Dayton Children's Hospital

01/09/2026

It’s ! Say hello to Dr. Melissa King, a pediatrician in the Healthy Me clinic at Dayton Children’s.

What does Dr. King treat?
🩺 She helps kids build healthier habits and reach their best selves.
🩺 She supports children and teens with obesity by creating personalized care plans that improve their overall health and wellbeing.
🩺 She focuses on disease prevention and long-term wellness.

Where did Dr. King train?
🎓 Medical school at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
🏥 Residency at Dayton Children’s

Why does Dr. King love working with kids?
💙 She loves supporting kids as they grow, learn and become the healthiest version of themselves.

Why does Dr. King love Dayton Children’s?
🌟 “We have a small community of health care providers, which allows us to personalize our care. Our staff is extremely dedicated and committed to the children in our community.”

👉 Learn more about Dr. King here https://bit.ly/3Z1wm19
Follow along each week as we feature the incredible pediatric providers at Dayton Children’s who go above and beyond for every child within our reach.

01/08/2026

Did you know Dayton Children's has an optical shop right here at our main campus? Located on the first floor of the specialty care center, the shop is open Monday – Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm and carries hundreds of frames!

To celebrate National Eye Care Month, here are 3 things to know if your kiddo needs glasses:
👓 Kids need glasses for a variety of reasons, so it's great to have a large selection (over 300 frames!) to make sure your child has the best fit for their vision!
🕐 No appointment is needed at our optical shop, and we can even make some glasses within 1 hour! Plus, our fun, kid-friendly spaces keep the family at ease, making it a quick, easy one-stop shopping errand for all!
👧 Little eyes need specialized care. Our specially pediatric-trained team is ready to properly fit their new glasses and provide above-and-beyond care for all kids!

01/07/2026

Handwashing doesn’t have to be boring—especially when there’s a fun video involved! 🎶👏

Turn clean hands into a daily habit by washing together and showing kids how it’s done. It’s one of the easiest (and most powerful!) ways to help stop the spread of germs and keep everyone feeling their best.

Perfect reminders for little hands to wash up: before eating 🍎, after the bathroom 🚽, after playing outside 🛝, snuggling pets 🐶, or anytime coughs and sneezes happen!

🎥 Watch our kid-friendly handwashing video and make clean hands a family rule.

01/06/2026

We’re incredibly grateful to RSM US LLP's Dayton office for showing what it truly means to support the community you call home. Through their Power of Love Employee Giving Campaign, paired with hands-on volunteerism and creative team-led fundraising, RSM donated an incredible $29,688.13 to support mental health services at Dayton Children’s.

From volunteering their time this summer to coming together as a local team to give back, RSM’s commitment reflects the power of investing right here in the Dayton community. We were honored to welcome members of the RSM team to present their generous gift and celebrate the impact it will have on the children and families we serve every day. 💙

📸 Check out photos from the check presentation and volunteer day below!

01/05/2026

It can be scary when your kid spikes a fever. Take a deep breath and know that you're not alone. 💜 Fevers are common in kids and often a sign their body is doing exactly what it’s supposed to do.

We’re breaking down some of the most common fever myths vs. facts to help you feel informed, confident and prepared the next time the thermometer climbs. 👇 Click through to learn what’s true, what’s not and when to call your child’s care team.

💬 What fever questions do you have? Drop them in the comments—we’re here to help.

01/02/2026

For more than four decades, the Airmen of the 87th Aerial Port Squadron (APS) have shared the spirit of the holidays with patients at Dayton Children’s. What began in 1984 as a simple act of gratitude has grown into a beloved annual tradition that continues to this day.

💛 The tradition was inspired by a former member of the squadron whose son was diagnosed with cancer at a young age. After seeking care across the country, the family found compassionate support and exceptional care at Dayton Children’s. Sadly, despite every effort and after a courageous fight, their son passed away at just 11 years old.

🎁 Wanting to honor their son's memory and say thank you for the care and kindness their family received, the 87th APS organized a visit to Dayton Children's in December 1984. The Airmen went room to room, delivering gifts to hospitalized children, bringing smiles to patients and families alike.

💜 What was intended to be a one-time gesture quickly became a mission. Year after year, the Airmen of the 87th APS have continued the tradition, expanding their efforts and donating hundreds of gifts to children spending the holidays in the hospital.

This past December proudly marked 42 years of giving — a legacy rooted in remembrance, gratitude, and a shared commitment to bringing joy to children and families when they need it most. We are so grateful to our generous and supportive community!

01/01/2026

📣 WOW! What a year 2025 was at Dayton Children's! Although it was virtually impossible to pick our favorites, we rounded up some of the most memorable photos from the year. Which one was your favorite? Show us by liking your favorite photo!

Here's to another incredible year together as we stay rooted in our community and go above and beyond for every child within our reach. ❤

12/31/2025

Born at just 27 weeks, twins Drew and Jonah spent a combined 303 days in neonatal intensive care—with Jonah receiving lifesaving care at Dayton Children’s NICU during his most critical moments.

Through surgeries, setbacks and months of uncertainty, our teams walked alongside this family every step of the way, providing expert, compassionate care when it mattered most. Today, both boys are home, healthy and finally starting the traditions their parents once only dreamed about.

As we close out this year, stories like Drew and Jonah’s remind us why we do what we do: to be a trusted care partner, to deliver an exceptional pediatric experience, and to care for every child like they’re our own—right here, close to home. 💙

Read more about Drew and Jonah's story at https://bit.ly/3YS83CO

After a pair of newborn twins spent the first months of their lives in neonatal intensive care units, their parents are looking forward to starting holiday traditions with their babies now that they are both home.

12/31/2025

📱 How much screen time is too much? And how can families set healthy boundaries that support their kids’ mental health?

👀 Check out the graphics below for quick tips, then head to our website for even more ideas as we break down what’s healthiest for each age group and share easy, practical ways to build healthy screen habits as a family.

12/30/2025

Winter break is the perfect time for families to get out, stay active, and make memories close to home, and Dayton Children's is proud to support that right here in our community. As a sponsor of the Five Rivers MetroParks ice rink, we’re helping create a fun, accessible winter experience for kids and families across the region.

From first-time skaters to seasoned pros, the rink offers a safe, welcoming space for families to enjoy time together during the break. And when the cold sets in, skaters can warm up inside the heated tent kept at a comfortable 70°, making it easier for families to stay out and enjoy the day.

Supporting local spaces like the ice rink reflects who we are—a trusted, locally focused partner committed to caring for kids and strengthening the communities they call home. When we invest in places that bring families together, we’re helping build healthier, happier childhoods.

👉 Is ice skating on your winter break bucket list? Let us know in the comments!

12/29/2025

At just 9 years old, Ashley’s life changed in an instant.
After a devastating hit-and-run accident, she was rushed to Dayton Children’s, where trauma teams worked tirelessly to save her life—and to support her family every step of the way.

What followed was a long, difficult road: weeks in the hospital, dozens of surgeries and months of recovery. But through it all, Ashley was surrounded by expert pediatric care, compassion and hope. Her family remembers a team that didn’t just treat injuries—they treated them like family. “Everyone made us feel like everything was going to be okay.”

Today, Ashley is 10. She’s learning to navigate life with a prosthesis, continuing therapy and showing incredible resilience as she gets back to doing what kids do best—playing, learning and dreaming big. Her strength is inspiring, and her journey is a powerful reminder of why trauma care for children matters.

This holiday season, Ashley is giving back. She is helping raise critical funds so other children can receive the same trusted, life-saving care when they need it most.

💙 You can be part of Ashley’s impact. Make a gift to our holiday giving campaign and help ensure every child in our community has access to exceptional pediatric care—today and for years to come.

🎁 Donate now. Share hope. Change a child’s future. https://donorcenter.childrensdaytongive.org/page/holidays

12/27/2025

🏁 We’re racing to the finish line — and you can help put kids in the lead.

Thanks to our friends at Valvoline, every gift is TRIPLE-matched this week, up to $25,000. That means your support goes three times farther for sick and injured kids who need us now and in the year ahead.

⏱️ This match ends at midnight, Dec. 31 — don’t wait.
👉 Give now and help us cross the finish line together. Link is in our comments.

Valvoline Global Operations Children's Miracle Network Hospitals