pedsdoctalk

02/20/2026

Nothing turns dinner into a power struggle faster than pressure.
“Just one bite.”
“Eat your veggies, then you can have a cookie.”
“No more candy, it's bad for you.”

It sounds like guidance. Kids experience it as stress.
And stress is not exactly known for making people curious about broccoli.

In this podcast episode, I talk with dietitians Diana Rice (Anti-Diet Kids) and Dani Lebowitz (Kid Food Explorers), coauthors of Food Positivity: How to Ditch Diet Culture and Talk to Kids About Food, about why food neutrality is not permissive parenting, it is emotional safety at the table.

When we take the pressure off:
✔️ Kids get more room to explore new foods
✔️ Hunger and fullness stay their guide
✔️ Dessert stops being the trophy
✔️ Meals become connection again, not negotiations

Kids learn food beliefs from what we say, and from what we do, the invisible curriculum. Modeling, messaging, and those everyday moments add up.
Listen to the episode today - link in the comments below.

What is one phrase you want to stop saying around food?

02/20/2026

Video credit and IB: on insta

I know I can’t be the only one who ignores the backpack all weekend… only to open it Monday morning and discover a forgotten lunchbox that’s basically started its own ecosystem. 🤢
Nothing wakes you up faster than mystery smells at 7 am.

So here's your friendly PSA: before you clock out for the weekend (HA as if you can as a parent 🤣), go grab that bag right now and throw the lunchbox in the dishwasher so future-you isn’t scrubbing science experiments before coffee.

Who else has played lunchbox roulette on a Monday morning?

02/20/2026

February can feel like the long exhale after the chaos… except the exhaustion lingers.

The holidays are over, routines are back, and somehow everyone is still running on fumes. Kids are restless, parents are tapped out, and that calm, collected version of yourself? Still on winter break. 😵‍💫

If this month has felt heavier than you expected, you’re not doing anything wrong. February burnout is real. Short days, big feelings, fewer breaks, and a lot of pressure to “reset” all at once can wear anyone down.

This is your reminder that surviving counts. Lower the bar where you can. Keep it simple. Rest is productive. Connection matters more than doing it all perfectly.

How are you really doing right now as we close out February?👇

02/20/2026

Bringing this video back incase YOU could use a virtual hug.

In our home; we have a rule:

Hugs are always available whenever someone needs it.

This means we will momentarily stop what we’re doing (if it’s safe); to offer a hug if someone else needs one.

We have been doing this since our kids were little. When Ryaan was little and upset and couldn’t verbalize when he was done with a hug; I would say “I’m going to hug you until your body relaxes into mine.”

Another rule we have; is that we will not let go of a hug until Ryaan is ready.

Not all children or adults will want a hug in every moment; but by offering one AND telling that person to let go when THEY’RE ready; you provide them with full control over their emotional regulation and needs.

Sometimes; it may be a one second hug and sometimes they just really need a long one.

I know I’ve been there too and nothing makes me feel better than when my husband hugs me without pushing me away. Same thing goes for a child. There is such power and comfort in this non-verbal communication of welcoming a hug and not pushing someone away.

None of this side hug or pat on the back. If they need a hug; really give them that hug.

I firmly believe that the world would be a better place if we gave deep, meaningful hugs more when people needed them.

Share this and comment below if this resonates with you.

💬 What’s one thing you do at home that helps your child feel safe when emotions run high?

📲 Follow pedsdoctalk for more heart-forward, evidence-based parenting tips, and if this touched you, share it with someone who gives great hugs.

02/19/2026

Joy is powerful and it’s contagious.

Happiness is a moment. Joy is a mindset.
You feel happy when things go right.
You feel joy because you’re rooted in what matters, even when they don’t.

I want to remind you that there will be days where you just don’t feel happy. You don’t feel like being goofy. But I can tell you that this light, this energy, and this vibe permeates homes and into our child’s life.

They won’t remember the things you bought them when they were kids, but they will remember how you made them feel-in hard moments and in joyful ones.

When we choose joy, empathy, and presence-even on the hard days-we’re not just coping… we’re modeling.
Modeling what it looks like to stay connected. To be playful. To find light in the chaos.
Our kids learn how to navigate the world by watching us.

That doesn’t mean we have to be happy all the time (toxic positivity isn’t the goal).
It does mean we can show them what it looks like to work through big emotions with them.
To cry, to apologize, to laugh, to dance, and to choose love-even in messy moments.
Being silly with our kids.
Choosing to stay present when it’s easier to check out.
Bringing calm to their chaos and warmth to their worry…
These are the moments that build emotional safety.
These are the moments that shape how they love themselves and others.

💬 Check out the comments for the episode that dives deeper into:
– How kids can feel unsafe at home-even without physical harm
– Why one-way respect parenting is outdated (and what to do instead)
– How to build secure attachment and why it’s essential for emotional health

🎥 Credit: Bouygues Christmas Ad (2018) – and wow, what a beautiful reminder.

What’s one little way you bring joy or connection to your child’s day even when it’s tough? I’d love to hear it.

02/19/2026

A toddler hitting is not a character flaw. It's curiosity. It's an innate response. It's an impulse without rational thought.

And impulse control lives in the part of the brain that is still very immature in the toddler years.
That is why strategies built around shock, guilt, or big emotional reactions might stop behavior in the moment, but they do not build the skill we actually want, which is self-control.

When we exaggerate our reaction, a toddler’s nervous system shifts into stress mode. Stress mode is great for survival, but not great for learning new social skills.

What actually wires long term change?
✔️ Repetition over intensity
✔️ Practice when calm, not mid meltdown
✔️ Physical modeling of the replacement behavior
✔️ Immediate, specific reinforcement
✔️ Predictable follow through every single time

Also important, some hitting is sensory seeking. Some is frustration from limited language. Some is pure fatigue. When we respond only with emotional theatrics, we miss the underlying need.

Ok, now for the reassuring part- you do not need a perfect script. You don't need to memorize a certain set of words. All you need is steady leadership.
Calm does not mean permissive.
Firm does not mean scary.
It means your child’s brain knows exactly what will happen every time.

If this helps you reframe toddler aggression, save it, share it with another parent, and join my bi-weekly newsletter by visiting the link in comments if you want more brain based parenting breakdowns in your inbox.

What do you notice triggers hitting most in your home right now?

02/19/2026

Teething can go from an anticipated milestone (yay first tooth!) to the blamed culprit for all sleep or behavioral problems pretty quickly.

It often gets blamed for fussiness, loose stools, fevers, poor appetite, sleep regressions and more. And yes SOME of these things can be linked to teething, like decreased appetite or fussiness due to discomfort. The worst of the symptoms is when the gums are red and eruption is occurring; but remember not every fussy moment or sleep disruption is teething.

There are many myths surrounding teething, like teething can cause a fever. This is false!❌ And can lead to parents not seeking medical attention when it’s really needed. Same thing goes for the belief that teething can cause diaper rashes. Also not true❌.

🌟To learn more about actual symptoms of teething, common teething myths, and my favorite tried and true remedies to relieve teething discomfort, check out my website pedsdoctalk.com for free resources!

All kids go through it, but many have totally different experiences. Ryaan wasn’t really bothered by teething-he would pop teeth overnight without even a whimper, whereas Vera has experienced pretty noticeable discomfort before a new tooth pops through. Educating yourself can help you feel prepared on what to expect and how to help if needed! It's important to have your safe go-to remedy that works for your kid and handling it. And remember, you are doing all you can and your child will get through it…and so will you! 🪥

Did your child struggle with teething? What are your favorite remedies? Share below!

Image cred: Unknown, original creator please DM for credit!! Of note; remember the time frames of eruption listed on this graphic are ballparks. Tooth eruption can occur in time frames not listed on this graphic or in a different order.

02/18/2026

Stitch with: on IG

Raise your hand if you were told, put a coat on or you’ll get sick. 👋

Cold weather gets blamed for a lot it doesn’t actually cause.
Kids don’t get sick from cold air. They get sick from viruses.
What winter really changes is behavior. We spend more time indoors, with windows closed, less fresh air, and closer contact for longer stretches. That’s the real setup for germs to spread.

So if your kid skips the coat at the playground, take a breath. They might feel uncomfortable, but they are not increasing their risk of getting sick. Illness is far more likely to come from prolonged indoor time with generous germ-sharing friends during sick season, which just happens to line up with colder weather. 😷

If this helped, follow pedsdoctalk or share with a parent who worries every time the temperature drops.
Want thoughtful parenting, child health, and development insights in your inbox? Be sure to join my biweekly newsletter- see link in comments!

Question for you, what cold weather myth did you grow up hearing the most?

02/18/2026

IF YOU LOVE THE PODCAST--COMMENT AND SHARE!
If feeding your kid has turned into a daily math problem, protein here, veggies there, did they get enough iron, enough fiber, enough of everything… you are not alone.

But kids do not grow up with a healthy relationship with food because we hit perfect micronutrients on a Tuesday.
They grow up with it because:
✔️ Food is not a report card
✔️ Meals feel safe, not stressful
✔️ No food gets a moral identity, good, bad, clean, junk
✔️ They practice listening to hunger and fullness without pressure
✔️ They get skills and confidence, not fear

In this weeks podcast episode, I am joined by dietitians Diana Rice (Anti-Diet Kids) and Dani Lebowitz (Kid Food Explorers), coauthors of Food Positivity: How to Ditch Diet Culture and Talk to Kids About Food. We talk picky eating, diet culture showing up way earlier than most parents think, and why the real goal is raising a kid who can feed themselves for life, with trust, flexibility, and joy.

Listen to the episode today - I've linked it in the comments below. What food rule did you grow up with that you are trying to leave behind?

02/18/2026

Many of us grew up with:
“Clean your plate.”
“Dessert is a reward.”
“That food is bad.”

But what if those messages quietly shape how our kids see food… and themselves?

In this episode, we talk about:
• Why diet culture starts affecting kids as early as preschool
• The feeding advice parents accidentally misapply
• Small shifts that protect a child’s relationship with food

This is one of those conversations that makes a lot click.

I’ll put the podcast link in the comments.

02/18/2026

When a child says, “Nobody likes me,” most parents instinctively want to fix it.

But the first thing kids actually need is something different.

In this week’s newsletter, I break down:
• What’s really happening in kids’ brains during social rejection
• The phrases that help kids feel heard (and the ones that backfire)
• How to build resilience without dismissing feelings

If your child is in preschool or elementary school, this one is a must-read.

Read here:

How to handle peer rejection when your child feels left out. Learn what to say, how to support sensitive or neurodiverse kids, what exclusion looks like by age, and when to step in with teachers or other parents.

02/18/2026

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Stitch with: on TikTok
You lovingly prep their favorite food. Place it on the tray. Smile with pride.
And seconds later… it’s sailing through the air like a frisbee.
Toddlers, man. 😮‍💨

If you’ve ever taken food-throwing personally, you’re not alone.
It feels frustrating, messy, and sometimes downright disrespectful (like… the broccoli wasn’t that bad).
But here’s the thing: food throwing is less about defiance and more about development.

It can be their way of saying:
❓“This is overwhelming.”
❓“I’m not sure what to do with this.”
❓“What happens if I throw it… again?”
❓Or simply: “I’m done.”

There are ways to reduce the chaos without turning mealtimes into a battle.
And no-it doesn’t involve pretending you enjoy cleaning peas off the floorboards.
💛 If feeding your toddler feels more like a battlefield than bonding time, you’re not doing it wrong.
You’re guiding them through a messy, meaningful part of development.

Follow pedsdoctalk for more real talk about toddler behavior, feeding, and parenting without the pressure.