Connecticut Children's Blog

By Kelly Muccino, Connecticut Children’s Child Life Specialist When it comes to teaching children about their own cancer diagnosis, a step-by-step approach can be helpful. Talk to your child about each step of the treatment process as it’s happening. Connecticut Children’s Child Life team explains…   Want more articles like this from pediatric experts you trust? […]

By Connecticut Children’s Child Life Specialists  Books can be our greatest teachers, especially when families face a constantly changing world with ups, downs and challenges. This list of books, recommended by our Child Life team, will help kids of all ages and parents embrace change, build resilience, grieve, appreciate differences and power through adversity. Happy […]

Updated October 17, 2022 for additional recall of certain lots of Abbott 2 fluid ounce/59 milliliter bottles of Ready-to-Feed liquid products for infants and children.   (Originally published on February 22, 2022 and updated on March 1, 2022 and again on August 16, 2022) October 17: Certain lots of the following products have been voluntarily […]

When your teen is nearing the end of high school, they’ll suddenly need to take control of lots of aspects of their lives, from meal planning to healthcare. That includes finances. As adults, we sometimes assume that once a teen is a certain age, they’ll naturally know how to manage money. For some, that may […]

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 […]

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 […]

Parents of infants everywhere are facing challenges with baby formula shortage following this year’s recall and supply chain issues—not to mention the never-ending COVID-19 pandemic. Connecticut Children’s Clinical Nutrition Manager, Jennifer Zarrilli, shares advice on what to do if you’re having a hard time finding formula. Keep reading for more.    Want more articles like […]

By: Alyssa Nycz, MD We all know sleep is a necessary part of life, especially at a younger age. Kids need sleep for healthy growth, development, behavior and overall success in society. But, did you know? Children 6 to 12 years old need between nine and twelve hours of sleep a day— naps and nighttime […]

When your young child has big feelings in their little body, they may not know what to do about it. To help, you can work with them on a coping toolbox, mindfulness exercises or quick resets. Or, if you’re into wellness apps, you can turn to your phone: There are a growing number of apps […]

Grades, friends, sports, extracurricular interests – teens have a lot on their plates. All of these obligations can quickly go from fulfilling to overwhelming, especially during times of transition or in the midst of ongoing stressors like the pandemic. Connecticut Children’s pediatric psychologist Vanessa R. Laurent, PhD, has tips.   Want more articles like this […]