PARENTING
How to Talk to Your Teen About Opioid Drugs
Many parents don’t believe their teen would ever misuse opioids. As someone who works with youth in recovery, however, I’m here to tell you that it can and does happen even in the “best” of families. And the kids we see are the lucky ones. …
It Doesn’t Always Take a Village: Pros and Cons of Online Mom Groups
Guest Blogger: Deanna Richmond, MD, South County Pediatrics, Webster, MA As with many things in life, mom groups on social media have both an upside and a downside. On the positive side, these online communities are a great forum for moms to communicate with one …
Playtime Better Than Tube Time for Youngsters
Guest Blogger: Deanna Richmond, MD, Pediatrician, Children’s Medical Center, South County Pediatrics In a policy statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that unstructured play best nurtures brain development in infants and toddlers. The AAP discourages TV and even educational videos for this age …
Sleep Deprivation in Teens: A Common Problem
Teens on average need about nine hours of sleep at night. But most don’t get the amount of sleep they need. School, friends, homework, activities, television, video games, cell phones and the computer may have a higher priority for a teen than sleep. Sleep deprivation …
Are You at Risk for Postpartum Depression?
It’s natural to feel strong emotions when you’re pregnant and just after you’ve had a baby. You may feel elated, or you may feel sad. Many women have the “baby blues” just after birth. They feel sad, impatient or irritable. These feelings usually go away …
Balanced Breakfasts Fuel Children’s Brains and Bodies
We've all heard the saying, "breakfast is the most important meal of the day." This is especially true for children as it is the perfect time to refuel in the morning to prepare for the school day. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, …
Enterovirus D68: What to Know This Season
If you’ve been following the news lately, you’ve probably seen or heard stories about enterovirus D68, or EV-D68, a respiratory virus making its way around the country and sending kids to the intensive care unit. Scary, right? Well, even though the virus is now being …
Got Sunshine? Be Sure to Cover Up!
After cold temperatures and dark days, we’re all looking forward to spending time outdoors in the warm sunshine! As a primary care pediatrician, I get lots of questions from parents about how to keep kids safe in the sun, and thought I could share some …
World Hemophilia Day Celebrated Today
Does your child have frequent bruising? Urine coloring red or pink? Black bowel movements? Excessive bleeding? Needless to say, if your child experiences any of the above symptoms, please keep reading. We want to raise awareness about hemophilia. There’s no better time to talk about …
If You Don’t Have a Family Meal Each Day…
If you don't have a family meal each day, it's time to get out the plates. Table time yields benefits that go far beyond food. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University says that the more often children eat dinner …
Ready or Not, Hospital Here We Come!
As a parent, you might picture your child’s first hospital experience in your mind. Maybe you imagine your child calmly holding still, everything goes smoothly, life is grand, and you are eating ice cream on the way home. Or maybe you picture your child crying …
Riding into Family Fun
Celebrate National Bike Month by taking your children out for a bicycle ride around the local park or a bike trail. May is a perfect time to enjoy a family bike ride, before the summer heat sets in. According to Men’s Fitness, cycling is a …
Balanced Breakfasts Fuel Children’s Brains and Bodies
We've all heard the saying, "breakfast is the most important meal of the day." This is especially true for children as it is the perfect time to refuel in the morning to prepare for the school day. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, …
Fortified Cereal Could Pose Risk to Kids
Cereal can be a nutritious and easy option for parents looking for a quick breakfast during the morning rush to get kids ready for the day. But how do you choose the "right" cereal? …
