Sunshine Pediatrics

10/31/2025

Happy Halloween!! 👻🎃

10/29/2025

These days, there's a ton of media content that children are exposed to. But not all content is appropriate or high-quality for kids. Furthermore, some kids consume too much media that it's essential to establish boundaries around media use. Here are tips to help children develop a healthy relationship with media and how to pick good content. 📲

The following practical strategies are ways to build balance, critical thinking, self-regulation, and safety skills for toddlers through elementary school-aged children.

10/28/2025

Food allergies occur when the body reacts against harmless proteins found in foods, and can be common in children and teens. Here's a helpful guide on signs of food allergies to look out for, how to manage food allergies, and how to lower the risk of developing one. 🥜

"Starting around 6 months, parents can help lower the risk of food allergies by offering common allergens like peanuts, eggs, dairy and sesame. Delaying the introduction of these foods may actually raise the risk. Begin with small amounts, one food at a time, and watch for reactions. If your baby has eczema or a family history of allergies, check with your pediatrician first. Safe, early exposure can make a big difference."

A food allergy happens when the body reacts against harmless proteins found in foods. Food allergies are most common in babies and children, but they can occur at any age. They also occur more often in children who have other allergies or who have family members with allergies. Learn more here.​

10/23/2025

October is Learning Disabilities Awareness Month! Let’s raise awareness, build inclusion, and break stigma.

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10/22/2025

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is a fear many new parents have. But there are many steps you can take to protect your sleeping baby. Dr. Costello shares tips on what you can do.

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10/21/2025

Halloween is around the corner and an exciting time for many kids! To make the most of Halloween with your family, check out these tips for ensuring a safe, healthy, and enjoyable experience for your children. 🎃👻

"Did you know that child pedestrian injuries are more likely on Halloween than on any other night of the year?

Always go with young children on their neighborhood rounds. If trick-or-treating doesn't start until after dark where you live, consider checking with your town or park district for Halloween activities offered earlier in the day. Earlier festivities help you stick to your child's regular bedtime."

​Costumes, pumpkins, trick-or-treat tips and more! ​Here is a great list from the AAP for a healthy and safe Halloween.

10/16/2025

Diaper sizes vary between babies and change as your baby grows. If you're not sure when you need to size up or how to determine the right size of diapers you need for your baby, check out this cheat sheet and list of tips to follow. 👶

Not sure if Baby needs bigger diapers? From red marks to stiff movements, here are 7 signs it’s time to size up.

10/15/2025

Sick season is here.🤧 Whether your child has a cold or the stomach bug, you might wonder when they need to stay home and when they can go back to school. Check out the guidelines here for answers!

Most kids with a cold or stomach bug will recover on their own with rest and fluids and do not need to be seen by a doctor. But if they have difficulty breathing, blue lips or nails, extreme fatigue, or show signs of dehydration, call our office. ☎️

If your child is not feeling well, your pediatrician is the best person to consult about whether they can go to school. Common sense, concern for your child's well-being, and the possibility of infecting classmates should all contribute to the decision about whether your child should stay home. Le...

10/09/2025

Learning to drive is a complex skill for many teens and it can be worrisome for families to have a young driver in the family. But teens with ADHD need to take extra precautions as the risk for accidents is higher if there's impulsive, distracted, and unfocused driving. Check out this guide for tips on how to support kids with ADHD in driving. 🚘

"Medication can help teens control ADHD symptoms. However, the benefit of medication on teen driving is uncertain. Many factors affect whether ADHD medication might help. These include the time of day, how long ago the teen took medicine and how well it treats symptoms. For example, drivers are more at risk of a crash in the late afternoon and evening. This is also when a teen's ADHD medication might have worn off."

​​The risk of a crash is 36% higher for teens drivers with ADHD than their peers, no matter their gender, age or driving experience.

10/08/2025

For , we want to share this helpful resource with tips on how to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Creating a safe sleep environment and breastfeeding can lower the risk of SIDS. Learn more here! 👶

​About 3,500 babies die each year in the United States during sleep because of unsafe sleep environments. Some of these deaths are caused by entrapment, suffocation, or strangulation. Some infants die of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). However, there are ways for parents to keep their​ sle...

10/07/2025

October is . Identifying ADHD earlier in a child's life can create better outcomes in life. Check out this guide for the early signs of ADHD in children and how to observe their behavior.

If you have any questions about ADHD diagnosis and medication, contact our office.

"Most experts agree that the tendency to develop attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is present from birth. Yet, ADHD behaviors are often not noticed until children enter elementary school.

One reason for this delay is the fact that nearly all preschool-aged children often show some core behaviors or symptoms of ADHD—inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity—as part of their typical development.

But as other children gradually begin to grow out of such behaviors, children with ADHD do not. Also in children with ADHD, those behaviors interfere with how well the child can function. This difference becomes increasingly clear as the years pass."

Most experts agree that the tendency to develop ADHD is present from birth, yet ADHD behaviors usually are not noticed until children enter elementary school.

10/02/2025

The 4th trimester is known as the first 12 weeks of your baby's life after birth. This is an important time for both baby and the parents, as they adjust to new routines and development. 🤱

During this time:

🔹 Babies benefit from skin-to-skin contact, swaddling, rocking, frequent feeding, and sleeping in the same room as parents.
🔹 Parents benefit from support from family and friends, communication with healthcare providers, and self-care.

Learn more about what families need during this time here! 👇

The first 3 months after Baby is born, or the "fourth trimester", is an important time for familes. Here are tips and resources to help you navigate it!