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Melatonin Poisoning in Kids: What Parents Should Know By John Brancato, MD: All parents can agree—a good night’s sleep is one of the most amazing feelings—and even more so when our children sleep well. It’s not always easy, though, and sometimes kids need a little help getting into a healthy sleeping routine. Melatonin has become a popular, over-the

Beyond Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD): Kiki’s Story A week after baby Kikiolaoluwa was born, her doctors in Nigeria found a hole in her heart. At first, they told Kiki’s parents – mom Moninuola and dad Oladapo – to wait and see if the hole closed on its own. But several months later, everything was worse. Kiki was losing weight

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

Mind the Chatter By Annika Anderson: What comes to mind for you when you think about Mindfulness ? You might envision a guided meditation practice, a tech-free walk outside, the fragrance of your favorite candle as you end the day with a journal entry, or intentionally relaxing your jaw when you notice it’s tense

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

Going Beyond Clinical Care: Improving Housing Conditions and Health Outcomes Fredrik was two months old when he started struggling to keep down food. No matter what parents Marie and Josh Pinheiro tried, “he was spitting up and vomiting at all hours of the day,” says Marie. “Nothing helped.” Two months later, the wheezing and coughing started. At an age

Back-to-School, Backed by Community By Madhura Sawant-Suryawanshi: It’s back-to-school season! The start of a new school year is an exciting transition filled with new opportunities and growth. It's also a time for families to step into new routines. When caregivers help kids feel prepared for school , we tend to see improved attendance

Beyond Heart Failure at 2 Months Old: Crew's Journey Following a series of concerning symptoms, a diagnosis of SVT-induced cardiomyopathy became a reality for baby Crew, Mom and Dad. Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) happens when the heart beats too quickly. Because of this, the heart doesn’t work as well and can eventually cause

Curly Toes in Kids: 6 Things Parents Should Know By Kristan A. Pierz, MD: Some kids are born with toes flexed down and curled under other toes. This usually occurs in the third, fourth, or fifth toes on both feet. “Curly toes” is an actual condition, and tight tendons pulling the toes downward and inward are to blame. Many parents wonder—how do I know

Back-to-School Photo Tips for Safer Sharing Back-to-school season is full of excitement, fresh routines, and those adorable first-day photos. Parents love capturing the moment, and it’s a fun way to share milestones with family and friends. In today’s digital world, though, it’s important to think about how to share safely

Easy Ways to Use Up the Random Ingredients in Your Kitchen Pantry By Haley Duscha, RDN, CDN: The challenge: Preparing nutritious meals that your kids will actually eat… even if your pantry is looking a little empty. Haley Duscha, RDN, CDN, a pediatric dietitian in Connecticut Children’s Division of Obesity & Weight Management , shares tips to use up those last random

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