Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for people of all ages. It helps us absorb calcium in order to grow strong bones. Since most of this growth takes place when we're young, it's important that children receive sufficient amounts of Vitamin D. Without it, children may develop rickets (soft bones) or be at risk for having brittle bones when they're adults. How We Get Vitamin D [...]
January 1st marks the annual tradition of setting new year’s resolutions. Taking the opportunity to adopt a healthier lifestyle sets a great example for your kids. But the act of setting goals itself is a healthy life skill you can teach them. Goals for Self-Esteem Think about your own experiences with goal setting. When you set unrealistic goals, you’re less likely to succeed, and that [...]
During the holidays, and when we're considering our New Year's resolutions, we think about ways that we can help people in our communities. If your child has ever had to stay in the hospital, you know the stress and fear that comes with the territory. Families with children in the hospital deal with financial and logistical challenges in addition to facing health issues, providing care, [...]
The CDC recently released new breast pump cleaning guidelines after reviewing the case of an infant girl whose death was caused by infection from contaminated breast milk. Although these cases are rare, the CDC decided there was a need for these guidelines because they found a lack of education for new mothers on proper cleaning. Breastfeeding your baby has great health benefits, and 81% of [...]
As pediatricians, it's certainly not our goal to create more stress and give you more reasons to worry about your children. However, a recent report reveals that of the 800 child deaths in Arizona last year, 330 could have been prevented. What caused these preventable child deaths? Car Crashes Defensive driving is a must to keep your own family and everyone else on the road [...]
This holiday season, virtual assistants like Amazon's Alexa, Google's Home, and Microsoft's Cortana might be on your family's wish list. With every new technology that changes our lives comes worry about how it may affect our children. And because technology comes out faster than long-term research studies, we don't really know how virtual assistants will affect kids in the long run. That said, there's no reason [...]
For many families, the holiday season means lots of cooking and baking. Holiday traditions often take place in the kitchen over mixing bowls and hot stoves. Your children will likely enjoy helping you make cookies, pies, side dishes, appetizers, meals, and whatever other delicious dishes are on the holiday menu. And, since schools are no longer offering home ec classes, teaching your kids how to [...]
It’s that time of year when parents start getting notices from schools about the latest contagious diseases going around the classroom. Young children have trouble communicating their symptoms, and infants and toddlers require you to interpret the symptoms yourself. If you have worries or doubts, you can visit the pediatrician or bring your child to urgent care. As you get used to what sounds normal [...]
Parents concerned about vaccine dosages sometimes opt for alternative schedules. They know vaccines are beneficial, but are alternative vaccination schedules better for kids? A recent study explores how vaccine refusal (including requests for alternate schedules) affects the doctor-patient relationship. Trust is difficult to measure, but the effect of trust on quality of care cannot be underestimated. Doctors who trust their patients are more satisfied with [...]
Between Halloween and Día de los Muertos, November starts off with quite the sugar rush. In America, kids already get high doses of sugar from regular foods like peanut butter and jelly. The health risks of too much sugar for kids include obesity, tooth decay, diabetes, and lack of nutrients needed for long-term health, like calcium. The mountain of Halloween candy can overwhelm even the [...]
