Top tips for water safety
As summer approaches, families head outdoors for fun ways to beat the heat. One of the most cherished summertime activities is swimming — whether in a pool, lake or beach. But each summer, it’s important to remind ourselves of the sobering statistic that drowning ranks among the leading causes of unintentional injury death in the U.S. ... Read More about Top tips for water safety
Swallowing problems: 4 things to know about dysphagia
It seems like second nature to most of us, but swallowing is actually an intricate process with multiple stages, from the moment food or liquid passes through your lips until it enters your stomach. If something goes awry at any point in this journey, dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, can be the result. If your child chokes, ... Read More about Swallowing problems: 4 things to know about dysphagia
Talking with your child about suicide
For three weeks in late spring of 2018, it seemed like suicide dominated the media. On May 18, the second season of the controversial series 13 Reasons Why began airing on Netflix. Eighteen days later, fashion designer Kate Spade died by suicide, followed three days later by celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain. Such news came on the heels ... Read More about Talking with your child about suicide
Noisy breathing? It could be tracheomalacia
DJ is at his pediatrician’s office with his third bout of pneumonia this year. Katie wants to play soccer, but gasps for air when she exerts herself. Sarah’s parents have learned CPR because she has stopped breathing so many times. Although these kids appear to have very different problems, they all have one underlying cause: tracheomalacia. ... Read More about Noisy breathing? It could be tracheomalacia
Four things I learned at the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Family Symposium
I’m sure most parents treat clinic visits as I do… an opportunity to get every last drop of information out of your child’s doctors while you have their undivided attention. So, when the opportunity presents, you take advantage of a full day of learning about your kiddo. I had that chance recently — along with ... Read More about Four things I learned at the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Family Symposium
What parents should know about hypospadias
It’s one of the most common birth defects, affecting an estimated 1 out of 200 boys. But most parents aren’t aware of hypospadias until their child is diagnosed with it. In this condition, the opening of a boy’s urethra (through which both urine and semen pass) is located on the underside of his penis rather than at ... Read More about What parents should know about hypospadias
What parents of musicians should know about upper extremity injuries
When it comes to orthopedic injuries, sports are usually talked about as high-risk activities, but it’s not often we consider the risk that musicians take when playing an instrument for hours every day. Musicians can get overuse injuries the same way that athletes do, and are at risk for neck and back injuries, as well ... Read More about What parents of musicians should know about upper extremity injuries
Stroke in kids: What’s different?
Every May, we recognize National Stroke Awareness Month to honor everyone who has experienced a stroke — and to raise awareness of this disease. That awareness is especially important for pediatric stroke, which is more common than you might imagine. “Stroke occurs throughout childhood, from birth through 18 years of age, and more commonly than ... Read More about Stroke in kids: What’s different?
BabySee: Mobile app lets you see through an infant’s eyes
David Hunter, MD, PhD, chief of Ophthalmology at Boston Children’s Hospital, gets a lot of questions from parents, but the number one question is: “What can my baby see?” That depends. How old is the baby? Five days after birth, she might see something like the image at left; at 3 months, the image at ... Read More about BabySee: Mobile app lets you see through an infant’s eyes