Connecticut Children's Blog

The Quintero family of Manchester, Connecticut is breathing much easier these days after the Building for Health program fixed hazards in their home and provided support for their daughter’s worsening asthma symptoms. Building for Health: The Quintero Family’s Experience The Quintero family connected to Building for Health through the State of Connecticut’s Putting on AIRS […]

By: Stacy Chandna, MS, CIP Your family may be dreaming up a spring or summertime bucket list. A garden project is a perfect addition!  Stacy Chandna, co-director of Kohl’s Start Childhood Off Right program, joins the blog with tips. Want more articles like this from pediatric experts you trust? Sign up for our newsletter. Subscribe Gardening with […]

Ashley Burkman and her husband, Matt Chella, were thrilled to welcome their twin sons Calvin and Carter into the world in May 2019. The pregnancy had been a healthy one for Ashley with no signs of anything abnormal for the babies. However, shortly after the boys’ birth at 38 weeks, doctors became concerned about Carter’s health. “Carter […]

By Ashley Starr Frechette and Susan DiVietro, PhD In support of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, Ashley Starr Frechette, the director of health professional outreach at Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Susan DiVietro, PhD, a research scientist with Connecticut Children’s Injury Prevention Center, share an important message about both child abuse and domestic […]

February is Black History Month. The month honors the cultures and contributions of Black Americans in the United States. It provides a great opportunity to teach children about the history of the month and try out new activities to build appreciation and allyship for others. Here are ideas. 1. Get out the globe and explore […]

September 27, 2021 Media Contacts: Monica Buchanan, Senior Director, Strategic Communications Connecticut Children’s 352-219-0860 Hartford, CT – Connecticut Children’s is leading a five year, multi-partner, cross-sector effort designed to improve the lives of children in North Hartford under a new $30 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Connecticut Children’s was selected as […]

By: Elaine Wang, MD Elaine Wang, MD, is a pediatric resident at Connecticut Children’s and a proud advocate for children. In honor of Connecticut Children’s Family Advocacy Week, she shares ways to connect with local lawmakers, and stand up for children’s health issues. 8 Ways to Connect With Lawmakers Legislators are elected to represent your […]

Fredrik was two months old when he started struggling to keep down food. No matter what parents Marie and Josh Pinheiro tried, “he was spitting up and vomiting at all hours of the day,” says Marie. “Nothing helped.” Two months later, the wheezing and coughing started. At an age when he should have steadily put […]

Listening to music and dancing are among little Laniece’s favorite activities. At 2.5 years old, the East Hartford toddler enjoys moving to the beat of her favorite songs at any opportunity. When mom Christina Smith learned about a Zumbini class for children her daughter’s age, she immediately signed up. What is Zumbini? Inspired by the […]

By: Stacy Chandna, MS, CIP With the end of summer upon us, it’s time for the 100-meter dash to gather all the supplies your child needs for back to school. That includes the ever-important, but sometimes elusive, snack plan. Healthy snacks are a great way to keep your kids energized and boost their essential nutrient […]

By Amy Watkins, MPH It’s back to school time, and that means school buses, crowded drop-offs and bicycling or walking along busy roads. Motor vehicle injuries are a leading cause of death among children in the United States, so it’s important to talk to your child now about being safe around buses and cars.  Amy […]

By: Kevin Borrup, DrPH, JD, MPA “Trauma season” – that’s how emergency medicine providers and injury prevention experts often refer to the months of May through August. That’s because of the dramatic increase in the number of children injured during the warm spring and summer months. This summer, as pandemic restrictions are lifted, people are […]

You can help your child embrace diversity, equity and inclusion at any age. One way is to choose books and other entertainment featuring characters with a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. Wondering where to find age-appropriate suggestions? Try these resources. Where to Find Children’s Books About Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Common Sense Media: Commonsensemedia.org […]

With schools closed and social distancing measures in place, children are turning to social media to stay connected with friends – through messaging and video chats, sharing photos and videos, and playing video games. For many, this is happening at a younger age than their parents originally planned. That can be okay, since it’s important […]

By: Stacy Chandna, MS, CIP During the COVID-19 pandemic, families have been forced to find creative ways to keep kids active while still avoiding high-risk activities. With some youth sports canceled, the colder, winter months are pushing that creativity to new lengths. Stacy Chandna, co-director of Kohl’s Start Childhood Off Right program, joins the blog with tips. […]

By now, you may have read our pediatric dietitian’s 8 Tips to Get Kids Involved in the Kitchen, and you and your child may be discovering the fun of cooking together. Want to make kitchen time even more meaningful? Primary care pediatrician Nancy Trout, MD, MPH, co-director of the Kohl’s Start Childhood Off Right program […]

This April 2, Connecticut Children’s celebrates its 24th birthday – and we’re thinking of all the kids out there who have birthdays around this time too. From school to sports to shopping, some of your child’s favorite activities may have already been sidelined by the coronavirus pandemic and social distancing efforts. Unfortunately, a traditional birthday […]

With COVID-19 on everyone’s mind, we’re all trying to do a better job disinfecting items and surfaces that get a lot of contact. That goes for baby gear, too. Of course, cleaning baby gear is important all the time to remove germs, dirt and other soiled materials. But there are so many different kinds of […]

As communities work to stop the spread of coronavirus, many parents may hear instructions from their physician to self-quarantine themselves, their child or their whole family for 14 days. That may sound daunting. However, there are steps you can take to make the process more manageable and less stressful. Nancy Trout, MD, a Connecticut Children’s primary […]

For many children who live in New England, skiing is a part of winter. However, for some children with special needs, the sport is a challenging one that their families often avoid. “He absolutely loves it” Melissa Yager of Brookfield, Connecticut was reluctant to have her son Ryan try the sport until she found the […]