Mt. Spokane Pediatrics

Mt. Spokane Pediatrics With two locations to serve you, Mt. Spokane Pediatrics offers general pediatric primary care, same day sick and minor injury visits!

All content on this page is for informational purposes only, and does not replace professional medical advice.

Is your child hitting a mid-year burnout wall?You’re not imagining it. By this point in the school year, kids are tired—...
01/30/2026

Is your child hitting a mid-year burnout wall?
You’re not imagining it. By this point in the school year, kids are tired—mentally, physically, emotionally.

Small resets matter. Daily movement, fresh air, nourishing meals, and a consistent sleep schedule help regulate stressed nervous systems. Predictable routines and simple self-care aren’t luxuries for kids—they’re stabilizers.

This is also a good moment to reset the environment. Reorganize homework spaces. Set fresh, realistic goals. Talk openly about time management and expectations. Most importantly: listen. Validate how your child feels without rushing to fix it. Praise effort and resilience, not perfection. Pressure drains motivation faster than failure ever will.

And don’t forget novelty. Trying a new activity, building friendships, or planning something to look forward to can reignite curiosity and confidence. Kids don’t need constant pushing—they need room to breathe and grow.

Helpful reads that informed this post:
🔗 Youth Villages – Helping Your Child Overcome Mid-Year Stress & Burnout
https://youthvillages.org/7-ways-help-your-child-overcome-mid-year-school-stress-and-burnout/

🔗 Parallel Learning – Overcoming the Mid-Year Slump
https://www.parallellearning.com/post/overcoming-the-mid-year-slump

A quick reminder of what we offer at Mt. Spokane Pediatrics:Prenatal visits, newborn and well-child checkups, same-day s...
01/28/2026

A quick reminder of what we offer at Mt. Spokane Pediatrics:

Prenatal visits, newborn and well-child checkups, same-day sick visits, asthma and allergy care, behavioral support, and lactation services. Care for the everyday stuff, the unexpected stuff, and the growing-up stuff.

Space Heater Safety: Warmth Without the WorrySpace heaters can be a wonderfully frugal and convenient way to heat a smal...
01/26/2026

Space Heater Safety: Warmth Without the Worry

Space heaters can be a wonderfully frugal and convenient way to heat a small space. They’re also one of the leading causes of home fires when used carelessly. Fire doesn’t care if you were “just gone for a minute.” A space heater demands respect, attention, and a little common sense.

Start with distance. Anything that can burn—clothes, blankets, furniture, curtains—needs at least three feet of space between it and the heater. Crowding a heater is how cozy turns catastrophic.

Never leave a space heater unattended. Not while you’re running errands, not while you’re sleeping. If you’re not actively monitoring it, turn it off. Fires don’t announce themselves politely; they arrive loud and fast.

Plug space heaters directly into the wall. Always. Extension cords and power strips aren’t built to handle the heavy electrical load and can overheat quickly. That heat doesn’t stay contained—it spreads.

Placement matters. Heaters should sit on flat, level surfaces on the ground. No tables, no beds, no balancing acts. A tipped heater is a hazard unless it has an automatic shut-off feature, which is a must-have.

Before each use, check the cord. If it’s cracked, frayed, or damaged in any way, the heater is done. Retire it. Using damaged electrical equipment is gambling with fire.

Keep kids well away from space heaters. Curious hands and high heat are a dangerous combination. And never touch an electric heater if you’re wet—water and electricity have never been friends.

Sources:
Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI)
https://www.esfi.org/home-heating-fire-prevention-tips/

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
https://www.nfpa.org/downloadable-resources/safety-tip-sheets/electric-portable-space-heater-safety

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/heaters.pdf

Looking for a fun (and free!) way to spend a day with the kids? 🌲These are the 2026 Discover Pass Free Days, perfect for...
01/23/2026

Looking for a fun (and free!) way to spend a day with the kids? 🌲

These are the 2026 Discover Pass Free Days, perfect for family walks, nature play, and making healthy memories together.

Fresh air, movement, and time together—great for growing bodies and minds 💚
🔗 https://discoverpass.wa.gov/about-pass/free-ways-visit/free-parking-days

Bones are not shy, fragile antiques. They’re living tissue with opinions—and childhood is when they shout the loudest. L...
01/21/2026

Bones are not shy, fragile antiques. They’re living tissue with opinions—and childhood is when they shout the loudest. Let’s bust a few stubborn myths and give kids’ skeletons the backup they deserve.
Myth 1: Milk is the only way to build strong bones
Milk gets great PR, but it’s not the sole hero. Calcium shows up in plenty of foods: fish, leafy greens, broccoli, kale, mushrooms, eggs, fortified foods, beans, soy, and grain-based products. A well-balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables does real work here. Soda, on the other hand, is a bone buzzkill—its phosphates can interfere with calcium absorption.
Bones also love movement. Physically active kids build more bone mass than couch-bound ones. Weight-bearing and resistance activities—running, dancing, judo, jumping, climbing—are especially powerful. Aim for about 60 minutes of activity a day. Vitamin D matters too; without it, calcium can’t do its job. If kids don’t get enough calcium from food, the body will quietly steal it from bones. Bones remember.
Myth 2: Bone health only matters when you’re old
Bone health is a long game that starts early. Peak bone mass—the strongest your bones will ever be—is largely built during childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood. Enter adulthood with a sturdy skeleton and you’ve already invested in your future. After about age 40, bones naturally begin to weaken. Genetics play a role, sure, but lifestyle choices during these early years carry enormous weight. Nutrition and movement now mean fewer problems later.
Myth 3: Osteoporosis only affects older women
It’s true osteoporosis is common in older Caucasian women, but it doesn’t respect gender, race, or age. Men typically start with higher peak bone mass and women tend to have smaller bones, but both men and women—of all backgrounds—can develop osteoporosis. In some cases, it appears much earlier than expected. Bones don’t care about stereotypes.
Sources
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS): Kids and Their Bones
https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/kids-and-their-bones
Children’s Hospital Colorado: How to Optimize Your Child’s Bone Health
https://www.childrenscolorado.org/just-ask-childrens/articles/how-to-optimize-your-child-s-bone-health/
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS): Healthy Bones at Every Age
https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/staying-healthy/healthy-bones-at-every-age/

A timeless reminder: our shared humanity is not optional—it’s essential.
01/19/2026

A timeless reminder: our shared humanity is not optional—it’s essential.

Winter has a way of turning kids into couch potatoes with great Wi-Fi. Let’s not let that happen.Cold weather doesn’t me...
01/16/2026

Winter has a way of turning kids into couch potatoes with great Wi-Fi. Let’s not let that happen.

Cold weather doesn’t mean no movement. Once temperatures drop below about 20°F, it’s usually time to head indoors—but kids still need daily activity. Aim for 30–60 minutes of movement each day, plus at least 15 minutes of natural light and fresh air when it’s safe. That combo supports both physical health and emotional regulation.

Easy ways to keep kids active indoors:
• Turn up the music and throw a dance party
• Play movement-based games like Twister or Wii
• Create an obstacle course with pillows, tape, and imagination
• Use indoor equipment if space allows—mini basketball hoops, tumbling mats, pull-up bars
• Visit indoor play spaces like libraries, malls, skating rinks, bowling alleys, or trampoline parks

Movement doesn’t require perfect weather or elaborate plans. It requires intention. Kids are built to move—even in the dead of winter.

Sources:
Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. Keep Kids Active and Moving During Winter Weather.
Atrium Health. Staying Active in Cooler Temperatures May Benefit Your Child’s Health.
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Fun Ways to Keep Kids Active Through Winter.

The Importance of Play in Childhood: Why Active Play MattersPlay is far more than just fun—it’s essential to children’s ...
01/14/2026

The Importance of Play in Childhood: Why Active Play Matters
Play is far more than just fun—it’s essential to children’s growth and development. Through play, kids explore the world, connect with others, and strengthen connections between brain areas. They also learn how to navigate social structures, problem-solve, and develop emotional resilience. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights even recognizes play as a right of every child.

Types of Play
• Sensory Play: Engages the senses—touch, smell, sight, and sound—to help children learn about their environment.
• Big Body Play: Full-body movement like running, jumping, climbing, and tumbling. Helps develop motor skills and overall health.
• Parallel Play: Playing independently near other children, sometimes mimicking their actions, but focused on their own activity.
• Pretend Play: Using toys, actions, or imagination to create new scenarios, fostering creativity and problem-solving.
• Social Play: Interactive play with peers, encouraging communication and relationship-building.
• Cooperative Play: Often alongside social play, children work together to achieve shared goals.
• Passive Play: Activities like watching TV or playing video games.

Concerns with Passive Play
While screens and passive entertainment are common, research shows that passive play has limitations:
• It limits creativity and imaginative thinking.
• It is generally sedentary, contributing less to physical development.
• It does not promote social skills or cooperative problem-solving.
Encouraging a variety of active play experiences helps children grow physically, socially, and cognitively—and ensures they are developing skills that screens alone cannot provide.

References:
1. Ginsburg, K. R. (2007). The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds. Pediatrics, 119(1), 182–191. https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/119/1/182/70699
2. NIH News in Health. (2018). It’s a Kid’s Job. https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2018/07/it-s-kid-s-job
3. GreenTrike. (n.d.). 5 Types of Play. https://greentrike.org/blog/5-types-of-play

Cannabis edibles are sending more children to emergency rooms—and not because parents are reckless, but because many of ...
01/12/2026

Cannabis edibles are sending more children to emergency rooms—and not because parents are reckless, but because many of these products are designed to look exactly like snacks. Gummies. Chocolates. Brownies. Bright colors, familiar shapes, zero warning to a child’s brain.

THC, the chemical responsible for the “high,” is not safe for children. Even small amounts can cause profound sleepiness, slowed or stopped breathing, seizures, or coma. What might barely register in an adult can overwhelm a child’s body and developing brain.

Complicating matters further: some edibles contain delta-8 THC, a federally unregulated compound chemically similar to delta-9 THC. It has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, can be highly concentrated, and may be produced using potentially harmful chemicals.

Most pediatric cannabis exposures are unintentional. Curious kids explore with their mouths. Packaging does the rest.

How families can reduce risk:
• The safest choice is not keeping THC products in homes with young children
• If present, store all THC products locked, high, and completely out of sight, like medication
• Avoid edible products that resemble real food or candy
• Ask about exposure risks anywhere your child spends time, including friends’ homes and visitors’ belongings

⚠️ If you think a child may have ingested a cannabis product:
Call Poison Control immediately at 1-800-222-1222 (U.S.).
The line is free, confidential, and available 24/7. Call first—even if symptoms seem mild.

This isn’t about blame. It’s about recognizing risk before it becomes an emergency.

Sources:
• The New York Times. “As Cannabis Use Grows, Poisonings in Children Rise.” August 10, 2025.
• Geisinger Health System. “Protecting Our Children from the Rising Threat of Ma*****na Edibles.” January 16, 2025.
• Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) PolicyLab. “Kids Are Getting Candy Stashes Meant for Adults.”

At our clinic, we love sharing resources that support healthy, growing families.Spokane County Library and Spokane Publi...
01/09/2026

At our clinic, we love sharing resources that support healthy, growing families.
Spokane County Library and Spokane Public Library offer free programs, storytimes, and activities that nurture curiosity, connection, and learning—at no cost.
A simple, powerful resource for families, right here in our community.

On January 1, 2026, Mt. Spokane Pediatrics became aware of a cybersecurity incident involving our systems. We took immed...
01/07/2026

On January 1, 2026, Mt. Spokane Pediatrics became aware of a cybersecurity incident involving our systems. We took immediate steps to secure our network and address the issue.

We want to share that some patient information may have been affected. We understand this news may be concerning. Due to the nature of the incident and an ongoing investigation, we’re not able to provide specific details at this time.

We are working closely with cybersecurity specialists, local law enforcement, and the FBI, and we are strengthening our security measures to help prevent future incidents.

Families will receive a letter with additional information, which is also linked here for your reference.

We are truly sorry this occurred and appreciate your trust and patience as we work through this. Protecting our patients and families remains our highest priority.

If you have questions after reviewing the letter, please don’t hesitate to contact our office.

https://mtspokanepediatrics.com/databreach012026

Your kid’s runny nose isn’t just gross; it’s informative.. Mucus is a first-line defender at the entrance of the respira...
01/07/2026

Your kid’s runny nose isn’t just gross; it’s informative.. Mucus is a first-line defender at the entrance of the respiratory system. Its color can whisper clues about what’s going on inside. Yet it’s not a magic diagnosis tool—just one clue in the broader story of your child’s health.
Clear: No cause for alarm. Every nose makes clear mucus to trap dust and keep tissues moist. Lots of clear snot? That can be allergies or a new cold warming up.
White: Cloudier and clumpier than clear—white means congestion and immune cells arriving on the scene. It’s typical early in a cold.
Yellow/Green: No need to panic. This color comes from immune cells doing their job. Green doesn’t prove bacterial infection, and antibiotics aren’t automatically needed. Viral illnesses can have green snot too.
Red/Pink: Blood in the mucus looks scary, but most of the time it’s just irritation—dry air, aggressive nose blowing, little vessel pop.
Brown: Old blood or trapped debris from dirt/pollution. Usually harmless unless paired with other symptoms.
Black: Rare, and worth taking seriously if it doesn’t clear—could be from inhaled particles or, very infrequently, something like a fungal issue.
Bottom line: Color alone is not a definitive diagnosis machine. It’s a hint. Look at duration, overall behavior changes, fever patterns, and pain. Patterns matter more than pigments.
Read More:
https://www.snotforce.org/blog/different-colors-of-snot-and-what-they-mean
https://www.osfhealthcare.org/blog/what-the-color-of-your-snot-means
https://health.choc.org/snot-and-kids-what-do-those-colors-mean/

Address

759 E Holland Avenue
Spokane, WA
99218

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 1pm
Sunday 9am - 1pm

Telephone

+15092700065

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