The Pediatrician Next Door - Simple Advice on Parenting and Family Health
Pediatrician Wendy Hunter, MD answers the questions you forgot or were too embarrassed to ask at the doctor’s office. She mixes the science of medicine with the realities of parenting to give satisfying answers to questions about kids’ health.
Episodes
December 3, 2025 • 28 mins
Is your child’s snoring just a funny nighttime sound—or a sign of something more? Learn why kids snore, why mouth breathing and restless sleep aren’t just quirks, and how snoring can affect behavior, focus, and even facial growth!
Join Dr. Shereen Lim, dentist and author of Breathe, Sleep, Thrive, who explains how airway and muscle development shape a child’s sleep and health. Uncover the red flags parents often overlook, learn ...
Mark as Played
November 26, 2025 • 22 mins
Want to make mealtime healthier and yummier? You know that avocado oil, fish, and kale are packed with nutrients—but getting kids to actually eat them? That’s the tricky part! In this encore episode, Chef Kelly Senyei reveals her favorite secret ingredient—one that’s affordable, boosts protein and calcium, and works in everything from pancakes to bolognese.
Mentioned in episode:
Serenity Kids Salmon and other pouches
The ...
Mark as Played
November 19, 2025 • 33 mins
Why does your calm, reasonable self disappear when your child refuses to put on their shoes? Therapist Todd Sarner answers Dr. Wendy’s questions about why kids seem to know exactly how to push our buttons—and why it’s not about defiance at all. Discover why common discipline tactics don’t work, and what to do instead. Learn how to reset after a blow-up, and get back on the same page with your partner—no sticker charts required.
...
Mark as Played
November 12, 2025 • 25 mins
What happens when kids don’t get sex ed in school? They don’t just “figure it out”—they pick up myths, rumors, and advice on social media. What they learn matters for their safety and relationships. How can parents help guide an appropriate education?
Use trusted resources like:
National Sex Education Standards
Advocates for Youth - Rights Respect, Responsibilities Curriculum
Planned Parenthood’s Paren...
Mark as Played
November 5, 2025 • 28 mins
Smart toys can talk and even remember what kids say—but what’s that doing inside a child’s developing brain? Artificial intelligence may be shaping children’s language, emotions, and relationships. With guest expert Dana Suskind, MD, a leading researcher on early brain development, learn how real human interaction wires a child’s mind—and what might be lost when those conversations happen with a machine instead of a person.
S...
Mark as Played
October 29, 2025 • 25 mins
What’s scarier than ghosts and goblins? The medical mysteries that hide in plain sight. In this year’s Halloween special, hear three true stories that sound like ghost tales but come straight from the pediatric ward.
Each story unfolds like a mystery, with clues, red herrings, and real-life science behind the scares.
Listen if you dare… and see if you can solve the cases before Dr. Wendy reveals the truth.
This episode is m...
Mark as Played
October 22, 2025 • 30 mins
Do you ever feel like you’re tiptoeing around your child—careful with every word, changing plans, and doing whatever it takes to avoid a meltdown? You’re not alone. In this episode, Dr. Wendy Hunter explores whether “walking on eggshells” really helps anxious kids—or if it accidentally makes anxiety stronger. With insight from pediatrician Dr. Natasha Burgert, author of Managing Childhood Anxiety for Dummies, you’ll learn why avoid...
Mark as Played
October 15, 2025 • 21 mins
Think well visits are only for vaccines? Dr. Wendy asks why checkups still matter—even when no shots are due. From spotting hidden conditions like early puberty or high blood pressure, to giving kids a safe place to talk, well visits are about prevention, connection, and catching problems before they become emergencies. Have you schedule your annual visit?
Send your questions to hello@pediatriciannextdoorpodcast.com or message...
Mark as Played
October 8, 2025 • 29 mins
Feeding your kids shouldn’t feel like a minefield—but let’s be honest, it kind of does. In this episode, pediatrician Dr. Wendy Hunter talks with registered dietitian and mom Sarah Schlichter about some of the most controversial topics in kids’ nutrition. From hiding veggies in food (should you?) to whether chocolate milk belongs in your kid’s lunchbox, they break down what matters, what doesn’t, and how to make food less stressful...
Mark as Played
October 1, 2025 • 19 mins
Should kids stick to one sport year-round, or does early specialization put them at risk? Dr. Wendy investigates the truth behind youth sports specialization—exploring injury risks, burnout, long-term performance, and equity. With insights from Nirav Pandya, MD learn why variety and play may be the healthiest path for kids.
Send your questions to hello@pediatriciannextdoorpodcast.com or message me online here.
Find products ...
Mark as Played
September 24, 2025 • 30 mins
Is screen time really rotting our kids’ brains—or is the real danger something we don’t even see? Dr. Wendy takes you inside the mystery of what constant scrolling and gaming are doing to children’s sleep, moods, and relationships. She uncovers the surprising truth: the number of hours isn’t the enemy. The real key is hidden in three simple pillars—sleep, movement, and connection—that can reset your family’s digital habits and brin...
Mark as Played
September 17, 2025 • 28 mins
When a child suddenly can’t breathe, feels dizzy, or has chest pain, parents fear the worst. Could it be asthma? A heart problem? Dr. Wendy Hunter explores the mystery of childhood panic attacks with pediatrician and Natasha Burgert, MD, author of Managing Childhood Anxiety for Dummies. Together, they uncover what’s actually happening in the brain and body, why kids can’t just “snap out of it,” and the surprising techniques that wo...
Mark as Played
Is it the C-section? The formula? The antibiotics? Parents often wonder if they’ve messed up their baby’s gut health. In this episode, Dr. Wendy talks with Stephanie Culler PhD, co-founder of Persephone Biosciences, about groundbreaking research on the infant microbiome. You’ll learn why most American babies are missing Bifidobacterium infantis—the bacteria that digest special sugars in breast milk and help build the immune system—...
Mark as Played
September 3, 2025 • 20 mins
Why do brothers and sisters who love each other one minute turn into sworn enemies the next? Dr. Wendy unpacks the mystery of sibling rivalry—why kids fight, what’s really going on beneath the bickering, and the surprising moments when stepping in actually makes things worse. Learn the hidden dynamics that fuel rivalry and the key strategies parents can use to shift kids from competition to connection. If you’ve ever felt stuck ref...
Mark as Played
August 27, 2025 • 30 mins
When a friend loses a child, many of us are left wondering what to say—or how to help. In this deeply moving episode, Dr. Wendy talks with Hans Kullberg, a father who lost his 10-month-old daughter, Aviva, and learned to navigate life after loss. Hans shares what grieving parents wish others understood, how friends and family can show up in meaningful ways, and how his experience has reshaped the way he parents. This conversation w...
Mark as Played
August 20, 2025 • 28 mins
Food allergies now affect 1 in 13 children in the U.S., turning mealtime into a daily source of anxiety for families. But groundbreaking research — including the LEAP study — shows that introducing allergenic foods like peanuts early and often can prevent most peanut allergies before they start.
Catherine Jaxon, co-founder of Mission Mighty Me and mom to a child with a nut allergy shares the story of her daughter’s first allergic...
Mark as Played
August 13, 2025 • 30 mins
Is your kid suddenly clingy at drop-off? Refusing to sleep before 10 p.m.? Bringing home a full, untouched water bottle every day?
You’re not alone — and it’s not just your kid.
In this back-to-school Q&A episode, pediatrician Dr. Wendy Hunter answers the real questions parents are asking right now. From separation anxiety to sleep resets, immune-boosting tips, social struggles, and hydration battles, Dr. Wendy breaks down what...
Mark as Played
August 6, 2025 • 23 mins
Feeling overwhelmed by parenting advice from Google, Instagram, and everyone you know? You’re not alone! Learn how to cut through the noise and find answers you can actually trust about your child’s health.
Dr. Wendy talks about the viral parenting hacks that fill your feed (are they genius or just hype?), the scary headlines that make you second-guess yourself, and why not all advice—online or offline—is created equal. You’ll he...
Mark as Played
July 30, 2025 • 28 mins
Family meals are supposed to be good for kids—but what if getting everyone to the table feels like the most stressful part of your day? Join Sarah Schlichter, MPH, RDN, host of the Managing Mealtime Madness podcast to hear realistic, judgment-free advice for busy parents: how to plan meals around your schedule, make dinnertime less chaotic, and more fun.
Check out my favorite Kids Cooking/Baking set – it's a great gift idea! ...
Mark as Played
Is your child still wetting the bed? You’re not alone—and there is help. In this episode, pediatric urologist Dr. Andrew Kirsch from Georgia Urology joins me to explain why bedwetting happens, when it’s normal, and when it might be a sign of something more. We talk about what causes bedwetting, and why common treatments don’t always work. Dr. Kirsch also shares his brand-new approach to treating bedwetting.
If your child is over ...
Mark as Played
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.