✨Translated by AI

Dr. Alina Uasuwannakul: The Child Development Specialist Who Understands Both Children and Parents—Because She Is One

– Dr. Alina Uasuwannakul’s –

Caring for her own two children is what has truly completed Dr. Alina ‘June’ Uasuwannakul’s role as a paediatrician. The specialist in Child Development and Behaviour at BNH Hospital has gained a profound, real-world understanding that no textbook could provide: a deep empathy for the unique challenges faced by both children and their families.

Because She Wanted to Help Children

Although her family never expected her to pursue a specific career, Dr. June’s passion for biology—strong enough to take her to a national academic Olympiad camp—and her desire to help others led her to medicine. She attended the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, but it wasn’t until her internship at Phra Chom Klao Hospital in Phetchaburi that she truly understood what it meant to be a doctor.

“During my rotation on the children’s ward,” she recalls, “I saw that what they were going through… they didn’t want to be that way. They didn’t intend to make themselves sick. So, I knew I wanted to help children as much as possible.”

During her paediatric residency at Ramathibodi Hospital, she became interested in child development. She saw it as a vital field because a child’s problems affect the entire family, both in the long term and in the day-to-day. Providing the right care not only helps the child grow up happy and healthy but also relieves the family’s stress.

“I believed that if I could do that, the family could live happily and the child could grow up to their full potential. So, I decided to specialise in it.”

While completing her fellowship, Dr. June gave birth to her son, who she describes as her ‘biggest textbook’, giving her direct, personal experience in child development from day one.

Letting Them Grow Beautifully

Dr. June’s practice covers the entire spectrum of child development, from birth to adolescence. This includes promoting age-appropriate milestones and addressing developmental problems such as speech delays, aggression, mood issues, learning difficulties, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorder. She also helps children navigate periods of adjustment, such as the arrival of a new sibling or starting school.

Her process begins by playing with the child while simultaneously assessing them. She listens to the parents’ stories and concerns, carefully observing the feelings of both the child and the family to find the most suitable approach.

Accepting that one’s child has a developmental problem is never easy. Dr. June must be tactful, focusing on the ultimate goal: getting the child help, even if the parents are not yet ready to accept a specific diagnosis. “At the very least, bringing their child to me shows they see a problem. I focus on the benefits of early intervention, because a child’s brain is growing every day, and I don’t want to waste a single one.”

The most critical window for intervention is the “golden period” from birth to age three. This is when the brain has the highest plasticity, and training can have the most significant impact.

One case she remembers vividly involved a Primary 3 student on the verge of expulsion for irritability and fighting. Dr. June diagnosed him with ADHD. With the right treatment and strong family cooperation, the boy transformed. He was able to learn, control his emotions, and began receiving praise from his teacher, which rebuilt his self-esteem. “Once he received care, he was able to grow beautifully,” she says.

Developmental care is an integrated process. Dr. June provides Complete Care by educating parents, promoting age-appropriate development, and coordinating with other specialists. Sometimes, a perceived developmental issue has another root cause; for example, a child might be a slow learner simply because they are severely short-sighted.

Patients describe her as kind, patient, and understanding. She leads with empathy, which builds trust. “I often give encouragement,” she says. “I’ll tell them, ‘You are already paying such close attention and caring for your child so well.’ They already know it’s not easy, but they’ve managed to get this far. I use this positive reinforcement as part of the treatment.”

With the Heart of a Doctor and a Mother

“My child is my biggest textbook,” Dr. June repeats. “He taught me that even after learning all the theories, real life is about doing what you can and what you are comfortable with.”

She starts with theory, but adapts if it doesn’t suit her child. This experience has profoundly deepened her empathy for parents. “After having a child, I understand so much more,” she explains. “I understand all the things the textbooks don’t tell you. When I treat patients now, I feel I can help them more. For example, in the past, if a child had a simple cold, I’d treat the cold and be done. Now, I also help address the parents’ anxiety, because I know exactly what a mother is feeling.”

As a mother and a developmental specialist, Dr. June champions the power of play. She lets her child lead, then uses his interests as teachable moments. “At this age, he’s starting to solve simple problems. When his ball rolls under the bed and he can’t reach it, I let him try to find a way to get it himself.”

She also believes strongly in the educational value of travel, even for very young children. “Every trip is so beneficial; he seems to grow in leaps and bounds. When he was one, I took him to Japan. He wasn’t walking confidently before we left, but he was so curious about the new place that he wanted to explore. We walked so much that he was practically running by the time we got back. After a beach trip where he played with the sand, his skill at scooping rice with a spoon improved.”

“เที่ยวแต่ละครั้ง มีประโยชน์กับเด็กมากเลย เขาได้โตอย่างก้าวกระโดดในทุกรอบที่ได้ออกเดินทางไปเที่ยว คือพอไปที่แปลกใหม่ เขาจะอยากสํารวจไปในตัว ตอนเขา 1 ขวบ หมอเคยพาไปญี่ปุ่น ช่วงแรกก็เดินไม่ได้คล่องมาก แต่พอกลับมานี่เขาแทบจะวิ่ง เพราะเราเดินกันทั้งวันที่นู่น เขาอยากดูอะไรก็พาไป หรือตอนพาเขาไปทะเล ไปเล่นตักทราย กลับมาเขาก็ตักข้าวเก่งขึ้น”

เดินทางบ่อย ก็ต้องมีวิธีเตรียมลูกให้พร้อมก่อนการเดินทางด้วย เพื่อไม่ให้เกิดปัญหาทั้งกับเขาและกับเพื่อนร่วมทริปคนอื่น โดยเฉพาะการเดินทางด้วยเครื่องบินที่ผู้โดยสารมักกลัวการได้นั่งใกล้เด็กเล็ก ซึ่งหมอจูนก็มีเคล็ดลับมาฝากผู้ปกครองท่านอื่น

“เด็กแต่ละคนจะมีกิจวัตรของตัวเองว่าจะนอนกี่โมง กินกี่โมง เราก็เลยเตรียมตัวเขา ให้เขาเล่นตอนกลางวันให้พอ กินให้อิ่ม พอขึ้นเครื่องไปเขาก็ตื่นเต้นสํารวจนู่นนี่ในตอนแรก แต่สักพักก็จะเป็นเวลานอนของเขาพอดี เขามีงอแงนิดหน่อย แต่เรารู้อยู่แล้วว่าต้องกล่อมลูกยังไง หมอยังเตรียมของเผื่อฉุกเฉินไปด้วย ทั้งชุดเปลี่ยนเผื่ออาเจียน ผ้าอ้อมเด็ก และก็ยาลดน้ำมูกที่ทําให้เด็กง่วงหากเขาร้องจนไม่ไหวจริง ซึ่งเรารู้อยู่แล้วว่าผลข้างเคียงน้อย แต่สุดท้ายก็โชคดีที่ไม่ต้องใช้”
และคุณหมอยังฝากคำแนะนำการใช้ชีวิตไปให้ผู้ปกครองยุคใหม่ ที่เลี้ยงลูกท่ามกลางสิ่งเร้าต่าง ๆ

“หมอว่ามันไม่มีวิธีเลี้ยงลูกแบบไหนที่ใช้ได้กับเด็กทุกคน เด็กแต่ละคนก็ต่างกัน สิ่งสำคัญคือการเลี้ยงลูกในแบบของตัวเองมากกว่า เราสบายใจที่จะดูแลแบบไหน ไม่ตึง ไม่เครียดจนเกินไป รู้จักปล่อยวาง สมัยนี้คนเราเสพย์สื่อเยอะ มีคนมาอัปเดตอวดชีวิตลูก ๆ เยอะมาก แต่การไม่ไปเปรียบเทียบกับคนอื่นน่าจะทําให้ทุกครอบครัวมีความสุขขึ้นมากกว่า และหากพ่อแม่อารมณ์ดี ลูกก็จะดีตามเอง”