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How to Support a Child's Media Diet By Annika Anderson, MPH: By: Annika Anderson, MPH In a world that is more digitally active than ever before, childcare professionals, physicians and caregivers are toggling widespread beliefs about children’s media use and whether it hinders or promotes development. Adults who facilitate children’s media

Free, Confidential Support for Families Experiencing Domestic Violence By Ashley Starr Frechette: 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

When Diseases Are Rare, What Keeps Them That Way? By Ian C. Michelow, MD, FCPaed: These terrible illnesses were once common in childhood and caused much suffering. Today, most families are very fortunate that they don’t encounter them at all. That’s not because the diseases disappeared on their own, or because children are “more resilient.” It’s because

Pregnant With Twins? 5 Questions to Ask Your Doctor By Jennifer Humphrey, MSN, RN: Expecting twins? Congratulations! You may already know that frequent visits to your obstetrician (OB) or maternal-fetal medicine specialist (MFM) are on the horizon. Twin pregnancies can increase your risk of complications and the need for more specialized medical attention. What

Meet the Local Artist Behind North Hartford Ascend’s New Brand Introducing Our New Look The North Hartford Ascend initiative is dedicated to guiding children from infancy to adulthood, ensuring that those residing within the North Hartford Promise Zone – which includes the Clay Arsenal, Northeast, and Upper Albany neighborhoods – receive the

The Critical Importance of Newborn Screening: What Every Parent Should Know By Debra Ellis, NBS, RN: Newborn screening is an important part of your newborn’s healthcare. It has the potential to detect serious but treatable medical conditions before symptoms appear and could be the key to saving lives and preventing lifelong health issues. One aspect of newborn screening is the

How to Help Teens Stay Motivated During the Summer Months By Preeti Sandhu, PsyD: Summertime is often seen as a time for teenagers to relax and have fun, but boredom and lack of motivation can also set in. As a result, teens may find themselves feeling restless and uninspired. Connecticut Children’s mental health expert Preeti Sandhu, PsyD, shares 6 ways to

Backpack Wearing: Do’s and Don’ts By Philip W. Mack, MD: Backpacks are 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 right way to wear and carry a backpack? What

Connecticut Children’s Named 2023 Women’s Choice Award Winner For Best Children’s Hospital and Pediatric Emergency Care Amid Highly Infectious Respiratory Season

Bella’s Story: Introducing Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for Pediatric Epilepsy By David Hersh, MD: Isabella has always been a joyful kid — bright-eyed, full of curiosity, and completely herself. But since age 10, she has also been living with the fear and danger of a hard-to-treat form of epilepsy, sometimes having more than five seizures a day. A partnership between

Answers to the Most Common Questions About Breastfeeding By Silvana Michael: 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

Meet Ashlie: Loving the Switch From Treating Adults to Caring for Kids But her mother, also a nurse at Connecticut Children’s, convinced her to bring her skills to pediatric nursing. Initially nervous about the transition, she now loves working with children and their families, and has advanced both her career and leadership responsibilities through

Fitness Challenges to Keep Kids, Teens and Athletes Active By Allison E. Crepeau, MD: This article was last revised in April 2025 to reflect current times. It’s important for all kids to get at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day for their heart health – and it’s important for athletes to stay active in order to prevent injury . So how about a fitness

Ankle Sprains: A Common Challenge for Basketball Players Ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries in basketball athletes of all ages. And all too often, many players have to sit most of the season out depending on how severe the injury. This is a situation no athlete and their parents, understandably, want to face. >Related

When Resources Are Connected, Families Feel the Difference Last week, North Hartford Ascend hosted its Summer Programs Fair, “Plan Your Summer, Secure Your Spot!” Families from across North Hartford gathered to explore local summer programs, ask questions, and begin applications before spots fill up. The event focused on summer planning