The Follow-Up: Foster Autonomy and Build Confidence
In this follow up episode, we revisit one of the most loved ideas on the show, because parents tell me again and again that it changed the way they show up for their kids. We’re talking about the Independence Before Intervention principle, a simple shift that helps kids build confidence, resilience, and trust in themselves while still knowing we’re right there when they need us.
Inspired by watching her own kids obsess over the transformation of caterpillars, Dr. Mona explores how struggle is a natural and necessary part of growth. Babies, toddlers, big kids, even adults, all move through moments that feel tough. The goal isn’t to remove every frustration. It’s to help kids see that effort isn’t failure and that they’re safe trying, adjusting, and trying again.
Inside this episode, Dr. Mona breaks down how this principle looks across different ages and real life moments, including:
✔️ Newborns learning to pass gas and poop
✔️ Babies connecting sleep cycles without immediate intervention
✔️ Infants and toddlers brushing teeth with growing independence
✔️ Problem solving during play, frustration, and puzzles
✔️ How verbal coaching builds emotional skills and persistence
Want more? Check out 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!
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
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15:34
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15:34
Glucola (Glucose test) & Safe Foods in Pregnancy: Busting Myths and Easing Fears
Pregnancy comes with a lot of rules, warnings, and fear based posts online. But how much of that advice is actually rooted in science, and how much is leftover noise that keeps parents stressed for no reason?
In today’s episode, I sit down with Dr. Jessica Knurick, a nutrition researcher and registered dietitian who has spent years breaking down food myths in the pregnancy and postpartum space. Together we walk through the biggest areas of confusion, why so much misinformation spreads so fast, and how to make calmer, more confident choices during pregnancy.
We talk about:
The most common food rules that get blown out of proportion
Why certain foods get labeled as “dangerous” without context
What the real risk of listeria looks like, and how to lower it
Sushi, soft cheese, runny eggs, deli meat, and why the blanket rules don’t tell the full story
How to think about risk in pregnancy without spiraling
The truth about the glucose test and why the alternatives online fall short
What high mercury fish means and why fish is still an important part of pregnancy nutrition
Where fear based content online pulls parents in and how to protect your headspace
To connect with Dr. Jessica Knurick follow her on Instagram @drjessicaknurick and check out all her resources at https://www.jessicaknurick.com/
My Experience with Gestational Diabetes: https://youtu.be/QCtGft6p7c0
00:00 Why fear around food and the glucose test is rising
01:25 Why Dr. Jessica Knurick’s work matters in pregnancy nutrition
03:44 How misinformation spreads during pregnancy
06:13 The gray area behind food rules and risk
08:36 Soft cheese, deli meat, and runny eggs: what’s actually risky
11:06 The truth about listeria and real foodborne illness risks
14:12 Sushi, fish, mercury, and what research actually shows
17:04 How to approach food safety without spiraling
20:29 Real life examples of weighing pros and cons in pregnancy
23:34 What the glucose test really measures
25:53 Why screening happens at 24–28 weeks
27:52 Common myths about the glucose drink
30:30 Alternatives like jelly beans, pancakes, and OJ: why they don’t work
33:54 When at home monitoring is appropriate
42:17 A helpful tip for managing symptoms after the test
43:24 Final message on protecting your mental space in pregnancy
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!
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
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48:55
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48:55
The Follow-Up: Overcoming Percentile Anxiety
In this Follow Up episode, I’m opening up about something I’ve counseled countless parents through yet still had to face myself: the emotional weight of percentiles. After my daughter Vera was born, a mix of postpartum complications, exclusive pumping, and constant worry about her petite size pulled me into a spiral I didn’t see coming.
This episode walks through that experience with honesty and compassion. I share what feeding looked like in those early weeks, how comparison added pressure, how anxiety shaped her feeding behavior, and the turning points that helped me step back into a steadier perspective.
Most importantly, we revisit what matters far more than the number on a chart: the big-picture signs of a thriving baby. If you’ve ever left a checkup feeling shaky or second-guessing yourself, this conversation is for you.
In this episode, we talk about:
What percentile anxiety actually sounds and feels like for parents
How postpartum complications and exclusive pumping layered into worry
The comparison trap and why it hits so hard in early parenthood
How anxiety can accidentally shape feeding behavior (and how to reset)
The real indicators of healthy growth beyond the chart
When to seek support for both your baby and your own mental health
Why you are not failing your child, even when the numbers feel scary
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!
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
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15:57
The Truth About Raising Securely Attached Kids: What Most Parents Get Wrong
What does it really mean to raise securely attached kids? I first came across Eli Harwood’s book Raising Securely Attached Kids on a solo trip, and it completely re-energized how I think about connection and parenting. Her words reminded me that so much of raising emotionally healthy kids starts with how we show up, not how perfect we are. It is now one of my most favorite parenting books out there.
On today’s episode, Eli and I talk about the real meaning of secure attachment, how it shows up in everyday moments, and why so many of us misunderstand it. She shares her own story of growing up with a cycle-breaking mom, how that shaped her work, and the lessons she now passes on to parents everywhere.
We discuss:
✔️ What secure attachment actually means in daily life
✔️ The four main attachment styles and how they develop
✔️ How to tell if your child feels emotionally safe with you
✔️ Why repair after conflict is one of the most powerful parenting tools
✔️ How to build lasting connection through small, consistent moments
To connect with Eli Harwood follow her on Instagram @theattachmentnerd, check out all her resources at https://attachmentnerd.com/ and purchase her books here: https://attachmentnerd.com/books
Upcoming mother daughter journal “Uniquely Us”
https://attachmentnerd.com/books/uniquely-us
Upcoming encyclopedia style book called “How to Deal With Your ____ so Your Kids Don’t Have To” created to help parents develop healthy emotional patterns!
https://attachmentnerd.com/books/how-to-deal-with-your-so-your-kids-dont-have-to
EMDR Podcast Episode: https://pedsdoctalk.com/podcast/trauma-therapy-why-you-may-need-emdr/
0:00 What Secure Attachment Really Is
1:00 Why One Safe Caregiver Changes Everything
1:58 How Dr. Mona Found Eli Harwood
3:12 Eli’s Story and Becoming Attachment Nerd
7:58 How Attachment Theory Shapes Family Patterns
10:12 Why Connection and Communication Matter
12:18 What Secure Attachment Looks Like Day to Day
19:39 The Four Attachment Styles Explained
30:13 How To Tell If Your Child Feels Emotionally Safe
32:35 Real-Life Parenting Mistakes and Repair
37:59 Four Daily Habits That Build Secure Attachment
42:56 Listening, Feedback, and Emotional Language
43:55 Repairing After Messy Moments
50:24 Final Takeaways and Where To Learn More
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!
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
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55:35
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55:35
The Follow-Up: Helping Kids Feel Proud
Raising kids who feel proud of who they are, not just what they do, is one of the biggest gifts we can give them. In this Follow-Up episode, I revisit my conversation with Dr. Becky Kennedy, recorded back when I was a new mom trying to understand how to raise a confident child. Now, with Ryaan heading into six, these lessons hit even deeper.
We talk about what real confidence looks like for kids, why outcome-based praise can backfire, and how to help our children find pride from the inside out. Dr. Becky breaks down how to shift the focus from grades, goals, and achievements to the qualities that matter most: effort, curiosity, and the internal spark that keeps them trying.
You’ll hear:
Why kids who shine early aren’t always the ones with the strongest sense of self
How over-relying on praise tied to performance can lead to pressure or perfectionism
Simple swaps you can use today to build true confidence
The power of noticing the process, not the product
How to shift your questions so your child learns that good feelings start from within, not from outside approval
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!
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
About The PedsDocTalk Podcast: Child Health, Development & Parenting—From a Pediatrician Mom
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.
Each episode dives into real-life parenting challenges, featuring conversations with specialists in pediatrics, child psychology, nutrition, and parental well-being. From potty training and sleep training to tackling tantrums, picky eating, discipline, screen time, postpartum recovery, and developmental milestones, Dr. Mona provides practical, science-backed advice that actually works.
Tune in on Mondays and Wednesdays for actionable insights, mindset shifts, and expert interviews that empower you to raise healthy, resilient, and happy kids—while thriving as a parent yourself!
Listen to The PedsDocTalk Podcast: Child Health, Development & Parenting—From a Pediatrician Mom, unPAUSED with Dr. Mary Claire Haver and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
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