“Choosing” between career and motherhood is trending for all the wrong reasons 😡 So I’m calling bulls**t ✌️ And like always I’ll just continue being a badass, nurturing mom while saving kids’ lives 👩⚕️ Sending 💪 and 💜 from a pediatrician mom with a LOT of fancy degrees and honors BA, summa cum laude, MD, AOA, FAAP, and mom of two. I’m proud of all of them. Being a doctor makes me a better mom and being a mom makes me a better doctor. To anyone doubting my place in the workforce, you can kindly shut up. My work helps me raise my kids right and my experiences as a mother help me take excellent care of yours. It might just save their lives. And societal supports are all that we need so I don’t have to choose between helping your kids or mine. Devious, misogynistic narratives that pit your career against your mothering are engineered to keep women out of the workforce— and out of power in our society. To that I say, in the words of cee-lo green, 🖕🫵☺️ #mom #moms #motherhood #workingmom #working #career #doctor #medicine #doctormom #parent #parents #parenting #parentlikeapediatrician #breastfeeding #breastfed #breastfeedingmom #careermom
Today was bring your kid to work day. My daughter has been asking to come to work with me nonstop for years. It is so sweet and makes me so happy to see how proud she is of me and how much she wants to be like me. For obvious reasons I can’t bring her with me to the hospital. I had no idea how big of a deal the school and peers would make this day. I felt heartbroken going off to work (also leaving my new baby as I go back from leave!) and seeing her disappointment. I had big feelings too. I wanted to fix everything. But instead I made myself sit with it. I validated everyone’s emotions and let us just feel sad. I talked about how life is filled with disappointment like this. We will never be able to do every activity. This was an opportunity to realize that life isn’t always fair, either. Although our missing out wasn’t due to a lack of privilege there were many kids who would be unable to participate for that reason. Being allowed and logistically able to bring your kid to work is certainly a privilege. When we had our fill of tears and hugs I went into usual mom mode. I didn’t want to fix this away or brush past accepting challenges. I think learning to work through disappointment and big feelings is important. But finding solutions to get through the day is important too, as long as feelings are felt and resilience is still being built. So, a 💡went off: if we can’t go to mommy’s work, let’s bring mommy’s work to school! I grabbed an old conference name tag of mine as a “doctor badge,” helped my daughter choose a fancy doctor outfit, lent her my stethoscope, reflex hammer, and handed her lots of stickers to give out to her classmates— the “patients.” We would debrief after both of us doctors got home and could do our charting together. It worked. My daughter went off to school excited to take on this new “responsibility” and I went off to work feeling far less heartbroken. Disappointment isn’t something to fear, and while we mitigate it as best we can the bigger journey is learning how to live with — and through— it. #mom #moms #mother #motherhood #momlife #parent #parents #parentlikeapediatrician #parenting #parentingwin #momfail #workingmom
I’m feeling so conflicted about my postpartum return to work. Excited to do the clinical job that I love and miss Nervous about the ongoing lack of sleep Happy I had more than 3 months paid leave, so rare in this country Worried I won’t continue breastfeeding as long (I pump much less than direct breastfeeding gives, common) Happy to get my life back and be back in the swing of things Nervous for my new normal to change again Anxious about this new bond that feels so strong and so tenuous at the same time Worried I’ll miss milestones and mommy baby time Looking forward to rewarding work and intellectual stimulation If you’re scared, excited, grateful, worried, angry, happy all at the same time, with this parenting transition or any other, I’m right there with you. #parent #parenting #parents #parentlikeapediatrician #postpartum #pregnancy #postpregnancy #postpartumjourney #backtowork #newborn #infant #breastfeeding #breastfed #breastfeed #mom #moms #mamas #motherhood
By now I’ve hopefully convinced you that perfection in parenting is a lie. But even if we were to find some sort of mystical forest in which magical creatures called the Perfect Parent spend their fictional days, this fact would remain: You will have “off” days. I repeat, you will have off days. It may be a one-off, Alexander-style no-good, very-bad day, or it may be a full-on Lemony Snicket week consisting of a series of unfortunate events. Either way, it’s okay. Whether it’s your kid’s behavior, life’s circumstances, or even your own response that’s got you down, do your best not to catastrophize. We learn from our mistakes and need to teach our kids this is a good thing to do, too! Our actions matter, but they matter most in aggregate. Meaning, it’s really the patterns of behaviors, the environment we create for our children, and our ongoing, evolving relationship with them that ultimately shapes their psyche. Use a bribe? Appease a public tantrum with unlimited screen time just to make it through? Maybe you even—*gasp*—lost your cool when your three-year-old smacked you in the face mid-meltdown? It will likely happen. And it won’t be irrevocable, and it won’t make you a failure. Take time, regroup, reflect. Your kid will be okay, and so will you. There’s room to grow if you give yourself grace. #parent #parenting #parents #parentlikeapediatrician #toddler #tantrum #momlife #mom #dad #dadlife #mindfulness #mindfulparenting #youareenough
MMR vaccine question of the day: Q:” if my child gets an early dose before 12 months is this an “extra” one? Or does it count as their first dose?” A: “This is a complicated question! It depends a little who you ask but my tldr is that I do favor treating it as an “extra” dose and not an “early” dose. This is because there’s some evidence showing that the mmr series is less effective if you include vaccines given before 12 months (might have to do with maternal neutralizing antibodies still being around from the placenta…). Meaning when you look at kids who got mmr first dose before 12 months vs those who started series after, ones who got it older had better protection. Since there’s no harm in an extra dose I choose doing this for myself and my patients.“ # #mmr #measles #vaccine #vaccines #ᴠaccineswork #ᴠaccinessavelives #infant #baby #parent #parenting #pqrents #parentlikeapediatrician
Let’s talk about “clean eating.” It’s impossible to avoid this craze, and even babies and toddlers are targeted as consumers of “nontoxic,” “organic,” or “natural” foods. Food science is a real and evolving field, and it’s taken me years to gain an even basic understanding of what all those healthy-sounding buzzwords even mean. There’s a steep learning curve, and you’ll want to read up on the most up-to-date expert musings on the environmental nuances of different types of agriculture, the equity issues with “organic” farming, and why the “non-GMO” label is usually a marketing ploy. I know you’ll be able to sort through it all and come up with a meal plan that matches your moral values. Just remember to keep that healthy dose of consumer skepticism, and know that sticking to a low-stress, moderation-centered approach (especially at those cupcake-filled birthday parties) will have more health benefits than anything else. It’s easy to get swept up in the idea that anything without a leafy-green label is harmful. We do, after all, live in a world where “clean” wine (which is still chock-full of toxic, liver-failure-inducing, cancer-causing alcohol) is somehow made to feel like a healthier choice than “artificial” infant formula. But we also live in a world where environmental toxicity is very real, and a very real threat. So it’s completely reasonable to try to reduce this exposure to your baby when you can—as long as the benefits of doing so are based on real science and don’t create more stress than they need to. For me, this meant focusing a lot less on food labels and just doing my best to strive for variety. The reality is that the dose makes the poison, and the easiest way to minimize exposure to any toxin—be it “natural” or lab-made—is to ingest less of it. So I paid attention to broadening the culinary options available to my daughter instead of eliminating certain ingredients based on limited and questionable science. #toddler #baby #nutrition #diet #food #clean #cleaneating #omg #gmo #variety #nontoxic #organic #parent #parents #parenting #parentlikeapediatrician #eatsleeptantrumrepeat
Q: “How can you promote the MMR vaccine? It gave my child autism and I wish she never got it.” A: “I feel so deeply for you and everything you must have gone through and continue to experience as a mom. I lay out on my IG, book, and website how robust the data is disproven the alleged link between MMR and autism. This doesn’t take away from your experience, but it’s crucial as a pediatrician and mom that I state here for all that there is no connection between MMR or any vaccine and developmental changes (something proven through high quality studies of millions of children.)” When I say millions of children, I mean millions. The claims that the MMR vaccine is linked to autism started with a fraudulent correlational study of 12 children, just as a comparison. No legitimate study has ever found this link— or any other connection between vaccines and neurological issues. P.S. Measles can cause neurological issues, including with a horrifying brain condition called SSPE that comes without warning years later and is universally fatal. What a nightmare. Vaccines are given in early childhood, so it will always be easy to think that some cases of early childhood conditions are “caused” by them simply because of timing. But it’s just not true. Blaming medical conditions, falsely, on vaccines keeps us from life saving immunizations AND keeps us from finding the real causes. We’ve made huge advances in neurological research and have discovered so much. Antivaccine propagandists don’t care about the harm they’re causing with these dangerous lies. They just want power and money (it’s an industry worth billions.) Keep asking questions and keep seeking reputable resources. You can and will make the best choices for your kids. #mmr #vaccine #vaccines #vaccinatedandhappy #ᴠaccinessavelives #ᴠaccineswork #parent #parents #parenting #autism #neurodiversity #parents #parenting #parent #parentlikeapediatrician #baby #infant #pediatrics #pediatrician #vaccinescauseadults #safe #safety #safetyfirst #postpregnancy #postpartum #mom #momlife #dad #dadlife
Have parenting scripts failed to fix everything for you and your kid? Do parenting philosophies feel one-size-fits all and maybe even make you feel bad about your own parenting? Hi 👋 I’m Dr. Rebekah Diamond, a real-life pediatrician and mom of two littles. And I’m right there with you. Today’s parents are told to agonize over way too many choices. And we do! No wonder we’re exhausted. No wonder our confidence is gone. I’m here to give it back. As a mom and pediatrician I’ve learned what decisions matter a lot, a little, and not at all. I’ll tell you which choices are worth your energy, then show you how to make them. Chances are, with my expert info and framework you’ll find you knew the answer all along. Boom! Confidence restored! I’ll give you the safe, scientific, realistic strategies you need for every important parenting decision. No cookie cutter approaches, just the knowledge that empowers you to reach the full parenting potential that lives inside you already! #parent #parenting #parents #parentlikeapediatrician #parentingtips #philosophy #parentingphilosophy #positiveparenting #mindfulparenting #consciousparenting #toddler #tantrum #tantrums #mother #motherhood #father #fatherhood #gentleparenting #parentingscripts #empower #confidence
Q: “I have a vaccine question! In Canada the flu shot and the mmr vaccine are only available from multi dose vials which contain a preservative (thimerosal). I hear some places only give vaccines without preservatives (i.e., in single dose preparations like pre-filled syringes or single-use vials). In Canada, flu and mmr vaccines are from multi-dose vials which require preservative due to lower cost. How bad is it to give my child a yearly flu shot with the preservative? Should I look for a preservative free preparation if possible? It makes me nervous thinking he’s not getting ideal care because of cost…” A: “ I love this question. The limiting to preservative-free vials is generally a bad move because the thimerosol backlash is nonscientific and actually a piece of antivaccine political history. I dive into it in my book chapter in great detail and have posts and stories here that summarize the unfortunate history. I have never had any issue giving my children multi dose vaccines and if they are more accessible I would absolutely choose them!” #vaccine #ᴠᴀᴄᴄɪɴᴇssᴀᴠᴇʟɪᴠᴇs #vaccinationdone✔️ #vaccines #science #scienceisreal #ᴠaccineswork #parent #parents #parenting #parentlikeapediatrician #shots #immunize #mmr #flu #influenza #measles #measlesoutbreak #takeyourbestshot
❓How can I prevent flatness on my baby's head? 🤱 To prevent flatness on your baby's head, you can try alternating their sleeping position. It's essential to place them on their backs to sleep, but you can switch their head vs. feet position each night so they are at the opposite end of the crib every other night. This will encourage them to turn their heads in the opposite direction every other night while still on their back (babies tend to look to the center of the room so they can see you). Additionally, alternate the breastfeeding and diaper change positions to encourage neck movements on both sides. Try to hold your baby as much as you can and limit the use of baby containers. Create variations in the way you hold the baby and change the arm you hold the baby with. Encourage tummy time and free play time in a safe environment. For more on that, see our previous post on tummy time and baby exercise/playtime ideas. These activities not only prevent head flattening but also strengthen your baby's neck muscles and help with symmetrical development and hand-eye coordination. You do not need to be an expert 👩⚕️ to do this! #parenting #parentlikeapediatrician #parents #infant #toddler #newborn #mom #moms #dad #plagiocephaly #flatheadbaby #newmom #tummytime
❓How can tummy time & exercise help with head and baby development? 🤱 Tummy time and exercise are pivotal in a baby's early development, offering a myriad of benefits, from strengthening neck, shoulder, back, and trunk muscles to promoting motor skills and preventing flat spots on the head. Starting with a few minutes a day for newborns and working up to an hour for older babies, these activities are key for enhancing coordination, balance, and sensory development. Engaging playtime ideas, such as encouraging rolling over by using toys, moving a toy in different directions to foster neck and head movements, playing with the baby on the parent's knees, or simply holding the baby in various positions, not only support physical development but also provide valuable sensory experiences and bonding moments. This foundational practice is crucial for a baby's growth and should be tailored to each baby's comfort and abilities, always keeping in mind the ultimate goal of fostering baby development. You do not need to be an expert 👩⚕️ to do this! Follow to see more baby development tips every week! #parenting #parentlikeapediatrician #parents #infant #toddler #newborn #mom #moms #dad #dadsofinstagram #plagiocephaly #flatheadbaby #newmom
Ever felt so lost that you wrote yourself a literal guidebook? 🤣📚 With my first pregnancy and postpartum experience I felt totally overwhelmed. Anxiety controlled me. For my second, I literally wrote a book to help me regain control. And it worked. I’m so excited to share my work. I hope my trials and tribulations, my pediatric experience, and my research can help you. I know they helped me! #parent #parents #parentlikeapediatrician #parenting #pregnancy #pregnant #pregnancylife #postpartum #postpartumjourney #postpregnancy #mom #moms #mama #motherhood #mother #ppa #ppd #postpartumanxiety
The internet broke parenting. I’m here to fix it. As a fully boarded pediatrician, my training includes four years of medical school, three years of pediatrics residency, plus continued daily work in my clinical practice as a hospital pediatrician. This means that it is literally my job to stay up to date on all of the data behind what experts say are the safest and best choices for parents to make. And as a mom of two littles, I know that parenting advice is only valuable if it’s realistic enough to follow. Being a mom changed how I practice medicine. Being a pediatrician changed how I parent. It’s helped me spend years learning how to make safe, scientific decisions that keep me and my family happy and healthy. And I want to share that knowledge with you! It’s why I wrote my book, which I know can help you make your parenting journey as joyful as possible. #parent #parents #parenting #parentlikeapediatrician #pediatrician #parent #science #scienceisreal #mom #moms #mama #mamas #mother #motherhood #dad #mdads #father #fatherhood #pregnancy #pregnant #postpartum #infant
Hi 👋 and welcome! My name is Dr. Rebekah Diamond and I’m a pediatrician, author, and above all else, proud mom of two little girls. I’m here to make your parenting journey safe and low-stress. And the easiest way to start is to get excited about vaccines. Yup, I’ve read all the inserts. I’ve gone through the data. I’ve asked the hard questions. I stay critical of the medical establishment. At work I’m a disruptive, protestor, looking to change a broken system. One of the few things that isn’t broken? Vaccines. I’ve spend years collecting critical information for parents. My book, website, and tons of content here all break down why vaccines are simply great. Big Pharma has nothing to do with my love of vaccines. Just my passion for saving kids’ lives and protecting the daughters I love more than anything in the universe. Don’t get it twisted. Don’t let for-profit grifters steer you away for making the safe, smart choices that your family deserves. And stick with me for the guidance you need— and can trust. #parents #parent #parenting #parentlikeapediatrician #science #scienceisreal #vaccine #vaccines #ᴠaccinessavelives #ᴠaccineswork #mom #moms #dad #dads #mama #mamas #motherhood #mother #pediatrics #pregnant #pregnancy #postpregnancy #postpartum
Nothing is more important to your baby’s health than your own!! There is so much criminal misinformation out there that all has one thing in common— making it seem that your baby’s wellbeing and your own are at odds. Not only is your health just as important as your baby’s, it’s also critical to promoting your baby’s wellbeing! There are more examples than I can count, starting early in pregnancy and extending throughout childhood. Breastfeeding advice is a topic that commonly finds itself mired in the fallacy that sacrificing yourself somehow helps your baby. Swipe through this convo for a taste of my framework that I hope you apply to your entire parenting journey— pregnancy, breastfeeding, and beyond! It’s all a balance of risk and benefit and the answer is never one size fits all! What have you been told to sacrifice for the supposed health of your child that I can help debunk? 👇👇👇 #parent #parenting #parents #parentlikeapediatrician #breastfeed #breastfeeding #breastfeedingmom #mom #mother #motherhood #mama #pregnancy #pregnant #lactation #pumpanddump #myth #parentalmentalhealth #parentalburnout #parentingmyths
Vaccines are the safest most important intervention since clean drinking water, and all children deserve to be fully immunized according to the current schedule. They are the rare example of when we, as doctors, do have a great, straightforward, 100% evidence-based answer where one option is actually the safe choice. Please read my book’s vaccine chapter, check out my website resources, review my posts and stories, and get all the reassurance you need and deserve. And swipe through this post to learn why I gave my own child all of her shots, on time, without any hesitation. #parent #parents #parenting #parentingtips #mom #dad #momlife #dadlife #pregnant #postpartum #pregnancy #infant #newborn #parentlikeapediatrician #vaccine #vaccines #vaccinatedandhappy #ᴠaccinessavelives #ᴠaccineswork #takeyourbestshot
How can you keep newborn safe—host visitors—during cough + cold season? Let’s dive in (and check out my book’s chapter on the topic for more details!) Swipe through for some strategies that can help you set boundaries when welcoming these special guests. Remember, you’ll make the decisions that best balance the unique risk/benefit balance for your family, and take it day by day. And whatever you decide, you should feel empowered to set the limits that work for you. #vaccine #ᴠᴀᴄᴄɪɴᴇssᴀᴠᴇʟɪᴠᴇs #vaccinationdone✔️ #vaccines #science #scienceisreal #ᴠaccineswork #parent #parents #parenting #parentlikeapediatrician #newborn #infant #pregnant #pregnancy
Psst… toilet training is totally optional! Really! Stay tuned for a long, liberating chapter in my upcoming toddler book on the topic. In the meantime scroll through for some tips and tricks as you approach whatever your version of toilet training looks like! #parent #parents #parenting #parentlikeapediatrician #toddler #toilettraining #toilet #potty #tantrum #behavior #kids #kids #mom #dad #motherhood #mother
Sneak peek: modern parenting philosophies debunked! In my upcoming toddler book I dive into the good, bad, and ugly of popular parenting trends. It’s a huge, important topic and I’m so excited to breakdown how you can use the positives of positive parenting while tuning out the guilt-inducing, unhelpful noise. Swipe through and lmk what you think! 👇what struggles/questions do you have about trending parenting philosophies?? #parent #parenting #parents #parentlikeapediatrician #parentingtips #positiveparenting #parentingstruggles #mindfulparenting #consciousparenting
Happy Halloween ☠️🤡👻 We are having a costume contest @kidcrewclinic … help us by picking your favourite group costume theme! XO Dina #happyhalloween #halloweencostume #momlife #mommyhoodsimplified #momboss #mom #momboss #momproblems #parentproblems #parenting #parentlikeapediatrician
What’s the deal with “extended breastfeeding?” If you’re feeling confused, pressured, or just want to know the truth behind those recommendations to breastfeed beyond a year, swipe through this post. It’s a sneak peak of the info I’ll be sharing in my upcoming toddler book, and builds on the detailed chapter I have in my first book on breastmilk. My biggest takeaway? The benefits of breastmilk are real but only matter in comparison to the downside of getting that breastmilk to your baby. When nursing, pumping, or some combination of these things are no longer sustainable, you should stop. It’s part of a big picture of health, and your own health and happiness contribute to that picture. Only you will know when ending your breastfeeding journey– whether it’s after a few days, after a few months, or after many years– makes sense for you and your child. #breastmilk #nursing #breastfeeding #fedisbest #breastisbest #infant #infantfeeding #toddler #infants #breastfeed #breastpump #chestfeeding #milk #baby #mom #mother #parent #parenting #parentlikeapediatrician #parents #parentlife #parentingtip #parentingtips #momtips
As parents, our children’s health is the priority and planning for it, thinking about it and navigating how to best support it, can cause a lot of anxiety. The pandemic changed everything, including how we think about health and coordinate care. And It doesn’t help that we have a broken system that leaves many with uneven or limited access to health care. Without access to proper care, many of us seek out solutions or advice online, but It can be difficult if not impossible to determine what's accurate, relevant and helpful for our individual situations. Spending time managing family health can feel draining, but luckily our Founder, Leslie Forde, spoke with @parentlikeapediatrician about how we can successfully and confidently advocate when making health choices for our kids. To read the full interview, click the link in the bio. #ParentingPressure #ConfidenceCrisis #MentalHealthMatters #LearningLoss #TrustedInformation #SelfEfficacy #ParentLikeAPediatrician #SeparateFactsFromFear #HealthManagement #MeaningfulGoals #BondWithYourChild #SelfAdvocate #HealthcareSupport #ParentalSupport #MentalHealthAwareness #EmotionalWellness #WorkLifeBalance #ChampioningHealthyFamilies #NavigatingParenting #EmpoweredParenting #HolisticHealthcare
Parent like a Pediatrician… Rebekah Diamond… Link in bio…! #parenting #parentlikeapediatrician #mom #dad #intagramreels #fb #fbreels #reseller #resellingcommunity #smallbusiness #books #usebooks #reader #author #publisher #writer #amazon #amazongiftcard #amazonfinds #linkinbio #blackbusiness
Q: “Is it safe for me to take my Zoloft while I’m breastfeeding?” A: This question is near and dear to my heart. Postpartum anxiety and depression are something I’ve experienced not just in my work with patients, but also myself. I know how absolutely life-saving these types of medications can be. Zoloft is considered a very safe medication for breastfeeding. In general, there really are very few medications that warrant consideration of discontinuing or replacing because of breastfeeding. There are also extremely few instances where not breastfeeding because of a medication makes sense. Like with pregnancy, there is an outdated and harmful idea that a breastfeeding parent’s health and happiness are somehow less important or disconnected from infant health and happiness. As someone whose literal job it is to prioritize babies’ health, I can’t stress enough just how crucial it is for infants to have happy and healthy parents. The harms of having postpartum depression, anxiety, or other uncontrolled psychiatric and medical conditions is significant. The idea that breastmilk is “safe” or “unsafe” is also too simplistic. The discussion should always be about comparing risks and benefits. A seasoned OB, pediatrician, lactation consultant or psychiatrist will be able to help with any medication decision making in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Focusing on parental health and happiness is key. Again, it is exceedingly rare to need to change a medication or change breastfeeding plans. Your doctors will look at the data we have and factor in your and your baby’s health and happiness to come up with the best medication plan for you! #breastfeeding #pregnancy #pregnant #postpartum #anxiety #depression #ppd #postpartumdepression #postpartumanxiety #parentlikeapediatrician #parent #parents #parenting #ssri #factsnotfear #mentahealthmatters #momlife #dadlife
Sneak peak from my next book-- rewards and praise are okay for toddlers, I promise! There’s so much guidance to sort through when it comes to more “positive” parenting philosophies. I like embracing mindfulness and ditching punishment as much as possible. Some modern styles replace punishment with reinforcement. But others make it seem that stickers, treats, + even praise are harmful. The psychological principle behind this anti-reward approach is that your relationship with your child is an unconditional, bidirectional, dynamic one. This is true. But the presumption that using behavioral modification strategies is “manipulation” is a real stretch. This narrative is something I struggled with, finding myself needlessly stressed when posts made me feel as if using sticker charts and telling my daughter how smart she was made me a bad parent. Ultimately I realized that my loving, unconditional connection to my child was anything but “transactional,” and that I could ignore anything that made me doubt the relationship I was cultivating for us. Calling out purely behaviorist strategies– like the very outdated rules equating toddlers with trained animals and mandating cry-it-out-to-sleep and 3-day-toilet-training –is a great idea. But sticker charts, incentives, and other rewards are very reasonable to keep in your toolbox. They’re strategies that I used frequently, and you’ll see them throughout the book. There are ways to make praise constructive, be mindful of what we are reinforcing, and choose our words carefully. Saying that “praise is manipulative” or pretending “good job” is a bad word, however, ain’t it. It took me longer than I wish it had to fully realize this. Plenty of sources suggested that when I shouted “great job!” after my 2-year-old did a not-even-good-job-but-I’m-so-happy-she-tried job cleaning up her mess, I had caused some sort of longterm harm. That’s nonsense. I love looking at patterns, being mindful, and optimizing language to improve impact. But ditch any scripts that are based in shaky science– or any biological plausibility. The words that let you communicate lovingly and confidently with your child are the right ones.
When we found out we were pregnant with a third, my first thought was how will be baby handle being a middle kid?! People who were middle kids that I knew always joked about feeling like the black sheep and naturally mom and dad have the oldest to tend to and the baby to tend to…but starting her toddler years, I’ve been telling her and whispering to that she’s my everything. She has TWO important roles that make her very special, being a BIG SISTER AND a LITTLE SISTER. I wasn’t sure if this landed while so young but consistently said it. I recently heard someone ask her “how do you like being a middle kid?” and she said “it’s the best, I’ve got a big role in this family, Im a big AND little sister”. Figured I’d pass along what felt like a momentous #parentwin . . . #parenting #parentingtips #iamremarkable #mommyof3 #middlekid #motherhood #motherhoodunplugged #parentlikeapediatrician #parentinglife #braindump #momlife #mompreneur
One uniting principle of trending parenting philosophies is pivoting away from punishment. It’s something I’m also into, especially ditching harsh punishment and shifting towards natural consequences and/or positive reinforcement. Ideally, mindfulness strategies and emotional regulation make undesired behaviors and outbursts become less frequent, which makes traditional punishment less tempting. I agree that mindfulness can do a lot of heavy lifting, and generally staying “positive” is a winning strategy. But tantrums happen, and they’re not your fault. What we do as a parent matters a lot– in aggregate, especially– but your child is their own person. There is no single philosophy that will work perfectly for every child, and even the best, most tailor-made approach will fail to fully regulate your toddler. It’s not developmentally possible! Your 1,2, or 3-year-old still has those immature neuronal connections that make self-regulation as unnatural as it is unrealistic. In short: there will be tantrums. How on earth will you deal with them? Are so-called, “unnatural,” consequences canceled? Is time really up for timeout? Of course not. I personally found that replacing official timeouts with other strategies worked better for us, and I’ll highlight my favorite tantrum tips and tricks in my next book. STAY TUNED!! But a lot of my timeout-free parenting is mostly semantic– our use of a timer and meditation was what many would call a “time in” or “reset.” It’s something your child’s daycare or school will likely use if they don’t still hold on to standard “timeout” practices. Which, it turns out, is totally fine. A fun fact that anti-timeout evangelists forget to mention? There’s no data showing that timeouts, when used as part of a loving, thoughtful arsenal of parenting strategies, cause any actual harm. And remember more than all, getting through the tantrum era is exhausting! Treat yourself with as much grace as you would want your child to receive. It’s not “just” what you need to get through it, but it’s also key to creating a loving, open, and forgiving household environment– the key ingredients to nurturing emotional intelligence.
Join Julia and Dr. Rebekah Diamond, author of "Parent Like a Pediatrician," as they share their expertise on parenting newborns and children. When it comes to seeking guidance, who do you turn to? 👥 Friends, family, or social media "influencers"? In this episode, Julia and Rebekah delve into the subject of filtering through advice from relatives with good intentions and navigating the sea of misinformation on social media. They provide guidance on finding your own voice and inner wisdom as a parent. Tune in to this episode to gain valuable insights on parenting and empower yourself to make the best choices for your child's well-being. 💪 @parentlikeapediatrician #parenting #parents #parent #parentlikeapediatrician #toddler #tantrum #parenting #parentlikeapediatrician #parent #parents #parentingtips #parenthood #parentinghacks #parentlife #ParentingInsights #ExpertGuidance #InnerWisdom #EmpoweredParenting
Seeking practical advice on parenting newborns and children? Look no further! Julia and Dr. Rebekah Diamond, author of "Parent Like a Pediatrician," are here to help. In today's digital age, social media bombards us with an overwhelming amount of information on what to do and how to parent. But let's be real, trying to absorb and implement every single idea is simply not humanly possible! In this episode, Julia and Rebekah shed light on the fact that it's okay to feel overwhelmed by the flood of advice out there. They discuss the importance of finding a balance and focusing on what truly matters for you and your little one. Join them as they provide practical tips and insights that will help you navigate through the sea of information, empowering you to make choices that resonate with your parenting style and align with your values. Say goodbye to the pressure of trying to do it all and hello to finding your own path as a parent! 🌟 @parentlikeapediatrician #parenting #parents #parent #parentlikeapediatrician #toddler #tantrum #parenting #parentlikeapediatrician #parent #parents #parentingtips #parenthood #parentinghacks #parentlife #PracticalParenting #InformationOverload #FindingYourPath #ParentLikeAPediatrician
Julia and Dr. Rebekah Diamond, the author of "Parent Like a Pediatrician," are here to provide valuable guidance on parenting newborns and children. When you have questions about raising your little ones, where do you turn for answers? Do you rely on the advice of friends, family, or seek insights from social media "experts"? In this episode, Julia and Rebekah delve into the topic of filtering through the well-intentioned advice from relatives and the abundance of information on social media. They guide you on how to find your own voice and inner wisdom as a parent, helping you navigate through the sea of opinions and mistruths. The book discussed in this episode is all about empowering parents to make well-informed choices that align with their individual goals and values. It emphasizes the importance of data-driven decision-making to ensure you're making the best choices for your child. Furthermore, Dr. Rebekah shares her personal experience as both a first-time parent and a pediatrician. She opens up about her journey through postpartum depression and anxiety, revealing how it has profoundly shaped her approach to practicing medicine and teaching others. Tune in to this insightful episode as Julia and Rebekah shed light on the path to finding what's best for you and your child. Gain valuable insights and empower yourself to make thoughtful decisions that resonate with your unique parenting style and goals. @parentlikeapediatrician #parenting #parents #parent #parentlikeapediatrician #toddler #tantrum #parenting #parentlikeapediatrician #parent #parents #parentingtips #parenthood #parentinghacks #parentlife #ParentingInsights #DataDrivenChoices #InnerWisdom #EmpoweredParenting
Today, Julia and Dr. Rebekah Diamond, author of Parent Like a Pediatrician, focus on parenting newborns and children. Where do you turn when you have questions? When seeking guidance, do you rely on friends, family, or social media input to glean insights from "expert" influencers? Julia and Rebekah discuss how to filter through the well-intentioned relatives and the mistruths on social media to find your own voice and inner wisdom as a parent. This book, and this episode, focus on empowering parents to make data driven choices that suit your own individual goals for how you want to parent. We also discuss Rebekah’s experience as a first time parent and pediatrician, particularly her experience with postpartum depression and anxiety has changed how Rebekah practices and teaches medicine. Discover valuable insights in this episode as you decide what is best for you and your child. @parentlikeapediatrician #parenting #parents #parent #parentlikeapediatrician #toddler #tantrum #parenting #parentlikeapediatrician #parent #parents #parentingtips #parenthood #parentinghacks #parentlife
“In our society, there’s this myth of meritocracy. That you can control everything if you work hard enough. And with specific inputs, your child will become the best, safest, child in the world. And as someone with anxiety and control issues, it’s a very appealing promise, but it’s just not true.” -Dr. Rebekkah Diamond, Pediatrician, Author, and Educator To read this insightful interview with @parentlikeapediatrician , click the link in the bio. #momguilt #childrenswellbeing #childrenswellness #childrenshealthcare #motherhoodjourney #overwhelmedmommy #overwhelmedmom #parentlikeapediatrician #parentingguidance #seeksupport #motherhoodcommunity #selfadvocate #raisinghealthykids #raisinghealthychildren #newblogpostalert
Sneak peak from my toddler book— how to deal with tantrums! I dive into deep, scientific detail and give you the realistic tips and tricks (based on real research!) to help you get through toddler meltdowns. Here’s a preview: Your child is a person. I know you haven’t forgotten this, but as you’re inundated with one-size-fits-all parenting “hacks,” it’s natural to interpret normal deviation as something that’s “wrong” with your child. This can even lead to guilt and self blame– I see countless parents incorrectly internalize their child’s behavioral idiosyncrasies, as signs of parental failure. They aren’t. Norms are norms, averages are averages, trends are trends. Only you and your kid are experts in their quirks, wants, and needs. This means that only you are the best judge of which strategies make sense. No one else, not even the experts. Nope, not even me! Patterns are what matters. By now we’ve firmly established that perfection in parenting is a lie. But even if we were to find some sort of mystical forest in which magical creatures such as The Perfect Parent spend their fictional days, this fact would remain: you will have “off” days. Whether it’s your kid’s behavior, life’s circumstances, or even your own response that’s got you down, do your best not to catastrophize. We learn from our mistakes– and teach our kids this is a good thing to do, too! Our actions matter, but they matter most in aggregate. Meaning, it’s really the patterns of behaviors, the environment we create for our children, and our ongoing, evolving relationship with them that ultimately shapes their psyche. Use a bribe? Appease a public tantrum with unlimited screen time just to make it through? Maybe you even– *gasp*-- lost your cool when your three year old smacked you in the face mid-meltdown? It will likely happen. And it won’t be irrevocable, and it won’t make you a failure. Take time, regroup, reflect. Your kid will be okay, and so will you. There’s room to grow if you give yourself grace. #parenting #parents #parent #parentlikeapediatrician #toddler #tantrum
#somekuhlbooks2023 #readin2023 #eadinglog2023 #readwithme #Somekuhlbooks #ParentLikeAPediatrician #RebekahDiamond
Your child didn’t read the textbook. Your child is a person. I know you haven’t forgotten this, but as you’re inundated with one-size-fits-all parenting “hacks,” it’s natural to interpret normal deviation as something that’s “wrong” with your child. This can even lead to guilt and self blame– I see countless parents incorrectly internalize their child’s behavioral idiosyncrasies, or non-standard response to typical behavior management strategies, as signs of parental failure. They aren’t. In medicine, we love to say that a patient “didn’t read the textbook” when diagnosing conditions that don’t meet strict diagnostic criteria. The truth is that “textbook” cases are actually the rare ones. It’s what makes the art of medicine so challenging (and important). And it’s the same for your family. Norms are norms, averages are averages, trends are trends. Your child, on the other hand, is your child. Only you and your kid are experts in their quirks, wants, and needs. This means that only you are the best judge of which strategies make sense. No one else, not even the experts. Nope, not even me. #parenting #parentlikeapediatrician #parent #parents #parentingtips #parenthood #parentinghacks #parentlife
I was recently asked what I thought the top postpartum “to-dos” are. This question inspired me to think about what “to-dos” I wish I had known to prioritize early on. Here are 5 that came to mind: 1. Focus on feeding: if breastfeeding is a goal, it will take work. During the first few weeks, establishing feeding at the breast is something that needs a lot of practice and prioritization. It’s okay to let other tasks go to focus on this. An expert lactation consultant will help you establish a latch, maximize at the breast feeding, and follow baby’s cues to create your milk supply. It’s a feedback cycle, and the more effort that gets put in earlier on to synchronize your milk production to your baby’a feeding (through maximum feeding directly at the breast), the more it will pay off later. This makes breastfeeding more likely to be a long term enjoyable and sustainable option. 2. Check in on your own emotional and physical health early and often: new baby parent health issues are common. Each visit with your or your baby’s doctor is a chance to address this, but don’t wait. Check in on your own physical and mental state every day. Call a professional with any worries or concerns about your body or mind, no matter how small. 3. Sleep: sleep when you can, without feeling guilty, without worrying about other tasks. Being tired makes everything harder. Writing thank you notes, sending baby announcements, responding to the work emails that come through your away message can all wait. 4. Build your village: ask for help and use whatever support you have available. Delegate tasks if this is feasible. As you think about a transition back to work or to a stay-at-home routine, identify family and hired caregivers who can help you with this. 5. A lot of the “to-dos” are things that will be done for you or you’ll be asked to do before leaving the hospital. The administrators will create a birth certificate and SSN. Your doctors should assure you have OB and pediatrician followup. They should also help you with getting your baby health insurance. Make sure that you ask for all the help you need in setting these things up as soon as possible! Anything else? 👇👇👇
Repost: Let’s talk safety + baby proofing! Baby/ child proofing is a huge market. There are plenty of posts, guides, products + services that claim spending endless time + money can make your home 💯 percent safe and prevent a single accident. This definitely isn’t true, of course, and even the most carefully supervised kids will have scrapes + tumbles. This is why I’m not a huge fan of long checklists and advanced baby proofing systems UNLESS outsourcing your worry to someone else is worth the money. BUT. There ARE a few basic steps parents should absolutely take well before babies are mobile that can avoid the majority of serious injuries I see as a hospital pediatrician. Focus on getting these done before baby can roll + scoot and you’ll be in a great place! 🚪 gates: if your home has stairs, get those gates in place. Babies crawl their way to staircases sooner than you think and a large number of kids I see for head injuries are from rolls down stairs 💊 medicines, vitamins, supplements: this is one of the biggest reasons I see kids seriously hurt. Pills look like candy! And no matter what your meds look like, kids put everything in their mouths. Even a tiny pill or liquid can cause devastating effects in a little body. Childproof bottles aren’t foolproof. Store medications + substances behind childproof cabinet locks or in a lockbox in addition to keeping them high up- nightstands and medicine cabinets are no longer a home for your prescriptions, full stop. 🧼 same for cleaning supplies. These are caustic and frequently ingested by kids leading to serious chemical burns and permanent damage. Lock these away just the same as your medicines 🔫 firearms are a leading cause of death in young children. Homes without guns are safest, but you can bring risk down tremendously by following strict safe storage measures. All guns MUST be stored with a secure childproof lock and with the ammunition separate. 🌞 🏊♀️ Check out my sun + water safety posts in my “health and safety” guide!! #safetyfirst #parenting #parentingtips #childproof #babyproofing #baby #momlife #gunsafety #safe #safeandsound #safeathome #medicine #babygates #parentlikeapediatrician
Reminder: A parenting philosophy should fit your parenting style, not the other way around. Feeling empowered as a parent is evidence-based, and studies show that self-efficacy (confidence in your ability to raise your child) has long term benefits for your child. There’s no specific script or sole source of guidance that can replace this. And even if a single script had data behind it, I still wouldn’t recommend rigid adherence. We don’t even do this in healthcare! The art of medicine is using those peer-reviewed studies in a way that makes sense for your patient. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: Just like my patient was not in the randomized controlled trial that recommended this treatment, your child was not in the test group for whatever guidebook you’re using. Take what you need and leave the rest. #parenting #parenthood #parentingtips #parent #parents #parentlikeapediatrician #parentingskills #parentingscripts #parentinglife
Does parenting guidance sound like a never ending list of conflicting to dos and to donts? I feel you. Deeply. It’s impossible to sort through all the noise. And more often than not, impossible standards make parents feel incorrectly and needlessly like failures. I got you. My book + platform are here as a much needed antidote to unnecessary parenting stress. No more black and white rules. Just safe, sensible, realistic guidance you can use to feel empowered in your parenting. We can keep the science and still make parenting joyful again. #pregnancy #pregnant #parenting #postpartum #parenthood #parent #parentlikeapediatrician #parentingtips #parents
Be a buddy, not a bully! 👚 These kids are so much more socially aware and emotionally intelligent than my generation (or at least myself ever was 😆), and I am hopeful that they will change the world with kindness. Parents - our kids can do this! More compassion for OURSELVES and OTHERS can happen! Note - this is my personal manifestation and I’m putting it out there. ✨ #pinkshirtday #bekind #dontbeanasshole #bullying #parenting #momlife #momsofwinnipeg #winnipeglocal #winnipegmom #winnipegparents #pregnant #postpartum #mom #family #parentlikeapediatrician #socialchange #nestsupport #nestfamily #nestclasses #nestwpg
Feels so good to be hosting in-person book events again! 🥳 After two rescheduled events due to winter snowstorms, we finally kicked off the #2023AuthorSeries at @thehistoricwhitney last night! A big thank you to @parentlikeapediatrician for flying in from New York and sharing all your parenting advice in a conversation with @theparentingreframe. The book “Parent Like a Pediatrician” is such an amazing resource for new parents. Very grateful to DWR coach Justin Brouckaert (her literary agent) for connecting us! 🙏🏼 @27thletterbooks, our Author Series partner, has the book online if you’d like a copy! 📖 If you missed last night, don’t worry. We have 5 more Author Series events through June! ➡️ Next up: April 19 with @waynestate President Dr. M. Roy Wilson (rescheduled from January). Get tickets in my bio 🔗 or detroitwritingroom.com/2023-author-series 📸: 1-6 by @sylviajarrusphoto and 7-10 by @coachingdetroitforward photography camp alum @kadys_kanvasllc 💜🖊 #detroitwritingroom #detroit #parentlikeapediatrician #parentingreframe #authorevents #bookevents
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our March Author Series ft. Dr. Rebekah Diamond last night at @thehistoricwhitney! ✨📖✨ A special thank you to @parentlikeapediatrician for sharing all her parenting and medical advice she wrote about in "Parent Like a Pediatrician." It was an insightful conversation moderated by @theparentingreframe. If you missed the event, you can can get a copy of the book online from our friends at @27thletterbooks. Join us for the next Author Series event sponsored by Taft on April 19 with @waynestate President Dr. M. Roy Wilson. Register in our bio 🔗 or detroitwritingroom.com/2023-author-series. 📸: @sylviajarrusphoto 💜🖊 #detroitwritingroom #detroit #parentlikeapediatrician #theparentingreframe #parenting #parentingbooks #parentingadvice #parentingtips #pediatrician #booktalk #authortalk #bookevent #2023authorseries #authorseries #detroitevents
New parents, grandparents and caregivers of young children — this event is for you! ✨ We're excited to host @rebekahdiamondmd for our @detroitwritingroom March Author Series next Wednesday at @thehistoricwhitney. Dr. Diamond (@parentlikeapediatrician) is an assistant professor of pediatrics at Columbia University, and she completed her residency at @uofmichigan ( #GOBLUE). 💙💛 She recently released "Parent Like a Pediatrician" — a book I devoured as a new mom. 📖 About the book: With authoritative up-to-date research and real-world advice on the myriad obstacles facing moms, dads and caregivers, Dr. Diamond unpacks the whys behind the facts to empower your best parental instincts. From safe-sleep guidelines, breast feeding, and binky addiction to sensory developmental activities, baby products, and the final — and 100% evidence-based — word on the vaccination debate, Dr. Diamond helps parents cultivate the clarity and sound decisions you need to lessen the anxiety around parenting. Come join us next Wednesday, March 29 at 7 p.m. @theparentingreframe will be moderating the discussion! 🎤 Tickets include apps and a drink, and @27thletterbooks will be onsite so you can get a copy signed. ➡️ FRIEND BONUS: Use promo code DWRFRIEND to get 20% off tickets 😄 Link in bio! Or visit detroitwritingroom.com/events #detroitwritingroom #2023authorseries #parentlikeapediatrician #detroit #detroitevents #authortalk #booktalk #parentingreframe #parentingbooks #pediatricians
MUST watch spicy, funny, important conversation on making parenting great again with @alissaalter Sharing our unfiltered and objectively hilarious take on how to use parenting advice without losing yourself! I’m finally opening up and being more personal and pointed in my frustrations with some parenting guidance and philosophies. Watch the video then drop a comment with your thoughts! What struggles have you had with one size fits all advice and prescriptions to say or not say certain things? How have you navigated it? 👇👇👇 #parentlikeapediatrician #pregnancy #pregnant #parenthood #parentingtips #parenting #parent #parents #parentinghumor #parentinghacks #parentproblems #parentlife
Check out our first podcast episode where board certified paediatrician Dr Rebekah Diamond shares with us her insights and strategies for an empathy forward approach to speaking with vaccine hesitant parents.
Q: Should I let visitors hold/snuggle/kiss my baby this holiday season given we are having this viral surge?? A: I love this topic and question! I have a whole chapter on it in my book so definitely have plenty to say. Here are some of my key points on how I talk to parents about visitors during viral season: When weighing the risk of infectious exposure to babies, there are many things to consider. The first is a baby’s age. For many reasons, the risk of viral infection is highest in newborns and younger babies. This is why I limit exposure as much as possible during the first month of life. As babies get older they tend to be less at risk from complications of getting a cold, but there’s still significant risk of getting sick and even needing the hospital for cold viruses (including but not limited to flu, RSV and covid) for all babies compared to older kids and adults. During viral surges especially I have a VIP list of people who I want in close contact with my baby, and for those visitors who want to hold and cuddle a baby (if you feel comfortable with that) there are some strategies that will provide protection. 1. No sick or recently sick visitors need to urgently cuddle or be close to your baby 2. You should feel empowered to require proof of vaccination for all childhood immunizations, flu shot, whooping cough booster, and covid vaccine before being in close contact with your baby. 3. Hand washing is key. Have visitors wash their hands when coming inside and also sanitize or wash hands before holding baby 4. Masks are a great tool, and not just for covid! They are extremely effective at preventing RSV and flu transmission, as well as the other viruses that cause serious illness in babies. It’s totally fine to ask visitors to wear a mask in your home, or when near your baby, or when holding your baby, or some combination of these. 5. No one needs to kiss a baby, especially not a newborn, and especially if it’s not a primary caregiver. Feel free to tell any well-intentioned friend or relative that the pediatrician prescribes a smooch free holiday! #parenting #pregnancy #parents #parent #parentlikeapediatrician #baby #infant #newborn
Q: What’s the deal with the amoxicillin shortage? Is it serious? What can I do if my kid needs this medicine? A: The amoxicillin shortage is real and definitely affecting families! It’s a serious issue in that we are having difficulty getting this medication to the kids who need it. Any delays in timely and correct medications to children are something we want to avoid and something we should be addressing on a societal level. It’s definitely something that needs to be remedied with urgency. On a personal and parental level, however, I’m here to reassure parents that pediatricians are here to help. There are antibiotic alternatives that may be less ideal based on a more detailed and nuanced assessment of risk and benefit, but that certainly are safe and effective for kids. Your pediatrician is likely already aware of any supply issue affecting your area and able to prescribe an alternative. If an antibiotic is indicated after a pediatrician assessment, there isn’t any over the counter alternative. There are many cases where being judicious and thoughtful with antibiotic use is a good idea, shortage or none, so ongoing conversation with your pediatrician about when do give your kids antibiotics is always a good idea. #parenting #parent #parents #parentlikeapediatrician #mom #momlife #dad #dadlife #pediatrician #antibiotics #amoxicillin
Q: Hi Dr. Diamond! I have a quick question. I use Castile soap for a lot of things… cleaning, hand/body wash, dishwashing soap… I love how versatile it is. But there is hemp oil in most brands. Are there any known risks in using products with hemp oil with babies? I tried to research this but couldn’t find any answers. A: This is such a great question and I agree, there isn’t a ton of good research! A few things that might help 1. Hemp can mean lots of different things and different types have different properties, ranging from no real effects to cannibinoid properties 2. Systemic absorption varies based on surface area (babies absorb more for this reason), how much you use, how frequently, how directly (I worry much less about products I’m using on myself than things I put on my baby) 3. Baby skin does best with less, and using the simplest most fragrance free ingredients (like completely unscented baby soap) tends to be better than other even “natural” products. At the end of the day I think it’s great to be thinking of this and be mindful about the products you use! If there isn’t a ton of testing in babies and you have a better tested alternative (like unscented baby wash) I usually choose the alternative. But I also try not to stress so much about indirect exposure My book chapters on baby skin and natural products dive into this in lots of juicy detail! For accurate, chemophobia free content on food and beauty products my go-to sources are @foodsciencebabe @theecowell What are your questions/comments about “natural” products, baby care, exposures? I’m all 👂 👂👂! 👇👇👇 #baby #babyskin #parent #parentlikeapediatrician #parents #parenting #babies #skinsosoft #bath #bathtime #askme #mom #momlife #dad #dadlife #squeakyclean
Q: “I’m thinking about alternative vaccine schedules— can you tell me about the risks and benefits?” A: “There are no benefits to an alternative vaccination schedule. The vaccine schedule has been carefully crafted and extensively studied. It is the safest, most effective way to have your child fully protected from truly terrible vaccine preventable diseases. There is a lot of misinformation fueling alternative schedules. But there’s zero science behind it. Having many vaccines at the same time doesn’t stress babies out more (it’s actually the opposite, spreading out vaccines is more instances of shots and more stressful). Vaccines don’t “overwhelm” immune systems. We have more vaccines at the same time now because science is great and we can prevent more diseases— what’s more, we actually do so with a lower dose of active ingredient, the antigen, so there’s no biological argument for “too much” immune activation. I’ve only seen tragedy when vaccines are delayed. We know vaccine uptake leads to happy, healthy children through data. And I’ve also seen it firsthand, treating devastating disease or even witnessing childhood death from vaccine preventable disease.” #parent #parentlikeapediatrician #parenting #parents #noalternative #alternative #vaccine #vaccines #vaccinatedandhappy #ᴠᴀᴄᴄɪɴᴇssᴀᴠᴇʟɪᴠᴇs💉 #ᴠaccinesaveslives
Living the dream. #parent #parentadvice #parenting #parents #parentlikeapediatrician #mom #momlife #suburban #basic #momtruth
Did you know I had a special guest this week on my podcast?! Dr. Rebekah Diamond from @parentlikeapediatrician joined us to discuss her experience as a working mother and how she was able to translate it to her book, "Parent Like A Pediatrician: All the Facts, None of the Fear." Dr. Diamond takes us through how motherhood changed the way she practices medicine and how she now relates differently to parents. Her book is currently on sale, but wait! We are giving away Parent Like A Pediatrician to one lucky listener! Here's how to enter the giveaway: - Like and comment on this post - Double entries for reviewing the @motherhoodcareercollide podcast! The winner will be announced next Monday! #giveaway #bookgiveaway #parentlikeapediatrician #motherhood #mother #career #parenting **Per Instagram rules, this promotion is in no way sponsored, administered, or associated with Instagram, Inc. By entering, entrants confirm that they are 13+ years of age, release Instagram of responsibility, and agree to Instagram's terms of use.
We’re so happy to be offering our listeners and followers a chance to win the book PARENT LIKE A PEDIATRICIAN!! Head over to @motherhoodcareercollide. To enter: 🤩 Like this post and comment below! 🤩 Write a quick podcast review! Can’t wait to announce the winner on Monday!! Follow and listen to @motherhoodcareercollide #workingmom #workingmoms #parentlikeapediatrician #motherhoodandcareer #giveaway
We’re so happy to be offering our listeners and followers a chance to win the book PARENT LIKE A PEDIATRICIAN!! To enter: 🤩 Like this post and comment below! 🤩 Write a quick podcast review! Can’t wait to announce the winner on Monday!! Follow and listen to @motherhoodcareercollide #workingmom #workingmoms #parentlikeapediatrician #motherhoodandcareer #giveaway
This week on the @motherhoodcareercollide podcast, Ashley and Kimberly chat with Special Guest, Dr. Rebekah Diamond (@parentlikeapediatrician). They discuss Dr. Diamond's experience as a working mother and how she was able to translate it to her book, "Parent Like A Pediatrician: All the Facts, None of the Fear." Dr. Diamond takes us through how motherhood changed the way she practices medicine and how she now relates differently to parents. #learningmotherhood #careermom #motherhoodrising #maternity #momlife #workingmom #parenting #parentlikeapediatrician
Special Guest, Dr. Rebekah Diamond from @parentlikeapediatrician joined Ashley and Kimberly to discuss her experience as a working mother and how she was able to translate it to her book, "Parent Like A Pediatrician: All the Facts, None of the Fear." Dr. Diamond takes us through how motherhood changed the way she practices medicine and how she now relates differently to parents. Her book is currently on sale, but wait! We are giving away Parent Like A Pediatrician to one lucky listener! Here's how to enter the giveaway: 1. Like and comment on this episode post on IG 2. Write a podcast review for Motherhood and Career Collide! The winner will be announced next Monday! #giveaway #bookgiveaway #parentlikeapediatrician #motherhood #mother #career #parenting **Per Instagram rules, this promotion is in no way sponsored, administered, or associated with Instagram, Inc. By entering, entrants confirm that they are 13+ years of age, release Instagram of responsibility, and agree to Instagram's terms of use.
Q: I was surprised to see you getting back to life a little more, since you were always the most conservative (like me!), but truthfully it comforts me a little because I want to live a little more too. What’s changed for you? A: Getting my daughter her vaccines is what has shifted my risk benefit assessment for my own family. There’s no safe or unsafe for anything in life, just risk of doing v. risk of not doing. My pediatric residents will tell you how much I love to use this framework in my clinical practice! The goal has been shifting as we learn more and see what we can and can’t do from a public health perspective. The huge turning point for me was getting my child vaccine protection. Exposure to covid with vaccine protection in a world unable/unwilling to contain it now years into kids sacrificing more than they should have is a completely different assessment for me. We know that vaccines are hugely protective against short and long term complications. There are real risks and I’m not here to minimize them. But we didn’t contain or eradicate covid, that’s a public health failure. We did get kids access to vaccines and we know more about treatment every day. It’s not how it should be, but we are at the point where covid is similar in its effect to kids as other vaccine preventable diseases. This is what has shifted my risk benefit assessment for my own family. #parent #parentlikeapediatrician #parenting #parents #covid #pandemic #risk #riskbenefit #benefit #vaccines #vaccine #ᴠaccinesaveslives
😳😳😳 #parent #parenting #toddler #toddlermom #parentlikeapediatrician #parents #iykyk #toddlerlife #parenthood
good times. #tbt #throwbackthursday #toddler #kids #parent #parenting #parents #parentlikeapediatrician #mom #momlife #dadlife #coffee #coffeetime
Only you know what it means for your breastfeeding journey to be a success. #parenting #parentlikeapediatrician #breastfeeding #breastfeed #letstalksboutbreast #infantfeeding #feeding #milk #infant #postpartum #perinatal #parent #parents
Must watch! @dr_laura_venuto_psychologist bare our souls, discuss postpartum anxiety, and share how we made the best choices for infant sleep @kensingtonbooks #parenting #infant #postpartum #pregnancy #prenatal #parentlikeapediatrician #sleep
My book is here. It’s hard to describe all of my emotions right now. This has been a years-long effort and I’ve worked so hard to create something I’m so proud of. It’s hard for me (especially as a woman) to acknowledge my achievements. So I’m trying to model that and show it’s ok to take stock of accomplishments. But above all else I’m just so excited to share this information. I struggled so, so deeply during pregnancy and postpartum. I wanted desperately to be told how to make safe choices for my baby, and also to be validated in the already safe choices I was making. Parenting is impossible these days. Or at least that’s what people are trying to tell you. The demands are outrageous and the resources are nonexistent. We ask more and more of parents and don’t give them time or space to enjoy their experience, to feel confident in the great choices they are making. That’s really what my book and this platform are here to give you. It’s time to take back parenting. No more misinformation, no one-size-fits-all demands, no nonsense. Let’s cut through the noise and keep things simple, without sacrificing any science or safety. The internet is trying to break parenting. But we won’t let it. Get ready to survive and even thrive during your baby’s first year. 🤱💜 @kensingtonbooks #parenting #parent #postpartum #pregnancy #prenatal #infant #parentlikeapediatrician #pregnant #parents #momlife #mom #dad #dadlife
Let’s talk about baby schedules! Nap time, sleep schedules, feeding schedules, and general routines for infants is a topic that stresses so many parents (and stressed me out too!). As my book release approaches (eek!) I’m getting questions that make me want to send parents to my nap and feeding chapters right now! So let’s do the next best thing and share some Q & A. Sneak peek ahoy! Q: What is the purpose of a baby schedule or routine when it comes to eating, sleeping, playtime? How strict does it make sense to be? How do routines help babies? A: There’s actually no evidence to support that babies need firm schedules for eating, sleeping, or playing. As I explain to parents, it’s unlikely that, over the course of human history, normal development was dependent on a fixed schedule in infancy. It’s exceedingly more likely that our species, instead, evolved under circumstances where parents let babies sleep, eat, and play at will—or whenever it fits into an already busy schedule of survival. But while a strict routine is indeed a modern, made-up worry, we also happen to live in a modern world. Around 3 to 6 months, when all this talk of schedules starts to really come front and center, happens to also be when most parents are either back at work or settling into a stay-at-home parenting routine. Even the most easy going caretakers need some structure to build their day around. Whether it’s being cared for by a nanny, at daycare, or at home with mom or dad, it’s the rare situation where some basic daily plan isn’t helpful. So while there may be no developmental need for a baby to have a stringent schedule, there are definitely benefits to caretakers creating some discrete sleeping, eating, and play times. #parenting #infant #parentlikeapediatrician #infantsleep #firstlookfriday #schedules
Q: Your vibe is realistic parenting, and bending some of the more strict pediatric advise into what works but is still safe. What was the first rule you bent as a new parent? A: I love this question! The newborn period was such a whirlwind for me so it’s hard to remember which strict guideline was the first to go. But I definitely found plenty of places where I could make compromises that kept my baby safe while restoring some of my own sanity. An early one was how I approached breastfeeding, bottles, and pacifiers. I knew that bringing pacifiers and bottles into our feeding and soothing routine early on was something I needed to do, and while I would do many things differently based on what I know now (which I lay out in great detail in my breastfeeding chapter!), I don’t regret bending strict feeding and soothing guidelines to find an approach that worked better for us. #infant #feeding #breastfeeding #pacifiers #parent #parenting #parentlikeapediatrician #yougotthis #yourbestisenough
Q: Can I use breastmilk for eczema? Cradle cap? Clogged tear ducts? What else should I use breastmilk for? A: There isn’t a ton of science on using breastmilk for baby skincare, unfortunately, but I have seen cases where gentle baths in diluted breastmilk and/or applying small amounts of breastmilk before a moisturizing routine can help with eczema. It’s always important to talk to your pediatrician to make sure your baby gets all the treatments they need. But in general, this is a safe one to try— just not worth exhausting yourself with extra pumping to get breastmilk just for this! Breastmilk for cradle cap is another one that’s fine to try, similar to eczema, but cradle cap is usually much, much less bothersome to babies and rarely needs any treatment at all. Almost always it will go away on its own and not cause any issues. There’s no evidence to show that breastmilk helps with blocked or clogged tear ducts in baby and it’s not something I generally recommend— especially because a gentle massage with clean hands is the best remedy in most cases, and less likely to cause infection or irritation. Most of the time nothing is needed and these clear up on their own. What else should breastmilk be used for? Breast milk should be used to feed babies! Whatever amount of breastmilk you are able to provide is wonderful, and the best place for it is your baby’s belly. There’s no need to try to get breastmilk for anything else. If you have a huge supply, have milk that’s expired or gone bad, or just really want to try to use breastmilk for baby skincare, making mementos, or something else that your pediatrician has agreed is safe to try, go for it! Otherwise, know that the milk you are putting in your baby’s belly, whatever amount it is, is more than enough.
We live in a society—especially in the United States—that seems to be growing increasingly hostile to parents. In recent years, I’ve seen not only how we fail to give parents the support they need, but how we also try to convince parents that they need to choose between their own health and the health of their children. Want what’s best for your newborn? Pump your breasts nonstop until your nipples bleed, no matter what, no matter how hard society makes it to meet your breastfeeding goals. Need to sleep train your baby so you can actually be rested enough to feel like yourself the next day? Too bad, better to suffer through a postpartum period with inadequate parental leave and be an exhausted, miserable mess. The idea that parent and child health are mutually exclusive—or can even be disconnected—is one of the biggest lies of modern parenting. The reality is that in almost every situation, declaring your own health and happiness as a priority will lead you to the choice that benefits both you and your child more than any other. The idea that excess suffering can and should be avoided has revolutionized the advice I give and how I parent. It’s what informs all of the guidance in my book and I know it will help so many parents feel the same clarity and confidence that I’ve been able to achieve. #parentlikeapediatrician #parent #parents #parenting #parentingtips