Holistic Pediatricians

Dr. Chheda – 👶 You have a newborn. You wanna love your newborn. You’ve been waiting for your newborn. You have been planning, you have been buying, you’ve been preparing, you have nested, and now you have a newborn.

And it looks like a wrinkled mess, and you don’t really know if you like it or not cause it’s crying all the time, and it’s really demanding, and you don’t know what to do.

That’s okay. Yes, you will love your baby. Yes, it may not be instant love the minute you meet them, and that’s okay. You didn’t fall instantly in love with your partner the minute you met them – it took time.

You have to get to learn the baby. You have to get to learn the baby’s personality, and you will love the baby. You also have a lot of hormones going through you right now. You have a lot of healing you need to get done.

It’s okay, you will love the baby. It may not be an immediate reaction. If it is, that’s perfectly fine, but if you feel like “I don’t know,” it’s okay – just wait. Give it time. You will love your baby.

Dr. Chheda – A common question parents ask: “Should I send my child to school if they’re sick?” The short answer? No! ❌

💡 In an ideal world, kids would stay home when sick—to recover faster and prevent others from getting sick. But in reality, we know that’s not always possible.

🚨 If your child has a fever, keep them home!

1️⃣ They won’t be able to focus at school.

2️⃣ Their body needs rest to heal.

3️⃣ Exertion will prolong their illness.

🤧 Even with mild symptoms like a runny nose or cough, it’s best to keep them home to avoid spreading germs.

🛡️ How to prevent frequent sickness?

✅ Teach kids to wash hands often ✋

✅ Have them eat fruits & veggies 🍎🥦

✅ Encourage proper rest & hygiene 💤

A strong immune system keeps them healthy! 💪

Dr. Chheda – Ever wonder why teens sometimes feel faint when they stand up too quickly? 🤔 It’s all about gravity! 🌍

Young kids jump up and down all the time with no issues, but during the teen years, growth spurts change how the body regulates blood flow. When lying down, blood pools in the brain. Standing up too fast causes it to drop suddenly, leading to dizziness or even fainting. This is called syncope or a vasovagal response—and it’s completely normal.

🧠 Over time, we learn to sit up first, then stand slowly to prevent fainting. If your teen starts experiencing this, remind them to take it slow—simple as that!

Is your child having difficulty sleeping? It’s a common concern that we address during well visits, and there are some tips and tricks that you can do to help your child sleep better.

The first one is no screen time an hour before you sleep. So really that should be unwinding time. That should be meditation, maybe journaling, drawing, reading, yoga – absolutely.

The second is to make sure that you are physically active earlier in the day. When your body is physically tired, it will help you sleep better, but don’t exercise right before you sleep in that one hour.

The third, for our older kids, they could drink a little bit of chamomile tea, and that will help kind of calm them. They can also take magnesium. Teenagers can take 200 mg of magnesium to help them sleep. And side note: it also helps with some anxiety.

Lastly, make sure that the temperature is just right – not too cold, not too hot.

Hope your child sleeps better tonight!

Dr. Chheda –

At 15 months old, toddlers are all about in and out, open and close! 🚪🔄 They’ll empty cabinets, laundry baskets, and even put things in the trash (including your car keys! 😅).

✨ Encourage their curiosity by providing activities that match their love for movement. And yes, their favorite toy? The TV remote—until they realize you took the batteries out! 😂

Dr. Chheda – Can substance abuse hurt someone? That’s a great question! There are many types of substances and addictions, and all of them can have serious effects.

🚨 Types of Substance Abuse:

❌ Illegal substances – Cocaine, marijuana (illegal in some states), crystal meth

❌ Legal substances – Alcohol, tobacco, prescription opioids

❌ Behavioral addictions – Video gaming, gambling

📌 How does addiction work?

All of these substances or activities increase dopamine, the brain’s “feel-good” chemical. You take it → dopamine rises → you feel happy. But over time, your brain needs more and more to feel the same way.

💔 What happens next?

⚠️ You may stop eating, sleeping, or taking care of yourself.

⚠️ You may focus only on getting more of that substance.

⚠️ Your health, relationships, and even your future may suffer. For children and teens, substance abuse can damage brain development and cause lifelong health issues. It can affect:

🧠 Brain growth

🩺 Organ function (like your liver)

⚡ Overall health and well-being

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, reach out for help. You deserve support! 💙

Dr. Chheda – Most people think middle school is all about academics, but that’s not the main goal!

🧠 Middle school is about learning executive functioning skills.

These are essential life skills like:

✅ Time management

✅ Turning in homework on time

✅ Studying ahead instead of cramming

✅ Showing up on time

Middle school is the perfect time to help kids develop a system that works for them:

📅 Using a planner or agenda

📝 Writing things down

📊 Color coding

📲 Using an online calendar Your child needs these skills before high school—because that’s when it really counts!

Saying ‘No’ is Important!

🚫 Children need to hear and understand the word ‘no’—and more importantly, they need to know why they’re hearing it.

🗣️ What happens when kids hear ‘no’?

✅ They learn about consequences

✅ They understand boundaries

✅ They develop resilience As kids grow, they will face rejection and negative criticism—and they need to know how to handle it positively.

💡 Real-life lesson:

Dr. Mona’s daughter recently worked on an Eagle Scout project, collecting donations for families in need. She approached seven grocery stores for permission to set up a donation table. Five of them said no.

Instead of getting discouraged, she accepted it and moved forward. Because ‘no’ is okay!

Teaching kids to accept ‘no’ helps them build confidence, resilience, and problem-solving skills.

Dr. Chheda – Babies control their appetite by volume. When you feed your baby milk and their stomach is full, they will stop eating. They will close their mouth, and you won’t be able to get anything else in them— and that’s perfectly fine!

🍼 Newborns only need breast milk or formula.

🚫 Giving them anything else, such as water or sugar water, fills up their stomach without providing calories or nutrition. This can be unhealthy because:

❌ Water has no calories.

❌ Water has no nutrition.

✅ Breast milk and formula already have the hydration babies need! After 6 months, babies can start drinking small amounts of water. You can always consult your pediatrician when introducing it. For the first 4 months—ONLY milk!

👦 Kid: Dr. Chheda, what does one hour of playing video games do to my brain versus reading for an hour?

👩‍⚕️ Dr. Chheda: That’s a great question! A lot of kids play video games, and the effects depend on the type of game.

🎮 Video Games:

Can be interactive

Multiplayer games encourage social interaction

Improve reflexes and eye coordination

BUT they can be addictive, making you want to play repeatedly

📖 Reading:

Engages your brain deeply

Expands vocabulary

Boosts intelligence

More of a solitary activity

Both have pros and cons, but reading helps you become more intelligent!

Keep reading to grow your brain! 🧠✨