On Babies

Sleep

Understanding Infant and Toddler Sleep

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on March 15, 2023

Most babies need to learn skills before they can sleep well on their own, let alone through the night. Normalizing sleep struggles can help caregivers feel less helpless.

Most babies need to learn skills before they can sleep well on their own, let alone through the night. Normalizing sleep struggles can help caregivers feel less helpless.

Caregiving

Why Babies Need Your Undivided Attention

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on February 15, 2023

Babies and toddlers are in a developmental stage of rapid brain growth. Caregiver responsiveness is key for healthy brain architecture, yet technology can interfere.

Babies and toddlers are in a developmental stage of rapid brain growth. Caregiver responsiveness is key for healthy brain architecture, yet technology can interfere.

Parenting

Positive Parenting: Discipline vs. Punishment

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on January 12, 2023

When caregivers understand the differences between discipline and punishment, they can better guide children with positive approaches toward learning and lasting behavior change.

When caregivers understand the differences between discipline and punishment, they can better guide children with positive approaches toward learning and lasting behavior change.

Caregiving

Understanding Temperament and Caregiver-Child Mismatches

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on December 15, 2022

Caregivers have an advantage when they understand temperament, its effect on children’s behavior, and how to navigate a temperamental match, or mismatch, with their child.

Caregivers have an advantage when they understand temperament, its effect on children’s behavior, and how to navigate a temperamental match, or mismatch, with their child.

Parenting

Supporting Adoptive, Foster, and Kinship Families

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on November 19, 2022

Caregivers who parent extended family members, adopted children, or children in out-of-home placements need positive parenting tools and a trauma-informed lens to be effective.

Caregivers who parent extended family members, adopted children, or children in out-of-home placements need positive parenting tools and a trauma-informed lens to be effective.

Parenting

The "Post-Pandemic" Screen Time Dilemma

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on September 24, 2022

The pandemic decreased the availability of high-quality child care and changed how families work, potentially increasing the time young children engage with screens.

The pandemic decreased the availability of high-quality child care and changed how families work, potentially increasing the time young children engage with screens.

Autism

How to Support Families of Young Children with Autism

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on July 18, 2022

The road to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) identification is long and stressful. Here's how to support caregivers in getting support to their children as early as possible.

The road to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) identification is long and stressful. Here's how to support caregivers in getting support to their children as early as possible.

Stress

Supporting Families Facing Continuing Mass Gun Violence

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on June 15, 2022

The increase in mass shootings nationwide adds anxiety and stress for caregivers of young children. Practitioners can provide stress mitigation and ongoing support.

The increase in mass shootings nationwide adds anxiety and stress for caregivers of young children. Practitioners can provide stress mitigation and ongoing support.

Anxiety

Understanding Anxiety in Young Children

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on May 12, 2022

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of anxiety in young children can help practitioners provide supportive strategies to caregivers.

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of anxiety in young children can help practitioners provide supportive strategies to caregivers.

Stress

How to Support Babies and Toddlers During Outings

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on April 5, 2022

Ideas for how families with young, unvaccinated children can remain cautious while heading back out into the world again.

Ideas for how families with young, unvaccinated children can remain cautious while heading back out into the world again.

Parenting

Parenting, Caregiver ACEs, and the Ongoing Pandemic

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on March 16, 2022

Caregivers with a history of adverse childhood experiences may need additional skills and support to recover from stress.

Caregivers with a history of adverse childhood experiences may need additional skills and support to recover from stress.

Microaggression

How Practitioners Can Better Address Microaggressions

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on February 16, 2022

Health care and mental health practitioners can contribute to the reduction of bias and microaggressions through increased awareness and practice.

Health care and mental health practitioners can contribute to the reduction of bias and microaggressions through increased awareness and practice.

Child Development

Tips for Pandemic-Weary Parents and Caregivers

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on January 18, 2022

Parents and caregivers of young children are out of bandwidth. Here are some suggestions for getting through the long days.

Parents and caregivers of young children are out of bandwidth. Here are some suggestions for getting through the long days.

Caregiving

No, You Cannot Spoil a Baby

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on December 13, 2021

What caregivers can say and do when they’re told, “You’re going to spoil the baby,” or “That baby is manipulating you.”

What caregivers can say and do when they’re told, “You’re going to spoil the baby,” or “That baby is manipulating you.”

Caregiving

Navigating Parent-Child Separations

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on November 17, 2021

Babies and young children may be separated from a caregiver for many reasons. How can you support them?

Babies and young children may be separated from a caregiver for many reasons. How can you support them?

Child Development

What Does It Mean for Children and Families to Be Healthy?

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on October 19, 2021

Early childhood has a disproportionate impact on lifelong health and well-being.

Early childhood has a disproportionate impact on lifelong health and well-being.

Child Development

What's “Mattering” In Young Children and Why Does It Matter?

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on September 21, 2021

It's easy to imagine an older child feeling like they matter, but what about babies and toddlers?

It's easy to imagine an older child feeling like they matter, but what about babies and toddlers?

Postpartum Depression

Postpartum Depression Support for All Parents

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on August 16, 2021

Caregivers are opening up about their mental health after the birth of a baby during a pandemic. Providers can support caregivers of all gender identities.

Caregivers are opening up about their mental health after the birth of a baby during a pandemic. Providers can support caregivers of all gender identities.

Parenting

How to Meet Parents Where They Dream

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on July 16, 2021

Demand for mental health services has increased amid the pandemic, so how can you best support families?

Demand for mental health services has increased amid the pandemic, so how can you best support families?

Stress

How to Support Babies with Pandemic-Induced Social Stress

Rahil D. Briggs PsyD on June 10, 2021

Are children really that resilient? Yes, but young children are affected by the social changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Are children really that resilient? Yes, but young children are affected by the social changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.