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Make a DIY Calming Bottle for Your Child’s Coping Skills Toolbox By Melissa Santos, PhD: Want a fun craft project that will soothe your child during moments of stress? Make a calming bottle to add to their coping toolbox! Calm down bottles are great for kids who are in timeout, fidgety or struggling with sensory overload, or just feeling anxious. Pediatric

Beyond Atrial Septal Defect: After Heart Surgery, Soccer Player Is Stronger Than Ever It was Xavier Crane’s first soccer game after open heart surgery — but most of the people in the stands had no clue. Neither did the opposing team. He was playing better than ever. Xavier’s mom, Beth, was another story. She’d enlisted Xavier’s sister to come with her for moral

What Do NICU Levels Mean? Newborn Hospital Care, Explained. By Annmarie Golioto, MD, IBCLC, FAAP: This article was originally published in September 2022 and last updated in January 2024. All newborn babies need special attention in the first few days of life to make sure they are healthy, but some need more care and monitoring, especially if they’re born early or with

Backpack Wearing: Do’s and Don’ts By Philip W. Mack, MD: Backpacks are customizable, come in all shapes, sizes and colors and are the ultimate in self-expression. But—when not worn properly, they can cause short- or long-term problems in kids’ muscles, joints and—well—back. So what’s the right way to wear and carry a backpack? What

Beyond Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome: Air Force Pilot Achieves His Dream Since he was a little kid, John Kostal dreamed of flying. At 21 years old, he was on the verge of achieving it as part of the United States Air Force. Then he got the bad news. After years of working toward a coveted pilot’s slot, his medical exams had detected a lingering heart

Through the Storm: Keilany’s Story When Tropical Storm Isaias hit Connecticut this past August, it toppled trees and knocked out power across the state. It also hit the campground where Keilany Palma and her parents, siblings and grandmother were celebrating her 12 th birthday. Keilany’s actual birthday had been

Flu vs. COVID-19: How to Tell If Your Child Is Sick and What to Do By John R. Schreiber, MD, MPH: This article was originally published in September 2024. Updated in February 2025. With flu season here, Connecticut Children’s infectious disease pediatrician John R. Schreiber, MD, MPH, fields an important question: is it the flu or COVID-19?

Full Circle – From Connecticut Children’s Patient to Team Member From the time he was an infant to the year he turned 21, John Hoffman could mark the months by visits with Jeffrey Hyams, MD . Dr. Hyams, an internationally-recognized researcher who heads Connecticut Children’s Division of Gastroenterology and the Center for Digestive Diseases

Who to Contact When Your Child Needs Behavioral Health Support Anxiety. Eating disorders. Suicidal thoughts. Uncontrollable aggression. No matter what your child or family may be dealing with, it’s important to remember that you are not alone – and that there are resources to help. Here’s who to contact for information and support.

7 Tips for Keeping the Calm at Home During Times of Transition By Preeti Sandhu, PsyD: Transitions can be hard – from minor ones, like getting everyone out the door before the bus drives by, to major ones, like a cross-country move. But there are ways to keep your family feeling (relatively) calm, even amid change. Connecticut Children’s pediatric psychologist

Grow Energetic: Guthrie’s Story Guthrie Martin, age 7, is the oldest of three brothers, an aspiring zookeeper, and a big fan of jumping –onto, off of, and over just about anything. “I like to jump over my little brothers,” says Guthrie. “And on my bed. And the ottoman and chairs. Also off the couch, the big

Calm During Uncertainty: Delilah’s Story Diana and Jarrod Perry remember sitting in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Connecticut Children’s, hearing that their newborn daughter needed open-heart surgery – and that her condition was so unique, specialists from the Divisions of Cardiac Surgery , Cardiology

Meal Prep Made Easy: How to Make Cooking at Home Easier, Healthier and More Fun for Kids By Stacy Chandna, MS, CIP: Prevent the last minute scramble! With a little preparation, you can take the stress out of cooking – and put extra family time back into your day. Haley Duscha, a pediatric dietitian in the Division of Obesity & Weight Management , and Stacy Chandna, co-director of Kohl’s Start

6 Questions with Chinyere Okoronkwo, Pediatrician As part of our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion journey, Connecticut Children’s celebrates Black History Month , which honors the culture and contributions of Black Americans in the United States. As part of our organization’s recognition of this month and other culture months, we

Is Your Child Online? Follow 6 Steps for Social Media Safety By Kevin Borrup, DrPH, JD, MPA: Children turn to social media to stay connected with friends – through messaging and video chats, sharing photos and videos, and playing video games. For many, this is happening at a younger age than their parents originally planned. That can be okay, since it’s important for