With 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….
Read moreIt’s time to get flu shots for your family before your house is full of fevers and dripping noses. Here are 11 things you need to know about the 2015-2016 influenza vaccine: 1. The flu vaccine is essential for children. The flu virus is common and unpredictable, and it can cause serious complications and death,…
Read moreEveryone wants to be able to see their doctor whenever they need to. We, the providers and staff at Kids First Pediatrics, really want to be able to make this happen whenever possible. To that end we are constantly looking for ways to increase the times that each of us comes into our office. Following…
Read moreMeasles is not a mild disease. Neither is whooping cough, Hib meningitis, or rotavirus. These are diseases that cause parents to make worried middle-of-the-night phone calls to their doctor, race to the emergency department, and spend days nursing a sick and miserable child. And this suffering is completely avoidable with vaccines. As a pediatrician, I…
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