Back

All Search Results

  • Thumb sucking: learning to let go

    My little friend Harper sucks her thumb. She is the cutest and sweetest 5-year-old: funny, shy and loves on my little girl like a big sister. I never thought much of it. Some kids suck their thumb; some don’t. But, I’ve come to realize that this seemingly innocent habit can become quite a challenge for many families.

  • Welcome to Illuminate

    Living in Central Florida for the past 10 years, it has amazed me to see the different people and cultures from all over the world represented right here in my own backyard. Many of the people that call this area home have come from places I've only dreamed of. They speak different languages, have different cultural and religious values and have totally different perspectives on the world around them. I love to hear their stories, get a glimpse into their lives and see the world as they see it.

  • A safe start to swimming

    As the mother of a toddler, I sometimes feel as if my day is spent preventing one accident after the next. Is she standing too close to the stove while I cook? Can she reach the cord where she might pull the iron down on her? Did I close the front door behind me? Is she splashing in the toilet? What in the world did she put in her mouth!?!

  • Bringing hope and happiness: Tyler's story

    The fight of a lifetime

    On April 14, 2005 Tyler was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma, an aggressive childhood cancer. He was two weeks away from his fifth birthday, and he had no idea that he was about to embark upon the fight of his life.

  • Learning to sleep well: teaching your kids healthy sleep habits

    In our practice at the Pediatric Pulmonology and Sleep Center at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, we often see children who are having difficulty sleeping. We know very well the tired eyes of parents who are worried, anxious and frustrated because their children aren’t sleeping well.  We work with each family to identify whether a child has any medical problems that may be affecting their sleep. We also work with their parents to teach healthy sleep habits. Whether we know it or not, we are teaching our children how to sleep, and we encourage parents to learn healthy habits that set their children on a path to healthy sleep for a lifetime.

    Why is sleep important?

  • Taking small steps toward a healthier family

    A strong and wholesome family does not simply grow overnight. There is no magic trick for attaining health. A healthy family is healthy because of their day-to-day choices; it’s a lifestyle. Taking small steps toward health will add up and make a big impact over time.

  • What Values Are You Teaching Your Children?

    Do you yell at your partner when you’re having a disagreement? Don’t be surprised if your child yells when frustrated or upset.

  • Advice Every Parent Needs When a Child Is Hospitalized

    We never expect our children to spend time in the hospital. So, when it happens, it can be a jarring experience both for the child and their family. But even if you feel like life is spinning out of control, there are things you can do to better navigate the situation. 

  • Baby gates send almost 2,000 children to the ER each year

    Many parents find that as their newborn gets older and becomes more mobile, the basic childproofing tactics throughout the home don’t provide enough protection anymore. What’s the solution? Cue the baby gates! Baby gates are commonly used to steer infants away from stairwells, doorways, or to keep them contained in a baby-safe area of the home. However, researchers are finding that these devices meant to keep infants from danger are actually causing an increase in injuries. But how can something meant to keep my child out of harm’s way actually increase their risk of injury?

    The Study

    The new study, conducted by researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, found that baby gates often lead to injury if used incorrectly. Based on data recorded from 1990 to 2010, an estimated 37,673 children under the age of seven were treated in an emergency department in the U.S. for baby gate-related injuries. To put this number into perspective – that is equivalent to about five children injured every day!

  • Giving Back to the Place that Gave Them Hope: The NICU at Winnie Palmer Hospital

    It wasn’t the birth she had envisioned. Her husband wasn’t even in the room when she delivered her daughter. At 26 weeks of pregnancy, Melissa Harper gave birth to her “miracle,” Hattie, who weighed just one pound 13 ounces and measured only 14 inches long.