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Safe Sleep Practices Protect Babies By Amy Watkins, MPH: By: Amy Watkins, MPH Safe sleep environments are critical to protect babies from harm. Each year in the United States, approximately 3,500 infants die unexpectedly during sleep. This can happen from accidental suffocation, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or unknown causes

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

Chiari Malformation in Children: Questions to Ask Your Doctor By Bethany Simonetti MSN, APRN, FNP-BC: Finding out that your child has a Chiari malformation can be overwhelming. Parents often have many questions like: What does this mean for my child? Will they need surgery? What will life be like afterward? Before your appointment with a pediatric neurosurgeon, it helps to have a

How to Prepare Younger Kids for the COVID-19 Vaccine This post was last updated November 4, 2021. Parents and caregivers, this is an exciting time: A COVID-19 vaccine is now available for ages 5 to 11. Since kids in this age group might be a little more nervous about needles or doctor’s visits, Connecticut Children’s Child Life

More Than the Blues? Kids and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) By Vanessa R. Laurent, PhD: As the days grow shorter and the hours of sunlight decrease, your child may feel sad or sluggish from the gray skies. For some kids and teens, this feeling may be a more serious problem known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. Connecticut Children’s pediatric psychologists

Nosebleeds in Kids: Causes, Treatment & When to Call an ENT By Katherine Kavanagh, MD: This article was first published in February 2023 and was updated in February 2026. Frequent nosebleeds in children are quite common. Contrary to what Dr. Google or ChatGPT might tell you, there are many factors that cause pediatric nosebleeds. So, what should you know if your

Beyond Congenital Heart Defects: Carter’s Story By Dennis Mello, MD: Greg was at home, doing a frantic final prep of the house, when his phone buzzed. His wife, Anneliz, was calling from the hospital, where she’d just given birth to their first child. Her voice sounded shaky. The doctors know what’s causing Carter’s heart murmur, she said. He has

Recognize the Signs of Heat-Related Illness By John Brancato, MD: This article was originally published in 2022 and has been updated in June 2025. Heat-related illness like heat exhaustion and heat stroke can oftentimes send kids to the emergency room in the summer months. What should you look for and what should you do if your child is showing

Full Circle – From Connecticut Children’s Patient to Team Member From the time he was an infant to the year he turned 21, John Hoffman could mark the months by visits with Jeffrey Hyams, MD . Dr. Hyams, an internationally-recognized researcher who heads Connecticut Children’s Division of Gastroenterology and the Center for Digestive Diseases

Innovating with Purpose: Nurturing a Culture of Innovation By Jacquelyn M. Rose, MPH: By: Jacquelyn M. Rose, MPH This is the fifth and final blog of a series describing Connecticut Children’s Office for Community Child Health’s journey innovating with purpose to create and nurture a culture of innovation. As I look back on our year and a half-long process to

Overuse Injuries and Kids: A Sports Physical Therapist Answers Your Questions By Nicholas Giampetruzzi, PT, MPT: This article was last updated in March 2025. Overuse injuries can occur at all ages. But because kids are still growing, they’re at a greater risk for these types of injuries, and may need a pediatric expert to ensure they heal properly. Nick Giampetruzzi, PT, MPT, Connecticut

How to Keep Kids Safe from Cyberbullying By Preeti Sandhu, PsyD: Social media, message boards, instant messaging, texting, blogging and video—all of these are here to stay. While they can be beneficial, they also carry the risk of cyberbullying. Anyone who regularly uses digital platform opens the door for the possibility of cyberbullying

Prevention Is Powerful: Supporting Youth Before Crisis Hits By Cara During: When we talk about suicide prevention, the conversation usually focuses on intervention when someone is already in a crisis. But at Connecticut Children’s, we believe in building a safety net that helps young people before a crisis arises. This is called Primary Prevention. Think

Driving Change Through Golf in Hartford's Youth Community The Golf, Not Drugs initiative was developed in the summer of 2024 with the goal of engaging Hartford youth in positive, healthy activities. Offering free golf lessons at Keney Park Golf Course, the program aimed not only to teach the fundamentals of golf but also to provide

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Kids: Symptoms, Causes, and When to See a Specialist By Sonia Chaudhry, MD, FAAOS: Sonia Chaudhry, MD, orthopedic surgeon, dives into what carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is, how it can affect kids, and when it’s time to see a pediatric orthopedic specialist.