Mary Bridge Children's Hospital

10/30/2025

You won’t boo-lieve how adorable these little ones are! 👻

At the Mary Bridge Children’s NICU, our tiniest future trick-or-treaters received handcrafted Halloween costumes made by our incredible nurses. This heartwarming tradition creates special memories for families during their stay.

Thank you to our extraordinary NICU nurses for your unwavering dedication and compassion for littlest patients.

10/29/2025

Join us for a powerful lineup of films that inspire, educate, and promote understanding and inclusion. The Wider Lens Film Festival is a celebration of stories and perspectives from and about individuals with intellectual, physical, and/or developmental disabilities. Our goal is to bring visibility to and celebrate these members of our community.

Join us Saturday, November 8 at The Grand Cinema.

🎟️ https://multica.re/3JxInay

10/28/2025

While imaginations run wild, there are steps every parent and caregiver should take to keep their families safe while trick-or-treating.

“Kids are excited and easily distracted,” said Erin Summa, MPH, health promotion program manager, at Mary Bridge Children’s Center for Childhood Safety. “When it’s dark and there’s increased traffic, there’s increased risk for injuries and accidents.”

Halloween is the one day of the year when kids and grownups alike can transform into anything their mischievous minds can imagine -- from princesses and paupers to rock stars, wranglers, dinosaurs and divas.

10/24/2025

How can parents keep kids healthy during Halloween — without taking away the fun or the candy?

Colleen McMeen, RD, CD, a registered dietitian at Mary Bridge Children’s Pediatric Weight and Wellness and MultiCare’s Center for Health Equity and Wellness, encourages parents to embrace balance — not restriction.

“Don’t take away the candy,” she says. “for Halloween and other special occasions, there’s no need to count candy bars.”

She recommends that parents decide what, when, and where food is offered, while kids choose if and how much they eat. Most children will naturally lose interest in the candy after a few days. https://multica.re/4qkwsxj

10/23/2025

Thank you Spirit of Children for the Halloween fun!

10/22/2025

“It’s completely understandable that parents are unsure what to do,” says Andrea Donalty, MD, pediatrician and medical director of Mary Bridge Children’s primary care network. “School is back in session and, combined with seasonal variations in circulating viruses, children are back in close proximity with each other which can increase chances of virus transmission.”

Parents and caregivers need clarity on when to stay home and when to call their pediatrician -- or see more emergent options like a trip to the emergency room.

10/21/2025

Upon admission to Mary Bridge Children’s, Tucker received a comfort kit from The First Night Project, a non-profit started by a local young adult who used his Make-A-Wish grant to give comfort kits to teenage patients in the hospital.

Like many kids and teens with critical illnesses, while in treatment, Tucker was given the opportunity to receive his own wish from Make-A-Wish.

Most Wish Kids ask to have something, to meet someone or to go somewhere for their wishes. But, inspired by The First Night Project, Tucker decided to use his Make-A-Wish to give back and specifically, to give back to kids going through cancer at Mary Bridge Children’s by gifting video game consoles to the oncology clinic.

When Tucker used his Make-A-Wish to give back, cofounder Penni Maples celebrated with him where the nonprofit began: Mary Bridge Children's.

10/15/2025

Receiving a serious diagnosis or facing an unexpected health challenge can be a stressful time. As you pursue next steps in your care or the care of a loved one, you may wonder about getting a second opinion.

Is it worthwhile? Will your doctor be offended if you ask for one? Will insurance cover it?

Here we answer common questions about second opinions and offer guidance about how to seek one for a medical concern.

Wondering if you should get a second opinion about your diagnosis or treatment? MultiCare experts answer common questions about these consultations.

10/13/2025

The U.S. has taken major steps to improve infant sleep safety. It banned inclined sleepers and crib bumpers, set stricter safety rules for crib mattresses, and issued updated sleep guidelines for infants. The latest efforts now are aimed at banning a dangerous new product category – weighted infant sleepwear.

There is so much overlap in the scenarios we see with sleep-related infant deaths, we combine them into a single set of prevention strategies called “safe sleep” --and this knowledge has been put into action.

10/08/2025

If you find yourself thinking “Another ear infection?” about your child, this article might be for you.

Cold and flu season often brings an increase of ear infections in children. In many cases, these infections are viral and resolve on their own or with a short course of antibiotics.

But are there other ways to prevent or reduce ear infections? Why do some children get them so often?

If you find yourself thinking “Another ear infection?” about your child, this article might be for you.

10/06/2025

Sore throats can have many culprits, from the common cold to seasonal allergies.

How do you know if your sore throat is caused by a strep infection? And what should you do if you suspect you have strep?

Here, we break down what to know about strep throat, from how it spreads to how to get relief.

Sore throats culprits range from the common cold to seasonal allergies. Learn how to recognize strep throat symptoms and how to get relief.

10/01/2025

October is Safe Sleep and SIDS Awareness Month.

Always place baby on their back for sleep on a firm, flat, non-inclined surface.

Federal regulations have been tightened, including bans on unsafe sleep products like inclined sleepers and crib bumpers. But many products remain on the market, including some — like nursing pillows — that may be safe when used as directed (to support a caregiver’s arms while feeding) but are not designed to be slept on or next to.

Federal regulations were tightened last year, with a ban on unsafe sleep products like inclined sleepers and crib bumpers. But many products remain on the market, including some -- like nursing pillows -- that may be safe when used as directed (to suppo...