We start screening your baby for signs of developmental or communication challenges like autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from his or her very first well-child visit. We ask parents a lot of questions and also observe how your baby giggles, looks to you for reassurance, tries to regain your attention during a conversation, points or waves, responds to his or her name, and cries. Those…
Read moreAlthough Susan Urbanski does not live especially close to Kids First Pediatric Partners, she insists the additional driving time is worth it to ensure that her three children receive top-notch medical care. Urbanski has been with the practice since her first son was born six years ago, and she says that in that time they…
Read moreConnecting with Kids First families over the years is part of what makes our work as providers so meaningful. We are launching a new series of posts featuring some of our families who want to share their experience with our practice. If you’d like to share your thoughts with us, please do be in touch….
Read moreWith recent media coverage of the Zika virus, I have no doubt that many parents have questions and concerns regarding the relatively new virus spread by mosquitoes. Zika spreads from person to person through the bite of an infected mosquito. The only documented cases in the U.S. have been from foreign travelers returning from affected…
Read moreMore than 55 million children and teens attend the nation’s public schools-and eat about 35 to 40 percent of their daily calories there. It’s really important that those calories be healthy ones-especially since a third of the calories kids eat these days aren’t healthy ones. If we can make the food they eat at school…
Read moreSince The New York Times introduced the 7-minute workout in its magazine in 2013, fitness devotees around the world have included it as part of their exercise routine. For parents, it can be magic. In a mere seven minutes a day, you and your kids can get stronger and fitter without having to go anywhere…
Read moreWe got lucky in December, with milder temperatures and no snow. We’re betting Chicago won’t be so lucky in January. No worries, we’ve got you covered. Check out the following sites for snow-filled fun. James Park and Warren Park: These are no doubt the best free sledding hills in the area. Dress warm, bring hot…
Read moreA recent study tracked kids (literally!) to see how much exercise they get each day, in various locations. Findings revealed that the average kid in the study doesn’t get enough exercise. Anywhere. Not in school, not at home and certainly not outside. Surprisingly, even though adolescents spend less than 5 percent of their time at…
Read moreWe are proud to announce a new service for our patients here at Kids First. With so many families traveling to places all over the world, we want to help your children travel safely. When you contact our office about your travels, we will send you a form to fill out with details about your…
Read moreRunny nose, cough, fever, acting fussy and trouble sleeping at night are some of the common reasons kids come for sick visits in the coming winter months. As a father I five, I can sympathize! As parents, aside from feeling bad when we see our kids’ sad faces, we all have busy schedules that don’t…
Read moreFlu season is around the corner – but at Kids First Pediatric Partners, we have already been working for over six weeks to protect our patients from this potentially dangerous infection. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) strongly recommend the annual influenza vaccination for all children ages 6…
Read moreNo doubt, Halloween is simply magical for kids (and many adults, too!). But with all the fun of Halloween parties and trick or treating, comes candy. A lot of it. And parents are left to either throw their hands up while kids stuff their faces or to negotiate the terms of eating all that junk….
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