When Alicia and J.R. found out they were having Josie, they were thrilled. When they found out during an ultrasound that Josie had a cleft lip, they were terrified. But their journey with Josie and Dr. Samir Mardini taught them the beauty of a cleft lip—and how their experience could help other families.

On this special episode of Mayo Clinic Kids, we talk with facial plastic surgeon Dr. Samir Mardini, Dr. Marissa Suchyta, and Josie and her family about the life-changing experience of cleft lip and palate, and how kids of all kinds can learn to embrace and celebrate their differences.

You can get a copy of Dr. Suchyta and Dr. Mardini's book My Extraordinary Face from Mayo Clinic Press or wherever your get your books.

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at mcppodcasts@mayo.edu.

When you see your kid scratching their head, your gut instinct might be to grab head lice shampoo. But itching can mean tons of things, ranging from the superficial to the serious. So how do you solve the mystery of your kid’s itchy scalp? And the time-honored question: how do you stop scratching when it feels sooooo good?

On this episode of Mayo Clinic Kids, we talk with pediatric dermatologist Dr. Molly Youssef about why your kid might be scratching their head and how to find relief.

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at mcppodcasts@mayo.edu.

You might not be used to hearing "babies" and "syphilis" in the same sentence. But if you're trying to conceive, expecting, or have a young child, it should be on your radar. Because if a parent has syphilis, they can pass it along to their kid. And the number of cases in kids is on the rise. So why are we still struggling with a curable disease? And how do you know if you or your child is at risk?

On this episode of Mayo Clinic Kids, we talk with OBGYN Dr. Yvonne Butler Tobah about congential syphilis, testing and all those questions you don't want in your Google search history.

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at mcppodcasts@mayo.edu.

Parents are acutely aware of the importance of a good night’s rest. Kids, on the other hand, sometimes need a little (or a lot of) convincing. So how do you know if your kid is sleeping well? And should you be worried about using screens before bedtime?

On this episode of Mayo Clinic Kids, we talk with Dr. Julie Baughn to learn how to help our kids catch some quality zzz’s.

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at mcppodcasts@mayo.edu.

One meal can be a big deal. Kids need lunch to fuel their brains and bodies so they can learn and be social—and parents want to feel confident their kids are getting all those essential nutrients. So when it comes to school lunch: to buy, or not to buy? Who decides what ends up on your kid's tray? And if you decide to pack, what are the best foods to deliver all the nutrition your kid needs to get them through the day?

On this episode of Mayo Clinic Kids, we talk with dietitian Lori Russell about chocolate milk, pizza as a vegetable, Instagram-worthy bento boxes, and all the other concerns swirling around lunchtime.

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at mcppodcasts@mayo.edu.

For kids with blood diseases, bone marrow transplants can be an amazing tool for treatment — and sometimes, even a cure. Hopefully most of us will go through life never needing to know what a bone marrow transplant is. But what if the key to another kid's cure is in your very own blood?

On this episode of Mayo Clinic Kids, we talk with pediatric hematologist and oncologist Dr. Mira Kohorst about this often-underappreciated part of our bodies and how bone marrow can change a kid's life.

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at mcppodcasts@mayo.edu.

When an infant starts experimenting with solid foods, their whole world expands. Like breast milk and formula, food is fuel for the body and a vehicle for love. But it is also a cornerstone of culture, and can define national identities. It provides entertainment and spreads joy. And it helps us understand the world and our place in it.

On this episode of Mayo Clinic Kids, we talk to Dr. Leslie Kummer, a primary care pediatrician with special interest in breastfeeding medicine, about beginning the weaning process, safely introducing kids to the wonderful world of food, and sharing the love.

Screens are everywhere. And screens can do amazing things — but they aren’t amazing for your kids’ eyes. So when it comes to your kid, how do you know if screens are causing eye issues? And how do you strike that perfect balance of setting healthy boundaries and making sure kids aren’t missing out on key skills and digital connections?

On this episode of Mayo Clinic Kids, we talk with Dr. Eric Kim, a pediatric ophthalmologist, about how to keep kids’ eyes healthy in a world filled with screens.

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at mcppodcasts@mayo.edu.