Allergies can be so uncomfortable and disruptive to day to day life - for an entire family. But the good news is that we have a slew of medication options to treat generalized and specific symptoms to help your child. https://unsplash.com/@anniespratt   Why do allergies happen? For more information on why allergies occur, who its at highest risk, and answers to FAQs (eg: can babies have seasonal allergies) read my prior post. Treatment: First off, most importantly: you know I’m a big believer in minimizing the amount of medications we give our children. Children (and humans, really) may ..read more

Note: this is a sponsored post in support of Contract No 75N92022D00010 This has been a rough few months for many families when it comes to sickness. Respiratory season continues on - from RSV, to Influenza, to Covid-19, to Mycoplasma. Many of you have shared how frustrating it has been to keep taking time off work/school to try to get in with your doctor and get tested/treated. Healthcare providers are also overloaded and overwhelmed, and it is increasingly challenging to be seen in a timely fashion.  Obviously, if you have a serious concern about your (or your child’s) health, you shoul ..read more

Image courtesy of https://unsplash.com/@medakit What do you do if your child tests positive for Covid? A helpful guide for parents. Keep in mind that this information is not a substitute for an in-person medical evaluation from your healthcare provider. Although it can be helpful, it should never be your only source of information. Always touch base with your child’s pediatrician or a qualified healthcare provider to get specific instructions for your child. Another wave All signs indicate that we are seeing another wave, although surveillance is more challenging than it has been in the past ..read more

Last year’s respiratory system was a debacle. Will this year be the same? Here are my thoughts. Caveats: I do not have a crystal ball, and certainly when it comes to Covid, it’s hard to know what the pace of variants will look like. But after talking to several physician colleagues, here are my thoughts (first the bad news, then the good). PLEASE read all the way through this post, because I want my ultimate message to be clear.   The bottom line Although I wish I could say that I think this year will be tremendously better than last year, my realistic assumption based on current viral t ..read more

I have received many requests to talk about Beyfortus, which is the new monoclonal antibody against RSV that has just been approved by the FDA. There’s already a lot of confusion about Beyfortus - and a lot of fear-mongering as well. So lets sort out fact from melodrama.   First, its not a vaccine! Beyfortus (nirsevimab-alip) is a new option that provides protection against RSV for babies. It is injectable, and I think there have been other RSV vaccines in the news recently (for the elderly and pregnant among us), so this confusion is understandable. So one more time, let me clarify:  ..read more

Health anxiety in parents is sky rocketing, and it is no surprise. After pandemic parenting, and then the endless recurrent illnesses from last year, a little PTSD and fear about the start of school is normal. Have you wondered: will it be better this year? I don’t want to mislead you, so first I have to say: I don’t know. But instead of focusing on that question, I want instead to arm you with some tips to help you navigate your own health anxiety this season.   Anxiety is not all bad Let’s be clear. There’s nothing wrong with you if you have more health anxiety after parenting in the af ..read more

There is a lot that is exciting about the stat of the school year. And yet, even for children who’ve been in school before, there is also often a good deal of anxiety. Adjusting from the fun, family time and lack of structure of the summer is hard for everyone. And some anxiety when thinking about an impending separation is totally normal. This post will go over some separation anxiety techniques for children. BUT I think in our discussions of separation anxiety, we often overlook the feeling of anxiety and apprehension that parents experience when their kids are starting school (especially he ..read more

Who else has a child about to start kindergarten? If you do, you may already be worried your child is behind or unprepared for kindergarten. My second child will start kindergarten this Fall, so I’ve spent a lot of time this summer thinking about what skills are actually needed for success - and how to cultivate them. Here’s a list of practical, fun, pediatrician-approved ways to prepare your child for kindergarten. For a list of my favorite books to help your child start kindergarten, for separation anxiety, and even to begin to learn mindfulness skills, check out my faves page.   Prepa ..read more

A few weeks ago, my 5yo fell and lacerated his forehead (he needed 6 stitches). He was understandably freaked out and once the initial shock and fear wore off, our emergency room visit went surprisingly smoothly. I credit this simple “box breathing” technique, which is something I’ve worked on teaching my children for the past several years (we started with my oldest when she was 3.5y). This technique is also used by NAVY Seals to help calm them down so they can think more clearly through stressful moment. It is also very easy to teach. To watch a video, check out today’s instagram post!   ..read more

Motion or car sickness in kids is annoying AF - and it can make you feel pretty helpless as a parent. Here’s an overview. We’re going to go over WHY it happens, how you can tell if your child has it, and how to be prepared.  I’m also going to discuss what evidence-based methods we have to prevent it. What is motion sickness? Motion sickness occurs when the sensation the body is experiencing does not match the sensory input coming from the eyes, ears, etc.  Weirdly enough, it does not require actual motion — just the perception of motion. Part of how our brain figures out what is go ..read more