Visiting the doctor's office can be stressful for everyone. Let's face it: the vibe in many healthcare settings lends itself to fear and anxiety. Those feelings are often more intense for kids due to their stage of development and their limited ability to fully express their thoughts and feelings. Children commonly report being anxious or afraid in healthcare settings, … [Read more...]

If you're a parent, there's a good chance you've heard of Red 40. Food dyes are a hot topic these days. In general, Americans are becoming more mindful about what's in our food. But parents have been raising questions about artificial food dyes for decades. It seems like artificial dyes are everywhere. We might be conscious of their presence in things like cereal, candy … [Read more...]

America's fixation with thinness continues. With the rise of SkinnyTok and other toxic social media trends, children and teens are getting unhealthy messages about weight and appearance. For parents and medical providers, the potential for depression, bullying and eating disorders are real concerns. Fortunately, there are positive steps parents can take to foster a healthy … [Read more...]

Starting your baby on solid foods is an exciting time. It’s a developmental milestone and a step towards independence. However, there is still considerable confusion about the optimal time to introduce solids. New parents get mixed messages and conflicting advice from friends and family about when and what to feed their little ones. The good news is that baby gums are rock … [Read more...]

Summer vacation is almost here! For parents, it means a break from carpools and packing school lunches. But it also means scheduling summer camps and finding engaging activities for our kiddos. For kids, it’s time to rest and recharge, but we don’t want them sitting on the couch watching TV or playing video games all day. How do we find enriching activities while still … [Read more...]

In some ways, the upper elementary years are a parenting sweet spot. Kids are somewhat autonomous with the basics of eating, sleeping, toilet issues and personal care. But they haven’t yet experienced the full effect of adolescent hormones and teen drama. However, the 7 to 10 set isn’t without worries. As kids tap into social media and the pressures formerly reserved for … [Read more...]

We're hearing many concerns from parents about contagious diseases, and measles is at the top of the list. Parents and caregivers are on edge, and their worry is understandable, given ongoing, highly publicized outbreaks in Texas and a few cases in the DC region. Are our children safe from measles? What can we do to stay healthy during uncertain times? The good news is … [Read more...]

In kindergarten, Caroline had painful, itchy patches between her fingers. It really hurt, and using hand sanitizer at school seemed to make it worse. After talking with her pediatrician, her mom asked teachers to encourage hand-washing instead of sanitizer. The family also switched to a more gentle, perfume-free hand soap at home. Avoiding these triggers, combined with a … [Read more...]

For many Gen X and millennial parents, sleepovers with friends are among our best childhood memories. There was something magical about the freedom and fun of spending the night away from home. In the era of freewheeling parenting, sleepovers were often loosely organized and informal. Of course, things have changed, and in the 2020s, there's renewed debate on parenting … [Read more...]

This fall and winter, communities around the country have been affected by spikes in walking pneumonia. Locally, we’ve seen many families bringing kids in with nagging coughs that won’t go away, one of the warning signs of walking pneumonia. The CDC issued an alert about this worrisome infection this fall after observing rising rates across age groups, especially young … [Read more...]