Happy Healthy Pediatrics, PLLC

11/13/2025

No parent wants to spend time in an urgent care or the emergency department with their child because of an injury. Here are five things that every family can do during the holidays to keep their kids and home safe while they celebrate the season and make great memories together!

11/11/2025

Today we pause to honor the brave men and women who have served our country with courage and dedication. As a Navy veteran, I’m reminded that service, gratitude, and connection are all powerful tools for health and healing — for both body and mind. 💙🇺🇸

Here are 3 meaningful ways families can celebrate Veterans Day together:

1. Say Thank You– Write a letter or draw a picture to send to a local veteran’s home or hospital. Simple gestures of gratitude can make a big impact.

2. Learn Together– Read a children’s book about Veterans Day or talk about what it means to serve others. Building empathy starts early.

3. Give Back– Volunteer as a family at a community event or donate to an organization supporting veterans and their families.

Let’s teach our kids that kindness, respect, and gratitude are the foundations of a strong community. ❤️

11/08/2025

The most common group A strep infection is strep throat, which usually causes fever and sore throat without viral illness symptoms such as runny nose and cough. Strep throat is especially common among school-aged children and teenagers.

Cough, runny nose, hoarseness (changes in your voices that make sound raspy) and conjunctivitis (also called pinkeye) are not symptoms of strep throat. If your child has these symptoms, a virus may be the cause of illness instead. It’s important to be able to distinguish a strep throat from a viral sore throat, because strep infections are treated with antibiotics.

If your child has a throat or skin infection caused by group A strep bacteria, they can go back to school or child care once they’ve had two doses of a course of an appropriate antibiotic 12 hours apart without fever.

Most types of throat infections are contagious. They are passed primarily through the air on droplets of moisture or on the hands of someone infected. For that reason, it makes sense to keep your child away from people who have symptoms of strep throat and other throat infections. However, most people are contagious before their first symptoms appear. So, there’s often no practical way to prevent your child from contracting the disease.

If a child’s strep throat is not treated with antibiotics, or if they don’t complete the treatment, the infection may worsen or spread to other parts of their body. This can lead to conditions such as abscesses of the tonsils or kidney problems. Untreated strep infections also can lead to rheumatic fever, a disease that affects the heart. However, rheumatic fever is rare in the United States and in children under 5 years old.

In infants, toddlers and preschoolers, the most frequent cause of sore throats is a viral infection. No specific medicine is required when a virus is responsible, and your child should get better over a 7- to 10-day period.

11/05/2025

👶🌱 As your baby starts solids, early introduction of common allergens can actually help reduce the risk of food allergies — when done safely and intentionally.

Here are the Big 9 allergens to know:
🥛 Cow’s milk
🥚 Eggs
🥜 Peanuts
🌰 Tree nuts (almonds, cashews, walnuts)
🌾 Wheat (gluten)
🐟 Fish
🦐 Shellfish (shrimp, lobster, crab)
🌿 Soy
⚪️ Sesame (now recognized as a major allergen in many regions)

✨ When to start:
Begin introducing allergens one at a time around 4–6 months, once your baby is developmentally ready for solids and tolerating other foods. Offer a small amount in the morning and observe closely for a few hours.

👀 Watch for signs of allergy:

* Hives or rash
* Vomiting
* Swelling of lips, eyes, or face
* Coughing, wheezing, or difficulty breathing (seek immediate care)

🌼 As a pediatrician, I encourage a calm, confident approach — introduce allergens early, one by one, and always in a safe setting. Start with what feels manageable and keep exposures regular once tolerated.

10/31/2025

🎃 Happy Halloween! 👻

Halloween is such a magical time to celebrate family, imagination, and play. As an integrative pediatrician, I love helping families find ways to make this day joyful and health-conscious.

Here are 3 simple ways to keep your kids safe, happy, and balanced tonight:

1️⃣ Fuel up first — Serve a balanced meal (protein + fiber) before heading out to trick-or-treat. It helps prevent sugar crashes later.
2️⃣ Glow and go safely — Add glow sticks, reflective tape, or flashlights to costumes for nighttime visibility.
3️⃣ Support their bodies afterward — Encourage water, rest, and gentle immune support like vitamin C, elderberry, or a warm bath to unwind.

✨ Let’s make tonight about connection, laughter, and wonder — not just candy.

Share your favorite healthy Halloween tradition in the comments!

10/29/2025

💚 Not all green snot needs antibiotics! Learn what your child’s mucus color really means and how to help them heal.

10/15/2025

Let’s talk about staying healthy this respiratory season — the evidence-based way. 🍎💪😴🧼

As parents, we can’t control every germ our kids meet — but we can strengthen their defenses with daily habits that truly make a difference:

🌱 Nutrition: Offer whole foods rich in vitamin C (citrus, berries), zinc (beans, meats), and vitamin D (sunlight, fortified foods). These nutrients support immune cell function and gut health — where 70% of the immune system lives.

🦶 Movement: Kids need at least 60 minutes of active play per day. Exercise supports immune circulation and reduces stress hormones that weaken immunity.

😴 Sleep: Children who get less than 9 hours of sleep are more likely to catch viral infections. Keep bedtime consistent and limit screens before bed.

🧼 Hand hygiene: Soap and water for 20 seconds is still one of our best defenses against colds, flu, and RSV.

🏡 Stay home when sick: It protects others and helps your child recover faster.

Small, consistent actions add up to stronger immunity — and calmer parents, too.

You’ve got this 💛

10/15/2025

🌡️ The Lowdown on High Temps — Let’s Talk FEVERS!

A re**al temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher is considered a fever.

Remember: fever is not an illness — it’s a sign that the immune system is doing its job to fight off infection.

Most fevers in children are caused by viral infections and resolve on their own. Whether your child needs to see their doctor depends on age, symptoms, and overall appearance.

👉 When to treat:
Use acetaminophen (Tylenol) for children 2 months and older and/or ibuprofen (Motrin) for children 6 months and older only if your child seems uncomfortable or in pain — not just to lower the number on the thermometer.

✅ Normal with Fever:
-Lower energy: Fighting infection takes energy — rest is healing!
-Decreased appetite: This is expected. Focus on hydration — offer frequent sips of water, breast milk, formula, or oral rehydration solution (like Pedialyte).

🚫 Things to Avoid:
• No aspirin — it can cause Reye syndrome, a rare but serious illness.
• No cold baths or alcohol rubs — they can cause shivering or toxic effects.
• No forcing food — fluids matter more than solids when sick.

🚨 Call your pediatrician right away if your child:
• Is younger than 3 months and has a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher
• Has a stiff neck, severe headache, difficulty breathing, persistent vomiting, rash, or signs of dehydration (dry mouth, sunken fontanelle, few wet diapers)
• Is lethargic, unusually irritable, or not drinking well

Fevers can be stressful, but they’re often a healthy immune response. Trust your instincts and reach out if something doesn’t feel right — you know your child best. 💛

10/14/2025

A good friend recently sent me this picture with the message “You’ve always been a supermom!”

This picture was taken in 2018 when I retuned to residency after my maternity leave. I am eating lunch while working on clinic notes and pumping.

The attending physicians and residents I worked with during this time knew how important it was for me to be able to pump breastmilk for my baby while I was working.

I am proud that I advocated for myself and my baby. At the same time, I feel eternally grateful for a residency program that supported me during this time.

I pumped during my PICU, NICU, inpatient, and overnight shifts.

The lesson from this time is to ASK FOR HELP AND TELL PEOPLE WHAT YOU NEED TO DO YOUR BEST.

Most of the time, people genuinely want others to be successful and happy. ❤️

10/05/2025