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 […]

Academic performance, behavior and mood are all dependent on good sleep. Kids need more sleep than we do (9-10 hours per night for children ages 5-12, and 8-9 hours per night for teens). Here are some helpful techniques to help get your child’s back-to-school sleep schedule back on track. Want more articles like this from […]

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 […]

A lot has changed over the course of COVID-19 with remote, hybrid and in-person learning, but backpacks are here to stay. They’re customizable, come in all shapes, sizes and colors and are the ultimate in self-expression. But—when not worn properly, they can cause short- or long-term problems in kids’ muscles, joints and—well—back. So what’s the […]