Connecticut Children's Blog

Earlier this month, Connecticut saw its first cases of monkeypox in adults, making the virus a reality in the community. (Visit this CDC webpage for a breakdown of cases by state.) As if COVID-19 and parechovirus weren’t enough, parents are concerned. What should you know, and how worried do you need to be at this […]

There are lots of myths and misconceptions about breastfeeding, so we sat down with Silvana Michael, a lactation nurse at Connecticut Children’s, to get answers to the most common questions.  How long should moms breastfeed? When we hear this question from moms, we ask them: What is your goal? Our job is really to help […]

July Is Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, also known as BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month. BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous and People of Color. This month brings awareness to the unique mental health needs these groups face. Connecticut Children’s Dr. Melissa Santos, Division Head of Pediatric Psychology and Associate Chair for […]

On Tuesday, July 19, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued a warning to medical professionals about parechovirus, a common virus that goes around in summer and fall and infects most children by the time they start kindergarten. Understandably, parents are concerned—especially because there have been cases reported in Connecticut. Dr. Ian Michelow, Division Head […]

At 17 weeks pregnant, Ashley Donnelly’s water broke. She wasn’t even halfway through a full-term pregnancy. At her Ob/Gyn’s office, and then with her maternal fetal medicine team, the experts gently prepared her for the worst. “I could see it on everybody’s faces,” she says. “They couldn’t believe I was still pregnant.” There was nothing […]

Oh, tummy troubles! Abdominal pain is among the most common reasons kids visit their pediatrician or obtain a referral to a gastroenterologist. What’s a parent to do when they hear, “My tummy hurts—I can’t go to school,” more and more frequently, even after a visit (or two) to the doctor? Are these complaints “legit” or […]

It’s 3 am and you caught your toddler trying to climb out of the crib! Or, maybe you’re just wondering when, how or why you should make the switch to a bed. We turned to Dr. Haviva Veler, Division Head of Connecticut Children’s Pediatric Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine team, for answers. Want more articles like […]

School’s almost in session and you’re gearing up your young learner for another successful academic year. If your child falls into the 15% of kids between 6 and 10 years old who experience hearing loss (according to the CDC), you may be wondering what you can do to help them overcome any challenges and ensure […]

In recent years, athletes from Simone Biles to Naomi Osaka to Michael Phelps have come forward to talk about the importance of mental health, along with the impact of sports and competition. Lots of young athletes can relate. A sport can all too easily switch from a source of joy to a source of stress. […]

By Adel Lolic, MS, Sports Exercise Technologist  Goal! Soccer is a popular sport for school-aged kids and teens! Soccer can also be tough on the body. As with any sport, soccer can lead to overuse injuries—or injuries that come from doing too much of the same activity over time. (Think: shin splints with running or […]