Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus (which is endemic in certain parts of Africa). It is related to smallpox (which has been eradicated).

Infant formula is an essential food - often the only source of nutrition for infants. The shutdown of a formula plant along with supply chain issues left families scrambling to feed their babies. The FDA has responded by temporarily allowing certain foreign companies to import formula to the US.

In infants, sunburns can become quite severe quite quickly leading to dehydration, heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Prevention is critically important. Wear the sunscreen, the UPF clothes, and reiterate the importance of avoiding tanning beds. Teach your children and teens good habits, and model them yourself.

I grew up in Malawi, and my father treated people who had vaccine-preventable illnesses, such as Polio. I feel so lucky that I can raise my children in an era with vaccines. Yes, vaccine reactions are a nuisance, but they are often mild and self-limited. Hopefully these tips help you and your child get through them with ease!

It is fine to treat your child with medication if they seem like they are uncomfortable, or have a fever or pain. But wait and see how they do. And if you can, hold off on giving it until at least 4 hours after the dose.

Both vaccines are effective, and the FDA and CDC/ACIP voted unanimously that the benefits of vaccination outweighed any concerns or risks for children 6 months and up.

If you look on Google, it seems like everything can be a symptom of teething, which makes things super confusing for a parent who is dealing with sleep changes or new fussiness. The truth is that teething gets unfairly blamed for many routine infant behaviors.

Anxiety, untreated ADHD, depression, sleep issues, or other conditions such as autism and developmental delay can all be reasons for tantrums that are beyond what would be normal.

When your child has a tantrum, their primitive brain takes over: the amygdala and the hypothalamus. These trigger a fight-or-flight response, which is why you will see your child flush, breathe more heavily, and even sometimes have a racing heart during a tantrum. The only way to respond in these moments is to allow time, create connection, and give the body a chance to turn off that fight-or-flight response.

Many parents feel that tantrums cannot or should not happen when kids are as young as 12 months old, but it is actually fairly common.

Parents have several main jobs: to set limits, to create a safe space for our children, and to teach our children effective ways to manage the challenges and disappointments of life.

Hiccups come up frequently at pediatrician visits, and are a common source of worry for parents. But they shouldn’t be. In fact, they may actually have a purpose in newborns, and be a way of teaching them how to control their breathing.

Any infant death is awful. Little is known right now about why some infants are more susceptible to SIDS than others. The truth is that this research is promising, but it doesn’t change much from a practical perspective.

Typically, babies with constipation present with harder, more pebble-like poop, or sometimes even blood in the stool. Contrary to popular belief, frequency of stooling is not how we define constipation. Newborn babies can poop as frequently as 8-10 times per day or as infrequently as once every 8-14 days. Both can be normal as long as poop consistency is normal.

Colloidal oatmeal is a fantastic natural home treatment for itchy, dry skin. It can work wonders for eczema, poison ivy, insect bites, dermatitis, and so much more.