Introducing Solids to your Baby
Katherine B. Patrick, M.D. One common question faced by new parents is “how should my baby start baby food?” Initiation of solids (meaning any nutrition except breastmilk/formula, often referred to as pureed “baby food”) can raise a lot of questions but can also be a...
11 Ways to Celebrate the First Day of Summer
Summer is most people's favorite time of the year. School is out, the weather is warm and it's time to relax and recharge. Jill Tipograph, an expert on summer and founder of Everything Summer, says that "summer is a fantastic time for families to reconnect and...
Fireworks Safety Tips for Parents
The warm summer weather, the smell of hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill, the comfort of family and friends and the sound of fireworks in the air can only mean one thing. This fun-filled holiday weekend can create many wonderful memories. However, for those...
Mental illness in children: Know the signs
Mental illness in children can be hard for parents to identify. As a result, many children who could benefit from treatment don't get the help they need. Understand the warning signs of mental illness in children and how you can help your child cope. Why is it hard...
Top 5 Things You Should Know About Measles
Darren T. Scoggin, MDChildren’s Medical GroupJackson, MS Measles is a preventable viral illness. Measles is a virus that causes a grouping of symptoms that usually starts with fever, cough, runny nose, and conjunctivitis (or red eyes), followed by rash in many...
How to Reduce Added Sugar in Your Child’s Diet: AAP Tips
On average, sugar makes up 17% of what children consume each day. That's a lot of sugar―and half of that comes from drinks with added sugar! What's Added Sugar? Many foods or beverages have extra sugar and syrups added to them when they are processed or...
Pool Dangers and Drowning Prevention―When It’s Not Swimming Time
Swimming pools can have a powerful pull on little children―even when it's not swimming time. Those glistening turquoise-blue ripples may look especially inviting to an active toddler or an overly confident preschooler. Kids can slip away from the watchful eyes...
Heat Related Illness in Children and Adolescents
As Spring approaches in Mississippi, warmer temperatures are just around the corner. With the extreme heat and humidity of Mississippi summers, it is important to recognize and treat heat related illness in children, as well as prevent it from the start. Children...
Beyond Chicken Nuggets: Protein-Rich Alternatives for Picky Eaters
By: Claire McCarthy, MD, FAAP All parents want their children to have healthy diets—and part of that is getting enough protein. With picky eaters, that can feel hard. But it doesn't have to be hard. Here are some things about protein that you may not...
Swim Lessons: When to Start & What Parents Should Know
Learning to swim should be a priority for every family. It's an important life skill that can play a key role in helping to prevent drowning―a top cause of death among children. Children, and their parents, need to learn how to swim to help keep time in the water safe...
MSDH News: Tobacco Use by Youth is Rising; E-cigarettes Are the Main Reason
Jackson, Miss. – Today, Mississippi State Health Officer Thomas Dobbs, MD, MPH, joins the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in their concern over increasing tobacco product use among youth. More than 1 in 4 high school students used a tobacco product in...
How Much Sleep Do Babies and Kids Need?
Babies, children, and teens need significantly more sleep than adults to support their rapid mental and physical development. Most parents know that growing kids need good sleep, but many don't know just how many hours kids require, and what the impact can be of...
Fighting Fever Phobia
By Kristie S. Rohman, MD Fever is a common and frequently alarming symptom encountered in many childhood illnesses. It can be the cause of parental distress and confusion on when to treat, what to treat with, and when to become concerned. Many parents will...
Is it Allergies or a Cold?
Darren T. Scoggin, MDChildren’s Medical Group One of the challenges parents (and pediatricians!) face is determining if a child is experiencing symptoms consistent with allergies, or if an infectious process is to blame. There is considerable overlap between symptoms...
5 Tips for Raising Heart-Healthy Kids and Teens
By Meghan Pembroke For National Heart Month, five Seattle Children’s providers share their tips for helping kids and teens build strong, healthy hearts. Make a heart-healthy resolution for your family this February: 1. Protect young athletes with pre-sport heart...
Why Your Child should Visit their Pediatrician Instead of going to an Urgent Care Clinic
By Amanda S. Penny, MD Several recent news reports point out the growing tendency of young Americans to only seek acute medical care at an urgent care clinic rather than by visiting their primary doctor. Here are six reasons why it’s best to see your primary care...