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Formula Recalls: What to Know Right Now By James E. Moore, MD, PhD: Updated October 17, 2022 for additional recall of certain lots of Abbott 2 fluid ounce/59 milliliter bottles of Ready-to-Feed liquid products for infants and children. (Originally published on February 22, 2022 and updated on March 1, 2022 and again on August 16, 2022) October 17

Is Your Child Scared to Get Their Vaccine? 13 Tips to Prevent Fear of Needles While vaccines keep us healthy, they’re linked to a genuine fear for one out of five people: “needlephobia.” And that can present some unique challenges when it’s time for annual immunizations. To help your child overcome any fear of needles — or better yet, prevent them from

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

Support Beyond Imagination: JJ’s Story Connecticut Children’s new Westport Specialty Care Center already has a happy family. John B. Jr. — “JJ” to his family — is a giggly, boisterous 16-month-old from Stratford. Every couple months, he’ll visit the Neurosurgery team at the new Westport center, which opened its doors

Beyond Imagination: This NICU Grad Is Defying Expectations When 7-year-old Kendrick Saylor runs, he does what his parents call “the Superman lean.” He puts his head down, squares his shoulders, and takes off. Due to a complication at birth, his vision is impaired. Bending forward helps him avoid objects on the ground. But he’s also

Beyond Trust: Kali’s Story Krystin Sylva always says her twins came into the world like a storm. Kali and Jada were 28-week preemies born during an actual ice storm in January – at 3:33 am, three seconds apart. They started life in the NICU at Danbury Hospital, receiving care from Connecticut Children's

How to Talk to Kids About Scary or Tragic Events in the News By Robert D. Keder, MD: In the wake of the mass shooting on August 27, 2025 at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, MN, children will likely have many questions. In addition to seeing disturbing footage on the news and on social media, they are also likely picking up on the stress and sadness

Open Hearts Beyond Imagination: Ayla, Naomi & Daniel’s Story In September 2019, Ellen and Jon Lindblom traveled to China to bring home the newest member of their family — Ayla, then a shy 6-year-old. They carried a letter from Connecticut Children’s Felice Heller, MD, urging the agency to expedite the adoption so Ayla could get immediate

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

6 Ways to Teach Your Teen Financial Independence By Lauren K. Ayr-Volta, PhD: When your teen is nearing the end of high school, they’ll suddenly need to take control of lots of aspects of their lives, from meal planning to healthcare. That includes finances. As adults, we sometimes assume that once a teen is a certain age, they’ll naturally know how to

What to Do If Your Child Swallows or Ingests a Button Battery By Christopher Grindle, MD: Last updated in December 2023. Do you have button batteries in your home? The answer is almost certainly yes. These tiny batteries are used in all kinds of electronic devices, from key fobs to your child’s favorite toys. Unfortunately, they’re also the sort of small, shiny object

Ask a Pediatrician: Can Kids Get the COVID-19 Vaccine and Flu Shot at the Same Time? By Juan C. Salazar, MD, MPH, FAAP: Many parents wonder if their child can get both immunizations at once. Connecticut Children’s Physician-in-Chief Juan C. Salazar, MD, MPH, FAAP, answers.

Returning to Sports After a Break? Here's What to Know This article was last updated in December 2023. Getting back on the field (or rink, track, court or wherever) after months off comes with a risk of injury. Overuse injuries can occur in any sport – from “Little League Elbow” to back issues to ACL tears and ankle sprains. "

5 Reasons Not To Delay Your Child's Vaccines By Andrew Carlson, MD: This blog was originally published in 2022 and has been updated as of August 11, 2025 to reflect current times. To share an important reminder to parents, Andrew Carlson, MD, Division Head of Primary Care at Connecticut Children’s, joins the Growing Healthy blog.

No Holding Back: Tyler’s Story There’s never a good time for your child to need urgent care. But it’s really, really not a good time when you’re about to leave for vacation. Two days before his family’s big trip to Marco Island, Florida, 7-year-old Tyler Grad fell off a slide at his school playground. He and