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Is Your Child Struggling With Germ Phobia During COVID-19? 11 Ways to Help By Melissa Santos, PhD: We’re all concerned about getting sick right now. But if your child has an intense fear of germs, and trouble functioning at school or at home because of it, they may be dealing with some degree of germ phobia (aka “germaphobia”). During this coronavirus pandemic when we’re all

Grow Kind: Cameron’s Story When Cameron Soto had a life-threatening injury three years ago, a highly specialized team saved his life. Surgical innovation transformed his future. And compassionate care got him through it all. But if you met Cameron today, you couldn’t know any of that. You’d just see a

Urgent Care Is Here! After-Hours Care From the Pediatric Experts You Trust Here’s a familiar scene: Your pediatrician’s office just closed for the day when you discover your child has a mysterious rash, twisted ankle, fever or another health surprise. This doesn’t quite call for a trip to the hospital, but your child needs care. What do you do? Now, you

Missing Travel? Need Ideas for Spring Break? Here’s How to Plan a Virtual Vacation With Kids By Robert D. Keder, MD: Your family is already stir-crazy this winter, and by spring break you’ll all be ready for a change of scenery. But typical travel is off the table due to COVID-19. How can you get your child excited for something different… without leaving home? Try a virtual vacation

Honoring BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month By Melissa Santos, PhD: July Is Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, also known as BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month. BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous and People of Color. This month brings awareness to the unique mental health needs these groups face. Connecticut

The New RSV Shot: 6 Must-Knows for Parents By John R. Schreiber, MD, MPH: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has long been a worry for parents, especially during every cold and flu season. As healthcare experts say, RSV is a common virus that affects the lungs and breathing passages, and one of the major causes of respiratory illnesses in young kids. In

Heart of a Champion: Jordyn’s Story Bethany Ty expected a problem when she was pregnant with her second daughter, Jordyn. Her older daughter had been born with a heart issue and is a patient of pediatric cardiologist Olga Toro-Salazar, MD . Care at Connecticut Children’s Heart Center begins before birth – so her

How to Support Your LGBTQIA Loved Ones Who May be Struggling By Tasha Hawksley: Social acceptance of the LGBTQIA community has progressed in recent years, but those old stereotypes and misconceptions can still greatly affect the mental health of members of this community. So how can we as their loved ones make them feel comfortable during times of transition

Where to Find the Best Multicultural and Social Justice Books, Movies, Apps and More for Kids and Young Adults You can help your child embrace diversity, equity and inclusion at any age. One way is to choose books and other entertainment featuring characters with a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. Wondering where to find age-appropriate suggestions? Try these resources.

Become a Breast Milk Feeding Advocate in 5 Steps By Mary M. Lussier, BSN, IBCLC: Many of us have heard or seen the phrase, #normalizebreastfeeding, but what does it mean, exactly, to “normalize” something that’s seemingly so… normal? It starts with being an advocate for the breastfeeding community—regardless of your personal journey. Connecticut Children's

5 Ways to Introduce Your Child to the Digital World By Christine Tatem: Every month, hundreds of new apps and digital games are released for kids — some beneficial, some harmless and some your child is definitely better off without. How do you choose? Connecticut Children’s Child Life Specialist Christine Tatem shares tips.

7 Things You Might Not Know About Black History Every February, we celebrate Black History Month which honors the contributions of Black people in the U.S. Many of us are familiar with Rosa Parks, Harriett Tubman, George Washington Carver, and Barack Obama—all of whom had an extremely important role in Black culture and U.S

What to Do With Kids This Winter: Outdoor Activities and Cold Weather Tips During COVID-19 By Stacy Chandna, MS, CIP: During the COVID-19 pandemic, families have been forced to find creative ways to keep kids active while still avoiding high-risk activities. With some youth sports canceled, the colder, winter months are pushing that creativity to new lengths. Stacy Chandna, co-director of Kohl’s

Grow Bold: Penny’s Story Growing up means blazing your own trail. For the past 13 years, Connecticut Children’s has been watching Penny Ringrose do just that. Penny, who has Down syndrome, has been coming to Connecticut Children’s since the day she was born, when she was rushed to our nationally-ranked

5 Healthy Habits to Prevent Childhood Obesity By Christine Finck, MD, FACS: This blog was originally published in September 2022 and last updated in March 2024. Date has been changed. One in five kids in the U.S. is obese and childhood obesity can put kids at risk for conditions like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. These