PARENTING
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? …
Playground Exercise: Not Just For Kids
File this under ways to "fit" it in." Exercise, that is! As every parent knows, spring and summer are jam-packed with end of the school year activities, sports and, of course, lots of outdoor fun. If you happen to be taking your kids to the …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Help with the Challenges of Autism
There are many challenges that individuals (and families) living with autism experience on a day-to-day basis. The Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders (CANDO Clinic), offers a list of resources to help with these challenges. Additional resources are listed below. Browse local resources. Browse state …
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 …
