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• Can an Injection that Smooths Wrinkles Also Treat Serious Childhood Conditions?

  You may think that botulinum toxin, most commonly known by brand name Botox, is only used to smooth wrinkles and improve your appearance. But it also can treat some serious childhood conditions, such as cerebral palsy. And promising new therapies for children continue to be discovered.

• Celebrating Your Child's Birthday During COVID-19

  With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many children have experienced a very different birthday than ever before. Families have stayed together but physically separated from others to try to halt increasing COVID-19 transmission rates in their communities. Large gatherings — and some small gatherings — have been discouraged or forbidden by local authorities. Parties at restaurants, parks and other places have had to be canceled, no doubt a crushing blow for children. 

• The Best Way to Spring Clean Your Home (According to a Pediatrician)

  As winter recedes and spring gets closer, some parents may feel overwhelmed by the upcoming season of cleaning. After all, it’s a lot of work to dust, wash and sanitize your home! Spring cleaning is an essential part of health and wellness, so just take it step-by-step. By involving children of all ages in the chores, focusing on specific germ-ridden areas of your home and making your own non-toxic cleaners, you can ensure that this year’s spring cleaning is both safe and effective.

• The COVID-19 Factors that Lead to Child Abuse

  With schools closed and many parents working remotely due to COVID-19, families are coming to terms with a new normal that can add significant stress. That stress is made worse when one or more parents lose their jobs altogether. Even a 1% increase in unemployment can result in a potential 20% increase in child abuse or neglect, according to a University of Oxford study. 

• How Too Much Social Media Can Affect Your Teen’s Behavior

  A new study shows that extensive social media use may increase teenagers’ risk of mental health problems. 

• Does My Child Need Speech Therapy?

  Many young children can overcome speech and language delays, but early intervention is key. Parents and their child’s pediatrician need to be vigilant to spot the signs and start age-appropriate therapies.

• How Much Sleep Does My Baby Need?

  It’s 2:00 am, your newborn is crying again and you’re tiredly asking yourself, “But why won’t he just sleep awhile longer?” Getting a newborn on any kind of a sleeping schedule just isn’t going to happen, and for one very good reason — babies less than three months old are frequently waking for feeds and sleeping up to 17 hours a day. For the first three months, new parents must remind themselves that, for the time being, you’re in survival mode. 

• Halloween in 2020? It’s Different, Not Canceled

  Many parents are wondering if their families can celebrate a healthy Halloween during a pandemic. The good news is, with creativity and reasonable precautions, you can. Doing so means you’ll practice the same everyday preventive measures: physical distancing, proper handwashing, mask wearing when unable to keep a distance of six feet in public and avoiding large crowds. 

• My Baby’s Crying Again — What Does It Mean?

  For new parents, figuring out the cause of a baby’s cries can be a daunting challenge, especially since one sob can sound quite different from the next. Still, this is hardly an impossible task. You just need to keep in mind that babies don’t cry only because they’re hungry. Each of these outbursts offers an opportunity to learn more about your child’s needs.

• How to Talk to Children When a Loved One Is Seriously Ill

  If your family is dealing with the death or serious illness of a loved one, take some time to consider how your children are handling it — and what you can do to help them navigate this confusing, and possibly frightening, time. Children can absorb a great deal, and often imagine the situation to be worse than it is, with studies showing that even preschoolers can be significantly affected. Although discussing a loss with your child won’t make it less painful, you can certainly offer significant support and teach healthy coping skills they will need as they process things.