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Beyond Congenital Heart Defects: Carter’s Story By Dennis Mello, MD: Greg was at home, doing a frantic final prep of the house, when his phone buzzed. His wife, Anneliz, was calling from the hospital, where she’d just given birth to their first child. Her voice sounded shaky. The doctors know what’s causing Carter’s heart murmur, she said. He has

How to Prepare Kids for the End of Daylight Saving Time This November By Lynelle Schneeberg, PsyD: Daylight Saving Time ends the first Sunday of November in most states, including Connecticut. That means on Nov. 7, 2021, clocks “fall back” an hour: Instead of 2 am, it’ll be 1 am. That extra hour can cause problems around bedtime (even if your child already has a great bedtime

18 Ways to Keep Kids Entertained on Road Trips This article was originally published in September 2021 and updated in December 2023. If you’re getting out of town, there’s a good chance it’s in the family car. The trick is keeping your child occupied for all that time on the road. Here are ideas that boost imagination and

7 Ways to Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month With Kids From September 15 to October 15, the U.S. celebrates the cultures and contributions of Americans who identify as Hispanic or Latinx. National Hispanic Heritage Month is a great time to teach kids about the histories and traditions behind these cultures, try new traditions, and

Lead Safety: Health, Property & Peace of Mind By Rosa Alvarado: Maintaining a safe, healthy living environment isn’t just about compliance. It’s about responsibility, reputation, and long-term value. For tenants, it’s a basic right. At the center of this is one critical standard: lead safety. This is the focus of the Healthy Homes Program, an

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, MPH: 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

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Kids: Symptoms, Causes, and When to See a Specialist By Sonia Chaudhry, MD, FAAOS: Sonia Chaudhry, MD, orthopedic surgeon, dives into what carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is, how it can affect kids, and when it’s time to see a pediatric orthopedic specialist.

Caring for the Caregiver By Jacquelyn M. Rose, MPH: At Connecticut Children’s Childhood Prosperity Lab, we believe improving child, youth, and family health requires a comprehensive approach. Recently, I was reminded just how critical this approach is in our ongoing work. Childhood Prosperity Lab, a program of the Office for

Kids' Bones Are Different: The Importance of Pediatric Orthopedic Care By Donna M. Pacicca, MD: As kids grow, their bones, joints, and muscles go through many changes. Sometimes, parents wonder if their child’s growth patterns, pain, or injuries need special attention from a pediatric orthopedic specialist. Donna Pacicca, MD, pediatric orthopedic surgeon, discusses when it

10 Healthy Holiday Traditions to Start With Your Family Holidays go hand in hand with a big meal, several kinds of dessert, and an afternoon nap. We get it! No need to give up all your usual traditions – but how about sneaking some healthy ones into the mix? These ideas will keep your child entertained and engaged all day, and might

Newborn Screening: The Importance of Collaboration Across Healthcare Sectors By Debra Ellis, NBS, RN: Each year, approximately four million newborns in the United States are screened for a variety of rare but serious conditions shortly after birth. This quiet yet powerful public health achievement helps identify around 12,000 babies annually who have conditions that, if detected