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All parents want to raise children who have high self-esteem. As an adult, you probably know someone strong, confident, and self-assured. Perhaps that’s you. Having a child who can roll with life’s punches is incredibly important. But why do some kids seem more comfortable with themselves than others, and what can parents and caregivers do […]
READ MORE »Fevers are a normal body response that is a red flag of sorts. It happens to signal that there is a problem somewhere in the body. A fever is usually a sign of an infection, but there are other causes too. For example, checking a child’s temperature when they are all bundled up in blankets […]
READ MORE »Does your child have a sweet tooth? Do their sugar cravings create issues with mealtime? If you’re trying to instill good health habits in them by encouraging them to play sports, eat their veggies, and drink water, then don’t let their desire to eat sweets undermine those efforts. This year is already becoming a doozy […]
READ MORE »Children get sick. That is something we can expect. We also expect children to recover. For the past 2 ½ years, we’ve learned to listen to specific cues of illness, fearing it may be COVID-19. But another illness is packing pediatric hospital beds throughout North Carolina. Its name is RSV or respiratory syncytial virus, and […]
READ MORE »We are facing a mental health crisis. An alarming number of children and teens are struggling with feelings of hopelessness and depression. Many are also having thoughts of suicide. During the height of the pandemic in 2020, the number of children who went to the Emergency Department for mental health issues increased by 24 percent […]
READ MORE »It is anticipated that this year’s flu season will be worse than last year. The main reason is that last year we were social distancing and wearing masks, which protected against viruses. This year, with lifted COVID restrictions, we lack the protection that kept us relatively healthy. One of the best things you can do […]
READ MORE »The CDC recently announced that it authorized an improved COVID-19 booster by Pfizer for use in individuals ages 5 and up. Here’s what you need to know. How is the updated COVID-19 Booster Different? The primary vaccine authorized for children is monovalent, containing only the original COVID-19 vaccine. The updated booster is bivalent, which means […]
READ MORE »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 […]
READ MORE »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 […]
READ MORE »The FDA recently announced the emergency approval of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for children ages six months through four years old. Many parents and caregivers have been waiting with bated breath for this, while others have reservations. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend […]
READ MORE »Summer is finally here, and so are long, sunny days, trips to the beach, and lots and lots of time outside. And this is any parent’s dream. And while we want to encourage our kids to spend as much time outdoors as possible, it is critical to their health to be lathered up in sunscreen […]
READ MORE »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 […]
READ MORE »Your teenager complains that they get dizzy when standing and feel faint. They complain of nausea and vomiting but aren’t sick. And they’re sleeping a lot more than what is typical for a teen. You want the best for your child and are concerned about this sudden change in health. So you make an appointment […]
READ MORE »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 […]
READ MORE »Make Food Your Strength, Not Your Weakness. As parents and caregivers, we want the very best for our children. But there is a rising number of children who are overweight or obese in North Carolina, and that number has been growing steadily since 2012. The latest data shows that 19.8% of youth ages 10 to […]
READ MORE »North Carolina is known for many things: basketball, bbq, great beaches, beautiful mountains, and, well, allergies. Historically, the treatment of choice for allergies was to take over-the-counter or prescription allergy medication. If you were particularly proactive, allergy shots were another option. But they are shots, and many kids were resistant – despite their parent’s good […]
READ MORE »We want our kids to be healthy and strong. However, some are prone to stomach issues. While almost every child will get a stomachache, constipation, or diarrhea, kids with irritable bowel syndrome, also known as IBS get it more often. What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)? IBS is a digestive disorder that can happen in […]
READ MORE »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 […]
READ MORE »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 […]
READ MORE »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 […]
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