Mass General Brigham for Children

09/24/2025

Learn about car seat safety with Caitlin Coit, a trauma nurse practitioner at Mass General, for Child Passenger Safety Week.

09/12/2025

Join Mass General Brigham & Harvard Medical School for an expert-led Primary Care Pediatrics Continuing Education course. Gain the latest evidence-based updates and practical strategies for caring for infants, children and adolescents.

📅 Dates: December 3–5, 2025
⏰ Early Registration Deadline: October 17, 2025

Learn more: http://spklr.io/6186BHClI

09/12/2025

Fall festivities have begun at the Mass General Brigham for Children neonatal intensive care units. Our smallest patients are readying for futures pumpkin and apple picking, watching leaves turning, autumn weather and back-to-school fun.

09/11/2025

Wanting the best for your child is natural, but being too involved can hold them back. Gene Beresin, MD, MA, shares how helicopter parenting may lower self-esteem, delay independence and increase anxiety.

Remind kids they’re valued for who they are, not just what they achieve. Learn more:

What is a helicopter parent? Find out how overprotective parents and excessive monitoring can negatively affect children, and get tips to pull back.

09/04/2025

09/02/2025

What started as a slow day at work for parents Peggy and Jack turned into the unexpected. That evening, they picked up pizza before their first virtual childbirth class. But when Peggy began feeling pain, they decided to head to Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Just 30 minutes after arriving, Peggy gave birth to their son, John Arthur IV, 11 weeks early.

Baby Johnny was cared for in the Special Care Nursery by Silvia Patrizi, MD, and the team before being flown by Boston MedFlight to the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) at Brigham and Women's Hospital. There, Peggy and Jack spent 72 days surrounded by a dedicated team of nurses, doctors, residents, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, lactation consultants, a social worker, and a chaplain, guiding them through those first fragile weeks.

When Peggy first chose her OB (obstetrician) doctor, she knew she wanted a hospital with a NICU. After experiencing some complications in her first trimester, she felt more comfortable delivering at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, trusting both its highly regarded maternity team and its connection to the Mass General Brigham network.

Peggy and Jack found comfort and confidence in every expert they met throughout their time at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Today, they are grateful for the care that helped their family through those early challenges and are proud to share that baby Johnny has just celebrated his 6-month milestone!

08/27/2025

Back to school season is here! 📚 Mass General Brigham experts share tips to help families ease into a healthy school year routine. Learn more: http://spklr.io/6180BHE2O

08/26/2025

For Matthew, life has been filled with many hospitalizations, being a former 29-week preemie, weighing a pound and a half. This year he’s had three separate hospital stays for three different spinal surgeries. Each visit to the hospital came with fear, pain and uncertainty. But through it all, he had a source of comfort on four paws: Kayce, Mass General Brigham for Children’s facility dog.

From the moment Kayce trotted into his room, Matthew’s anxiety began to ease. What started with a gentle nuzzle grew into a trusted friendship that helped him face each surgery with more strength and hope. He looked forward to Kayce’s daily visits, knowing that no matter how tough the day, Kayce would be there with a wagging tail and unconditional support. Each day, Matthew’s eyes would light up when Kayce appeared at the door. He would pat his bed for Kayce to jump up, and together they would snuggle. The bond grew so strong that when complications meant another urgent surgery in April, Matthew smiled and said, “Well, at least I get to see Kayce again.”

Matthew even has a photo of Kayce hanging on his bedroom wall and watches videos of him after his hospital stays, keeping their connection alive even after he leaves the hospital. His family also wants to recognize Kayce’s ‘sidekick,’ Eva Mintz, child life specialist and Kayce’s handler. Without her unwavering dedication to patients and families, and her care in making sure Kayce reached Matthew’s bedside each day, this incredible experience wouldn’t have been possible.

For Matthew and his family, Kayce wasn’t just a visitor; he was part of the healing process. His presence turned moments of fear into moments of joy, gave Matthew courage when he needed it most, and reminded all of us that sometimes the greatest medicine comes with a wagging tail.

08/22/2025

Bug bites don’t have to bug you all season long. Here’s what our experts want you to know about preventing and treating them. http://spklr.io/6182BG9mK

08/21/2025

Are you pregnant and wondering which medications are safe? Many medications are safe, especially for managing chronic or mental health conditions. Always talk to your doctor before starting, stopping, or changing any medicine. Learn more from our experts:

It’s safe to take many medicines while pregnant or chestfeeding, especially those to manage chronic conditions. But there are exceptions. Learn more.

08/20/2025

School is coming, but summer safety still counts. Mass General Brigham for Children experts Toby Raybould, MS, and Michael Flaherty, DO, share tips with GBH on keeping kids safe on the roads and in the water. http://spklr.io/6184BG9Wp

08/14/2025

Hearing loss in children is more common than many parents realize. Even mild cases can impact speech and language development, schoolwork and socializing with other children. Early testing and treatment can make a big difference.

Leila Mankarious, MD, a Mass General Brigham pediatric ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist (also known as an otolaryngologist), shares what signs parents should watch for and how to protect a child’s hearing.

Parents should watch for signs of hearing loss in children and speak with a doctor right away for testing and treatment if they suspect hearing loss.