Baby Topics

How to Safely Change Baby Formula

As a new parent, you may wonder when and how to change your baby’s formula. Whether you are considering switching to a different brand or type of formula or adjusting the concentration of the formula, it’s essential to make changes safely and with your baby’s health in mind. Here are some tips to help you […]

Understanding Reflux in Babies and How to Treat It

Gastroesophageal reflux, or GER, is common in babies, especially during their first few months. It’s estimated that up to 50% of babies experience reflux to some degree during their first year. It occurs when the contents of the baby’s stomach are regurgitated back into the esophagus and sometimes even up into the mouth. Although reflux […]

RSV Vaccines and Keeping Your Family Healthy this Winter

It is RSV season in North Carolina, and at Rainbow Pediatrics, we are seeing a significant increase in children who are sick with it. RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a virus that most children get at least once before their second birthday. In healthy kids, the symptoms are similar to a cold. But for […]

The Importance of Pediatric Wellness Exams

Pediatric wellness exams are essential to maintaining children’s health and well-being. These exams are typically conducted annually and are designed to assess a child’s growth, development, and overall health. One of the most important reasons to prioritize pediatric wellness exams is that they provide an opportunity for early detection and prevention of health problems. During […]

What to do if Your Child Needs Fever-Reducing Medicine But None is in Stock

When your child is sick, you want to help them feel better. The last thing you want to worry about is running from store to store in search of fever-reducing medicines, such as acetaminophen, or its brand name, Tylenol, and coming up short. But that’s the reality for many, and during the flu season, no […]

Preventing the Spread of Pink Eye – Tips for Parents and Caregivers

Back to school means gearing up for the year ahead and making obligatory trips to the store to stock up on school supplies and a new wardrobe. But back to school also means taking preventive measures to keep your kiddo healthy. Pink eye, also known as conjunctivitis, is a prevalent eye infection that can spread […]

Breastfeeding: Tips for Breastfeeding When You Are COVID-19 Positive

It is breastfeeding awareness week and the perfect time to highlight a topic near and dear to the hearts of the Rainbow Pediatrics team – breastfeeding. The American Medical Association (AMA), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend breastfeeding as the best choice for babies. The AAP recommends exclusively breastfeeding […]

Signs Your Child May Have a Vision Problem

During your child’s annual well visit, we check their vision to ensure there aren’t any problems. As preventative medicine specialists, we are responsible for identifying potential issues as early as possible. But since we don’t see your kids more often, it is essential for families to know the red flags that their child may have […]

Navigating the Baby Formula Shortage: Resources for Parents and Caregivers

The current baby formula shortage has created a lot of stress and concern for our families. To help provide the most up-to-date information and resources available, we put together this article which includes information and recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the NC Department of Health and Human Services. We hope you […]

Heavy Metals in Baby Food – Is Your Baby Safe?

When it comes to feeding your baby, it’s essential to make sure you’re giving them healthy food that will help them grow. Throughout recent years, we’ve learned that many leading brands of prepackaged baby food contain high levels of heavy metals—including arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury. This isn’t what you want for your baby. As […]

The Importance of Vitamin K Shots for Newborns

When babies are first born, it’s essential to perform various tests and procedural exams to ensure they are healthy. Many of these tests are intuitive, such as weighing and measuring your baby, checking their vital signs, and counting their fingers and toes. But some newborn procedures might seem less intuitive–like giving your baby a vitamin […]

Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy and a Healthy Baby

It’s natural to want to have a healthy pregnancy. It’s National Birth Defects Awareness Month, a time when we work together to increase understanding and prevention of birth defects. This issue is an important one, as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that 1 in every 33 babies in the United States is born […]

Boobies for All! How Breastfeeding Benefits Everyone

If you’re reading this, you are probably a new mom, expecting, or are just curious. Depending on where you are in this, you may have heard that breastfeeding is good for the baby. But breastfeeding isn’t just good for the infant; it is good for the mother too. In honor of National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, […]

Let Us Partner with Your Child in Monitoring and Treating Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease is one of those unfortunate disorders that not only causes the potential for a variety of lifelong complications but which also disproportionately affects certain minority groups who live in the United States. And, while the signs and symptoms of the disease usually appear around 5 months of age, its treatment and management […]

The Signs of Formula Intolerance and What to Do About It

When breastfeeding your baby is not an option for you, mothers can often rely on formula to keep their babies adequately fed, hydrated, developing, and growing both naturally and nutritionally. Yet, for an estimated 2 to 15 percent of babies, formula intolerance can make feeding time difficult – at least until the causes are identified […]

What is Colic? Strategies for Calming a Screaming Baby

Newborn babies have a lot to process. Everything’s new, so they have very few strategies in place when it comes to coping with issues like hunger, discomfort, pain, stress, and other unknown stimuli. So, they cry. This is when we as parents spring to attention. In doing so, we strive to comfort our babies through […]

The Significance of the First Five Years for Healthy Pediatric Development

As parents, you want what is best for your child. Health and happiness are at the top of virtually every parents’ wish list. Did you know that the first five years of your child’s life are critical for setting the foundation for healthy growth and pediatric development? This article will discuss three foundational elements you […]

Five Common Conditions Seen in Newborns

After all that waiting, your baby is finally here. They are your whole heart, and you want nothing more than to keep them safe and healthy. Knowing what to watch out for can help you navigate this very new and exciting time. Here are five of the most common conditions seen in newborns. Gas Imagine […]

Six Tips to Help You Safely Introduce Solid Food to Babies

Your baby is the apple of your eye, and when it comes time to introduce solid foods, you have a lot of questions. The desire to help your kids get off to the right start nutritionally is priority one. After months of super nutritious breastmilk (or formula), the idea of introducing solids is exciting…and scary. […]

Five Breastfeeding Challenges You Can Conquer

More women are coming forward to share their personal experiences and struggles with breastfeeding. At Rainbow Pediatrics, we believe that breastfeeding is the best way to nourish a growing baby. Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization recommend that infants be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of their life. […]