130: Discovering Your Parenting Style That Best Suits You and Your Baby with Dr. Sears

Welcoming a new baby into the world and becoming a parent are some of the greatest gifts in life. As soon as you see those two pink lines on your pregnancy test and the moment you hold your baby in your arms, life is never the same again. And just as your baby is learning about you and this new world, you are also learning about this new baby and your new role as a mother. There are highs and lows and twists and turns, but it is the most worthwhile ride of your life. Dr. Sears knows this very well as a pediatrician and father of eight (that's right, eight!) children. We chat with him on this episode about developing your parenting style and his experiences as a doctor and father. Who is Dr. William Sears? Dr. William Sears, MD, is a world-renowned pediatrician and the author of the million-copy bestseller The Baby Book. He received his medical training at Harvard Medical School's Children's Hospital in Boston and The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. He has now been advising parents on how to raise healthier families for more than 50 years. Dr. Sears co-founded AskDrSears.com and the Dr. Sears Wellness Institute, which has certified over 12,000 Health Coaches worldwide. As a father of eight children, he coached Little League sports for 20 years and, together with his wife Martha, has written more than 45 books on nutrition, parenting, and healthy aging. In May 2012, Dr. Sears and his contribution to family health were featured on the cover of TIME Magazine, and they named him "the man who remade motherhood." He serves as a health consultant for magazines, TV, radio, and other media and is noted for his science-made simple-and-fun approach to family health. We are thrilled and honored to have him with us on our show today! What Did We Discuss? In this episode, we chat with Dr. Sears about developing the parenting style that works best for you and your children. Here are several of the questions that we covered in our conversation: You have so much first-hand experience as a medical professional and being a father of eight. How have these experiences shaped the way you offer advice to new parents? I love that you say, "There is no one way to parent a baby." Can you elaborate on that statement? How do you think new parents can begin to develop a parenting style that best suits their family? We all have different needs, as do our children. How important is it to be flexible in parenting and adapting to the changing needs of ourselves and our children? What role does self-awareness play in finding the best parenting style? How do you think external influences impact our parenting styles? How can parents best find a balance between incorporating expert advice and trusting their instincts when it comes to parenting? Do you have any examples of different parenting styles that have worked for different families and why they were effective? In your experience, how have parenting styles evolved? If you could offer one piece of advice to a new parent looking to find their stride, what would it be? Dr. Sears answers these questions with heartfelt stories of his patients and his own family experiences that make you feel his genuine passion and care for families and their babies. It's an episode that will leave you with a full heart and a better understanding of how to listen to your instincts as a mother. Be sure to tune in and leave us a review! Dr. Sears' Resources Website: AskDrSears.com Facebook: @askdrsears X: @askdrsears Instagram: @askdrsears YouTube: @askdrsears Go to our SHOW NOTES for more details! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices