Should parents worry about “dry drowning”? What are drowning symptoms in kids? Should you worry if your child chokes and coughs while swimming? Here are some answers from a pediatrician mom.

Environmental and seasonal allergies can be so disruptive and uncomfortable. The good news is that there are many OTC treatment options available, but filtering through and figuring out the right one for your child is tricky. Here is a simple explanation of the best medication for your child’s specific allergy symptom.

Allergies occur when our immune systems overreact to triggers. Antibodies called Immunoglobulin E cause mast cells to release histamine, which then triggers symptoms. Some children are predisposed to allergies. They tend to run in “atopic” families (which means families with asthma and eczema as well as allergies). But it is possible to develop allergies even without a known family history.

The adjustment to school can be tough, and many children struggle with big feelings in the afternoons after they come home. This is normal. Here’s why - and here are some tips.

After parenting through the past 3 years, most parents have some degree of health anxiety. If you find yourself very anxious about the start of school and respiratory season, here are some helpful tips.

The start of the school year is exciting, but it is also filled with anxiety - whether your child is going to school (or daycare) for the first time or not. Here are some tips to manage separation anxiety for kids — and a few more for parents, who often get overlooked when this is discussed.

Now that school is starting, many parents start to worry about how to make sure their children stay healthy. This is when the immune boosting companies swoop in. Here’s the real scoop on immunity in children.

Hand, Foot & Mouth is a viral illness that most children encounter eventually. There is no treatment except time, but there are many things you can do to help your child through it. This post covers what parents need to know, plus practical tips!

Box breathing is an easy technique that is taught to US NAVY Seals (and pediatrician’s kids!) for those moments of overwhelm. I started working on the skill with oldest when she was 3. In our house, it has come in handy for insomnia, tantrums, and even when we had to go to the ER recently for a laceration repair.

Board games are a fun way to help build focus and sportsmanship, to create bonding opportunities with family, and to develop age-appropriate skills which will later help in school.

Mostly, pinkeye simply needs time and not antibiotic treatment. But there is a lot of confusion among healthcare providers, schools and daycares about return to school guidelines when it comes to conjunctivitis.

In the vast majority of cases, lymph node enlargement is just a signal of a healthy immune response, rather than something sinister. The goal of this post is to help provide some reassurance and information so you don’t have to Google.

Parental favoritism and love are not the same thing. Your child feeling secure and safe enough to express a preference is most likely a reflection of good parenting, not the opposite.

Part of childhood is being exposed to a myriad of illnesses, and developing the immune response that provides protection down the line. Believe it or not, in the first year of school, it is normal to have 6-8 respiratory infections (colds, coughs), 1-2 tummy bugs, and a few other scattered viral infections such as HFM or roseola.

When there are breaks in the skin barrier (e.g, minor cuts, scratches, insect bites or even rubbing of the skin) these bacteria enter and cause an infection. This is impetigo. The two main causes are the Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species.