Gilmore Girls has always been one of my favorite shows because the characters have strong, interesting, and often quirky personalities. So do people who choose medical careers.

As vaccine eligibility becomes an option, I’ve received questions about whether I will vaccinate my 6 year old. YES, I will. This is how I made my decision.

Newborn babies have immature GI systems which are naive when it comes to digestion. As they start to feed, there is an adjustment process, and gas is a normal byproduct of that process. Gas is a result of an imbalance between the air that goes into the system and the air that comes out of the system.

Oral rehydration can be a good approach for mild symptoms but it is important to discuss with your pediatrician to determine at what point you need to step up the level of care.

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

Talk through what might happen during a fire with your children as matter-of-factly as possible. They may be woken up by the alarm, and they should not panic. Tell them that they should stay low to the ground, and check the door to see if it is hot. They should pick the safest, smoke-free route out. If the door is hot, KEEP IT CLOSED, place a wet towel under the door and choose the alternate route for escape. 

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.

In most cases, you will also get to meet the anesthesiologist before your child’s procedure (sometimes for a pre-op visit a few days before, and always in the pre-operative area). This is a good opportunity to discuss risks and what you can do to keep your child comfortable before, during and after the procedure.

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.

The correct way to wear a mask is to cover your nose and mouth fully. It is not safe for children under 2 to wear a mask.

School decisions need to be made taking into account the local infection rates, adherence to public health guidelines such as masking and social distancing, and individual/family risk factors.

The literal translation of Raksha Bhandan in Sanskrit is “bond of protection” (Raksha: amulet of protection; Bhandan: verb, to tie).

Surgical masks or cloth masks with at least 3 layers are recommended by the World Health Organization.