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. 

How do babies learn to talk? And what can parents and caregivers do to help little ones learn to communicate? In this episode, we hear from George Stotis, MD, a pediatrician at Forest View Pediatrics, about how a baby’s speech and language develop over the first year and a half of life, how you can help support your baby’s speech and language development, and how your baby’s pediatrician can help if you have concerns. 

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 comes down with that first case of sniffles, sneezes, and coughing, it can really make you worry. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Aimee Behnke, MD, a pediatrician at Children’s Wisconsin Urgent Care, about what to do when your baby is sick. You’ll learn how to treat illnesses at home, how to tell the difference between a common cold and something more serious, and how to tell when it’s time to call your baby’s pediatrician or head to urgent care. Dr. Behnke also shares helpful information about how the pediatricians at Children’s communicate with you when your baby is sick, and how you can use the Children’s Wisconsin app to help manage your baby’s medical appointments and stay in touch with your baby’s doctor. Listen to hear all about your baby’s first colds and how to handle them with confidence in this episode of Healthy Baby, Happy Parent from Children’s Wisconsin. 

Vaccines, or immunizations, are a big part of most of your baby’s early pediatrician appointments, but many parents have questions about how immunizations work and why shots are given at specific times, or may have concerns about side effects and safety. In this episode, Kristin Bencik-Boudreau, DO, a pediatrician at the Children’s Wisconsin Bayshore Pediatrics primary care office, answers questions about how vaccines work, why they’re given at certain ages, and which illnesses they protect your baby against. You’ll also be armed with myth-busting information that will help you make informed decisions about your baby’s immunizations and healthcare. Listen to learn all about your baby’s vaccine schedule and why it matters in this episode of Healthy Baby, Happy Parent from Children’s Wisconsin.  

It’s exciting when those first tiny tooth buds erupt, but teething can be an uncomfortable process for parents and babies alike. In this episode John Schimek, MD, a pediatrician at the Children’s Wisconsin Forest View Pediatrics primary care office, explains when you can expect baby’s first teeth to come in, how long teething lasts, how you should care for those early teeth, and more.

What’s really happening in your baby’s brain when they play peek-a-boo or clack blocks together? A lot. While play may seem all like fun and games, it’s actually your baby’s first work, and a crucial part of their social, emotional, cognitive and physical development. In this episode, Children’s Wisconsin pediatrician Dana Greulich, MD, shares just why it’s so important for your baby to play - and why YOU are their most important playmate. From how to choose quality, age-appropriate toys to why your pediatrician keeps talking about tummy time, we’re breaking down baby’s play month-by-month. Listen on to learn all about the importance of play and how you can get in on the fun with your baby in this episode of Healthy Baby, Happy Parent from Children’s Wisconsin. 

"Is this normal?" So often, new parents aren't sure - whether it's their baby's behavior, growth, or even what's going on in their diapers. In this episode of Healthy Baby, Happy Parent, you'll hear several pediatricians from Children's Wisconsin weigh in about the most common "is this normal" questions they hear from new moms and dads - as well as the questions they had themselves as parents! 

Watching your baby grow can be so exciting - but also, confusing! Those milestone charts are fun, but may not tell you what to expect from YOUR unique baby, or give you a clear picture of your baby’s development overall. This conversation with Children's Wisconsin pediatrician, Dr. Kenneth Strezlecki, will help you make sense of what’s happening in your baby's body and brain in that first year and a half of life, which new behaviors and accomplishments you should be looking for, and what to do if you aren't sure your baby is hitting all the developmental milestones at the right time.

With the COVID-19 pandemic still a big part of our day to day lives, parents with babies and toddlers are often confused about the best way to protect them from getting infected - or what to do if they become sick. In this episode of Healthy Baby, Happy Parent, we talk with Children's Wisconsin pediatrician Dr. Christopher Schwake about the most current information on preventing spread, treating COVID-19, vaccinations, and how you can keep your baby healthy and safe. 

Believe it or not, your baby is starting to bond with you right from birth, and those early months are full of real-time evidence that your baby is developing a strong attachment and actually learning to love you. In this episode, Children’s Wisconsin pediatrician Dr.  Schreiber shares ways your baby shows attachment and love, from first smiles to separation anxiety. You'll also hear from Children’s Wisconsin child and family therapist Becky Verdin about what to do if your baby ISN’T showing some of those signs, and other ways you can help bond with your baby through the first year and beyond. 

Feeding your baby may seem simple, but from what formula to choose to how and when to start solids, there are a lot of decisions to make! In the second episode of our "feeding your baby" series, we talk with Children's Wisconsin pediatrician Dr. Daniel Dorrington to demystify bottle-feeding and starting solids. This episode will help you feed your baby with more confidence, whether you're thinking about introducing a bottle or want to know the best way and time to start solids.

Breastfeeding is natural, but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy! In Part 1 of a two-part series on feeding your baby, lactation consultant Rachel Rebholz gives us the scoop on everything you need to know about breastfeeding from first latch-on to weaning: how to make sure baby’s getting enough milk, dealing with nipple soreness, introducing a bottle and more.

If there’s one sure thing to look forward to as a new parent, it’s that you’re going to have a lot of diapers to change. And sometimes, what's IN those diapers can be pretty mysterious! Today, Children’s Wisconsin pediatrician Dr. Barbara Calkins gives us the real scoop on baby's poop - what’s normal, why it changes so much, and what it can tell you about what's going on inside your baby's body. 

When you're a new parent, it's easy to focus so much on your baby that you forget about your own needs. In this episode we talk with Children's pediatrician Dr. Lisa Chowdhury about how important it is for parents to care for themselves, too. From sleep to relationships to mood swings, this conversation will help you take good care of yourself- so you can take even better care of your baby. 

Why do babies go to the doctor when they aren’t actually sick? Children's Wisconsin pediatrician Dr. Paul Veldhouse tells us what really happens during a well-baby visit and why they’re so important. From learning more about your baby’s development, to getting advice on feeding and sleep, to making sure Mom is getting what she needs, well-baby visits are about more than shots and growth charts. Find out more in this episode of Healthy Baby, Happy Parent!