Health and Parenting
Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM): What parents need to know
If you’re a parent, chances are you’ve heard the recent news reports about acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM. As of September 2022, 13 cases of AFM have been confirmed in the U.S. according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and experts expect that number could rise. For reasons that are still unclear, outbreaks have ... Read More about Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM): What parents need to know
Health and Parenting
Keeping sports fun: Preventing burnout in young athletes
It’s easy to tell when a kid loves sports: Maybe they practice drills in the driveway until it’s dark and cold. Or they wake up excited on practice days and talk about practice at dinner. Even kids who keep their feelings under wraps may let their enthusiasm show in their laser focus. When the whistle ... Read More about Keeping sports fun: Preventing burnout in young athletes
Health and Parenting
Talking with – not at – young people about substance use
Teens and young adults using drugs and alcohol is not new. Neither is the challenge of speaking with them about the dangers and implications. However, what is changing are the substances young people are using and the ways they’re exposed to them. We’re also learning more about how drugs, alcohol, and nicotine affect growing bodies ... Read More about Talking with – not at – young people about substance use
Health and Parenting
Save that shot and your child’s teeth: The benefits of mouthguards
Competitive sports can get intense. They can also get physical, with athletes inadvertently colliding and balls moving fast at all kinds of angles. We spoke with Zameera Fida, DMD, an associate in the Department of Dentistry at Boston Children’s Hospital, about the importance of mouthguards and what you should do when not only your child resists but also ... Read More about Save that shot and your child’s teeth: The benefits of mouthguards
Health and Parenting
Childproofing your home: A checklist for parents
Bumps and bruises are a part of growing up. But serious injuries can cause lasting damage. By making a few adjustments around your house, you can help your child stay safe and healthy at home. We spoke to Dr. Katherine Shearer of Longwood Pediatrics, part of Boston Children’s Primary Care Alliance, about keeping kids safe ... Read More about Childproofing your home: A checklist for parents
Health and Parenting
Remember these seven things before bringing your newborn home from the hospital
Congratulations, you just had a baby! Now what? Whether it’s your first, second, or eighth child, the initial weeks of life with a newborn can be a sleep-deprived blur. Hopefully, your first few days postpartum come with the support of knowledgeable, compassionate nurses and hospital staff. So before being discharged home with your bundle of ... Read More about Remember these seven things before bringing your newborn home from the hospital
Health and Parenting
Step by step: What to consider before your child wears a fitness tracker
Energetic children run circles around their parents. Wearable devices can count how many footsteps go into those circles. Depending on the model, fitness trackers can measure the steps a child walks and the miles they bike, all while monitoring their heart rate, body temperature, and other vital signs of health. More importantly, the devices can ... Read More about Step by step: What to consider before your child wears a fitness tracker
Health and Parenting
Eight tips to get your kids on a good sleep schedule
If your kids are staying up past midnight and not getting out of bed until after noon, they are in good company. Since kids have been out of school for the summer and have spent their days and nights with their friends or staying up late to binge a TV show, many are off their ... Read More about Eight tips to get your kids on a good sleep schedule
Research
How protected am I from COVID-19? A new test could tell you at home
Say you’re going to a wedding or a concert or are about to leave the country. You’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19, even boosted, but you have an underlying medical condition. You might have a young child who’s received only one vaccine dose. How much protection do you and your family have? Do you need another ... Read More about How protected am I from COVID-19? A new test could tell you at home
Patient Stories
Sonny’s story: How an online Apert syndrome community set one family on a path to Boston
Sonny Daniel has had a busy summer. Between traveling, camp, and time with family and friends, this 4-year-old has constantly been on the go — something his parents, Kellie and Josh, are incredibly grateful for. Their gratitude stems a lot from seeing how far Sonny’s come in his journey with Apert syndrome, a genetic disorder that ... Read More about Sonny’s story: How an online Apert syndrome community set one family on a path to Boston