COVID-19 is transmitted primarily by aerosols, or small droplets, that are ejected when speaking, singing, coughing and sneezing. People with COVID-19 can be asymptomatic and unaware that they are contagious. Wearing a mask protects those around you because it prevents those aerosols from being distributed in the air.

The return-to-school decision must be based on multiple factors, including local infection rates, testing capacity and turn-around, individual/family risk factors and student needs. It also needs to be reassessed frequently.

Whether schools should be offering in-person schooling is a separate question from whether any particular family should choose to return to school this fall.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends introducing solids when infants are developmentally ready, usually between 4 and 6 months of age. Signs of readiness include good head control, losing the tongue thrust reflex, and showing interest in the solid food! 

Learning to ride a bike is an important milestone and staying active is obviously something pediatricians encourage. But a recent study from the University of Michigan found that nearly 1 in 5 parents admit to not enforcing helmet-wearing when their children are on their bikes.