Kids with croup sound like they swallowed a seal. Croup is the name given to the cough caused by a narrowing upper airway. In many cases, this is caused by infection, but there are many other possible causes as well. The tell-tale barky cough and stridor are a result of air passing through the narrowed upper airway (larynx, trachea).

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.

I know coughs can be frustrating. But I promise you, your pediatrician isn’t holding out on you with some magical home remedy that they want to keep to themselves.

Hopefully these remedies help, but otherwise the best thing for most coughs is tincture of time.

As mothers and physicians, we really believe in the intangible gut instinct that comes with parenting, and while it is unfortunate that sometimes it falls upon us as parents to be persistent and advocate for our children, this is sometimes the case.

Nasal irrigation, or using a neti-pot, has been around for centuries as a remedy for blocked noses. The idea is that you use a sterile solution, like saline, and flush out the mucus. If you’re going to try it, please do it safely.

In young infants, a fallen hair (or a thread) can get tangled around a finger, a toe, or genitals and constrict the flow of blood. We see this most often in infants under 6 months, but it can be seen in toddlers and older children (in this case, it is usually the result of them intentionally winding something around the area or, unfortunately, because of child abuse).

Stomach flu or gastroenteritis is an incredibly frustrating illness to deal with. It is super contagious. It can cause major and dramatic symptoms immediately, but for some children it can cause ongoing lingering symptoms for a few weeks after.

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.

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.

The best way to treat diaper rashes is to minimize skin irritation and apply a protectant/barrier to help skin heal.

Diaper rashes occur because skin irritation is more likely in warm, moist areas. Irritation is the most common cause of rashes in the genital area. Skin (and baby skin in particular) is easily irritated when it is left in a moist, warm environment. Stool and urine can also be irritants.

I grew up in Malawi, and my father treated people who had vaccine-preventable illnesses, such as Polio. I feel so lucky that I can raise my children in an era with vaccines. Yes, vaccine reactions are a nuisance, but they are often mild and self-limited. Hopefully these tips help you and your child get through them with ease!

Colloidal oatmeal is a fantastic natural home treatment for itchy, dry skin. It can work wonders for eczema, poison ivy, insect bites, dermatitis, and so much more.

Never use a Q tip in a baby’s ear to dry or clean it. It can risk perforating the ear drum, or even push ear wax further back.

Rhus dermatitis is the name given to the allergic reaction triggered by plants such as poison ivy, oak, and sumac. In about 80 percent of people, an exposure to plants will cause an intensely itchy rash - and we see it more in the summertime, when we’re all spending more time outdoors.