Safety & Prevention | Nemours Blog | Pediatric News and Guidance From Our Experts

Child sneezing while standing among flowering plants outdoors during fall allergy season.

HEALTH CONDITIONS

Helping Your Child Through Fall Allergy Season

Fall 2026 is shaping up to be a tough allergy season. Warmer temperatures and a later first frost are giving ragweed and other weeds a longer window to grow and release pollen, while damp autumn conditions and fallen leaves keep mold spores in the air. With weed pollen arriving right on schedule in August and counts predicted to spike through September and October, parents need to plan ahead to minimize seasonal allergy suffering. By taking action before the pollen hits, your child can enjoy autumn’s colors instead of its allergens. The best way to care for allergies in kids is to track what’s happening outside, get ready for pollen season inside, and see the doctor (if needed) to manage allergies early. Can you get allergies in the fall? Yes. Seasonal allergies — also called “hay fever” — can flare up any time of year, but fall has its own set […]

Healthcare professional placing a bandage on a young child’s upper arm after an immunization while the child sits on an examination table in a medical office.

VACCINES

Childhood Vaccines: What’s Changed in 2026

The story of childhood vaccines is, at its heart, one of the great triumphs of modern medicine. For the better part of a century, parents have walked through the doors of pediatricians’ offices across the country and emerged with children protected against diseases that once claimed young lives by the thousands. Polio, measles, diphtheria — names that once inspired terror in households — have been pushed to the margins of American life largely because of the commitment clinicians and families have made to following evidence-based immunization schedules. And smallpox has been eradicated from the world. That legacy deserves to be honored and celebrated. In 2026, however, parents and pediatric healthcare providers are navigating a landscape that looks more complicated than it has in generations. Here’s what parents need to know about what’s affecting the landscape, the importance of vaccines, and how to make informed decisions. What’s different about the childhood […]

Child sits at a table in front of fresh vegetables with a thinking expression wondering if she should eat it.

SAFETY & PREVENTION

Your Salad Made the News. Now What?

Fresh fruits and vegetables usually have good publicity. They’re the foods pediatricians, dietitians and public health experts have spent decades encouraging families to eat more often. Parents are told to fill lunchboxes with berries, add vegetables to dinner plates, and keep healthy snacks within reach. That’s why produce-related outbreaks can feel especially unsettling. Over the past several weeks, headlines about a cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to fresh produce have left many families wondering whether the foods they’re trying to eat more of are suddenly the foods they should avoid. If you’ve found yourself looking at a salad a little differently lately, you’re not alone. But before you swear off fresh produce for the rest of the summer, it helps to understand why outbreaks like this happen — and why the answer isn’t as simple as “stop eating vegetables.” Why Produce Outbreaks Feel Different When a frozen food product is recalled, most […]

Tick hidden on a green leaf detail and little girl foots in sandals on a lawn outdoors.

SAFETY & PREVENTION

Tick Bites and Lyme Disease: What to Know This Season

Warm-weather play brings more time outside — and more chances for tick bites. While most bites are harmless, some can transmit Lyme disease, the most common tickborne illness in the United States. With tick activity starting earlier and rising in 2026, it’s especially important for parents to stay alert. The good news: simple prevention habits, early detection, and prompt care can make a big difference in protecting your child’s health this season.

Closeup of little girl putting fluoride toothpaste on a toothbrush.

DENTAL HEALTH

Fluoride for Kids: Benefits, Safety, and Guidelines for Parents

Every parent wants their child to grow up with a healthy smile, and fluoride plays a crucial role in making that happen. This natural mineral has transformed children’s dental health over the past eight decades, dramatically reducing cavities and preventing painful tooth decay. While fluoride works throughout life, it’s particularly valuable during childhood when teeth are developing and most vulnerable to decay. Understanding how fluoride works, where it comes from, and how to use it safely empowers parents to make informed decisions about their children’s oral health. Here’s what you need to know. What is fluoride? Fluoride is a natural mineral found in water and soil. Trace amounts of fluoride are found naturally in some foods. Fluoride is also found in toothpastes, mouth rinses, and supplements prescribed by dentists or doctors. Fluoride mainly supports dental health. The good news is that children absorb fluoride efficiently, as their teeth and bones […]

HEALTH CONDITIONS

Eczema in Kids: A Parent’s Guide to Symptoms, Triggers, and Care

Eczema (EG-zeh-muh), also known as atopic dermatitis, is a common skin condition that affects babies and young children, often improving naturally as children grow. However, it can sometimes persist into adolescence and adulthood. Eczema symptoms typically begin before a child reaches 1 year old, and up to 25% of children are affected. For parents, eczema often shows up as dry, itchy, or irritated skin that can be uncomfortable — and sometimes frustrating — to manage. The good news is that with the right care, most children’s symptoms can be well controlled. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released updated guidance for managing eczema in 2025, emphasizing proactive care, mental health impacts, and emerging therapies. Below, we answer common questions parents have about caring for a child with eczema and what these new recommendations mean for families. What causes eczema in children? Atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema, is a chronic, […]

Measles disease. Health concept, Infectious, viral diseases. Vaccination of children against measles.

SAFETY & PREVENTION

Measles: What Parents Need to Know About Recent Outbreaks

You’ve probably heard the news lately about measles outbreaks in the U.S. Although the disease was declared eliminated here in 2000, there have been increasing outbreaks across the country since 2024. In fact, 2025 saw more confirmed cases of measles in the U.S. than in any year since 1991. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have already reported more than 982 confirmed cases in just the first two months of 2026, with the most occurring in South Carolina and Utah. With cases on the rise, parents must understand measles and know what they need to do to prevent and spot it in their children. Vaccinations: The Best Protection Against Measles Measles is a highly contagious virus and it’s not just a rash and a fever. It can cause serious health complications, especially in children younger than 5. The large majority of people who get measles are unvaccinated (so […]

A Touching Portrait of a Mother and Her Teenage Son Sharing a Warm Hug Outdoors, Highlighting Their Close and Loving Relationship.

VACCINES

The HPV Vaccine: Safety, Benefits, and Common Questions

Every year, 13 million Americans — including teenagers — contract HPV. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly every sexually active person will get an HPV infection at some point in their life. Most infections clear up, but some persist and develop into cancer. The HPV vaccine can prevent this, yet many parents remain uncertain about whether or not to vaccinate their children. For some, it’s fear of side effects. For others, it’s concerns about why it needs to be given so young, and even the implication of saying yes. If you’re a parent trying to make the best decision for your child, here are answers to the most common questions and concerns about the HPV vaccine. What is HPV? HPV (human papillomavirus) is a group of viruses transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, such as vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Some strains of HPV cause warts, and […]

Little kids pretending to be a doctor. Shot of a cute little girl with a stethoscope examining her brother. Children playing doctors.

SAFETY & PREVENTION

Creating Heart-Healthy Habits Starts in Childhood

You might think cholesterol and heart disease are only adult concerns, but research shows cardiovascular disease begins in childhood. Many teens have unhealthy cholesterol levels, meaning their good cholesterol is too low or their bad cholesterol is too high. And the risk increases dramatically with weight — with obese teens being affected at a rate of 43%. Since childhood obesity rates are significantly higher than in previous generations, more kids are developing abnormal cholesterol levels early. And obesity doesn’t just affect cholesterol — it increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and stroke. Ready to make a real difference in your child’s heart health? Here are four simple habits you can start today. 1. Get Moving Every Day Being active at a young age can help lay the groundwork for being physically active as an adult. But how much exercise is recommended for children? Healthy kids should get […]

Little boy with food allergies is admiring cakes and other sweets on the showcase in cafe or supermarket.

SAFETY & PREVENTION

Life with Food Allergies: How to Adapt as Your Child Grows

You’ve just taken your 6-month-old baby to the pediatrician, and they recommended you start to introduce common allergenic (something that has the potential to trigger an allergic reaction) foods like dairy, eggs, and peanuts. But what if your baby has a reaction? What does life look like with food allergies? Food Allergies in Babies and Toddlers My brother was diagnosed with an egg allergy when he was about a year old after taking a bite of my dad’s breakfast sandwich. This triggered a series of testing that eventually led him to be diagnosed with allergies to peanuts and cottonseed oil as well. Sometimes kids will grow out of their food allergies, but others will have them for life. At the time of a new diagnosis, it is really hard to predict whether or not your child will grow out of the allergy. The priority at this time is keeping them […]

Doctor applies an adhesive bandage to preteen girl's arm after the girl receives a flu shot at an outdoor free clinic.

SAFETY & PREVENTION

Protect Your Family This Season With a Flu Vaccine

The 2024-25 flu season was the deadliest flu season for U.S. children in more than a decade, according to September 2025 reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One report included data on the 280 U.S. children who died, and while the authors say that it’s unclear why there were more pediatric deaths than in previous seasons, the best way to protect children from flu is to get them vaccinated. Based on their findings, of the 208 children with vaccine information available, 89% had not been fully vaccinated against flu. Overall, only about half of children in the U.S. got their flu shot last year. Here are some things to know about flu shots and how this year’s flu vaccines are more convenient — and important — for families than ever. When is flu season? The official flu season in the United States typically runs from October […]

Kissing bug on a leaf that carries Chagas disease

SAFETY & PREVENTION

Chagas Disease: What Parents Should Know

More than 7 million people worldwide are estimated to be infected with Trypanosoma cruzi (or T. cruzi), the parasite that causes Chagas disease. In the United States, the number of cases is relatively low but appears to be growing, especially in certain regions. According to experts at UCLA Health, approximately 45,000 people in Los Angeles County are infected, among more than 300,000 in the United States, and fewer than 2% of them are aware they carry the parasite. However, these reports are not as current as the clinical community would like, given the calculated risk of exposure. This has led the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to advocate for reclassifying certain states as endemic (en-DEM-ik) areas where infected parasites live and potentially transmit the disease. What is Chagas disease? Chagas (SHAH-gus) disease is caused by the T. cruzi parasite, which is harbored by approximately a dozen species of bloodsucking triatomine bugs, commonly referred […]

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