Few things are more intimidating to a new parent than buckling a baby into their car seat for the first time. Then you blink and that same child is pressuring you to retire the booster seat—or even sit in the front seat—to be more like their friends. Whether moving from rear-facing to front-facing, graduating from a booster seat to no seat, or moving from the backseat to the front seat, it’s often tempting to progress to the next phase of car passenger riding just a little early or just this once. On this episode, we’re joined by two guests whose stories will give you confidence to stand your ground. Deanna Lundin was wrapping up a work day when four of her kids were passengers in a serious accident just around the corner from their home. April Dorsett is a pediatric nurse who leads the Safe Kids coalition in Athens and enjoys being a go-to child passenger safety resource for organizations throughout Georgia. By the end of the episode, you’ll have a newfound appreciation for child passenger safety laws and better understanding of how to access free resources to help you feel more confident about the choices you make for your family.For more about this episode and our podcast, visit www.choa.org/podcasts.Follow Children’s:Instagram @childrensatlFacebook @ChildrensHealthcareofAtlantaTwitter @childrensatlFollow Strong4Life:Instagram @wearestrong4lifeFacebook @S4LGATwitter @childrensatlCreated by Children’s Healthcare of Atlantawww.choa.orgThis podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgments when making recommendations for their patients. Patients in need of medical or behavioral advice should consult their family healthcare providers. In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department. Product mentions are not endorsements.

In January 2022, Erin Harlow-Parker and her family were thrust into headlines when her husband, Jeff Parker, died by suicide. At the time, Jeff was the CEO of MARTA, a well-respected businessman, father, partner and friend. He had been married to Erin for more than 30 years. Erin, an advanced practice registered nurse specializing in pediatric mental health and beloved member of the Children’s Strong4Life team, shares her family's story as part of her and her daughters’ crusade to talk openly about mental health, mental illness and suicide.The Parkers hope listeners will leave the episode:Understanding that suicide can happen to any family.Encouraged to stop seeing feelings of sadness, anger and anxiety as a sign of weakness.Empowered to talk openly about both mental health and mental illness. The only way to reduce the stigma related to mental illness is to talk about it and not see it as someone’s fault.Inspired to use Strong4Life’s Raising Resilience tips and tools to proactively build resilience in kids, starting at birth.For more about this episode and our podcast, visit www.choa.org/podcasts.Follow Children’s:Instagram @childrensatlFacebook @ChildrensHealthcareofAtlantaTwitter @childrensatlFollow Strong4Life:Instagram @wearestrong4lifeFacebook @S4LGATwitter @childrensatlCreated by Children’s Healthcare of Atlantawww.choa.orgThis podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgments when making recommendations for their patients. Patients in need of medical or behavioral advice should consult their family healthcare providers. In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department. Product mentions are not endorsements.

For families affected by food allergies, every school drop-off is laced with anxiety: Will today be the day my child goes into anaphylactic shock without me there to protect them? In this episode, we’re joined by Susan Goldberg, whose daughter Julia suffers from life-threatening food allergies, as well as Dr. Brian Vickery, Children’s Chief of Allergy and Immunology and leader of our Food Allergy Program. Susan shares her experience of living in fear of a single bite of a well-intended snack, and Dr. Vickery discusses exciting developments in the world of oral immunotherapy. Later on, we hear from Katherine Shary, a dietitian from our Strong4Life team, who offers tips for packing snacks and lunches when nuts aren’t an option.  For more about this episode and our podcast, visit www.choa.org/podcasts.Follow Children’s:Instagram @childrensatlFacebook @ChildrensHealthcareofAtlantaTwitter @childrensatlFollow Strong4Life:Instagram @wearestrong4lifeFacebook @S4LGATwitter @childrensatlCreated by Children’s Healthcare of Atlantawww.choa.orgThis podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgments when making recommendations for their patients. Patients in need of medical or behavioral advice should consult their family healthcare providers. In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department. Product mentions are not endorsements.

As we close our first season and head into a brief summer hiatus, we leave you with an unforgettable conversation: never-before-told stories about our furry fleet of facility dogs. As you may or may not know, a team of innovators right here at Children’s pioneered the first facility dog program ever at a stand-alone pediatric hospital.In this episode, you’ll learn what it takes to become a facility dog, as well as the impact dogs can make on sick and injured kids—from helping to reduce the need for sedation to providing comfort after trauma. Buckle up. You’re about to laugh, cry—and hear stories sure to stay with you for a lifetime. Whether you’re a dog lover or someone thirsty for stories that soothe the soul, this is one you don’t want to miss. For more about this episode and our podcast, visit www.choa.org/podcasts.Follow Children’s:Instagram @childrensatlFacebook @ChildrensHealthcareofAtlantaTwitter @childrensatlFollow our facility dogs: Instagram @therapydogsofchoaFacebook @TherapyDogsOfCHOACreated by Children’s Healthcare of Atlantawww.choa.org

We know: You probably don’t want to read the word s-n-a-k-e-s, let alone listen to a podcast about them. But if you live in Georgia and your family spends time outside, this is worth a listen. Andrea Childers’ kids were playing basketball in their driveway when a loose ball riled up a hidden copperhead. Her then-6-year-old son, Zander, was bitten on his forearm. Andrea joins us to discuss the changes they’ve since made to their yard to help protect their kids. We also hear from Dr. Maneesha Agarwal, an emergency medicine physician, who shares tips for helping to reduce the chance of a snake bite. Follow Children’s:Instagram @childrensatlFacebook @ChildrensHealthcareofAtlantaTwitter @childrensatlFollow Strong4Life:Instagram @wearestrong4lifeFacebook @S4LGACreated by Children’s Healthcare of Atlantawww.choa.orgThis podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgments when making recommendations for their patients. Patients in need of medical or behavioral advice should consult their family healthcare providers. In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department. Product mentions are not endorsements.

For their family’s spring break, Julvonnia McDowell and her husband drove their sons to Savannah, Ga., to spend time with family. Four days into their trip, she received a terrifying phone call from her oldest son: His little brother had been shot. A cousin had found a loaded gun hidden in a clothes drawer. Assuming it was empty, he unintentionally fired it, sending a bullet into his cousin’s chest. In an instant, their family of four became a family of three. Today, she’s on a mission to empower parents to not shy away from asking others about the potential presence of unsecured firearms. We’ll also hear from Dr. Kiesha Fraser Doh, a Children’s emergency medicine physician, who’s cared for many children unintentionally injured by unsecured guns—often at the hands of other children. Learn what you can do to avoid experiencing the same heartbreak as Julvonnia and so many other parents.Access our Strong4Life team’s firearm safety resourcesLearn more about the McDowell family’s story.Follow Children’s:Instagram @childrensatlFacebook @ChildrensHealthcareofAtlantaTwitter @childrensatlFollow Strong4Life:Instagram @wearestrong4lifeFacebook @S4LGACreated by Children’s Healthcare of Atlantawww.choa.orgThis podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgments when making recommendations for their patients. Patients in need of medical or behavioral advice should consult their family healthcare providers. In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department. Product mentions are not endorsements.

Harry Miller seemed to have it all: a 4.0 GPA, a full athletic scholarship to Ohio State University and a promising career as a football star. Beneath the picture-perfect surface, the former Buford High School valedictorian couldn’t shake the urge to take his own life. In 2022, he turned in his jersey, took his story public and became an overnight advocate for mental health. In this emotional episode, Harry and his mom, Kristina, share how they teamed up to work through the most challenging days of their lives and why they’re so passionate about Harry’s “don’t make it weird” mantra. Following the Millers’ testimony, Jody Baumstein, a licensed mental health therapist from our Strong4Life team, joins us for a powerful discussion about depression, suicide and how to support the mental health of all kids—including those who might appear to be thriving.Access Raising Resilience resources from Strong4Life.Learn more about this episode’s guests.Follow Children’s:Instagram @childrensatlFacebook @ChildrensHealthcareofAtlantaTwitter @childrensatlFollow Strong4Life:Instagram @wearestrong4lifeFacebook @S4LGACreated by Children’s Healthcare of Atlantawww.choa.orgThis podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgments when making recommendations for their patients. Patients in need of medical or behavioral advice should consult their family healthcare providers. In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department. Product mentions are not endorsements.

Shortly after running up a flight of stairs, 13-year-old Collin suffered cardiac arrest at school. Now his parents are on a mission to ensure that other schools and youth-minded organizations are equipped with the resources that helped save their son. Collin and his mom, Meghann, join us to share harrowing details from the day that changed their family forever. We then talk to Dr. Robert Whitehill, pediatric cardiologist and medical director of Project S.A.V.E., about how CPR and automated external defibrillators, commonly known as AEDs, can make all the difference during a sudden cardiac event on the field, in the classroom or out in a community. As this episode’s clinical guest, Dr. Whitehill offers insight into:What can cause cardiac arrest in children and teens.How some at-risk patients may be identified.Skills to prepare you to help someone in a moment of need.Resources to support your child’s school and sports programs in developing emergency action plans.For more about Project S.A.V.E., visit www.choa.org/ProjectSAVE.For more about this episode and our podcast, visit www.choa.org/podcasts.Follow Children’s:Instagram @childrensatlFacebook @ChildrensHealthcareofAtlantaTwitter @childrensatlCreated by Children’s Healthcare of Atlantawww.choa.orgThis podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgments when making recommendations for their patients. Patients in need of medical or behavioral advice should consult their family healthcare providers. In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department. Product mentions are not endorsements.

Is your family getting clobbered by back-to-back illnesses? Dr. Andi Shane, our Division Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, discusses the mechanics behind high volumes of infections in our communities. She’ll share top places germs love to hide, and leave you with clear tips to try to keep those germs at bay. Should illness make its way into your home, Dr. Preeti Jaggi, our Director of Antibiotic Stewardship, then talks us through the role antibiotics play—or don’t play—in treating common childhood illnesses. She’ll discuss the recent antibiotic shortage, how clinicians decide when to use antibiotics and why it’s important to finish prescribed dosing even after symptoms have subsided. For more about this episode and our podcast, visit www.choa.org/podcasts.Follow Children’s:Instagram @childrensatlFacebook @ChildrensHealthcareofAtlantaTwitter @childrensatlCreated by Children’s Healthcare of Atlantawww.choa.orgThis podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgments when making recommendations for their patients. Patients in need of medical or behavioral advice should consult their family healthcare providers. In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department. Product mentions are not endorsements.

When a child is sick, we yearn to do something—anything—to support the child and their family.Lex had just started fifth grade when he was diagnosed with leukemia. He and his mom, Ashley, join us to answer questions we’re often timid to ask of those on a medical journey. Should you visit in person, pick up the phone or send a card? What are the best gifts to receive in the hospital? What’s a good frequency for a meal train? What do affected siblings need most? Their insight will help you shift from asking, “How can I help?” to having a go-to bank of ideas to support families in times of need. Whether you’re wanting to support someone in your community, seeking insight for your own journey or craving an inspiring story featuring a formidable mom-son duo, this insightful episode is chock full of outside-the-box ideas you don’t want to miss. For more about this episode and our podcast, visit www.choa.org/podcasts.Follow Children’s:Instagram @childrensatlFacebook @ChildrensHealthcareofAtlantaTwitter @childrensatlCreated by Children’s Healthcare of Atlantawww.choa.orgThis podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgments when making recommendations for their patients. Patients in need of medical or behavioral advice should consult their family healthcare providers. In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department. Product mentions are not endorsements.

It’s the Murphy’s Law of parenting: Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong outside of normal business hours. When your child has an injury or illness, it’s easy to go straight to panic mode. Can it wait until your pediatrician is available, or is it time to head to an urgent care center or a hospital’s emergency department?Dr. Mark Griffiths, a pediatric emergency medicine physician, and Monique Keeton-Perkins, a clinical educator with more than 10 years of experience as an urgent care nurse, join Lynn for an insightful chat that could save you precious time—and help you keep your cool—when deciding where to go. Together, they weigh in on common questions like, "When does a fever warrant a trip to the ER?," "How do I know when a respiratory illness needs medical attention?" and "Can urgent care treat a kid who swallowed a battery?”With expert insight into what it’s like on the other side of those waiting room doors, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss. For more about this episode and our podcast, visit www.choa.org/podcasts.Follow Children’s:Twitter @childrensatlFacebook @ChildrensHealthcareofAtlantaInstagram @childrensatlCreated by Children’s Healthcare of Atlantawww.choa.orgThis podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgments when making recommendations for their patients. Patients in need of medical or behavioral advice should consult their family healthcare providers. In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department. Product mentions are not endorsements.

Find yourself saying, “Just one more bite?” Have a kid who’s stuck on plain pasta with parmesan? Fresh out of snack ideas? Katherine Shary, a registered and licensed dietitian from our Strong4Life team, joins us for an engaging conversation about how to make mealtimes less stressful for everyone at your table—without becoming a short-order cook. From meals to snacks, Katherine dishes out tips to help “picky eaters” develop a healthy relationship with food.For more about Katherine’s tips, check out this “Raising Healthy Eaters” resource.For more about this episode and our podcast, visit www.choa.org/podcasts. Follow Children’s:·         Twitter @childrensatl·         Facebook @ChildrensHealthcareofAtlanta·         Instagram @childrensatlFollow Strong4Life:·         Instagram @wearestrong4life·         Facebook @S4LGACreated by Children’s Healthcare of Atlantawww.choa.org and www.Strong4Life.comThis podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgments when making recommendations for their patients. Patients in need of medical or behavioral advice should consult their family healthcare providers.

These are historically challenging times to be a parent. In recent years, we’ve helped our kids through a pandemic, quarantining and virtual schooling—while also navigating tough conversations about shootings in schools, grocery stores and places of worship. And that’s on top of day-to-day stressors related to academics, sports and social pressures. Even those who’ve never before experienced much anxiety are feeling its effects. Jody Baumstein, LCSW, who develops emotional wellness content and programming for our Strong4Life team, joins Lynn for an empowering discussion that’s part pep talk, part release from guilt and people-pleasing. Jody’s the soft-spoken cheerleader you didn’t know you needed, leaving you with confidence to help your kids navigate life’s ups and downs.    For a deeper dive into Jody’s tips, check out this article. For more about this episode and our podcast, visit www.choa.org/podcasts. Follow Children’s:Twitter @childrensatlFacebook @ChildrensHealthcareofAtlantaInstagram @childrensatlFollow Strong4Life:Instagram @wearestrong4lifeFacebook @S4LGACreated by Children’s Healthcare of Atlantawww.choa.org and www.Strong4Life.comThis podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgments when making recommendations for their patients. Patients in need of medical or behavioral advice should consult their family healthcare providers.

Rachel had done everything right, or so she thought. She and her husband enabled parental controls on their devices. They regularly initiated conversations with their daughters about internet safety. Still, an innocent click on a pop-up connected their second grader with an online predator. In this eye-opening episode, Rachel shares her family's experience and Angie Boy, DrPH, from our Stephanie V. Blank Center for Safe and Healthy Children discusses her team’s work, how her work impacts her own parenting and resources to keep kids safe online. For a deeper dive into Angie’s tips, check out these Strong4Life resources.For more about this episode and our podcast, visit www.choa.org/podcasts. Follow Children’s:Twitter @childrensatlFacebook @ChildrensHealthcareofAtlantaInstagram @childrensatlFollow Strong4Life:Instagram @wearestrong4lifeFacebook @S4LGACreated by Children’s Healthcare of Atlantawww.choa.org and www.Strong4Life.comThis podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgments when making recommendations for their patients. Patients in need of medical or behavioral advice should consult their family healthcare providers.

It only takes 30 seconds. That’s what Melissa Gibson learned when her toddler disappeared from the couch, only to be found moments later, floating face down in her grandparents’ swimming pool. Thanks to a perfect concert of miracles, the Gibson family’s story has a happy ending. In this first episode of Hope and Will, Dr. Sarah Lazarus, whose workday home is in a pediatric emergency department, joins Melissa in sharing firsthand insight that will empower you to help keep kids—from infants to teens—safe around water. For more water safety tips for kids of all ages, check Strong4Life.com/watersafety.For more about this episode’s guests and our podcast, visit www.choa.org/podcasts.Follow Children’s:Twitter @childrensatlInstagram @childrensatlFacebook @ChildrensHealthcareofAtlantaFollow Strong4Life:Instagram @wearestrong4lifeFacebook @S4LGACreated by Children’s Healthcare of Atlantawww.choa.org and www.Strong4Life.comThis podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgments when making recommendations for their patients. Patients in need of medical or behavioral advice should consult their family healthcare providers.

Welcome to Hope and Will: A Parenting Podcast from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. We’re here to ease the minds of moms and dads by serving up doses of insight from pediatric specialists and real stories from parents like you. By combining medical smarts with practical experience, our goal is to help make the journey from diapers to diplomas a little less scary, helping you raise healthier, more resilient kids along the way. Georgia families know when they see Hope and Will, our beloved mascots, they’re in good hands—and we Hope you Will come to know us as an extended part of your parenting family.    Follow UsTwitter @childrensatlFacebook @ChildrensHealthcareofAtlantaInstagram @childrensatlPresented by Children’s HealthCare of Atlantawww.Choa.org