Healthy Children

Welcome to Healthy Children: a podcast for parents from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Each episode features interviews with leading experts on topics that will help you on your parenting journey, like social media and mental health, nutrition from infancy through adolescence, treating common illnesses, and sleep strategies for kids of all ages. Learn about the most important innovations in pediatrics and parenting from the people behind them. So whether you're looking for general information related to your child’s health or for more specific guidance on parenting issues, you've come to the right place! Get the inside scoop from pediatricians about how to help children and teens thrive.

Puberty: How and When Should You Talk to Your Kids About Their Changing Bodies? -- Ep. 21

  Trish Hutchison, MD, joins host Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez debunk myths about puberty. They talk about helping kids avoid stigma, teaching hygiene tips for acne and body odor, using correct names for body parts and explaining the biological wonders of menstruation.   For resources go to healthychildren.org/podcast.

11-21
22:23

School Suspension & Expulsion: How These Punishments Affect Learning and Long-term Health -- Ep. 20

  Susanna Jain, MD, joins host Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez to talk about suspension and expulsion from school. The number of children being removed from classrooms is on the rise, and it’s affecting not only their learning but also their long-term health. For resources go to healthychildren.org/podcast.

11-14
19:58

How Reading With Children Builds Relationships & Better Learning -- Ep. 19

Dipesh Navsaria, MPH, MSLIS, MD, FAAP, joins host Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez to talk about the value of reading aloud to children. Even infants can benefit from the relationship building that happens when a caregiver holds them and points at pictures, using funny voices to tell stories. These brief interactions support healthy mental development and learning skills as children get older. For resources go to healthychildren.org/podcast.

11-07
22:34

Can Opioids Be Used Safely to Treat Pain in Children? -- Ep. 18

  Scott Hadland, MD, MPH, MS, FAAP, joins host Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez to talk about using opioids responsibly. Ask your pediatrician about low-dose, short courses in combination with other therapies. Untreated pain in kids can have lasting effects—physically and mentally. The risk of addiction or overdose is low when the right precautions are taken. For resources go to healthychildren.org/podcast.

10-31
17:58

Allergies and Asthma: Keeping Kids Safe When They’re Not at Home -- Ep. 17

Andrea Pappalardo, MD, FAAP, joins host Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez to talk about managing allergies and asthma outside the home. They focus on school policies, best practices for sports and other activities, and teaching children to advocate for themselves. For resources go to healthychildren.org/podcast.

10-24
21:38

Ask the Pediatrician: Eczema, Anxiety, Nutrition, Perfectionism & More -- Ep. 16

Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP, joins host Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez for a special “Ask the Pediatrician” episode. They answer questions submitted by listeners on topics ranging from eczema causes and treatments, anxiety around school, nutrition and healthy beverages for athletes, and how to turn perfectionism into a tool for helping others. For resources go to healthychildren.org/podcast.

09-26
19:29

How to Talk with Teens About Drugs and Alcohol -- Ep. 15

Scott Hadland, MD, MPH, MS, FAAP, joins host Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez to talk about drugs and alcohol. They go over ways to counsel teens from a place of caring and concern rather than judgment, and they offer strategies for deterring substance use in teens. For resources go to healthychildren.org/podcast.

09-19
23:42

Helmets: When and Why to Wear Them -- Ep. 14

Maneesha Agarwal, MD, FAAP, joins host Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez to talk about helmet use during sports and recreation. She offers strategies for choosing the appropriate helmet type, making sure it fits and persuading older tweens and teens to wear it. She also explains why advocacy is needed to make helmets more equitable. For resources go to healthychildren.org/podcast.

09-12
17:22

Building Resilience in Children and Teens -- Ep. 13

Kenneth R. Ginsburg, MD, FAAP, FSAHM, joins host Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez to talk about helping children grow into resilient adolescents and young adults. They debunk the myths about teens being rebellious, risky and self-centered. Instead they focus on the positives: rapid brain growth, idealism and a real desire for approval from their parents. For resources go to healthychildren.org/podcast.

09-05
27:15

Product Safety: How to Know What to Buy -- Ep. 12

Joanna Parga-Belinkie, MD, IBCLC, FAAP, joins host Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez to talk about the safety of products we bring home to make parenting easier. From inclined sleepers to unnecessary bedding to magnets to marbles, potentially dangerous goods flood the feeds of parents just trying to raise healthy children. Find out ways you can protect your family. For resources go to healthychildren.org/podcast.

08-29
25:04

Get Ready for Respiratory Virus Season: Flu, COVID-19  and Other Vaccines Your Kids Need -- Ep. 11

  Melissa Stockwell, MD, MPH, FAAP, joins host Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez for a look ahead to the fall respiratory virus season. They talk about flu and COVID and why it’s important to get updated vaccines to help your child’s immune system be ready for what’s coming. For resources go to healthychildren.org/podcast.

08-22
18:26

Breastfeeding and Tongue-tie: How Your Pediatrician Can Help – Ep. 10

Jennifer Thomas, MD, MPH, IBCLC, FAAP, joins host Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez to talk about ankyloglossia or tongue-tie and how it affects the breastfeeding journey. The pediatricians also offer tips to help new parents manage the emotions around newborn feeding. For resources go to healthychildren.org/podcast.

08-15
19:53

Sports: How to get kids involved and keep it fun – Episode 9

Chris Renjilian MD, MBE, FAAP, CAQSM, joins host Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez to talk about the benefits of sports when it comes to mental health and development. They focus on learning, growth and making sure kids’ efforts spark joy.  (For resources go to healthychildren.org/podcast.) 

08-08
30:35

Poop: What's Normal and When to Worry – Ep. 8

In this episode Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez talks with Nathan T. Chomilo, MD, FAAP, about no parent's favorite topic: poop. They answer all the questions you might have about frequency, consistency, color and when to worry about constipation. For resources go to healthychildren.org/podcast.

07-11
23:46

Noise: Protecting Our Kids’ Hearing – Ep. 7

In this episode Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez talks with Brian K. Reilly, MD, FACS, FAAP, a pediatric otolaryngolist or Ear, Nose and Throat doctor. They look at the prevalence of noise in our children’s lives – from white noise machines, from fireworks, from headphones, and even from traffic and lawnmowers outside our windows. Dr. Reilly offers ways to limit the cumulative damage from exposure. For resources go to healthychildren.org/podcast.

07-04
20:26

Healthy Eating: Parenting Styles to Avoid Food Fights – Ep. 6

In this episode Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez talks with Dr. Natalie Muth, a pediatrician and registered dietician. They look at which parenting style leads to the heathiest eating habits, but they also acknowledge that it’s difficult to get it right every single day. For resources go to healthychildren.org/podcast.

06-27
24:45

Skin Protection: Keeping Kids Safe from Summer Sun – Ep. 5

In this episode Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez talks with Dr. Terese Wright about the dangers of sun exposure. The two pediatricians go over the different types of sunscreens, what SPF really means, how to persuade teens to protect their skin, and why all skin tones are susceptible to sunburn and damage. For resources go to healthychildren.org/podcast.

06-20
23:40

Preventing Lead Exposure in Kids – Ep. 4

In this episode Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez talks with Dr. Kevin Osterhoudt about the dangers of lead and how to prevent exposure. The two pediatricians discuss places lead might hide in the home and in the products we buy. For resources go to healthychildren.org/podcast.

06-13
17:42

Sleep: Teaching Good Habits Early – Ep. 2

In this episode Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez interviews Dr. Rachel Moon, who wrote the AAP recommendations for safe sleep but also knows how difficult those recommendations can be. The two pediatricians (and moms) also discuss when and how to start sleep training. For resources go to healthychildren.org/podcast.

06-06
22:19

Helping Kids Navigate Social Media – Ep. 3

In this episode Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez talks with Dr. Megan Moreno, co-medical director of the AAP Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health. The two pediatricians (and moms) discuss strategies for treating social media as a tool rather something to be avoided. For resources go to healthychildren.org/podcast.

06-06
23:18

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