Archive for primary care
The dos and don’ts of potty training
Eager as parents may be to start potty training, it can be a period filled with a lot of uncertainty and frustration. For insight on your most pressing potty training questions and effective — and not-so-effective — strategies for helping your child, we spoke with Wanessa Risko, MD, DSc., a pediatrician and founder of Singular ... Read More about The dos and don’ts of potty training
Keeping kids emotionally healthy during COVID-19
Children and teens have suffered immensely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Changing school and family routines, isolation at home, illness or loss of a family member, stressed parents, and fear of the virus itself have hit kids hard. And sadly, the pandemic continues with the rise of new COVID-19 variants. Pediatric practices can play a role ... Read More about Keeping kids emotionally healthy during COVID-19
The adolescent mental health crisis: Bolstering primary care capabilities
The mental health crisis among children and teens shows no sign of abating, and COVID-19 has clearly made matters worse. A recent study found that suicide attempts and self-harm were among the few indications for hospitalization that didn’t drop during the first waves of the pandemic. On the contrary, the past year has seen a ... Read More about The adolescent mental health crisis: Bolstering primary care capabilities
Teething: Which remedies are safe for babies?
The arrival of your infant’s first tooth is a milestone. But it can also signal the beginning of a trying phase for both of you: teething. Your baby was born with 20 teeth below their gumline. “The timing of teething varies from child to child. “Teeth may begin to erupt anywhere between 4 and 12 ... Read More about Teething: Which remedies are safe for babies?
Thyroid nodules in children: When to refer
You’re doing a regular well-child check when you think you feel a lump in the front of the neck. Or neck imaging done for some other reason shows a nodule in the thyroid. Could that lump be thyroid cancer? What should your next steps be? A thyroid nodule is a growth that forms within the ... Read More about Thyroid nodules in children: When to refer
More than the blues: Navigating postpartum depression
Whether you’ve given birth to your first child or you’re adding a member to your growing family, childbirth is a profound experience. After that, caring for a newborn is a round-the-clock endeavor — even if you’re prepared. The transition from pregnancy to parenthood is called the postpartum period. For insight on what parents can expect ... Read More about More than the blues: Navigating postpartum depression
How to help your child make and rekindle friendships at any age
Childhood friendships are key for mental and physical health. But friends come and go as a child ages, as they keep some longstanding relationships, makes new ones, and lose some. No matter the age and circumstance, friendships help children develop social and emotional skills, feel a sense of belonging, and decrease stress. “Our earliest friendships ... Read More about How to help your child make and rekindle friendships at any age
SMART: A new approach to asthma management
Until recently, the typical approach to asthma involved two inhalers. In its first update since 2007, the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program now recommends the use of Single Maintenance and Reliever Therapy (SMART) for selected patients. Rather than an inhaled corticosteroid for daily maintenance and an inhaled bronchodilator for exacerbations, SMART uses the same ... Read More about SMART: A new approach to asthma management
Practice positivity: Navigating body image with your child
Children receive thousands of messages every day about ‘how the world works’ and the role of kids and adolescents in it. Sometimes they learn things explicitly, but they also receive cues from mass and social media, family and peers. Body image is no exception. In young people, negative messages about bodies and appearances can contribute ... Read More about Practice positivity: Navigating body image with your child
Providing culturally responsive care to refugee and immigrant families
Refugee and immigrant parents and children have unique care needs. They have left their former lives behind, often due to discrimination, poverty, violence, or even ethnic cleansing operations. They may have witnessed or experienced torture or the death of a loved one. Once resettled in the U.S., parents must navigate and adjust to American culture, ... Read More about Providing culturally responsive care to refugee and immigrant families