Happy Healthy Pediatrics, PLLC

10/31/2025

🎃 Happy Halloween! 👻

Halloween is such a magical time to celebrate family, imagination, and play. As an integrative pediatrician, I love helping families find ways to make this day joyful and health-conscious.

Here are 3 simple ways to keep your kids safe, happy, and balanced tonight:

1️⃣ Fuel up first — Serve a balanced meal (protein + fiber) before heading out to trick-or-treat. It helps prevent sugar crashes later.
2️⃣ Glow and go safely — Add glow sticks, reflective tape, or flashlights to costumes for nighttime visibility.
3️⃣ Support their bodies afterward — Encourage water, rest, and gentle immune support like vitamin C, elderberry, or a warm bath to unwind.

✨ Let’s make tonight about connection, laughter, and wonder — not just candy.

Share your favorite healthy Halloween tradition in the comments!

10/29/2025

💚 Not all green snot needs antibiotics! Learn what your child’s mucus color really means and how to help them heal.

10/15/2025

Let’s talk about staying healthy this respiratory season — the evidence-based way. 🍎💪😴🧼

As parents, we can’t control every germ our kids meet — but we can strengthen their defenses with daily habits that truly make a difference:

🌱 Nutrition: Offer whole foods rich in vitamin C (citrus, berries), zinc (beans, meats), and vitamin D (sunlight, fortified foods). These nutrients support immune cell function and gut health — where 70% of the immune system lives.

🦶 Movement: Kids need at least 60 minutes of active play per day. Exercise supports immune circulation and reduces stress hormones that weaken immunity.

😴 Sleep: Children who get less than 9 hours of sleep are more likely to catch viral infections. Keep bedtime consistent and limit screens before bed.

🧼 Hand hygiene: Soap and water for 20 seconds is still one of our best defenses against colds, flu, and RSV.

🏡 Stay home when sick: It protects others and helps your child recover faster.

Small, consistent actions add up to stronger immunity — and calmer parents, too.

You’ve got this 💛

10/15/2025

🌡️ The Lowdown on High Temps — Let’s Talk FEVERS!

A re**al temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher is considered a fever.

Remember: fever is not an illness — it’s a sign that the immune system is doing its job to fight off infection.

Most fevers in children are caused by viral infections and resolve on their own. Whether your child needs to see their doctor depends on age, symptoms, and overall appearance.

👉 When to treat:
Use acetaminophen (Tylenol) for children 2 months and older and/or ibuprofen (Motrin) for children 6 months and older only if your child seems uncomfortable or in pain — not just to lower the number on the thermometer.

✅ Normal with Fever:
-Lower energy: Fighting infection takes energy — rest is healing!
-Decreased appetite: This is expected. Focus on hydration — offer frequent sips of water, breast milk, formula, or oral rehydration solution (like Pedialyte).

🚫 Things to Avoid:
• No aspirin — it can cause Reye syndrome, a rare but serious illness.
• No cold baths or alcohol rubs — they can cause shivering or toxic effects.
• No forcing food — fluids matter more than solids when sick.

🚨 Call your pediatrician right away if your child:
• Is younger than 3 months and has a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher
• Has a stiff neck, severe headache, difficulty breathing, persistent vomiting, rash, or signs of dehydration (dry mouth, sunken fontanelle, few wet diapers)
• Is lethargic, unusually irritable, or not drinking well

Fevers can be stressful, but they’re often a healthy immune response. Trust your instincts and reach out if something doesn’t feel right — you know your child best. 💛

10/14/2025

A good friend recently sent me this picture with the message “You’ve always been a supermom!”

This picture was taken in 2018 when I retuned to residency after my maternity leave. I am eating lunch while working on clinic notes and pumping.

The attending physicians and residents I worked with during this time knew how important it was for me to be able to pump breastmilk for my baby while I was working.

I am proud that I advocated for myself and my baby. At the same time, I feel eternally grateful for a residency program that supported me during this time.

I pumped during my PICU, NICU, inpatient, and overnight shifts.

The lesson from this time is to ASK FOR HELP AND TELL PEOPLE WHAT YOU NEED TO DO YOUR BEST.

Most of the time, people genuinely want others to be successful and happy. ❤️

10/05/2025

10/01/2025

As parents, we often fear making mistakes.

But research shows children thrive when they see us take small, consistent steps forward—even imperfect ones. 🌱

Success isn’t defined by speed, trophies, or how much we accumulate. True success, for both kids and parents, is built through daily rhythms that strengthen resilience: nourishing meals, restful sleep, outdoor play, emotional connection, and time for recovery.

Tiny steps, repeated over time, literally shape the brain and nervous system. 💛

08/19/2025

As a pediatrician (and Navy veteran 💙), I love seeing the YMCA support service families with $0 join fees + 10% off membership! 🙌

Parents — don’t forget your own health matters too. The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes of activity a week (about 30 min, 5x/week) plus 2 days of strength training. Exercise boosts your mood and energy while setting a healthy example for your kids. 🌱

The Y makes it easier with Child Watch during workouts and even Parents’ Night Out. Because when parents are well, kids thrive. 💪✨