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It's One Question Parents Should Ask As part of our organization’s efforts to keep children safe this upcoming holiday season and all year long, Connecticut Children’s is collaborating with hospitals and health systems across the country in a new nationwide public awareness campaign that encourages families to ask

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

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

Does My Child Need a Back to School Exam? By Abraham J. Khorasani, MD: This article was originally published in August of 2022 and has been updated August 11, 2025 to reflect current times. From the early pre-K years to senior year, school is about so much more than pens, books and friendships. Your child should also have a clean bill of health

What is Parechovirus and How Can I Keep My Family Safe? By Ian C. Michelow, MD, FCPaed: On Tuesday, July 19, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued a warning to medical professionals about parechovirus, a common virus that goes around in summer and fall and infects most children by the time they start kindergarten. Understandably, parents are concerned

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

Changing How We Talk to Kids About Wearing Masks During COVID-19 By Melissa Santos, PhD: Our kids have been through a lot during this pandemic. Many have lost people in their own families due to COVID-19. Because of this, we’ve told them that masks are how they help to save people’s lives—and they did a good job at taking this mission seriously. On March 1, 2022, the

5 Healthy Habits to Prevent Childhood Obesity By Christine Finck, MD, FACS: This blog was originally published in September 2022 and last updated in March 2024. Date has been changed. One in five kids in the U.S. is obese and childhood obesity can put kids at risk for conditions like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. These

Is Vaping Safe? No. Here’s Why. By Melanie Sue Collins, MD: The FDA recently ordered all Juul e-cigarette products off the shelves, a decision that has been in the works for two years following the rapid rise of underage vaping. Parents are concerned that their kids may look for other products or turn to actual cigarettes—both strong

The Pressure to Win: Sports and Your Child’s Mental Health By Kelly Ann Maynes, PsyD: This article was originally published in July 2022 and was last updated in April 2025. In recent years, athletes have come forward to talk about the importance of mental health, along with the impact of sports and competition. Lots of young athletes can relate. A sport can all

Swimmer’s Ear: 7 Things to Know and How to Treat It By Christopher Grindle, MD: This article was originally published in May 2022 and was updated for accuracy in May 2025. Ah, summer—the time when our active kids jump right in the water for lots of swimming. Then, ouch. Or, double ouch. Sometime later, the ear pain sets in, maybe with some other unpleasant

Building Healthy Futures: Celebrating the Impact of Connecticut Children’s Healthy Homes Program By Chris Corcoran: What is the Healthy Homes Program? In celebration of National Healthy Homes Month, we are thrilled to highlight the incredible achievements of the Connecticut Children’s Healthy Homes Program, a program dedicated to making homes safe and healthy for families across Connecticut

Monkeypox: How Worried Should We Be Right Now? By Ian C. Michelow, MD, FCPaed: Earlier this month, Connecticut saw its first cases of monkeypox in adults, making the virus a reality in the community. (Visit this CDC webpage for a breakdown of cases by state.) As if COVID-19 and parechovirus weren’t enough, parents are concerned. What should you know, and

Helping Students Strive for Success By: STRIVE Program Sponsors and Team As part of our commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Connecticut Children’s launched a new partnership with Bloomfield High School to promote future career opportunities and help students strive for success. The program, Support and

Fevers in Children: When to Worry and When to Stay Calm By Saima N. Jafri, DO: This article was originally published in 2022 and last updated in October 2025 for relevance. Do we need to be worried when our kids spike a low- or high-grade fever? Dr. Saima Jafri, pediatrician with Connecticut Children’s Care Network, lays out the facts on fever in kids. What