Dr. Sears Family Podcast

Today we discuss the recent recall of Johnson & Johnson baby powder amid asbestos contamination concerns, an article about common parenting mistakes, and Dr. Jim's latest tips for boosting your immune system as we head into the holiday season.

Our sister Erin (Sears kid #5) joins us today to chat about life as a first-time mom and discuss several questions that new moms often have. Topics include: starting solid foods, giving infants water, gentle parenting/discipline, celebrating the "mom bod", and cultivating your "mom squad".

Today we discuss some of our favorite cold remedies, including prevention tips and ways to kick the cold quickly. Also, we talk about the topic of overindulging your children, why it's not a good idea to "just give them everything they want" or do everything for them, and how it helps to develop patience and independence.

With school back in full-swing and your family settling into the school routine, we discuss some potential sources of school-related stress and anxiety to be mindful of and ways to manage it. We then focus in on perhaps the single most important tip for a successful school (and work) day: eating a healthy breakfast.

Today we open up our book The Portable Pediatrician and explore what it says about fevers, yearly check-ups, antibiotics, sprains, broken bones, and constipation.

Today we share our Back-to-School episode, discussing tips to help your family make a smooth transition out of summer-mode and into your school-day routine. We also talk about the subject of anxiety and all the important tools you can use to manage it. We also take a phone call asking advice on how to practice attachment parenting when the parents are separated and disagree about parenting styles.

Today we have our summer wrap-up, going over topics such as "debriefing" from summer camp and taking advantage of the last week or so before school starts to get your kids ready. Also, we discuss the topic of constipation - what causes it, how to relieve it, and how to prevent it.

Today we talk about telemedicine and some of its upsides and downsides. Also on today's episode: the best high-fiber foods your family should be eating and the worst drinks your family should be avoiding.

Sticker charts, reward systems, bribery... whatever you call it, a token economy system can be a great way to encourage good behavior while also teaching your child valuable lessons and life-skills. Today we share some tips and crucial elements to keep in mind when setting up a system that works for your family. Also, we explore the question of "Should I let my child go barefoot?" And Dr. Jim takes a "housecall" at the studio to take a look at a patient's rash.

Today we welcome in Meg and Cindy of CapeIvy.com, which provides fleece poncho capes to kids and adults for extra comfort during hospital stays, to discuss some tips to help make your family's lengthy hospital stays a little more bearable. We also explore topics from the Sears' book The Portable Pediatrician: what to do about mouth lacerations/injuring from trauma, abdominal pain, and staying hydrated during vomiting episodes.

Carole Baggerly, founder of GrassrootsHealth.net, joins the show to teach us about the amazing head-to-toe health benefits of Vitamin D. She shares how research is showing that proper levels of Vitamin D can prevent an incredible amount of health crises such as breast cancer, colon cancer, diabetes, arthritis and many more. We also discuss blood tests for Vitamin D levels, its significance for breastfeeding and pregnant moms, the importance of quality "sun time," and the issues regarding sunscreen.

Bedtime can be one of the most frustrating times of the day for parents. Everybody's tired and cranky, tensions are running high and patience is running low. So today we tackle the subject of bedtime tantrums to put an end to the exhausting battle of wills and instead make it one of your favorite, most relaxing times of the day. // We also continue discussing the age-old question of "How do I get my kid to eat more vegetables?"

Our mom Martha Sears joins us today in-studio as we celebrate Mother's Day, learn about Martha's mothering experience and wisdom, and discuss her and Hayden's new book, The Healthy Pregnancy Journal. 

Today we dive into the world of snacks! Does your child only snack on junk food? What are some healthy snacks? Is there such thing as snacking too much? We also explore a few more of the "33 things to stop doing to your kids RIGHT NOW!"

Ever wonder why your child comes home from summer camp a little more mature, confident, and independent? Today we welcome into the studio Audrey "Sunshine" Monke, veteran camp director and author of Happy Campers: 9 Summer Camp Secrets for Raising Kids Who Become Thriving Adults. Tune in to hear Audrey share all about the crucial role that summer camp plays in child development, and some great tips to make this "magic" continue at home.