New Canaan Pediatrics

09/25/2025

Redirection can be your best tool to defuse a coming tantrum - as long as you don’t use a screen.
When you see signs of a meltdown, ask your child to find something red or to sing a song, or pull a small colorful book out of your bag to distract them.
Research shows that using a screen to calm your child will actually make tantrums more frequent and more intense because they haven’t recognized and processed their emotions in a healthy way, they feel rewarded with screen time for having a tantrum, and their own emotional self-regulation skills deteriorate instead of mature.

09/23/2025

Toddler tantrums are best stopped before they can start - and many are caused by physical discomfort.
Make sure your child is well rested before errands, playdates or visits.
Hungry kids are more likely to have a meltdown, so keep nutritious snacks stocked in your bag or vehicle and don’t hesitate to feed them, even if lunch or dinner is near.
Your toddler may also be irritated by their environment, such as clothes that scratch or being too warm.
It can be helpful to describe their emotions and work towards solutions, such as, “You are feeling very upset right now. How can we fix that?”

09/20/2025

Do you need a refresher on keeping your baby safe - or are you welcoming a newborn for the first time? Either way, New Canaan has you covered during Baby Safety Awareness Month!

This month is Baby Safety Awareness Month. Whether you have a newborn on the way or a small child already in your home, or just in your life, New Canaan Pediatrics reminds you to reacquaint yourself with some easy steps and up-to-date information to keep children safe. Babies aren’t born with the ...

09/19/2025

If you’re seeing a lump or bump appear near your baby or toddler’s groin or sc***um when they cough or cry, it could be an inguinal hernia.
These hernias can be painful and nearly always require surgery, as inguinal hernias are a very serious health condition.
90% of children with these hernias are boys and about 5% of boys born full term will experience an inguinal hernia before their sixth birthday.
If you suspect your child has an inguinal hernia, do not wait. Contact your New Canaan Pediatrics provider for an urgent appointment.

09/19/2025

Does your infant’s belly button seem to raise into a cone or lump when they cry? They could be one of the 1 in 20 children born with an umbilical hernia.
In the womb, the umbilical cord passes through your baby’s abdominal wall. A hernia occurs when your baby’s muscles haven’t fully closed.
This type of hernia will typically resolve on its own by your child’s second birthday, but may not fully close until your child is about 6. We’ll monitor it during well-baby checks.

09/11/2025

Your New Canaan provider will diagnose mononucleosis symptoms by looking for swollen lymph nodes in your child’s neck, a sore throat, swollen tonsils with white patches, and fatigue along with a fever.
Because mono is a virus, antibiotics will not improve or cure the infection.
Your child will recover with plenty of rest and fluids. Relieve fever and aches with acetaminophen or ibuprofen, carefully following the package directions.
Your child must also avoid all contact sports for a month after symptoms appear to protect their spleen and liver.

09/09/2025

Most children are exposed to the virus that causes mononucleosis at some point, but infants and younger children typically show no symptoms.
Symptoms usually appear in teens and college-age adults, developing about 4-8 weeks after infection by the virus.
Known as “the kissing disease,” mono spreads through saliva, so can be passed by coughing, sneezing, or sharing a glass, straw or fork.

09/04/2025

Consider what your tween will need nutritionally when they express a desire to go vegan.
Nuts, legumes, soy beans and tofu will give your child protein.
Kale, broccoli, bok choy and Vitamin D fortified orange juice will provide calcium.
You’ll also want to ensure your child is getting enough calories overall from healthy fruits and cereals to foster proper growth and development.
Vitamin B12 is not provided in any vegetables so your child must take a supplement; message your New Canaan provider for guidance.

09/02/2025

When your tween announces they are going vegan, New Canaan recommends investigating and planning meals together so your child fully understands what they need to eat to grow and develop as they should.
While children raised on carefully planned and executed vegan diets are healthy and have lower obesity rates, children eating poor vegan diets are deficient in vitamins B12 and D and calcium, impacting bone development and causing neurological, physical and psychological symptoms.

08/28/2025

It’s important to identify the cause of a contact dermatitis rash and prevent your child from touching it again.
Some allergens and irritants cause a rash in many people, such as poison ivy or cleaning products, but your child may react to substances less typical, like a particular skin care product.
Prevent rash by using unscented soaps, gentle household products and avoiding areas with heavy foliage. Wash hands frequently to avoid spreading any contagions to other parts of the body.
When you have difficulty identifying the cause of the rash, contact your New Canaan provider to discuss allergy testing.

08/26/2025

A contact dermatitis rash happens when your child’s skin brushes or rubs against an allergen or irritant that causes their body’s immune system to release histamines.
The rash could be swollen with hives, blisters or pimples. It may itch, sting or burn and be painful.
Keep the rash clean and undisturbed - no scratching or rubbing - to prevent infection.
If over-the-counter corticosteroid creams don’t resolve symptoms in a few days, if symptoms worsen or your child develops a fever, contact your New Canaan provider.

08/21/2025

Determine if your child experiencing frequent gastrointestinal distress is lactose intolerant by eliminating all products that contain milk or milk products from their diet for about two weeks.
As you add small amounts of these foods back each day, if symptoms reoccur - or worsen as they consume more milk products, they are likely to be lactose intolerant.
Give your child a diet rich in spinach, almonds, white beans, and salmon to ensure they are still getting enough calcium for growing bones.
Lactaid or supplements with the lactase enzyme given before a meal containing dairy can help relieve symptoms.