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5 Heart-Healthy Choices for the Whole Family By Shailendra Upadhyay, MD, CEPS, FHRS: At Connecticut Children’s we focus on heart health and nutrition every day! Dr. Shailendra Upadhyay, pediatric cardiologist and Jennifer Zarrilli, pediatric nutritionist, share five fun and educational ideas to engage the whole family in making excellent, heart-healthy choices.

5 Creative Ways for Kids to Stay Hydrated By Jennifer Zarrilli, MS, RD: Did you know kids’ bodies are 60-70% water? That may seem like a lot, but kids actually get dehydrated quickly because they lose more water through the skin when they sweat, compared to adults. So what are the best ways for us to make sure kids are taking in enough water as we

Healthy & Delicious Lunch Ideas By Beth Chatfield, MS, RD: Planning nutritious lunches that kids actually want to eat is quite the feat, no matter if your child is a picky or adventurous eater. Beth Chatfield, a registered dietitian at Connecticut Children’s, joins the Growing Healthy blog to share 9 ideas for healthy lunches that kids

Preventing Eye Strain During Your Child’s Screen-Based Learning By Janine Collinge, MD: Whether from homework assignments on a computer or tablet, or remote instruction during COVID-19 quarantines, screens are probably a big part of “back to school” for your child. Connecticut Children’s pediatric ophthalmologist Janine Collinge, MD, shares tips.

$3.5 Million Gift Establishes the Chênevert Family Advanced Cellular and Gene Therapy Unit in Connecticut Children’s Tower Expansion The Chênevert Family gift will keep children close to home for lifesaving bone marrow transplants, stem cell transplants and gene therapy.

Happy 25th Anniversary, Connecticut Children’s! By Jim Shmerling, DHA, FACHE: Today, Connecticut Children’s celebrates 25 years! That’s 25 years of partnering with your family and community to help kids grow healthy. To mark the occasion, Connecticut Children’s President and CEO Jim Shmerling, DHA, FACHE, joins the Growing Healthy blog with a special

Honoring the Legacy of a Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King Jr. Day provides a time for all of us to reflect on the life and legacy of the renowned civil rights leader while also focusing on opportunities that still exist to bring about health equity as well as racial and social justice. At Connecticut Children’s, we

Need Healthy Snack Ideas for Kids This Winter? Try Two Takes on Dip By Haley Duscha, RDN, CDN: This article was originally published in 2020. Updated in January 2025. No matter what you’ve got planned to entertain your kids all winter long, you’ll want to keep them fueled up with nutritious snacks. Bonus points for recipes that make it easy to get kids involved in the

Does Removing Kids’ Tonsils Help Prevent Strep Throat? By Katherine Kavanagh, MD: Tonsils, the two fleshy masses in back of the throat, are considered “gate-keepers” for screening bacteria and viruses entering the nose and mouth. While they can play a role in the local immune system, on occasion they can become a reservoir for bacteria and cause problems of

Are Your Child’s Symptoms From RSV or Something Else? What to Know About This Common Illness By Juan C. Salazar, MD, MPH, FAAP: Did you know it’s peak season for respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV? On one hand, RSV is nothing new. If your child is over the age of 2, they’ve probably had it at least once. As an adult, you might get sick with it every few years. On the other hand, RSV can be serious for

6 Easy, Healthy Recipes You Can Make With Your Kids By Jennifer Zarrilli, MS, RD: If you’re looking for a fun activity with kids that doubles as a healthy habit, your kitchen is a great place to start. Making healthy recipes together is a way to get your child excited about nutrition, teach them important skills and share quality time – all while preparing a

9 Nutritionist-Approved Healthy Holiday Tips By Jennifer Zarrilli, MS, RD: How can you encourage kids to enjoy themselves to the fullest this season, but also stay healthy? It doesn’t have to be a challenge! Connecticut Children’s nutrition experts have ideas.

6 Must-Know Water Safety Tips for Parents By Kevin Borrup, DrPH, JD, MPA: We all want our children to have a fun, memorable and active summer. Water play is a major part of making summer memories and many kids are eager to splash around, swim or attend pool or beach parties. However, we need to be mindful that water can be dangerous and children

Cardiac Arrest and Sports Injuries: What Parents Should Know By Donna M. Pacicca, MD: All parents of aspiring athletes think about their child’s safety—it’s only natural. But when events like what happened to Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin take over the headlines, we can’t help but ask questions. Why did this football player’s heart stop on the field at just 24 years

Are You Disinfecting Your Baby’s Gear Correctly? By Patricia Garcia, MD, MPH: This article was originally published in March 2020. Updated in November 2023. As parents who dread peak illness season, we're all trying to do a better job disinfecting items and surfaces that get a lot of contact. That goes for baby gear, too. Of course, cleaning baby gear is