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Discussing Racial Inequality and Social Justice With Children By Robert D. Keder, MD: Parents are constantly deciding how to talk to their children about racial inequality and social justice. To help families navigate these important conversations, developmental pediatrician Robert D. Keder, MD, shares tips.

Back-to-School Mental Health Tips for Parents, Teachers & School Staff By Amy Adolfo Signore, PhD, MPH: As the school year kicks off across Connecticut, families and educators alike are facing more than supply lists and bus schedules. Today’s students are managing emotions, navigating social pressures, and adjusting to academic demands — all while recovering from the disruptions of

Mastermind Advisor Spotlight: Scott Orsey Research shows 90% of children’s health is driven by the complex interplay between social, behavioral, environmental, and genetic/epigenetic factors. Connecticut Children’s Childhood Prosperity Lab (the Lab) incubates and accelerates social innovations that address the social

8 Childhood Symptoms Not to Ignore By Emily Vistica Sampino, MD: Knowing any early warning signs can help you rule out certain conditions, and get the early diagnosis and treatment your child needs. While many symptoms can be part of common childhood illnesses, look for anything persistent and unusual. Emily Vistica-Sampino, MD, pediatric

Mouth Breathing in Kids: When to Worry and What You Can Do By Amy Hughes, MD: If you've seen your child sleeping with their mouth open night after night, or even breathing through their mouth during the day, you might be wondering: Is this normal? Should I be worried? Occasional mouth breathing is common in children, especially during a cold or allergy

E-Bike Injuries Are Rising Fast—Here’s What Parents Need to Know By Kevin Borrup, DrPH, JD, MPA: This article was published in July 2025 and was updated on August 11, 2025 to remove outdated timeframe references. Over the past few years, electric bikes (e-bikes) have exploded in popularity among kids and teens. But with that rise has come a sharp increase in serious injuries

Pediatric Celiac Disease: A Parent’s Guide to Food and Nutrition By Beth Chatfield, MS, RD: Learning your child has celiac disease can feel overwhelming at first. We think about how food choices, social situations and proper nutrition will come into play. But with the right tools, knowledge, and support, families can manage and enjoy a gluten-free lifestyle. Here’s a

7 Strategies to Help Autistic and Special Needs Kids Prepare for a Doctor's Visit By Jennifer Twachtman-Bassett, MS, CCC-SLP: Kids with autism and other special needs can have a tough time getting used to new routines, people and places. Doctor’s visits can be especially challenging, because these visits are rarely frequent enough for kids to remember what to expect. But a little preparation goes a long

Connecticut Children's and Xerox Partner To Introduce New, Innovative, AI-Driven Technologies To Pediatric Healthcare Hartford, Conn. — Connecticut Children’s and Xerox are reimagining pediatric healthcare with the help of cutting-edge artificial intelligence. Through an expanded partnership with Xerox, the health system is introducing AI-powered solutions to streamline care delivery and elevate

24 Questions for Your Teen to Ask Their Doctor By Lauren K. Ayr-Volta, PhD: By the time your child enters their teenage years, they should be getting ready to take charge of their own health. The more confident they feel speaking up at doctor’s visits, the better. It gives their doctor more information to support them through adolescence – and sets your

Minimally Invasive Craniosynostosis Surgery: A Game-Changer for Babies By Bethany Simonetti MSN, APRN, FNP-BC: Are you worried about your baby’s head shape and what it could mean? Flat spots, or plagiocephaly, tend to improve on their own, but if your doctor suspects craniosynostosis, which may require surgical repair, you naturally have lots of questions. Our pediatric neurosurgery team

How Do I Safely Clean My Child's Ears? By Rachelle Wareham, MD: This article was originally published in March 2025 and has been updated on June 23, 2025 with a video. Did you know there are right and “wrong” ways to clean your child’s ears? According to Rachelle Wareham, MD, pediatric otolaryngologist (ENT), it’s common to see kids with ear

Beyond Repeat Ear Infections: Avery’s Healthy Ear Journey By Christopher Grindle, MD: When 4-year-old Avery started preschool, her mom Stacey, and her dad Eric noticed something wasn’t right. Avery kept getting ear infections, one after another, always in her left ear. There are many reasons this can happen in kids, which is why these children should be evaluated

Don’t Try This Trend: Keeping Kids Safe with Electronics and Social Media By John Brancato, MD: Many students use laptops like Chromebooks for homework, class projects, and even talking with teachers. But lately, a dangerous TikTok trend has been going around. It encourages kids to blow up or damage their school-issued or personal laptops—and it’s causing real harm

Understanding Celiac Disease: Facts vs. Fiction By Sarita Singhal, MD: Many of us are familiar with the phrase “gluten-free” and choose to follow a gluten-free diet for health reasons or based on what we see on social media. But did you know that not everyone who chooses to go gluten-free has celiac disease? At Connecticut Children’s, our pediatric