June is Pride Month in the United States, a time to celebrate and support the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA) community. It’s a great opportunity to teach kids about the different ways that people can identify and love one another, and how to lift their own and others’ voices for […]

Up to three out of four kids will have a heart murmur at some point in childhood, but in most cases, it’s nothing to worry about. To explain more, Connecticut Children’s pediatric cardiologist (and American Heart Association leader!) Seth Lapuk, MD, joins the blog. 1. Most heart murmurs are normal and caused by normal blood […]

This post was last updated on June 16, 2021. Recently, the CDC said it is looking into reports of heart problems in young people who have been vaccinated for COVID-19. These cases have been very rare, and for the most part, mild. But we know that many parents have questions. Connecticut Children’s Physician-in-Chief Juan C. Salazar, […]

“Nothing can prepare you for the moment when you realize you will not be able to hold your newborn,” says Marisol Casado. But there it was: Just 20 weeks into pregnancy, a routine ultrasound showed an abnormality in her baby’s heart. “The second my doctor told me, my heart dropped. I could feel it in […]

Is your child nervous about returning to social situations? For many kids and adolescents (and their parents!) one of the toughest aspects of the pandemic has been not seeing friends in person. Luckily, many schools now offer more in-person learning, COVID-19 vaccines are available for anyone 12 or older, and warmer weather is allowing for […]

By Matthew Eremita, MD Following CDC guidance, Connecticut and other states recently relaxed mask requirements for vaccinated individuals, a sign of the strong protection that the COVID-19 vaccine offers. But right now, a vaccine is only available to ages 12 and up, which means that in many situations, younger kids will be wearing masks awhile […]

The Food and Drug Administration authorized the emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children as young as 12 – another major step toward ending the pandemic and getting back to your family’s favorite activities. Connecticut Children’s Physician-in-Chief Juan C. Salazar, MD, MPH, returns to the Growing Healthy blog to answer common questions about […]

If it races, rolls or jumps, 8-year-old Finnbar Prenty has probably mastered it – from skis to scooters to skateboarding. But not long ago, this kind of activity was out of the question. Finn began his health journey at another hospital in the state, where he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a condition that causes […]

There’s so much cumulative trauma and grief in the world right now, and it’s affecting children and teens. Many young people are struggling with anxiety or depression, but don’t know how to ask for help. They may not realize that it’s okay to talk about what they’re going through. Or they may have trouble finding […]