pedsdoctalk

10/11/2026

SAVE AND SHARE THIS WITH A NEW PARENT!

Stitch with: on TikTok

If getting your baby into the bassinet feels impossible, you’re in good company. Newborns have strong reflexes, crave contact, and notice every shift in temperature and position. So yes, transfers are tough. But hard doesn't mean you’re doing it wrong and it doesn't mean your baby will never sleep there.

For babies under about 3 to 4 months, deep sleep transfers usually work best. Their startle reflex is strong and they don’t yet connect the bassinet with sleep. Wait for heavy arms, slower breathing, and that melty body before you put them down.

Older babies, however, may handle a drowsy transfer. Think relaxed body, heavy eyelids, slow blinks. Not wide awake. They finish drifting off in the bassinet while calm and supported.

Moving slow, keeping your body close, shushing and gentle patting as you lower them, then helping them settle once flat can make a big difference.

And be sure to watch timing.
Overtired babies fight the bassinet because stress hormones are high and undertired babies fight it because they aren’t ready for sleep. Wake windows plus sleepy cues like staring off, slower movements, red eyebrows, or mild fussiness are your guide.

And an important reminder: rest (pun intended) reassured that contact sleep is not spoiling. Contact helps babies regulate. You can practice safe independent sleep when you’re sleeping and still enjoy contact naps when you’re awake. That mix is common and honestly helps many families stay sane. And who doesn't love snuggling a sleepy squishy baby?! 🥹

If you’re deep in sleepless nights and want more help with crib or bassinet sleep, check out my YouTube video, Why Your Newborn Won’t Sleep in the Bassinet (And How to Fix It). I cover why transfers are so hard, active vs quiet sleep, the nervous system, the “cuddle quota,” and step-by-step transfer tips.

Subscribe on YouTube for weekly calm, clear newborn and toddler guidance.

Did your baby struggle with the crib or bassinet? What ended up helping the most?

10/10/2026

Discipline begins as early as 9 months❗️

At this age, it’s all about teaching cause and effect and implementing boundaries and redirection to preferred behaviors.

Young toddlers are looking for patterns to guide their future behavior, so if they learn that throwing food gets them attention, food will continue to fly!🍝✈️

Boundaries ARE NOT the same as punishments!
Boundaries ARE NOT the same as punishments!

We do not punish children: we set boundaries which are extremely healthy.

At this toddler baby age; try to avoid giving big reactions for behaviors you want to discourage and instead calmly but firmly tell them the boundary.
Redirect their attention to things they CAN do.
“No, we don’t throw food. We can EAT food.” And model eating the food.

“No. No hit. Show me gentle touch” And model what a gentle touch. Positive reinforce when they do preferred behavior.

Time-outs at this age and are not my first approach. Putting a “toddler baby” in time out is unlikely to change their future behavior as they have no way to link their behavior to why they have to stand in the corner.

Time-outs can be used in older children over 2 years where other methods aren’t working. **It’s important to note that some older kids respond better to time-outs than more “time-in” strategies**

The key at this age is:
➡️Don’t give a big rise to undesired behaviors
➡️Show them what is the desired behavior
➡️Positively reinforce when they do desired behaviors (behavior goes where your attention goes!)
➡️If they continue with an undesired behavior after showing them the preferred behavior; calmly state the boundary and follow through. “If you throw your food, I take it away.” “Okay. All done. We can try again next time.”

Repetition matters for them to understand the consistency and importance of a boundary.

For more on managing Toddlers & Tantrums, time-ins, time-outs and everything toddler behavior; check out my Toddlers & Tantrums course available under the Course tab on pedsdoctalk.com

When did you start noticing you needed to set some boundaries? How old was your child?

*If original creator of video wants credit; please DM or tag below!*

10/10/2026

Hey all! Could really use your help. If you have found ANY of my content valuable, PLEASE help me out by voting for The PedsDocTalk Podcast for a Signal Award for Family and Child Raising. Voting ends so soon!! This would mean so so much:

The Signal Awards is mission-focused on uplifting the podcast medium by recognizing the most potent, meaningful and unprecedented audio projects being made today.

10/09/2026

You can say yes and later say no. You can be laughing and then want it to stop.
Kids learn that consent can change in small moments, like saying stop mid-tickle and watching us actually stop.

10/09/2026

The meltdown over the wrong color cup at 5pm almost never starts at 5pm.

It started with the scratchy tag at breakfast. Then came the loud cafeteria, the surprise fire drill, the friend who didn't want to play, and the car ride home in traffic. By the time the blue cup showed up instead of the green one, your child's tank was already on empty.

This week on I sat down with , occupational therapist Laura Petix, to talk about what dysregulation is really telling us. Laura's new BOOK is out now: The Sensory Code
Understanding Sensory Processing Differences to Support Your Child's Unique Needs. It's a MUST read that can be the difference between more understanding or more stress in your home with your child's behavior.

Laura explained that by the time we see a big reaction, a child's sensory system has usually been building toward it for a while. Plenty of kids hold it together all day at school, look totally fine, then fall apart the second they see you. That collapse is often a sign they feel safe enough to let go with you.

In clinic, parents tell me the meltdowns come out of nowhere. At home with my own two, I've learned there's almost always a somewhere.

When we only respond to the meltdown itself, we end up putting out fires one at a time. Understanding your child's nervous system lets you look upstream. Maybe that means a snack and some quiet before any questions about their day, or ten minutes at the park before you walk in the door. Those small shifts add up, and over time your child starts learning what their body needs too.

Comment POD and we'll send you the full episode, "The Sensory Code: What Your Child's Behavior Is Trying to Tell You with Occupational Therapist Laura Petix” or you can watch it on the PedsDocTalk YouTube channel.

We also talk about why some kids seek out input while others avoid it, how sensory needs show up at mealtime and bedtime, the difference between a sensory meltdown and a tantrum, and what to do when your own nervous system is fried.

What time of day does your kid tend to fall apart? I'll go first: 5:15pm, like clockwork.

10/09/2026

Anger is not the problem. Anger is a signal.
I had to do a lot of work around my own anger. I never learned how to channel it in healthier ways so it showed up sideways in my adult life and relationships.
So I did the work. And I keep doing it, because it doesn't have a finish line.

10/09/2026

Stitch with
A lot of parents panic when they see a red, tender bump on their child’s eyelid, because eyes feel like high-stakes territory. But styes are one of those things that look scary and feel painful, yet usually respond so well to simple steps at home.

Here’s what most people don’t realize:
✔️ A stye is basically a clogged, irritated oil gland
✔️ Kids get them more often because… tiny hands meet tiny faces all day
✔️ Catching it early makes the biggest difference

Warm, steady heat is the real MVP here. Quick heat won’t move thick oil, but a warm compress held in place for a full 10–15 minutes can multiple times a day. That’s why a rice sock works so well, especially for little ones who won’t sit still for long.

And hypochlorous acid is a great addition- it’s gentle, it reduces bacteria on the skin, and it helps keep the area clean without stinging. A solid combo with heat.

Most styes clear with patience and consistency, but always trust your gut and check in with your child’s doctor if something feels off or you notice any of the red flags listed in the reel.

If this helps you feel calmer the next time one pops up, share or follow pedsdoctalk so more parents feel steady too. What’s the most annoying kid ailment you always seem to be dealing with?

10/08/2026

Happy 10 years to my husband, Gaurav.

This isn't your usual sappy post because we both believe that marriage isn't all rainbows and butterflies.
I would argue that THE most important relationship you choose is the person you choose to spend the rest of your life with. And if you choose to, have children with.

And this doesn't mean things are going to be perfect. We have both navigated individual health issues, job stress, moving, medical issues in a child, birth trauma, postpartum complications x2, working in a pandemic, IVF, and so much more. But beyond those seemingly pinnacle tests of our marriage are the day to day moments.

As you swipe through, you'll see pictures from our wedding weekend 10 years ago. But, you will also see the mundane and not always picture perfect moments.

Because it's in those moments, a true relationship is tested. The communication and our inner children fighting to be seen.

As someone who does so much parenting content, relationship education is fully part of that. How our children see us communicate, fight, repair, what we won't tolerate in a relationship, and how we speak about our partner is how they will shape their vision of their future romantic relationships.

I'm grateful for 10 years of marriage with Gaurav. It has been so much fun, but also very hard, moments of us questioning if this marriage still made sense, big fights, and learning how to communicate better and show up for eachother better.

And there's still work to be done. I love you so much Gaurav and not in that corny "you're perfect, I'm perfect" way. I love you because you want to be better, you go to therapy, and I do the same. Thanks for showing our kids with me to navigate relationships with vulnerability, communication, and humility.

And if you didn't know-my most downloaded episode EVER on the PedsDocTalk Podcast is with my husband! It's about marriage after kids. To listen to it comment RING and we'll send the link to your DMS

And Gaurav and I are cooking up something for PDT. Any guesses??

10/08/2026

That parent who paused before walking into his house after a hard day?
He didn't walk through that door and let his bad day become his family's bad night.
That pause isn't small. That is someone doing the quiet, incredibly important work of not passing their stress onto the people they love most.

10/08/2026

Joy is powerful and it’s contagious.

Happiness is a moment. Joy is a mindset.
You feel happy when things go right.
You feel joy because you’re rooted in what matters, even when they don’t.

I want to remind you that there will be days where you just don’t feel happy. You don’t feel like being goofy. But I can tell you that this light, this energy, and this vibe permeates homes and into our child’s life.

They won’t remember the things you bought them when they were kids, but they will remember how you made them feel-in hard moments and in joyful ones.

When we choose joy, empathy, and presence-even on the hard days-we’re not just coping… we’re modeling.
Modeling what it looks like to stay connected. To be playful. To find light in the chaos.
Our kids learn how to navigate the world by watching us.

That doesn’t mean we have to be happy all the time (toxic positivity isn’t the goal).
It does mean we can show them what it looks like to work through big emotions with them.
To cry, to apologize, to laugh, to dance, and to choose love-even in messy moments.
Being silly with our kids.
Choosing to stay present when it’s easier to check out.
Bringing calm to their chaos and warmth to their worry…
These are the moments that build emotional safety.
These are the moments that shape how they love themselves and others.

🎥 Credit: Bouygues Christmas Ad (2018) – and wow, what a beautiful reminder.

What’s one little way you bring joy or connection to your child’s day even when it’s tough? I’d love to hear it.