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Does Your Child Have Special Needs? 4 Things to Ask Their School Now By Jennifer Twachtman-Bassett, MS, CCC-SLP: As the new school year rapidly approaches, families are gearing up for changes in schedules, procedures, and rules. If your child has special needs, you may want to reach out to their teaching team for extra support helping them adjust. Connecticut Children’s autism specialist

Adult Skincare Products are Not Safe for Kids. Here’s Why. No. It’s not safe for kids to use adult skincare products. But thanks to TikTok “skinfluencer” trends everywhere (#schoolgrwm, for one), kids are getting the wrong messages about what it means to keep skin healthy. Many preteens and children as young as 6 years old (!) have been

24 Questions for Your Teen to Ask Their Doctor By Lauren K. Ayr-Volta, PhD: By the time your child enters their teenage years, they should be getting ready to take charge of their own health. The more confident they feel speaking up at doctor’s visits, the better. It gives their doctor more information to support them through adolescence – and sets your

Q&A: Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for Pediatric Epilepsy & Primary Dystonia By David Hersh, MD: If your child’s epilepsy or dystonia isn’t responding to medication or other treatments, what comes next? Connecticut Children’s, in partnership with UConn Health, offers deep brain stimulation (DBS) as an option for pediatric patients — and for many families, a reason for hope

Transforming Mental Health Support for Your Child: Connecticut Children’s Commitment By Kristen Volz-Spessard, MS: Prioritizing the well-being of our youth is critical. At Connecticut Children’s, we are committed to supporting your child’s mental health. We offer a range of initiatives, resources, and support services designed to address these challenges. From counseling and therapeutic

Celebrating Pride Month: Activities and Resources for Families and Children Pride Month serves as an excellent opportunity to educate children about the significant contributions and achievements of individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA) both historically and in contemporary

Make a DIY Calming Bottle for Your Child’s Coping Skills Toolbox By Melissa Santos, PhD: Want a fun craft project that will soothe your child during moments of stress? Make a calming bottle to add to their coping toolbox! Calm down bottles are great for kids who are in timeout, fidgety or struggling with sensory overload, or just feeling anxious. Pediatric

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

Is Your Child Online? Follow 6 Steps for Social Media Safety By Kevin Borrup, DrPH, JD, MPA: Children turn 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 for

Deciding to Treat Fetal Renal Failure: Information & Support for Families By Timothy Crombleholme, MD: Until recently, most experts thought fetal renal failure was fatal — period. Expecting parents were simply told they had no options. Today, that’s no longer the case. With special care, it’s possible for a baby with fetal renal failure to survive and eventually thrive. But the

Pediatric Meltdown: Parent-Led Health Care Transformation As pediatricians face enormous challenges maintaining practices amid growing expectations, there is optimism that transformational change in pediatric primary care delivery could further support providers and bring about the often-elusive outcomes we have long sought. Paul

Easy Breathing: A Tool to Aid in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Asthma in Children By Jessica Hollenbach, PhD: Asthma is a common respiratory condition affecting many children; however, it is often underdiagnosed and undertreated. Easy Breathing, a program started in 1998, is designed to help primary care physicians appropriately and easily diagnose and treat asthma in children. Easy

Beyond a Rare GI Disorder: Gracyn's Story Last time 6-year-old Gracyn-Rose was staying at Connecticut Children’s, she turned to her long-time nurse Meaghan Schneider. “You’re my second mom,” she told Meaghan. “You’re my hospital mom.” In her young life, Gracyn has been hospitalized more than 20 times for a rare

Adolescent and Teen Weight Loss Do’s and Don’ts By James Healy, MD, MHS, Pediatric Surgeon: How can we all be better informed about the different approaches to weight management, including diet, exercise, medication and surgery? James Healy, MD, MHS, Pediatric Surgeon with expertise in weight loss surgery, answers some of the most pressing questions parents have about

When and How to Talk to Young Kids About Sex By Andrew Carlson, MD: “Hey, Alexa, how are babies made?” Kids as young as 3 or 4 have turned to voice assistants to ask this question. Just like that. It’s no surprise because sex is a normal part of life, not “taboo” or “dirty.” As a pediatrician, parents ask me all the time: “When and how should I