Help Kids Cook Up Life Skills This Summer
ParentingU
Parents on the hunt for summer activities for their kids might want to look close to home: the kitchen! In this ParentingU episode, Dr. Thiravat Choojitarom, Our Lady of the Lake Children's Health pediatrician with a passion for culinary medicine, shares how time spent cooking can teach kids real-life skills that last far beyond summer. From cracking eggs to choosing recipes, Dr. Choo breaks down age-appropriate ways to invite kids into the kitchen and let them take the lead. Along the way, he explains how cooking together builds confidence, sparks creativity and...
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Water Safety Advice from a Pediatrician
ParentingU
In this episode of ParentingU, Dr. Kristen Sandoz, pediatrician with Our Lady of Lourdes Children’s Health, dives into one of the most important topics of summer: keeping kids safe around water. From pools to puddle jumpers, Dr. Sandoz shares what every parent needs to know — including why drowning is so dangerous (and often silent), how to spot a real-life water emergency and what tools can make a big difference. You’ll hear practical tips for every age and stage, plus the truth about so-called “dry drowning” and when to start swim lessons. Whether you're...
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The Ultimate Family Road Trip
ParentingU
Summer road trip season is here, and if you’ve got kids in the back seat, you know it’s not all sunshine and sing-alongs. In this episode of ParentingU, Dr. Kyle Pontiff, sports medicine physician with Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health, shares his top tips to help families hit the road safely. From seat belts and snack breaks to sun protection and screen time sanity, Dr. Pontiff covers what you really need to think about before you pile into the car. He’s got practical advice (like how often to take movement breaks) and fun ideas (hello, car karaoke) to keep the whole...
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Parenting Kids with ADHD in the Summer
ParentingU
With less structure and more free time, summer can be challenging for kids with ADHD and their parents. Josh LeJeune, NP, with Our Lady of Lourdes Children’s Health, offers advice on keeping kids engaged, creating light routines and incorporating activities that balance fun with focus. Josh discusses the unique challenges faced by children with ADHD, including emotional regulation, the importance of structure and the differences in how ADHD presents in boys and girls. Josh provides practical tips for parents on creating routines, managing screen time and fostering social skills,...
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ParentingU Season 5: The Summer Parent Playbook
ParentingU
This season, ParentingU is bringing you pediatrician-approved tips to help you keep your kids safe, healthy and having fun all summer long. From water safety and road trip prep to bike helmets, bug bites, backyard allergies and screen time, we’re talking about the real stuff that comes up when routines change and the days get longer. We’ve even got expert advice for navigating summer with kids who have ADHD, because every child deserves a summer that feels good. Plus, we’re asking our guests (and you!) to share your favorite thing about summer. What do you love about...
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How to Protect Your Family from Measles
ParentingU
Measles is making a comeback — here’s what parents need to know. Kali Broussard, MD, pediatrician and pediatric infectious diseases specialist with Our Lady of Lourdes Children’s Health, explains why measles cases are rising, what makes this virus so contagious and how vaccination offers powerful protection. Learn how to spot early symptoms, what to do if your child is exposed and why getting vaccinated is more important than ever. This episode was recorded March 20, 2025. At the time of this recording the outbreak had only 300 cases and is now over 480 cases. ...
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Holiday Safety for Active Kids: Avoiding Breaks and Sprains
ParentingU
The holiday season brings a lot of active, outdoor fun for kids — trampolines, bikes and even ATVs can bring excitement but also risks. James Gutheil, MD, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon with Our Lady of Lourdes Children’s Health, shares his advice to reduce kids' risk of injury during holiday activities. He shares the most common injuries, ways to prevent accidents and signs that an injury needs medical attention. More ParentingU Resources: Learn more about keeping kids safe during the holidays on our blog: Learn more about Dr. Gutheil: ? Enjoy the...
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An Amazing Family Phone Hack for Parents of Tweens
ParentingU
Lots of families struggle when it comes to the topic of introducing cell phones to tweens — parents don’t want their children gaining free access to the internet on a phone, but they might need the convenience and safety that a mobile phone provides. What can a family do? Well, pediatrician — a recent guest on ParentingU, shares his favorite “parenting hack” to tackle this issue. Dr. George explains how a family cell phone can work for parents of tweens and teens. More ParentingU Resources Season 4 of ParentingU is all about Teens and Tweens! You can hear all episodes of or ,...
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Summer Kitchen Safety for Kids
ParentingU
In this ParentingU ExtraCredit episode, physician assistant Rachel Stutes shares her insights on summer safety, especially for kids. She emphasizes the importance of taking precautions to prevent burns and injuries in the kitchen. Key takeaways: Maintain a kid-free zone of at least three feet around anything hot, whether in the kitchen or while grilling. Place hot liquids away from the edge of counters to prevent young children from grabbing and reaching. When cooking, make sure all pot handles face backward to prevent spills. Avoid carrying a...
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Breastfeeding Blues - Tips for New Moms
ParentingU
Navigating breastfeeding challenges can feel overwhelming for many new moms. Elizabeth Wallis, MD, pediatrician with Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health, shares her personal journey with breastfeeding and encourages moms to take care of themselves and know it’s OK if things don’t go as planned. Listen to your body and your baby. A fed baby is best. Read more from Dr. Wallis on our blog: Learn more about Dr. Wallis: Watch this episode: Listen to all episodes of or on your favorite podcast app including , or . Watch videos of our...
info_outlineIs your teen getting enough sleep? Or are they trying to “catch up” on the weekend? Or do you worry they’re sleeping too much, staying in bed as much as they can? Teens and tweens have different sleep needs than toddlers or young adults. Natalie Derouen, MD joins host Stephanie on the Season 4 premiere of ParentingU podcast to talk about sleep for teenagers.
Sleep habits and sleep routines can be forged in the teen years, and may help (or hinder!) young people in these important years. Dr. Derouen shares tips and tricks for helping teens get quality sleep, and provides helpful facts about sleep needs from ages 11-18. We all know sleep is important, but parents will have all their top sleep questions answered on this episode.
More Helpful ParentingU Resources
- Read our blog post all about sleep for teens and tweens here: Unlock the Secrets to Teen & Tween Sleep – ParentingU Podcast
- Watch Dr. Derouen and Stephanie on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZeAZigCa8Ck
Season 4 of ParentingU is all about Teens and Tweens! You can hear all episodes of ParentingU on our website or Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. New! Watch videos of our podcast on YouTube: ParentingU playlist.