny) reminder that you are not alone.

            We discuss:

            • Libby’s personal breaking point that set her on a path to address her burnout 

            • The pressure moms daily face that can lead to resentment

            • How trauma, upbringing and neurodiversity can drive woman to put others first while masking their struggles

            • How being an honest mother starts with self-awareness and acknowledging your own limits

            • That letting go of the pressure and focusing on micro-moments allows us to be genuinely present with our kids

            • To connect with Libby Ward follow her on Instagram @libbyward and check out her new book: https://go.shopmy.us/p-86552555 (paid link)


              Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠.

              Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠!

              Shop Dr. Mona’s favorite products: https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk (paid link)

              And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support.

              We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website. 

              Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

              56 min
            • The Follow-Up: Advocating for Our Kids

              Dr. Mona speaks with Dr. Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, mother, and US Senate candidate in South Carolina, about the vital connection between child health, parenting, and national politics. They explore why healthcare issues cannot be separated from political action and why pediatricians and parents need to build real political power to protect children.

              Key Takeaways

              • Children Lack Political Power: Because kids cannot vote, donate to campaigns, or hire lobbyists, their needs are consistently deprioritized by elected officials unless adults actively build political power on their behalf.

              • The Danger of Neutrality: Remaining apolitical or staying on the sidelines does not solve systemic issues like Medicaid cuts, high prescription costs, or underfunded public education.

              • Beyond Basic Advocacy: While research identifies health problems and advocacy brings them to light, politics is what actually shifts power to implement long-term policy solutions.

              • National Impact of Local & State Races: State-level policies directly affect child wellness, and supporting candidates who center family and child health shapes national legislative conversations.




              • Want more? Listen to the full, original episode.


                Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠.

                Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠!

                Shop Dr. Mona’s favorite products: https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk (paid link)

                And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support.

                We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website. 

                Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

                13 min

              About The PedsDocTalk Podcast: Child Health, Development & Parenting—From a Pediatrician Mom

              From the publisher's feed

              The PedsDocTalk Podcast is your go-to parenting resource, hosted by Dr. Mona Amin, a trusted pediatrician, parenting expert, and mom of two. As a top 30 Parenting Podcast in the U.S., this show delivers expert-backed guidance on child development, health, illness, behavior, feeding, and sleep—giving parents the confidence to navigate every stage from baby to teen.

              Best of The PedsDocTalk Podcast: Child Health, Development & Parenting—From a Pediatrician Mom

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