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If your child has asthma, you may already know the pattern. School starts, the weather turns, and a few weeks later, the coughing starts. Fall and winter are harder months for kids with asthma, but a little planning now can prevent a lot of missed school, sleepless nights and emergency room or urgent care visits. Why Fall Is Hard on Young Lungs Colds are the biggest trigger. Every fall, asthma flare-ups in school-age children rise a few weeks after school starts. In one study

The leaves are turning, the mornings are cooler, and your child is sneezing again. Most parents assume it is another cold. For a lot of Baltimore County kids, it is actually fall allergies coming into full swing, and October is one of the busiest months of the year for them. October is Children's Health Month, so we want to talk about the air your child breathes, outside and at home, and what you can do to make it easier on them. What Is in the Air Right Now Three things tend

It is 6:45 a.m., your child says their throat hurts, and you have a meeting at nine. Every parent knows this moment. Maryland has actual guidance for this. Below is what the Maryland Department of Health tells schools and child care programs, translated into plain English. Your school may have its own policy on top of this, so check it — but this is the baseline. Fever Maryland's school guidance defines fever as 100°F or higher by mouth, 100.4°F or higher by rectal, ear, or f

September is Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. We want to mark it a little differently than most practices do — by talking about habits and homes instead of numbers on a scale. Here is why - What children learn early about food and their bodies stays with them for decades. Shame does not make children healthier. It makes them secretive about eating, anxious about their bodies, and less likely to talk to the adults who could help. The Words at Your Kitchen Table Matter More T

Somewhere in the blur of the first day or two after birth, a nurse pricked your baby's heel and collected a few drops of blood on a card. Most parents barely register it. That small test is one of the most important things that happens to your newborn. September is National Newborn Screening Awareness Month, so here is what that test is actually looking for. More than 60 conditions Maryland began newborn bloodspot screening in 1965 with a single condition, phenylketonuria (PK

Flu vaccines are almost here at Pediatric Providers, and the questions have already started. Here are the ones we hear most, answered plainly. Who needs a flu vaccine this year? The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a flu vaccine every year for every child 6 months and older who does not have a medical reason to skip it. That includes healthy kids, teenagers, and children with asthma, diabetes, or other ongoing conditions. The AAP also recommends flu vaccination durin

A new teacher, a new classroom, sometimes a whole new school — it is completely normal for children to feel anxious in the weeks before school starts. For most kids, those butterflies fade within the first week or two. Some children need additional strategies to overcome those first week of school jitters. Age-by-Age Strategies Preschool and kindergarten: visit the school ahead of time, practice the morning routine, and keep goodbyes short, warm, and consistent. Lingering usu

August is National Immunization Awareness Month. With the school year starting, it's the perfect time to make sure your child's vaccines are up to date. But this month is about more than paperwork. It's about understanding how vaccines actually work, and why they protect far more than the child who receives them. How Vaccines Work A vaccine gives your child's immune system a safe preview of a germ — a weakened or inactivated version, or just a harmless piece of it. This allow

Most Learning Happens Through the Eyes A large share of what children learn in the classroom depends on clear vision. This includes reading, copying from the board, recognizing faces and facial expressions. When a child cannot see well, it doesn't always look like a vision problem. It can look like trouble focusing, falling behind in reading, or even symptoms that get mistaken for ADHD. A School Screening Is Not a Full Eye Exam Many children get a quick vision screening at sc

Packing a Lunch Your Child Will Actually Eat A school lunch needs to do two jobs: cover your child's nutritional needs and actually get eaten. Using the USDA's MyPlate as a simple guide makes both easier, even on the busiest mornings. The MyPlate Lunchbox Formula ● A lean protein: turkey or ham slices, beans, hummus, or a hard-boiled egg ● A whole grain: whole-wheat bread, crackers, or brown rice ● A fruit: apple slices, berries, or a small orange ● A veg

Don't Let a Missing Vaccine Delay the First Day Maryland law requires children enrolled in preschool through 12th grade to have age-appropriate immunizations on file before they can attend school. If your child's records are not complete, they can be excluded from class. Summer is the time to check and catch up, not the week before school starts. What's Required, By Grade ● Kindergarten and grades 1–11: two doses of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, or documented proof of

Tryouts Are Closer Than You Think If your student-athlete has practice, tryouts, or conditioning starting in August, now is the time to schedule their sports physical. Maryland schools require a current preparticipation physical evaluation (PPE) before a child can practice or compete, and appointment slots fill up fast in late summer. A Sports Physical Is Not the Same as a Well Visit Many parents assume their child's annual well-child visit covers this requirement. It doesn't

The Fourth of July is one of the most anticipated weekends of summer. Fireworks, cookouts, parades, and time with family make it a wonderful celebration. It is also one of the busiest days of the year for pediatric emergency rooms, so a little preparation goes a long way. Here is what our team wants you to know before you head out to celebrate. Fireworks Safety Fireworks are involved in thousands of injuries each year, with children under 15 accounting for a large amount of

Maryland summers are hot and humid. By late June, Baltimore County routinely sees temperatures above 95 degrees Fahrenheit. For children, this combination of heat and humidity creates a real risk of dehydration and heat-related illness. Children are more vulnerable to heat than adults: They have a higher body surface area to mass ratio They produce more heat during physical activity They sweat less efficiently They are less likely to recognize the signs of overheating on thei

June is Men's Health Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the health conditions that affect men and boys. The goal is to encourage early education, prevention, and action. As a pediatric practice, we care for boys from birth through young adulthood, and we believe that the habits and awareness built in childhood and adolescence shape a man's health for decades to come. Why Men's Health Awareness Starts Young In the US, men’s life expectancy is about five years

Summer in Maryland means fireflies, warm evenings, and, unfortunately, bugs. Ticks and mosquitoes are the two most common summer pests in our area, and both can cause more than just an itchy bite. Knowing how to identify, treat, and prevent these bites is an important part of keeping your child healthy this season. Ticks in Maryland Maryland is home to several tick species, but the two of greatest concern for children are the black-legged tick (also called the deer tick) and

June is here, and that means pools are opening. Families across Baltimore County are heading to beaches. While Summer water activities bring so much joy, they also come with serious risks. Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death in children, and it can happen quickly and silently — often in just a few seconds and in as little as two inches of water. The good news is that drowning is preventable. Here is what every family should know before heading into the w

Summer is almost here, and many families are planning trips to the pool, the beach, or just spending time in the backyard. While it is important for children to get fresh air and play outside, too much sun can be harmful. Protecting your child’s skin early in life matters, because a large portion of a person’s lifetime sun exposure happens during childhood and adolescence. Sun Safety for Babies Under 6 Months The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping babies younge

May is National Bike Safety Month. As the weather warms up, many children across Baltimore County will be heading outside to ride bikes on local trails and neighborhood sidewalks. Before your child hops on their bike, make sure they have a properly fitting helmet. A helmet is one of the most important pieces of safety gear your child can wear. It can reduce the risk of head injury by at least 45% and brain injury by 33%. But a helmet only works if it fits correctly. How to Fi

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and children’s mental health is a growing concern. Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions in children, affecting up to 1 in 5 kids and adolescents. They often begin during the elementary school years, and early recognition is the key to getting help. Feeling worried or nervous sometimes is a normal part of growing up. A child might feel anxious before a big test, on the first day of school, or when meeting new