Healthy Baby, Happy Parent

From forming bonds with caregivers to learning to regulate emotions and sleep, a baby’s well-being encompasses the whole child - including their mental, emotional, and behavioral health. In this episode we speak with Sam Sprung, a Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC) at Pewaukee Pediatrics, about how BHCs work alongside pediatricians to help the whole family thrive.

We hear a lot in the news these days about mental health in teens and adults, but did you know that mental and behavioral health care is important for babies, too? In this episode we speak with Karen Swanson, MD, a pediatrician at Pewaukee Pediatrics, about why it’s so important that both babies and caregivers get mental health support starting with those early well-baby visits. Dr. Swanson explains what a Behavioral Health Consultant is, how Children’s pediatricians work with BHCs to ensure that babies and children receive access to mental and behavioral health services, and why mental and behavioral health is just as important as physical health for your baby. Dr. Swanson also explains how important that early secure attachment between a baby and parent is and the role mental and behavioral health play in making that strong attachment possible, as well as some signs and symptoms that your baby may benefit from intervention.

Your relationship with your baby’s doctor matters a lot! They’re the expert you’ll go to when your baby is sick, a caring guide through well-baby visits, and can even be an important partner in making parenting decisions. But for a new parent, choosing a pediatrician may seem overwhelming. In this episode, we talk with Jerome Esser, MD, a pediatrician with Mayfair Pediatrics, about how to choose your baby’s pediatrician. From how to get your toughest questions answered to why communication style is so important, Dr. Esser offers a wealth of information to make choosing a pediatrician much easier.

If you’re curious about “baby led weaning” and think you might like to skip those jars of store-bought puree, you’re definitely going to want to listen to this episode. We talk with Dr. Patrick Lehman, a primary care pediatrician at Bluemound Pediatrics at Children’s Wisconsin, to find out more about this newer method of introducing solids, which involves feeding your baby age-appropriate pieces of the same foods your family is eating. Dr. Lehman covers safety issues, which foods to try first, and the benefits and drawbacks of baby-led weaning in this episode of Healthy Baby, Happy Parent.

When your baby turns their nose up at the veggies you offer, or your toddler refuses to eat any food that isn’t white, it’s normal to think: “Oh no! Do I have a picky eater? What do I do?” In this episode, James Shander, MD, a pediatrician at Pewaukee Pediatrics, offers this reassuring perspective: picky eating is a normal part of your baby’s development. Dr. Shander offers an expert look at what’s causing your toddler’s reluctance to try new foods, and offers helpful tips for introducing foods, avoiding power struggles, and more.