Charting Pediatrics

A child can be doing well on paper and still be struggling to grow into who they are. They're meeting milestones. They're doing fine in school. There's no diagnosis and no crisis. There's nothing that sends up a red flag. But are they learning how to manage frustration, build healthy relationships, navigate conflict, recover from setbacks and ask for help when they need it? Mental health in childhood isn't just about identifying what's wrong. It's also about understanding what healthy development looks like and recognizing opportunities to strengthen it before there's a problem to diagnose. 

This episode was recorded live on the exhibit floor at the 2026 American Academy of Pediatrics Conference in San Diego, California. Joining us for this episode is Joan Jeung, MD. She is a clinical professor within the Department of Pediatricians and Division of Developmental Medicine at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine.

Some highlights from this episode include:
Understanding healthy mental development beyond diagnosis 
How this changes across age groups and what pediatricians should expect 
When and how a pediatrician can provide support to a family who is struggling 
The role of sleep, physical, activity, play, school, friendships and family connection 

This episode is underwritten by Wings Credit Union, a proud supporter of Charting Pediatrics and Children's Hospital Colorado. Wings generously responded to Children's Colorado's State of Emergency for pediatric mental health in 2021 and is pleased to support this episode. For more information on Children's Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.

Toilet training may seem like a simple developmental milestone until you're the pediatrician helping a family navigate accidents, resistance, constipation, regression, and the growing pressure to get it right. For many families, toilet training quickly stops being about developmental readiness and starts becoming a collision of pressure, comparison, preschool deadlines, power struggles, and late-night Googling. What seems like a simple milestone on the surface often turns into one of early childhood's most emotionally charged transitions. And for pediatricians, it remains one of the most common yet surprisingly nuanced conversations in clinical practice. 

To unpack the developmental science, behavioral realities, and clinical challenges we are joined by two experts: Yodit Denu, PhD, and Melissa Buchholz, PsyD. As child psychologists, they specialize in infant and early childhood mental health. They both teach at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. 

Some highlights from this episode include:
The concept of the "right age" to start toilet training versus when a child is ready 
How pediatricians can counsel families when starting this process 
The connection between toilet training and constipation 
How to promote a healthy, successful experience for families 

For more information on Children's Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org. Follow us on Instagram @ChartingPediatrics

The NICU discharge is a milestone, but it's not the finish line. For children born prematurely, primary care plays a critical role in what comes next: tracking growth and development, recognizing ongoing health needs and helping families navigate the transition from intensive neonatal care to everyday childhood. But how should pediatricians adjust their approach? And what are the things we're at risk of missing? We're focusing on the practical side of caring for children born prematurely in the primary care setting, with the goal of helping pediatricians turn a complex NICU history into a clear, proactive care plan. Prematurity may shape the beginning of the story, but primary care helps shape what comes next. 

To move beyond the NICU discharge summary, we are joined by Laura Brown, MD. She specializes in neonatal and perinatal medicine at Children's Hospital Colorado. She is also a professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Some highlights from this episode include:
When to use corrected age versus chronological age for preterm infants 
How a pediatrician should be watching these children differently in the days and months after transition of care 
When preterm babies need specialized follow up care 
Biggest red flags for pediatricians to watch during infancy

For more information on Children's Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.

An earache. A fussy toddler. A worried parent. And often, a familiar prescription: antibiotics. Acute otitis media is one of the most common reasons children receive antibiotics. But as we continue to better understand when antibiotics truly make a difference — and when children may do just as well without them — there's an opportunity to rethink what appropriate treatment looks like. So how can pediatricians confidently reduce unnecessary prescribing while still treating pain, addressing parents' concerns, and making sure the children who do need antibiotics get them? We'll answer that in this episode. 

To dive into this ever-evolving topic, we are joined by two experts. Nicole Poole, MD, specializes in infectious diseases at Children's Colorado, serves as the Associate Medical Director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program and leads the Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship Program. She is also an associate professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Holly Frost, MD is a pediatrician at Intermountain Health and also serves as Enterprise Associate Chief Medical Officer, Professor of Research at Intermountain and faculty in pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Utah 

Some highlights from this episode include:
Consequences of prescribing antibiotics when not necessary 
How it impacts pediatrics on a larger scale beyond an individual patient 
Common pitfalls pediatricians encounter when diagnosing AOM 
The importance of addressing pain and ways to do that aside from prescribing antibiotics 

For more information on Children's Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.

There was a time when the vaccine conversation in pediatrics felt straightforward: here's the schedule, here's what your child needs, and here's when they need it. Today, it's anything but simple. The recommendations are evolving. The vaccine schedule is under a microscope. New guidance is emerging around COVID-19 and RSV. And at the same time, pediatricians are sitting across from families who may be confused, skeptical or overwhelmed by what they're hearing online. So how do we make sense of all of it — and, perhaps more importantly, how do we talk about it? 

To break down the latest recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics we are joined by Sean O'Leary, MD, the immunization schedule editor for the AAP. He specializes in infectious diseases and is the director of the Colorado Pediatrics Practice-Based Research Network, also known as the Colorado Children's Outcomes Network. He is also a professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.  

Some highlights from this episode include:
Biggest takeaways from the September 2026 vaccine update 
Current schedule: what's changed and what's stayed the same 
Expectations for upcoming respiratory season 
Approaching vaccine hesitancy with families

For more information on Children's Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.