At some point during his or her childhood, your son or daughter will need to take some type of medication—vitamin D drops for breastfed babies, bubblegum pink amoxicillin for a bout of strep throat, acetaminophen for an occasional fever or prescription drugs to treat chronic conditions. If you’ve ever struggled …
Read More »Courtney McGee
Playing it Safe The benefits of participating in youth sports during Covid-19
During this pandemic, so many cherished routines have been sacrificed, and the loss of sports is one that really stings for lots of kids. Not only do sports provide a way to stay fit and have fun, but they are also sources of socialization and confidence. And, of course, they …
Read More »Keep On Keeping On Tips for the continual coping of pandemic parenting
In a full-blown global pandemic, I find myself wistful for this time last year, when a measles outbreak was the biggest health story around. The COVID-19 crisis is tough to write about because … well, because everything just seems harder right now. Things aren’t just changing week to week but …
Read More »New Motherhood After 35
About 11 years ago, after having had two great kids, resulting from smooth-sailing pregnancies at ages 29 and 31, my husband and I realized we wanted a third child. Pregnancy at age 37 actually came easily again but didn’t stick—and we struggled through two miscarriages. I went from having been …
Read More »How We Talk to Kids About Body Image
Many of us used the turn of the decade to mark intent to change day-to-day routines and make self-care a priority. Overall, those motivations are very positive. A new year presents fresh opportunity to evaluate our lifestyle and set healthy goals. Often, those goals stem from our body image. Perception …
Read More »When Your Kid Is Diagnosed with Celiac Disease
Just before the holidays, my teenage son was diagnosed with celiac disease, an allergy to the gluten protein found in wheat, rye and barley. Exposure can damage his intestines, causing nutrient deficiency and disease. The good news is, we know the problem and can fix it with dietary changes. The …
Read More »A Young Athletes Mental Health
When it comes to youth and sports, intensity seems to be growing at an alarming rate. Rampant peer pressure, coach and parental pressure and self-imposed pressure, coupled with hectic schedules and little down time for rest and reflection, can create an environment of high stress. As such, a young athlete’s …
Read More »Juul of Denial The serious risks of vaping no longer can be ignored
Vaping, Juuling, e-cig(arette)s … whatever the name, at this point, experts and doctors all agree that it’s not something kids should be doing. It’s been more than a year and a half since Baltimore’s Child looked at vaping in this column, and we’re sorry to report the situation has grown …
Read More »10 Things the School Nurse Wants You to Know
With school back in session, let’s recognize a schoolhouse hero: the nurse. I checked in with some current and former school nurses, all RNs, at both public and private schools around the Baltimore area and asked them what they would like parents to know. Here are their top 10 responses. …
Read More »Present, Not Tense Mindful practices help make back-to-school a bit less stressful
As summer’s end yields school-time excitement, students and families can feel pressure and stress from the new routines and hectic pace. It’s hard to remember to slow down and be present, but what a tremendous gift it can be, just to be able to focus on what’s happening right now. …
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