The Doc Smitty - Dr Justin Smith, Pediatrician

08/08/2026

New items in my on-line store!

Go check it out and help me pay for all the technology it takes to bring you solid, evidenced-based parenting tips!!

The Doc Smitty

07/15/2026

Sometimes they’re looking for information.

Sometimes they’re looking for reassurance.

Sometimes they’re just making conversation with the person they trust most.

Patience now often builds confidence later.

07/14/2026

Children don’t become wise because we make every decision for them.

They become wise because we gradually teach them how to make their own.

Do you find this step of parenting?

07/14/2026

My child sweats all the time. Should I be worried?

Sweaty kids are much more common than most parents realize.

Some children wake up with damp hair every morning. Others always have sweaty hands or feet. Some soak through their shirt after just a few minutes of playing outside. In many cases, this is simply how their bodies are wired.

Children’s sweat glands can be very active, and primary hyperhidrosis (excess sweating without an underlying illness) is often inherited. If Mom or Dad were “the sweaty kid,” there’s a good chance their child will be too.

Sweating during exercise, hot weather, excitement, or even deep sleep is usually completely normal. In fact, toddlers and younger children often sweat more from their heads while sleeping because they spend more time in deep sleep and have immature temperature regulation.

Where pediatricians become more concerned is when the sweating doesn’t fit the situation or comes with other symptoms.

Things worth discussing with your pediatrician include:
• Drenching night sweats that regularly soak pajamas or sheets
• Sweating while resting in a cool room
• Unexplained weight loss
• Persistent fevers
• A racing heartbeat, chest pain, or trouble breathing
• Poor growth or decreased energy
• Excessive thirst and frequent urination, which could suggest diabetes

Most children who sweat a lot are perfectly healthy.

But if the sweating is new, severe, or accompanied by other concerning symptoms, it’s worth having it evaluated. Sometimes the answer is simply reassurance.

Occasionally, sweating is an early clue that helps us identify a medical condition before other symptoms become obvious.

As always, trust your instincts. If something seems different about your child—not just sweaty, but not themselves—it’s okay to ask questions.

07/13/2026

07/13/2026

What words have you been saying about yourself lately?

07/09/2026

🚨 What’s Going Around: Screwworms

Recent news about New World screwworms has understandably caught people’s attention.

Here’s the reassuring news:

✅ Human infections are rare.
✅ Children are very unlikely to be affected.
✅ The biggest impact is currently on livestock and wildlife.

Screwworms are the larvae of a fly that lays eggs in open wounds. Unlike ordinary maggots that feed on dead tissue, screwworm larvae feed on living tissue, which is why they can cause significant damage if left untreated.

Parents should know:

• Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered.
• Watch wounds for increasing redness, swelling, drainage, or severe pain.
• Seek medical care if a wound isn’t healing normally, especially after travel to an affected area.
• If you ever see larvae in a wound, seek immediate medical attention.

At this point, this is not something the average parent in the United States needs to panic about, but it’s a fascinating example of why public health officials work so hard to prevent these flies from becoming established. Once they spread through livestock populations, the economic and animal health consequences can be enormous.

More info in the caption! Please share to get the word out!

Texas ChildHealth PublicHealth Parenting EvidenceBasedMedicine

07/09/2026

There is a quiet pressure many parents carry.

The pressure to always be okay.

To smile through stress.
To hide tears.
To never let their children see them discouraged.

I understand where that comes from. We want our children to feel secure.

But security doesn’t come from believing Mom or Dad never struggles.

It comes from watching Mom or Dad struggle well.

Our children learn resilience when they see us take a deep breath after a hard day.

They learn humility when they hear us apologize.

They learn courage when they watch us ask for help instead of pretending everything is fine.

They learn hope when they see that difficult seasons eventually pass.

That doesn’t mean we unload our adult burdens onto our children. They shouldn’t become our emotional support system.

But they also don’t need to believe that healthy adults never feel anxious, disappointed, or sad.

If your sadness, anxiety, or anger has become overwhelming or persistent, please talk with your doctor, a counselor, or someone you trust. Seeking help is not a sign of weakness—it’s one of the greatest examples of emotional health you can give your children.

Your goal isn’t to convince your child that life is easy.

It’s to show them that hard things can be faced with honesty, support, and hope.

Your child isn’t learning from your perfection. They’re learning from your recovery.

You got this. 💛

ParentEncouragement MentalHealthMatters GraceForParents Resilience HealthyFamilies YouAreEnough

07/08/2026

When I teased the new logo, the overwhelming response was…

“You’re starting a podcast.”

You may have spoken it into existence. 🎙️

I’m seriously exploring the idea.

My goal wouldn’t be to create another podcast that just reacts to headlines. I’d want it to be a place where we can slow down, take a deeper look at parenting and pediatric topics, separate evidence from opinion, and hopefully leave you feeling more informed and less anxious.

Before I dive in, I’d love your help.

If I started a podcast:

• What topics would you want covered?

• Would you rather hear deep dives into one topic, interviews with experts, parenting Q&A, or a mix?

• How long do you actually listen to podcasts?

Some ideas already on my list:

* Vaccines: fear, facts, and finding common ground
* Fever myths
* Antibiotics: when they’re helpful (and when they’re not)
* ADHD and executive function
* Sleep science
* Social media and kids
* Anxiety in children
* Nutrition myths
* Parenting through difficult behaviors
* “What’s Going Around” disease updates with context instead of panic

Drop your ideas below—even if they’re incredibly specific. Some of the best episodes come from questions that lots of parents are quietly wondering.

I’d love to build something that’s genuinely useful for this community. 🎧

07/08/2026

“My child is always hungry. Is something wrong?”

Sometimes… no.

One of the most common reasons children suddenly seem ravenous is a growth spurt. Appetite can increase dramatically for days or even weeks before slowing back down.

Other times, hunger is influenced by boredom, habit, activity level, or medications.

🚩 I become more concerned if increased appetite is accompanied by:
• Weight loss
• Excessive thirst
• Frequent urination
• Fatigue
• Poor growth
• Other changes in your child’s health

Those symptoms deserve prompt evaluation because they can occasionally signal conditions like diabetes or, less commonly, hormonal disorders.

For most kids, the best approach is simple:
🥩 Prioritize protein and fiber at meals.
🥜 Include healthy fats.
🍎 Offer planned snacks instead of constant grazing.
💧 Encourage water between meals.

The goal isn’t to eliminate hunger—it’s to fuel growing bodies well.

Has your child ever gone through a phase where it seemed like they couldn’t stop eating? You’re definitely not alone.

DocSmitty