In young infants, a fallen hair (or a thread) can get tangled around a finger, a toe, or genitals and constrict the flow of blood. We see this most often in infants under 6 months, but it can be seen in toddlers and older children (in this case, it is usually the result of them intentionally winding something around the area or, unfortunately, because of child abuse).

A fever is a normal body response to infection. If your child is handling it well, most of the time you can keep take a holistic approach and focus on closely monitoring them (barring a few specific situations, such as when your child is very young or has underlying medical conditions).

Fever is a normal body response to infection or inflammation. Increasing core temperature makes it easier to kill off invading pathogens (bacteria, viruses, etc). Children are more likely to develop fever than adults when they encounter the same illness.

In the vast majority of cases, lymph node enlargement is just a signal of a healthy immune response, rather than something sinister. The goal of this post is to help provide some reassurance and information so you don’t have to Google.

Parental favoritism and love are not the same thing. Your child feeling secure and safe enough to express a preference is most likely a reflection of good parenting, not the opposite.

Part of childhood is being exposed to a myriad of illnesses, and developing the immune response that provides protection down the line. Believe it or not, in the first year of school, it is normal to have 6-8 respiratory infections (colds, coughs), 1-2 tummy bugs, and a few other scattered viral infections such as HFM or roseola.

When there are breaks in the skin barrier (e.g, minor cuts, scratches, insect bites or even rubbing of the skin) these bacteria enter and cause an infection. This is impetigo. The two main causes are the Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species.

Elderberries come from Sambucus trees. Various parts of the plant have been used for centuries in cooking and herbal remedies for a variety of ailments, and it is still used in Europe in cooking. I wouldn’t use this in my kids, though.

Molluscum is a viral infection that causes flesh colored wart-like bumps on the skin. It is super frustrating, but also quite common.

The best way to treat diaper rashes is to minimize skin irritation and apply a protectant/barrier to help skin heal.

Diaper rashes occur because skin irritation is more likely in warm, moist areas. Irritation is the most common cause of rashes in the genital area. Skin (and baby skin in particular) is easily irritated when it is left in a moist, warm environment. Stool and urine can also be irritants.

Polio is a virus that can cause a range of symptoms, from very mild to extremely severe. When severe, it can lead to paralysis. Since immunization against polio, the disease has been eradicated in the US (in 1979)… until now. There are two different vaccines that protect against polio.

Heat rash, also called “prickly heat” or “Miliaria,” occurs as a result of sweating. Rather than evaporating, the sweat gets trapped, which leads to blockage and inflammation.

Parechovirus is a virus that most often causes symptoms of the common cold. Parechovirus is a known entity that causes illness in children and vulnerable populations. Most often, it causes common cold symptoms, but in more vulnerable populations, such as newborn babies.

Here are five easy steps to becoming a pro at fixing boo-boos, and a reminder of some things to avoid (that may surprise you!) like hydrogen peroxide, neosporin and air.