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Beyond Esophageal Atresia: Marcus’ Story Minutes after Marcus was placed in his mother’s arms for the first time, the nurses gently lifted him away again. They’d heard something alarming in his cry. An X-ray confirmed it: esophageal atresia, a problem with the connection between his esophagus and stomach. He’d just been

Can't Find Baby Formula? What to Do and What Not to Do By Jennifer Zarrilli, MS, RD: 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

What to Expect When Your Child Has the Flu — Symptoms, Timeline & Warnings By Ian C. Michelow, MD, FCPaed: This blog was originally published in 2022. It has been updated in February of 2025 and in October of 2025. When a child has the flu, parents often wonder what to expect and when to worry. Connecticut Children’s Dr. Ian C. Michelow shares six common developments and red flags to

Are You Doing Tummy Time Correctly With Your Baby? By Kim Hrapchak, PT, MSPT: Do you dread tummy time? If your baby starts fussing the moment they’re belly-down, you might be tempted to cut it short, or skip it altogether. Stay strong! Tummy time is a really important exercise for your baby. Connecticut Children’s pediatric physical therapist Kim Hrapchak

10 Quick Tips to Help Your Child Reset From Stress By Kelly Ann Maynes, PsyD: When our electronics act up, we can usually just unplug to reset them. If only our emotions were so simple. But during moments of stress, there are still some trusty methods for kids and teens – and parents – to calm themselves down. We could all use the practice! Connecticut

Is Your Child Struggling With Germ Phobia During COVID-19? 11 Ways to Help By Melissa Santos, PhD: We’re all concerned about getting sick right now. But if your child has an intense fear of germs, and trouble functioning at school or at home because of it, they may be dealing with some degree of germ phobia (aka “germaphobia”). During this coronavirus pandemic when we’re all

Meet Kimberley: Setting the World Aflame One Day at a Time Kimberley Roche APRN, worked in different nursing roles at a few hospitals before finding her home as a nurse practitioner in the Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders at Connecticut Children’s. Whether she’s helping patients, comforting families, reviewing labs or conducting

Beyond Imagination: How Life Support Saved Kaitlyn’s Lungs- And Life Last summer, 3-year-old Kaitlyn Duong caught a common virus. It should’ve amounted to nothing more than a typical childhood flu. She was prescribed rest and fluids; a dose of antibiotics when the doctor heard a touch of pneumonia. No major cause for concern. But then her

Celebrating Sickle Cell Patients at Connecticut Children’s Determined to make patients with Sickle Cell Disease and their families feel more comfortable while at Connecticut Children’s, Kelly Ha, LMSW, a member of Connecticut Children’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Advisory Board, turned a creative idea into reality in launching

6 Ways to Raise Children with a Growth Mindset By Preeti Sandhu, PsyD: Ever worry about your child’s desire to learn? Are you concerned that they do not feel as smart as other kids, but do not know how to change this outlook? A positive attitude can help them reshape their perspective on learning and what it means to achieve a goal. For years

Ahead of the Curve in Redefining Community Benefits By Paul Dworkin, MD: In this age of health care reform, it is encouraging to see more hospitals and health systems redefine the way in which they fulfill their community benefit obligations under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). It is also encouraging to see states begin to reconsider their approaches

How to Check On Your Child’s Mental Health By Bradley S. Jerson, PhD: Many young people struggle 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 the words to describe their experience. Parents, caregivers and other trusted

Ensuring Safe Ride Home from the Hospital By Kevin Borrup, DrPH, JD, MPA: By: Kevin Borrup, DrPh, JD, MPA It’s a question we frequently get from Connecticut Children’s Division of Orthopedics – can we provide a specialized car seat to a young patient who will soon undergo hip surgery to facilitate a safe ride home? We provide the service through our

When Does a Teen ACL Tear Need Surgery vs. Rehab? A Parent’s Guide By Matthew Brown, MD: When your teen is told they have torn their ACL, one of the biggest questions parents ask is: Do they need surgery, or can physical therapy be enough? Matt Brown, MD, orthopedic surgeon and ACL reconstruction expert, answers questions for parents.

Beyond Wrist Surgery: Arianna’s Story When she fell hard after whiffing on a ball during club soccer practice, 14-year-old Arianna P. nearly laughed out loud through the pain. “Here we go again,” she said to her mother in the hospital room. She’d managed to break her wrist for the second time. Deep down, she knew