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.
With summer here, things are heating up – especially cars left out in the sun on a hot day. Today, I want to park some information with you about the dangers of young children being left in a hot car. Believe it or not, a car interior can heat up by more than 20 degrees […]
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Loading...Summer time is here and that means warmer weather, longer daylight hours and more time outside. It’s the time of year when parents take kids to the park or on overnight camping trips. It’s a great time for families. But it also marks an increase in serious campfire-related injuries. When I first started treating pediatric […]
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)Loading...The first patient death I experienced years ago as a Pediatric Critical Care fellow in training was an elementary school-aged boy who shot himself in the head with his father’s gun. He was immediately rushed to the hospital where we worked to save his life. Despite the small caliber of the gun, the bullet had […]
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)Loading...Parents, have these thoughts ever run through your mind? I wish my child (or children) had better eating habits. I wonder how my child’s (or children’s) eating habits will, or will not, impact their future healthfulness? Chances are these thoughts have crossed your mind at least once or twice. As a dietitian, I often wonder […]
With summer here, parents are frequently pooling their thoughts and asking me for tips on keeping their children safe when they are around pools and other bodies of water. Let me dive right in and provide some information on water safety and kids. Drowning remains one of the leading killers of young children in the […]
With summer upon us, parents are itching to ask me questions about poison ivy. Rather than leave no leaf unturned, let me provide some information on this common problem. First, the motto “Leaves of three, let them be” is quite true. It is only when the leaves, roots, stems, or twigs of plants are damaged […]
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)Loading...Kids need sleep. Without enough of it, they are at increased risk for behavioral problems, attentional difficulties and even obesity. The amount of sleep a child needs is variable and generally depends on the child’s age. The National Sleep Foundation reports that, on average, children need the following amount of sleep: Below 12 months of […]
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)Loading...Summer is almost here! Your kids may be starting to get a little antsy, especially with summer vacation right around the corner. If you want to get to get your kids to “spend” energy on physical activity without “spending” too much money, try creating your own children’s obstacle course. It’s easier than you think – […]
Parents have been backing up to me with lots of questions about driveway safety and their children. Let me drive through a few thoughts on this topic. Some of the worst accidents to children occur right in the driveway. This happens when parents do not see their children as they are backing out or pulling […]
With the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival here this week, parents have been asking me a symphony of questions about introducing their child to music. Let me see if I can tune up everyone on this important topic. While listening to music is certainly enjoyable, when children actively participate by singing, playing, or dancing, even more […]
