The Doc Smitty - Dr Justin Smith, Pediatrician

06/15/2026

Not every sensitive child has anxiety.

Some children simply experience the world more deeply than others.

Sensitivity can come with challenges, but it also comes with empathy, compassion, and emotional awareness.

The goal isn’t changing who they are.

It’s helping them thrive as the person they already are.

06/12/2026

“My child has dark circles under their eyes. Should I be worried?”

Usually, no.

The most common causes are genetics, allergies, and sometimes poor sleep quality—not serious illness.

I pay much more attention to the whole child than the circles themselves. If your child is growing well, has good energy, and is otherwise healthy, dark circles alone are rarely concerning.

But if they’re accompanied by fatigue, poor growth, weight loss, frequent illness, or other symptoms, it’s worth discussing with your pediatrician.

06/11/2026

Nobody prepares new parents for how weird newborns are.

They grunt in their sleep, cross their eyes, hiccup constantly, make dinosaur noises, and breathe in ways that seem designed to increase parental anxiety.

The good news? Most of those strange behaviors are completely normal.

Healthy newborns spend a lot of time doing things that look alarming and very little time doing things that look reassuring.

Of course, if your baby is having trouble breathing, feeding poorly, turning blue, becoming difficult to wake, or something simply doesn’t seem right, reach out to your pediatrician.

But if your newborn seems weird?

That’s usually part of the job description.



What weird thing your newborn did surprised you the most?

06/09/2026

One of the hardest parts of parenting is watching your child struggle. 💛

Every instinct says:
“Fix it.”
“Protect them.”
“Make it better.”

But resilience isn’t built when every obstacle is removed.

It’s built when children learn:
“I can do hard things.”

Your child doesn’t need you to solve every problem.

Sometimes they just need you beside them while they learn they can overcome it.

You got this.

RaisingKids PediatricianParenting RealParenting ParentEncouragement YouAreEnough RaiseResilientKids

06/08/2026

“My child has strep AGAIN.”

Few things make parents question reality quite like hearing “positive for strep” for the third time this school year.

Most recurrent strep infections are frustrating—but not dangerous. The bigger questions are whether they’re true infections, whether your child is becoming a strep carrier, and whether the pattern is causing significant problems for your child or family.

A good discussion with your pediatrician may be worthwhile if infections are becoming frequent, disruptive, or seem to happen year after year.

ENT Tonsils DocSmitty

06/05/2026

Who needs some grace today?

06/05/2026

“My child has a lump in their neck.”

One of the most common causes?

Swollen lymph nodes.

Lymph nodes are part of the immune system and often enlarge after:
🤧 Colds
👂 Ear infections
🦠 Strep throat
😷 Other common childhood illnesses

🚩 Reasons to get checked:
• Rapid growth
• Very large size
• Hard or fixed nodes
• Persistent fever
• Weight loss
• Significant fatigue

And remember:

Lymph nodes often stay enlarged long after the infection is gone.

Most are simply evidence that the immune system is doing its job.

👇 What health question keeps sticking in your mind?

ChildHealth

06/05/2026

06/04/2026

📱 Caption

“My child struggles to make friends.”

Few parenting worries hurt more than this one.

But before assuming the worst, ask a few questions:

✔️ Are they lonely?
✔️ Do they want more friendships?
✔️ Are they able to connect with peers when given opportunities?
✔️ Is it affecting their confidence or mood?

Some children need large social circles.

Others are perfectly happy with one or two close friends.

The goal isn’t popularity.

The goal is meaningful connection.

And remember:

A difficult social season today does not predict your child’s future.

Many kids find their people later than we expect.

👇 What parenting question keeps sticking in your mind?

SocialSkills MiddleSchool ParentingTeens