The Doc Smitty - Dr Justin Smith, Pediatrician

11/01/2025

10/26/2025

Irenaeus—an early church father—once used this incredible analogy.

He said some people take a beautiful mosaic of a king, made up of precious jewels, and then rearrange all the pieces into the shape of a dog or a fox. Then they point to it and say, “See? This is what the artist meant.”

The problem isn’t that they used fake jewels—it’s that they reworked the picture.

He was talking about theology.

But wow, does that sound familiar today.

That’s basically what happens when we take pieces of science out of context—one study here, a graph there—and build our own “truth” out of it. It still looks shiny, it still has real data, but the picture’s all wrong and the end we’re not really talking about science at all-we’re talking about faith.

We’ve gotten so good at rearranging the jewels to fit our own story—whether it’s about faith, medicine, or whatever’s trending this week.

Faith and science actually have a lot in common: both require humility. Both ask us to admit we might not see the full picture yet. And I’m not claiming that I or the scientists always get it right-not at all.

So maybe the goal isn’t to grab new pieces to prove we’re right…

Maybe it’s to learn to see the whole mosaic—the way the Artist meant it to be.

And to say maybe we should all be curious and humble and let the truth win-not the most aggressive or persuasive voice.

09/26/2025

🌟 Happy Nurse Practitioner Week! 🌟

Huge thank you to Kalie and McKenzie for the amazing care, compassion, and dedication you bring to Cook Children’s every day. We’re so grateful for all you do! 💙

We had a great time celebrating you both today at Perry’s — you deserve it!

08/24/2025

It’s ok…here’s why. One bad day doesn’t define you as a parent.Your kids won’t remember the moment you snapped—they’ll remember the love that surrounds them. 💛And if you’re struggling with repeated anger or frustration, reaching out for help is one of the bravest things you can do.Tomorrow is a new page. You got this.

08/10/2025

Working on a new logo which might become a canvas to use in the background of my videos…

Thoughts?

What would you change?

07/25/2025

🦴 “I think my bones are too loud. Especially at bedtime.”
When you need a solid medical excuse for avoiding sleep… and chores… and brushing your teeth.
🛌 Diagnosis: Noisy skeleton syndrome
📋 Treatment: 1 bedtime story + 12 hugs

07/22/2025

🚽 Paging Dr. Smith… Myth or Fact?
“Kids need to p**p every day to be healthy.”
❌ MYTH.

This one stresses a lot of parents out—but here’s the truth:

👉 Some kids p**p 3 times a day
👉 Some p**p every 3 days
👉 And BOTH can be normal!

What actually matters is:
✅ The texture (soft, not hard or dry)
✅ The effort (no pain or straining)
✅ The experience (no hiding, fear, or skipped days due to anxiety)

According to the Rome IV criteria for functional constipation, we look at things like:
🔹 Pooping less than 2x per week
🔹 Painful or hard stools
🔹 Accidents after toilet training
🔹 Retentive postures (yep, the p**p dance)

It’s not about a strict daily schedule. It’s about how your kid feels.

💡 If your child is going without pain and without fear—even if it’s every 2–3 days—they’re likely doing just fine.

📣 Tag a fellow parent who’s ever panicked about the p**p calendar.
Let’s normalize comfortable over clockwork.

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07/22/2025

“CAN I JUST TELL YOU WHAT’S WRONG AND YOU WRITE IT DOWN? SAVES US BOTH TIME.”
📝 When your 7-year-old has figured out healthcare efficiency better than most adults.

07/18/2025

🧼✨ Paging Dr. Smith… Myth or Fact?
“Protecting your child from all germs is the best way to keep them healthy.”
❌ MYTH.

We all want to keep our kids safe. But here’s the deal: trying to eliminate every germ from your child’s world may actually do more harm than good.

🦠 The immune system needs practice.
Research—including the landmark hygiene hypothesis—shows that early exposure to everyday microbes helps kids build stronger, more balanced immune systems.

Studies have found:
✅ Kids raised with pets or siblings are less likely to have asthma and allergies
✅ Children on farms have lower rates of eczema and hay fever
✅ The immune system is built to learn, not live in a bubble

Yes, wash hands. Yes, keep sick kids home. But let them dig in the dirt. Play with friends. Share a sandbox.

🧠 Healthy isn’t sterile—it’s resilient.

📣 Tag a fellow parent who needs this reminder.
Let’s raise kids who are strong and a little messy.

07/16/2025

🦷 Paging Dr. Smith… Myth or Fact?
“Babies can get cavities before they ever eat sugar.”
✅ Fact.

Even if your baby has never had candy, juice, or cookies—they can still develop tooth decay. Why? Because milk, breast milk, and formula all contain natural sugars like lactose.

When those sugars linger on teeth—especially overnight—they feed bacteria like Streptococcus mutans, which create acid and start breaking down enamel. 😬

This leads to early childhood caries, or what we sometimes call “baby bottle tooth decay.”
🍼 Bedtime bottles, skipped brushing, and delayed dental visits all raise the risk.

💡 Science says:
➡️ Cavities can begin as soon as teeth erupt (around 6 months)
➡️ The CDC reports that over 20% of kids age 2–5 have untreated cavities
➡️ AAPD recommends brushing twice a day with fluoride and seeing a dentist by age 1

You don’t need candy to get cavities. You just need teeth + time + sugar.
Start early. Protect those tiny smiles. ❤️

📣 Know a new parent? Share this with them. It could save them pain (and dental bills).

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07/16/2025

🧼🧽 “I THINK I HAVE A FEVER… but only when it’s time for chores.”

Honestly, this kid might be onto something.

Diagnosis: Selective Fever
Prognosis: Full recovery after laundry is done 😷🧺

07/15/2025

We know it’s hard. They’re tiny, soft, and smell like heaven. But here’s the truth: kissing a newborn—especially on the face—can spread viruses their little immune systems aren’t ready for.

Even a cold sore you don’t see yet can transmit HSV-1, which in newborns can lead to brain swelling, seizures, even death. And it’s not just herpes. RSV, flu, COVID, enterovirus— all can be passed through a simple kiss.

🚫 If you’re sick—or even think you might be—don’t kiss the baby.

🧠 Research in The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal confirms: these infections don’t always come from strangers—often, it’s loving family.

📣 Please share this. New parents are exhausted and overwhelmed. A gentle reminder could save a life.

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👶❤️ Let’s protect our tiniest patients.