pedsdoctalk, P. O. Box 7026, Fort Lauderdale, FL (2026)

01/13/2026

Kids do not build confidence by being perfect.
They build it by being seen, supported, and trusted as they grow.

And a lot of that starts with small, everyday moments:
Letting them work through a tricky zipper
Noticing effort, not just the action
Saying “I love you” even after a meltdown
Asking for their help and letting them teach you something

It is easy to fall into habits that sound helpful but slowly chip away at self trust:
“You’re fine.”
“Let me just do it for you.”
“Why can’t you be more like your sibling?”

When we pause, validate feelings, guide instead of fix, and focus on progress over perfection, we help kids build confidence that actually lasts.

If you want more practical ways to support confidence and independence, I wrote a blog post called How To Foster Your Child’s Autonomy And Build Self Confidence. I will link it in the comments.

Which one of these swaps hit home for you?

01/13/2026

The noise about Tylenol being “harmful” is still everywhere, so I’m resharing this to clear up some myths. Claims that Tylenol damages development or stops the body from healing turn a common fever into something scary, and it doesn’t need to be that way.

Here’s the simple truth 👇
Tylenol used at the correct dose for weight and used as needed is safe.
Overdose is dangerous.
Occasional dosing for comfort is not the same thing and does not need to be feared.

Yes, fever can play a role in fighting infection. But fever can also make kids miserable, less likely to drink, and unable to rest. Comfort, hydration, and sleep matter.

If Tylenol helps your child relax, drink fluids, or finally get some sleep, that is caring for them, not harming them. ❤️

You do not need to treat every fever right away. My approach is to treat the child, not just the number.

If a child has a fever but is playful and comfortable, I focus on fluids and monitoring.

If they are uncomfortable, in pain, or not drinking well, I do not hesitate to use Tylenol or ibuprofen (for kids 6 months and older) safely.

I break all of this down, including common Tylenol myths and when I actually use fever medicine, in a YouTube video. The link is in the comments 🎥

Have you ever felt judged or second guessed yourself for giving fever medicine?

01/13/2026

Let’s talk about what “just asking questions” really means when it comes to vaccine misinformation.

When someone says they want an open discussion, but keeps repeating debunked claims, misrepresents risk, or introduces fear based ideas with no scientific backing, that is not a conversation. It is a tactic.

Vaccine safety is a valid topic. But there is a real difference between
A thoughtful, evidence based discussion
And messaging that keeps the autism myth alive, vaguely warns about “vulnerable children,” or uses emotional language to scare parents.

Here is the truth.
Vaccines do have rare risks. Those risks are studied, tracked, and transparent.
Autism is not caused by vaccines, and continuing to suggest otherwise harms autistic people and public health.
There is no such thing as a “vaccine injury scan,” and we should be questioning why unproven tools are being promoted at all.

We do not need more conversations that confuse families. We need clarity, accountability, and science, especially when children’s health is involved.

If you want a deeper explanation of where the autism myth came from, what the research actually shows, and why blaming vaccines causes real harm, I break it all down on the PedsDocTalk YouTube channel. The link is in the comments.

What is one vaccine myth you used to believe, or one you wish would finally stop circulating?

01/13/2026

One of the hardest parenting shifts is realizing this 👀

Sometimes our attention becomes the reward, even when the behavior is one we don’t want to see again.

In this week’s Follow-Up, I break down how reward pathways form in a child’s brain 🧠 and why giving full attention to misbehavior can accidentally reinforce it.

This doesn’t mean ignoring your child or their feelings ❤️
It means being intentional about what you’re rewarding.

When a child learns, “If I yell, whine, or push buttons, I get power, control, and full attention,” that pathway gets stronger. But when we stay calm 🧘‍♀️, stick to the plan, and save our attention for the behaviors we want to see more of, things start to shift.

In this episode, I cover:
✨ How reward pathways develop in young brains
✨ Why attention can be more powerful than treats or screens
✨ Ignoring a behavior vs. ignoring a child
✨ Why inconsistency can make behaviors worse
✨ How to reinforce what you want to see without threats or bribery
✨ Why repetition and consistency matter more than perfection

You’re not being cold ❄️
You’re teaching your child how the world works, calmly, clearly, and with boundaries.

🎧 The link to this week’s Follow-Up is in the comments.

Have you ever noticed a behavior get worse the more you reacted? What feels hardest about not engaging in the moment?

01/12/2026

Is this real life, or are we all extras in a Best Drama Series?

Lately the news has been giving full season finale energy. Plot twists. Chaos. Someone cue the dramatic music. 🎭

When everything starts feeling like a nonstop reality show, that’s your sign to step back. Not every headline deserves front row access to your nervous system.

If you notice yourself doom scrolling or feeling that tight, buzzy stress creeping in, it’s okay to unplug. Rest. Laugh. Do something small that helps you reset. And if the headlines leave you frustrated, put that energy toward something that actually helps, kindness, action, or sharing clear information in a very loud world.

Follow pedsdoctalk for real talk and calm context, because we are all trying to make sense of this together.

What’s the most unbelievable headline you’ve seen lately?

01/12/2026

How many of us grew up with a fire inside and no one helped us learn what to do with it.

We did not need enabling.
We did not need endless validation.
We needed someone to understand the feeling, stay close, guide us through it, and later teach us how to handle it.

I love this art because it captures something so real. Kids do not need us to fix every emotional storm. Often, they need us nearby while it passes.

When feelings are loud and messy, our calm presence helps their body slow down. That is not ignoring behavior or giving in. It is saying, I see how big this feels, and I am here while you move through it.

Staying close during tantrums teaches kids that feelings are safe, temporary, and survivable. It does not make kids soft. It helps their nervous system settle so thinking can come back online.

Closeness does not have to mean sitting on the floor until the storm passes. It can look like narrating what you see, offering gentle redirection, and not escalating yourself. Real life still happens. If dinner is burning or safety is at risk, you handle that first. This is not about perfection. Think most of the time, not all of the time.

In the moment, the goal is patience with the feeling, not teaching a lesson. Later, when everyone is calm, that is when coping skills are named, practiced, and reinforced.

If anger feels familiar in your home, or in your own story, I talk more about this in a podcast episode on breaking the cycle of anger in parenting. The link is in the comments.

Did this resonate with you or remind you of a moment with your child?

01/12/2026

Infant sleep is one of the most emotionally charged topics in parenting.

So when someone claims sleep training causes brain damage, learned helplessness, or mental illness, that is not caution. That is fear based messaging, and it harms exhausted parents.

Let’s be clear.
Sleep training is not harmful.
It is a personal choice, supported by research, and for many families it is a real lifeline.

And to be very clear, a child who is not sleep trained can absolutely learn to sleep independently over time. But saying that sleep training itself is harmful is misinformation, both clinically and professionally.

Sleep matters for mental health, for safety, and for family well being. How a parent approaches sleep, including whether they use a cry based method or not, is personal. There is no single right answer.

In this video, I break down what sleep training actually is, why crying does not equal trauma, and what the science really shows about sleep, stress, and attachment.

If you want to go deeper, I have a podcast episode with Sujay Kansagra (ThatSleepDoc) where we talk through common sleep myths, genetics and sleep needs, wake windows, regressions, and what “sleeping through the night” really means.

We also talk about why young infants waking overnight is normal, why parent sleep is not selfish, and how social media myths add pressure to families who are already running on empty.

If you need permission to drop the guilt and choose what supports your whole family, this conversation is for you. I’ll link the podcast in the comments.

What’s one piece of baby sleep advice you wish you had ignored?

01/12/2026

SAVE AND SHARE THIS WITH A NEW PARENT
Stitch with on TikTok

If getting your baby into the bassinet feels impossible, you are not alone. Newborns have strong reflexes, crave contact, and notice every tiny change in temperature and position. Transfers are hard. That does not mean you are doing it wrong, and it does not mean your baby will never sleep there.

For babies under about 3 to 4 months, deep sleep transfers usually work best. Look for heavy arms, slower breathing, and that soft, melty body before putting them down.

Older babies may do better with a drowsy transfer. Think relaxed body, heavy eyelids, slow blinks. Not fully awake. They finish drifting off once they are calm and settled in the bassinet.

Move slowly. Keep your body close. Shush, pat gently, and help them settle once they are down. Small details can make a big difference.

Timing matters too.

Overtired babies fight sleep because stress hormones are high.
Undertired babies fight sleep because they are not ready.
Use wake windows plus sleepy cues like staring off, slower movements, red eyebrows, or mild fussiness as your guide.

And an important reminder. Contact sleep does not spoil babies. Contact helps them regulate. You can practice safe independent sleep at night and still enjoy contact naps during the day. That mix is common and honestly helps many families stay sane. And yes, snuggling a sleepy squishy baby is allowed.

If you are deep in sleepless nights and want more help with crib or bassinet sleep, I have a full YouTube video called Why Your Newborn Won’t Sleep in the Bassinet (And How to Fix It). I break down why transfers are hard, active versus quiet sleep, the nervous system, and step by step tips.

The link is in the comments.

Did your baby struggle with the crib or bassinet? What ended up helping the most?

01/11/2026

“I don’t want to clog up the ER… but I also don’t want to miss something serious.”

If you’ve ever wondered, Do I wait, go to urgent care, or head to the ER? - you’re not alone. Google isn’t helpful when it comes to real-life parenting decisions.

In today’s PedsDocTalk newsletter, I break down:
• What can usually wait for your child’s doctor
• When urgent care makes sense
• And when the ER is the right call

Plus, I answer a parent question about intense toddler meltdowns and what actually helps when your child is too overwhelmed for words.

If you’ve ever second-guessed a medical decision for your child, this one is for you.
🔗 Link in the comments.

01/11/2026

Newborn sleep can feel so hard especially when it comes to the crib or bassinet.

That’s because babies aren’t born knowing how to sleep independently. Their brains and bodies are wired for warmth, movement, and contact, and their sleep cycles are short and light. So when a transfer doesn’t stick, it’s not because you’re doing something wrong.

The good news? This is a learned skill. Watching for deep sleep, moving slowly and calmly, supporting their nervous system with touch and sound, and keeping wake windows in a healthy range can all make those transfers easier over time.

And yes, many families use a mix of safe independent sleep and contact sleep in the newborn phase. That’s normal. That’s okay.

I break it all down in today’s video. Link in the comments.

01/11/2026

Every tattoo has a story. This one carries mine.

This is my third tattoo. Tattoos are a very personal decision. Some love them. Some do not at all. Some are indifferent. I love them especially if they have a story behind them, and this is mine.

This is also my first visible tattoo as all others I have are in areas hidden by usual clothing.

I knew I wanted to get a tattoo and doodled some ideas (and I am not an artist). I Found the script I love, the flowers, and sample EKG and went to Gable Rynning at Babylon Tattoo and Piercing in Fort Lauderdale. He worked his magic to clean up the design and make it perfect for the location I wanted. And extra shout out of him dealing with me making sure the EKG had the right complexes!

I can’t stop looking at it and now you will too as it may appear in more videos!

If you are a tattoo fan and looking for someone in South Florida, you must contact Gable. He’s a true artist, and honestly this was the least painful tattoo I’ve had, with the smoothest recovery, thanks to his skill and technique.

01/10/2026

Listen. I need your answers.

What are you doing if you have a day off with no work or responsibilities ?

And does anyone else find decluttering therapeutic??

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