Box breathing is an easy technique that is taught to US NAVY Seals (and pediatrician’s kids!) for those moments of overwhelm. I started working on the skill with oldest when she was 3. In our house, it has come in handy for insomnia, tantrums, and even when we had to go to the ER recently for a laceration repair.

When you find a tick on your child, it is easy to panic. Here is a practical, high yield post detailing what you should do, and what else you need to know about tick-borne illnesses in kids, including Lyme.

While melatonin is widely available, effective, and generally well-tolerated for short-term use in children, there is limited data on its long-term safety. Studies looking at the longer-term effects of melatonin are reassuring but have limitations.

Parents significantly underestimate the dangers of bodies of water. Approaching water safety using multiple layers is the most effective way to make sure that you have back-up fail safes in the event something goes wrong. Here are my top tips to keep your kids safe this summer.

Many parents worry about chemical exposures and are reluctant to use insect repellent. There’s a common fallacy that natural equals better.

What products should you have to make sure your child stays safe in the sun? Here are my top tips on everything from sunscreen to UPF clothing to hats!

Apply the sunscreen 20-30 minutes before you go outside, and then make sure to re-apply after 2 hours, or after your child has been in the water. Using a make-up applicator brush or sponge makes applying sunscreen much easier and less-messy.

We recommend only breastmilk or formula before the age of 1 because these are the most nutritionally dense options. But after a year of age, our goal is for our toddlers to get the majority of their nutrition from solid food. 

Cow’s milk is a good source of fat and protein, but those are relatively easy to make up with other foods. The calcium and vitamin D, on the other hand, may require more thought.

Many children transition to cow’s milk around a year of age. Cow’s milk provides a number of essential nutrients, which are important for healthy bones and teeth, immunity, brain development and growth. Like most things, moderation is key. Too much cow’s milk can also lead to health issues.

Dehydration is a math problem. Dehydration can happen because of illness, over-exertion, or the environment.

When you think of children and holiday decorations, you have to be sure that everything is as safe as possible. Children have a way of finding trouble. What is the best way to childproof your holiday set-up without sacrificing the magic of your decorations? Here are some pediatrician-approved tips.

COVID-19 is still out there. Your choice of activity depends on several factors: your family’s risk, your community prevalence of COVID-19, and how adherent your children will be to the guidelines.

Life is a long game, and this is a weird and challenging time. But our children are more resilient than we think. They will be learning more than just schoolwork from us and their teachers this year: they’ll be learning some resilience, some flexibility, and that they are stronger than they believe. And we want them to learn to give themselves grace. So let’s begin to model that ourselves.

Pick out a dedicated space for home school and organize it so your child has easy access to all the tools they need, along with reliable internet access and a clock. Ambiance and consistency are key. Let your child personalize it so they enjoy the space. Remove distractions. Plan a consistent routine for before and during the school day which allows for breaks and snacks.