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This post was written by Anthony’s mom, Debbie.  “Something was Different” Anthony was about six months old when I started to notice something was different about his back. He would roll over and try to sit up and there was an obvious bulge/curvature in his spine. I took him to my pediatrician who told me there wasn’t anything to worry about. He informed me that some children take a bit longer to sit up on their own. At this time, I had two-year-old twins at home and was very aware that children progress differently, but there was no overlooking the curve of his spine. Unhappy with that visit, I scheduled an appointment with a specialist at a hospital in Philadelphia, PA. Finally a Diagnosis Anthony was about a year old when he was diagnosed with infantile scoliosis. My family was with me in the room when the doctor put his […]

As originally posted on “Love What Matters,” written and submitted by mom, Marcella Stanley “‘I’m sorry, but I don’t think he’s going to make it.’ My husband and I sat flabbergasted, the tears instantly streaming while I struggled to breathe. A room filled with nearly a dozen people stared awkwardly at us as we faced every parent’s worst nightmare. This was not how this day was supposed to go. We found out exactly four weeks prior, at our 20-week ultrasound, that our baby boy had a form of dwarfism. The initial concern was that it was a lethal condition, due to the severity of his skeletal abnormalities and how early they presented in the pregnancy. However, my amazing local OB and maternal fetal medicine physicians researched, and after painstakingly detailed ultrasounds, determined our son likely had a non-lethal skeletal dysplasia. His limbs were awfully short, but his chest was average […]

It’s very common for parents to have concerns regarding their child’s eating habits. Picky eating is typical for many children, but parents are always looking for ways to offer new foods and improve their child’s nutrition. Here are some ways to encourage your picky eater to help build a balanced diet. Is My Child a Picky Eater? Picky Eaters vs. Problem Feeders* Picky Eaters Eat a limited variety of foods, but have around 30 foods they will accept Lose interest in a certain food for a period of time, but accept it again after a few weeks Tolerate a new food on the plate, even if they don’t eat it Eat at least one food from most textures (i.e. crunchy, puree) Able to eat at table with family, even if a separate meal Take in enough calories a day for growth and nutrition Sometimes reported by parent as “picky eater” […]

Autism diagnoses are on the rise, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says in a new report. Autism rates have gone up since 2016, and 1 in 59 U.S. kids have some form of autism (also called “autism spectrum disorder” or “ASD”). Many parents are asking why — and wondering if they should worry. What Does the Rise in Autism Rates Mean? Experts say that the higher autism rates do not mean more and more kids are developing autism. Rather, ways to recognize, diagnose, and treat autism spectrum disorders have greatly improved. Ideally, doctors should look for signs of autism in babies and toddlers at every routine well visit, and perform an autism screening at the 18- and 24-month checkups. However, this may be challenging to accomplish in a busy practice. The CDC also reports that some groups were previously underdiagnosed. Black and Hispanic populations, for instance, have often […]

In recent years, sports-related concussions in children and teens have helped to raise public awareness of concussions and their long-term effects. As a result, concussions are now being reported and diagnosed more than they were in past years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in 2010 that there were 400,000 concussions and brain injuries per year among high school athletes. This increased awareness means that providers are more able to properly diagnose and treat concussions in kids. Why Playing Sports Is Important for Kids When your kids play sports, either on a team or individually, it’s incredibly good for their health and well-being. Sports are a powerful tool that breaks down barriers while also helping kids feel good about themselves, both physically and mentally. Sports also play an important part in a child’s formative years and some schools are more aware of this than others. These schools employ […]

This article was written by Nemours Health & Prevention Services Intern Juliana Russo. All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are NOT toys. Inez Tenenbaum, Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, stated that “every year 700 people die and 136,000 go to the emergency room because of ATV related injuries.” She also says, “ATVs are the fifth deadliest product that we oversee.” Nemours Children’s Health System supports the American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement, which strongly recommends that children under the age of 16 not ride ATVs. But, if you do allow your children to ride, we urge you to understand the risks: ATVs can weigh up to 850 pounds ATVs have a high center of gravity so they have a higher chance of flipping over Most ATVs can sustain high speeds over 60 mph, risking a child’s loss of control of the vehicle There are no seat belts, roll bars, air bags […]