Children's Dental Health with Dr. Victoria Dashley, DDS

Kelly, a mom of three, talks with pediatric dentist, Dr. Victoria Dashley of Dashley Dental in Liverpool (Syracuse area). Dr. Dashley covers when to start dental visits, hidden cavity risks, toothpaste amounts, and how to get through tough toothbrushing nights.

In this episode:

• First dental visit by age one or within six months of the first tooth, mainly to educate parents
• Why every child's tooth schedule differs, and why order of arrival matters more than timing
• Why baby teeth matter
• Sneaky cavity culprits
• Bottles or nursing to sleep as an early cavity risk
• What to know about Fluoride treatments and Sealants
• Toothpaste & Toothbrushing tips: routines, reward charts, songs, and brushing for kids until they can tie their own shoes/
• Easing dental fear, plus grinding, pacifiers, and thumb sucking

Timestamps:

0:01 - Meet Dr. Dashley and why early habits matter
0:40 - When to book the first dental visit
1:52 - Normal tooth timing: when to worry (and when not to)
3:28 - Why baby teeth matter even though they fall out
4:09 - Goldfish, crackers, and gummy vitamins as cavity risks
5:28 - Brush before or after breakfast? Wait 20 to 30 minutes after eating
6:58 - How daily orange juice and dark drinks stain teeth
8:23 - Flossing between baby molars and using flosser picks
10:20 - Bottles and nursing to bed: change the routine
11:22 - Fluoride safety and how much toothpaste to use
12:19 - Limiting juice and grazing to prevent cavities
13:31 - Checkup frequency: every six months from age one
13:44 - Fluoride treatments and sealants explained
15:07 - Brushing struggles: routines, reward charts, early gum wiping
17:13 - Songs and making brushing silly
17:52 - Who should brush? The shoe-tying milestone
20:05 - Preparing kids for the dentist: books, shows, and play kits
22:11 - Grinding, pacifiers, and thumb sucking
25:30 - Where to find Dashley Dental

Learn more about Dr. Dashley's practice here or follow her on Instagram @dashleypediatricdental

Learn more about Liberty Post here: https://liberty-post.com/

Learn more about Liberty Resources here: https://liberty-resources.org/

Local to Central New York and interested in joining a Play2Learn class? Visit our website to register here: https://play2learntot.com/

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In this episode, we explore practical strategies for managing picky eating in children, understanding typical behaviors, and when to seek professional help. Susan Scott, a speech language pathologist, shares insights on creating positive mealtime routines and fostering a healthy relationship with food.

Key topics

• Typical vs. concerning feeding behaviors
• Developmental stages of picky eating
• Strategies for food exposure and participation
• Creating routines and routines for mealtime success
• When and how to seek professional help for feeding issues

Sound Bites

• "Red flags include restricted food range and food jags."
• "Offer small portions and involve kids in food prep."
• "Think beyond one bite, consider sensory exposure."

Chapters

00:00
Introduction to Picky Eating and Its Impact

00:29
Understanding Typical Picky Eating Behaviors

01:09
Red Flags for Problem Feeders

02:17
Developmentally Typical Feeding Behaviors

03:19
Peak and Improvement of Picky Eating

04:34
Preventative Strategies in Early Childhood

05:41
Involving Children in Food Preparation

07:35
Variety of Foods and Textures

09:08
Responding to Meal Refusals

10:17
Normalizing Food Reactions and Self-Regulation

12:41
Neurodiversity and Body Awareness

15:26
Establishing Routine and Consistency

17:18
Encouraging Food Exposure and Play

20:50
Outside Food Exposure Opportunities

24:41
Making Mealtimes Less Stressful

27:00
Family Style and Deconstructed Meals

30:35
Handling Picky Eating in Older Children

33:45
When to Seek Professional Help

36:17
Key Takeaways for Parents

Learn more about Liberty Post here: https://liberty-post.com/

Learn more about Liberty Resources here: https://liberty-resources.org/

Local to Central New York and interested in joining a Play2Learn class? Visit our website to register here: https://play2learntot.com/

Let's connect! Follow us on Instagram @play2learntot

REGISTER for your FREE Demo class here!

Interested in learning more about Franchising Opportunities? Email us at play2learntt@gmail.com

Juggling motherhood, weather, and confidence with Kate Thornton

Kate Thornton, an Emmy-winning meteorologist for News Channel 9 in Syracuse, joins the conversation to talk about life as a working mom of three daughters. This episode covers helping daughters navigate body image and social pressure, and teaching children not to fear thunderstorms by understanding the science behind them. We discuss practical parenting strategies, the challenge of modeling confidence on television, and how Kate turns weather education into a kid-friendly lesson on safety and preparedness.

Key topics

• Raising daughters in a comparison-heavy world - The conversation focuses on social media, beauty pressure, and helping kids understand that value is not based on appearance.
• Teaching confidence early - They emphasize talking to children about being “beautifully made,” praising kindness and character, and shaping a healthy inner voice from a young age.
• Helping kids understand storms - Kate shares how a childhood tornado warning sparked her love of weather and explains a simple, science-based way to reduce kids’ fear of thunder and lightning.
• Weather safety basics for families - She recommends batteries, flashlights, charged devices, water, basement readiness, winter blankets, and proper cold-weather clothing.
• Working in a field where appearance is scrutinized - Kate speaks honestly about being judged differently as a woman on TV, including the pressure of being pregnant on camera and the expectations around hair, makeup, and wardrobe.
• Modeling resilience and self-worth - The episode closes on the idea that confidence grows over time and that women can teach daughters to value intelligence, strength, kindness, and health alongside appearance.

Be sure to follow Kate and her crew on News Channel 9 or on her own personal Instagram @hurricanechippy

Learn more about Liberty Post here: https://liberty-post.com/

Learn more about Liberty Resources here: https://liberty-resources.org/

Local to Central New York and interested in joining a Play2Learn class? Visit our website to register here: https://play2learntot.com/

Let's connect! Follow us on Instagram @play2learntot

REGISTER for your FREE Demo class here!

Interested in learning more about Franchising Opportunities? Email us at play2learntt@gmail.com