Children's Wellness Center

01/27/2026

As we're still in the midst of the sick season, your baby might experience a stuffy nose if they're ill. 🤧 Nasal congestion can keep a baby awake at night, which can be stressful for families. There are many ways to ease congestion, but it's also important to follow sleep safety guidelines to protect your baby. That includes having your baby sleep on their back without any inclination or use of pillows and bedding. 💤

Read here for tips on safety and congestion relief. 👇

Nasal congestion from colds, flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), or COVID can make it harder for babies to breathe—and sleep at night. Pediatrician and safe sleep expert Dr. Rachel Moon explains why and suggests safe ways to help your baby sleep when they have a stuffy nose.​

01/27/2026

The AAP issued the 2026 childhood immunization recommendations. While these remain largely unchanged from prior AAP guidance released last year, there are several notable aspects worth emphasizing.

The Academy’s recommendations are endorsed by 12 leading medical organizations. That’s more than one million medical professionals, including physicians, nurses, and pharmacists, across the country.

The recommendations differ from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recently issued schedule. The AAP formerly partnered with the CDC to create unified vaccine recommendations, but the CDC’s recent changes depart from longstanding medical evidence and no longer offer the optimal way to prevent illnesses in children.

The AAP remains fully committed to evidence-based vaccine recommendations. This becomes especially important during this challenging time for public health, with a torrent of misinformation flooding the public sphere. Since the 1930s, their guidance has reflected the best available science and the lived experience of pediatricians caring for children every day. And that remains true today.

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01/25/2026

As of now, our office will be closed tomorrow, Monday, Jan. 26th, until 1:00 PM due to snow. We may be open tomorrow in the afternoon, depending on the weather. ❄

We will do telehealth for any sick visits.

01/22/2026

Vitamin D is essential for children’s bone health and immune systems. It is recommended that all children begin receiving vitamin D supplements shortly after birth. Babies younger than 12 months of age should receive 400 IU of vitamin D each day, and toddlers and older children should receive 600 IU. 💊

Learn more about vitamin D for babies, children, and teens here! 👇

Recent studies show that most children aren’t getting enough vitamin D. Find out why experts suggest increasing your child’s intake.

01/20/2026

Kratom is gaining popularity among many teens. Often marketed as "natural," it's sold in forms such as powders, capsules, and gummies. Even though it comes from a plant, that does not mean it's safe.

Many teens use Kratom as it can make people feel more energetic and alert. It can also cause a temporary feeling of happiness or euphoria. However, it can also increase blood pressure and cause a dry mouth. And in higher doses, it can lead to liver damage, hallucinations, and convulsions or seizures. Kratom has also caused or contributed to dozens of deaths in the U.S. in the past decade.

We recommend checking out this guide for more info on Kratom and what parents need to know. If you have any concerns about your child using Kratom or any other substance, contact our office. ☎️

Kratom: What Parents Need to Know About Risks, Safety​ and Teen Use

01/19/2026

Celebrating and honoring Martin Luther King Jr. ✊🏿

01/14/2026

Protecting your home from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is important to keeping your family safe. Carbon monoxide poisoning is dangerous for everyone, but especially for children because they breathe faster and inhale more CO per pound of body weight. Follow the tips in this guide to keep your home safe. 🏠

"To protect against carbon monoxide poisoning or exposure, your home should have at least one carbon monoxide detector on each floor. If you have a battery-operated detector, remember to change the batteries every 6 months. Keep in mind that plug-in detectors might not go off if there is a carbon monoxide leak while your power is out.

If your detector alarm goes off, leave the house immediately, and call 911. If it is cold outside, you can wait at a neighbor's house or in your car until the fire department arrives. If you wait in a car, make sure it is parked outside, as carbon monoxide fumes from the car's exhaust can quickly fill up a garage, even if the garage door is open."

Although everyone is at risk for CO poisoning, it is particularly dangerous for children because they breathe faster and inhale more CO per pound of body weight.

01/14/2026

Want your kids to improve their relationship with each other? Here are 6 things to share with your children to strengthen their sibling bond. 🫂

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01/13/2026

January is National Birth Defects Awareness Month. While not all birth defects are preventable, careful planning before and during pregnancy can decrease the risk. Here are 5 tips to follow! 🤰

"Consume 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid per day, starting at least one month before becoming pregnant and continuing throughout the pregnancy. This helps prevent serious defects in the baby's brain and spine.

Some foods are fortified or enriched with folic acid. But the simplest way to make sure you get enough is to take a vitamin that has folic acid every day."

​There are things you can do to ensure the healthiest possible pregnancy and reduce the risk of birth defects. Here are five! 

01/08/2026

Changing the direction your baby sleeps every night can prevent flat spots on the head and strengthen the neck muscles! 😴 But remember, babies should always sleep on their backs without any soft bedding or toys. This reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

01/07/2026

Does your child have multiple allergy conditions? If so, they may have the allergic march, which is a chain of health problems that typically happen one after the other. 😰

Children with the allergic march may have sensitive immune systems that fight hard when they're exposed to certain triggers, which can cause flare-ups. Early identification is important for management. While there is no single treatment that stops the allergic march, there are ways to slow its progress and preventive steps to take. Learn more here.

Will your child’s eczema lead to food allergies, hay fever or asthma? Here’s what to know about the allergic march & how it can affect childhood health.​

01/06/2026

It can be hard to know what to say or do when your child is experiencing strong emotions like anger or frustration. 😰But there are 3 simple parenting strategies that can help children learn to navigate their feelings in a healthy way: emotion coaching, sportscasting, and sunshine time. ☀️ Learn more about these here!

When a small child is having a "big feelings" moment, it can be hard to know how to react. But there are some simple parenting strategies that can help children learn to navigate big feelings in a healthy way. These strategies can help children feel safe and secure in the moment, and as they grow. L...