Long after adjusting to parenthood and your role as principal poop watcher and wiper, you may still find yourself fretting over changes in the color of your baby’s poop. In reality, once your baby has pooped enough to get rid of the tarry meconium, all the varying shades of yellow, brown, and even green are…
Read moreMost parents want to raise children who love to read. It’s a lifetime gift for our kids, plus, it keeps them busy and quiet! Still, it takes some work (and sometimes a lot of work) to raise readers. Try a few tips below to see what works for your child. 1. Repetition Books: Kids love…
Read moreOne of the most upsetting situations for a parent is when their child has a fever. We recently have seen viral illnesses giving children high fevers so this seems like a good time to review this issue! What is a fever? Fever is a temperature above normal. It is not an illness itself, but tells…
Read moreAt least one in five students will have trouble keeping up academically at some point during junior high and high school. School slumps require our immediate attention, before the damage to self-esteem is irreparable or a youngster develops an aversion to attending school. While the root of the problem may be school related and nothing…
Read moreWith all the germs going around in our area right now, the good news is that parents and child care providers can help prevent and slow the spread of these germs–even the flu. The flu (influenza) is a respiratory illness caused by a virus. Flu infections are highly contagious. They spread easily when children are…
Read moreIt’s that time of year again when parents and caregivers are packing school lunches. Here are some tips to make lunches healthier, easier to pack and more fun to eat. Get the kids involved Kids (and big people, too) are more likely to eat something they helped prepare. Collect plastic containers that will fit in…
Read moreDr. Karina Gobin, a Board Certified Allergist and Immunologist, joins Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Karen Gentile to talk about environmental allergies. In this episode she discusses the difference between indoor and outdoor allergies and when to expect each of these to strike. The presenting symptoms of environmental allergies are reviewed and here’s a hint…it’s itchy! We…
Read moreIn this episode Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Karen Gentile provides a quick pediatric pearl on how to hand the dreaded public tantrum! Karen provides quick tips on how to handle the situation and create boundaries for future conflicts. References for this podcast include Toddler 411 by Denise Fields and Ari Brown and 123 Magic. Click here…
Read moreIn our latest Pediatric Pearl podcast episode, Nurse Practitioner Karen Gentile provides an update on the current status of the 2018-2019 Influenza Season in Illinois. It’s not too late to get your flu shot as the virus is still widespread in the Chicago area. Check out some helpful resources: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm http://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/influenza Click here to listen…
Read moreDo you struggle getting your child to eat their fruits or vegetables? Does your child protest food until he gets what he or she wants? Will your child only eat carbs or “beige” foods? Picky eating is a common problem amongst kids of all ages, but it can start as soon as we begin to introduce…
Read morePlease join Dr. Cathy DiVincenzo for a Q&A on the measles on Wednesday, December 12 at 6PM at Congregation KINS, 2800 W. Northshore Ave. in Chicago. For more information, email info@kidsfirstpediatricpartners.com On Friday, December 7, we sent a notice to all families in our practice that we were informed by the Chicago Department of Public Health…
Read moreRegistered Dietician Gia Diakakis from Feed to Succeed in Glenview, Ill. joins us for an informative discussion on pediatric nutrition basics Gia answers our long burning questions about how we can set our kids up for success with a healthy diet that will last a lifetime! Spoiler alert: She recommends feeding your child the same…
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