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Why Talking Openly About Cancer is Important By Kelly Muccino: When a family faces a cancer diagnosis, life changes. What does today look like? What about tomorrow? This begs another question for many parents and caregivers: how do you talk to kids about cancer? We called upon Connecticut Children’s Child Life team – experts in providing

When Should Your Child See a Pediatric Sports Medicine or Physical Therapy Specialist? By Nicholas Giampetruzzi, PT, MPT: For young athletes to get the full physical, social and emotional benefits of their sport, they need support – at minimum, from their coach, teammates and family. But sometimes, kids could also benefit from a pediatric sports medicine expert, from doctors to physical therapists

Ask an ENT: Why Does My Child Snore and Should I Worry? By Christopher Grindle, MD: Kids do the darndest things, but persistent, loud snoring shouldn’t be one of them. While it’s common for some kids to snore slightly in their sleep, there are some things to watch out for that might call for a visit to your ENT . So if you’re wondering if your child snores, and

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

Beyond Sickle Cell: Once a Patient, Now a Patient Advocate By Donna Boruchov, MD: 29-year-old Brandon Parris shows up to work not just motivated, but grateful. Every day, he feels lucky to set foot in Connecticut Children’s where he works as Patient Access Associate, Shift Lead, in the Emergency Department and Admitting. As a young child, Brandon spent a good

Is My Child Experiencing Weight Stigma? By Vanessa R. Laurent, PhD: Kids come in different shapes, sizes and personalities! It is important to recognize, however, that there is an ongoing childhood obesity problem in this country—for many reasons. This means, unfortunately, children and adolescents with obesity struggle with teasing, bullying and

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