PARENTING
Got a Picky Eater on Your Hands?
Sometimes, despite your best efforts at cooking tasty, healthy meals for your child, your picky eater refuses to eat what’s on the plate. The hotdog octopus sitting on top of the whole wheat spaghetti just isn’t cutting it. …
The Nest Isn’t Empty If You Are Still In It
You're officially an empty nester now that your last child has left the house. How do you feel? Are you ready to take on your newly changed parenting role? Or are you feeling a little down in the dumps? Empty nest syndrome is real with feelings …
Can Your Family Go Screen Free?
There isn't a lot of screen-free time these days. Do you think your family could go back in time and go screen-free for a week? …
Are Sports or Energy Drinks Ever OK for Kids?
When it comes to keeping your child hydrated, there are a number of choices to of products to choose from. But are sports drinks or energy drinks ever the right choice? …
5 of the Most Common and 4 Surprising Causes of Birth Defects
A birth defect, also called a congenital anomaly, is a problem that occurs when a baby is developing in the womb. An estimated one out of every 33 babies in the U.S. is born with a birth defect, of varying severity, according to the Centers …
Breastfeeding in Public: Moms, Know Your Rights
If you’ve ever been challenged about your right to breastfeed your child in a public place, it’s important to know that the law in Massachusetts is on your side. In this state, you can breastfeed in most public places where you and your child are …
Is it Baby Blues or Postpartum Depression?
The birth of a baby is often a joyous event. However, it can also result in something you, as a new mom, may not expect: depression. As many as 80% of birthing people experience what’s called the “baby blues” within the first few days to …
The Importance of Pediatric-Specific Emergency Care
They are the scenarios all parents dread. Your toddler wakes up a 2 am wailing and pulling on her ear. Your 10-year-old tries to do “wheelies” on his bike. You find him sitting in the driveway clutching his arm, and it’s swelling before your eyes. …
Know the Dangers of the TikTok Benadryl Challenge
A dangerous trend on TikTok is encouraging kids to take large doses of Benadryl in hopes of getting high and hallucinating. Instead, some are ending up in the hospital. In a Yahoo article, Kavita Babu, MD, a UMass Memorial emergency medicine physician and toxicologist, explained …
Back-to-School Tips in the Time of COVID-19
It’s back-to-school time, and it’s probably never been more stressful given the COVID-19 pandemic. If your child is doing in-person classes this fall, you probably have a lot of things to consider (or worry about!). Based on my medical training, advice from the Centers for …
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 …
Prediction: Obesity Will Surpass Smoking As Most Preventable Cause of Cancer
It’s no secret that being overweight or obese can affect your overall health. When you’re overweight, you increase your chances of stroke, diabetes, heart disease and depression, but did you know being overweight increases your risk for cancer? In 2014, obesity increased the risk of …
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 …
