The University of Vermont Medical Center HealthSource blog is your leading source for children’s health articles and news from industry experts. Read through a collection of children’s health articles and tips on a variety of topics such as mental health, behavioral issues, nutrition, safety, development and more. The HealthSource children’s health blog features an array of regular authors and contributors from the medical world including doctors, nutritionists, nurse practitioners and healthcare experts.
2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the 1918 influenza pandemic, known more infamously as the “Spanish flu.” That pandemic killed 675,000 Americans and more than 50 million people globally. Since then, efforts to improve flu preparedness have changed significantly. Yet, flu still affects more than 3 million people in the US every year and it […]
Parents of infants and toddlers frequently ask me a mouthful of questions about pacifiers. Let me see if I can pacify everyone’s concerns with a few tips on this interesting habit. All babies have a need for sucking to quiet and calm themselves when a mother’s breast isn’t available. I don’t recommend introducing a pacifier […]
Creating a fun, effective dental routine for children can be a challenge, but the sooner we can establish this routine, the easier it can be. As adults, we know what a proper dental routine looks like and how often to go to the dentist, but is it the same for children? We will explore some […]
Parents compliment me on my guidance about whether complementary medicine is appropriate for use in children. Let me prescribe some information based on a recent clinical report from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Ten percent of children receive complementary therapies. Some people call these “non-conventional therapies.” Complementary therapies do not replace conventional medical treatments. They […]
Bullying. For a long time it was seen as part of growing up, something unpleasant, but ultimately an experience children recover from. Now, new research shows that bullying can actually have long-lasting effects similar to emotional, verbal and physical abuse. This is a big shift in our thinking on bullying. Here are three new ways […]
September 28 is World Rabies Day. This day marks a global health observance that works to promote the prevention of rabies and the dangers it entails. While rabies is preventable, it is still as a large danger to pets and humans every year. What is Rabies? When we think of rabies, we typically think of getting […]
Parents have come to me quite sad with questions about whether or not their child or teenager is possibly depressed. First, it’s important to know that a sad child does not necessarily mean a depressed child. Depression is a biologically based illness that can run in families. Significant life events can trigger depression, including problems […]
September 23-29, 2018, is Child Passenger Safety Week. With school back in session, I decided to create a true/false quiz for adults about child passenger safety, based on questions I often hear from parents and caregivers. See how many you get right! Of course, always read your seat and vehicle manuals for complete information about […]
One of the most trying times of parenthood is right at the beginning. As postpartum nurses, we have about 24-36 hours between admission to when we say our last “Congratulations!” as parents roll their giant yellow hospital cart away from the nest of the hospital and into the world. We cover a lot in those […]
Parents have been asking me a mouthful of questions about biting. Let me sink my teeth into this one and provide some information on this topic. First of all, biting should not occur with breastfeeding, since it is impossible to nurse and bite at the same time. When baby is sucking at the breast, their […]
