Dr. Courtney Carter, DO

11/13/2025

This. We’ve lost sight of the developmental needs of children in the quest for “greatness.” Let them go back to naps and being kids and quit pushing for mini adults.

In the 1950s, every kindergartener knew the ritual: crayons down, lights low, and the soft hum of a record spinning through the air.
Naptime wasn’t a break — it was part of learning.

Teachers dimmed the lights, tiptoed between mats, and whispered, “Close your eyes.”
Kids rested, dreamed, or just stared at sunbeams dancing on the ceiling — learning something we’ve since forgotten: that rest is part of growth.

Then came the tests.
The “readiness.”
The race to get ahead.
By the 1980s, naps were gone. The mats rolled up. The lights stayed on.

Today, five-year-olds spend more time in structured lessons than third-graders did in the 1950s — no pauses, no quiet, no chance to just be.
And we wonder why they’re anxious.

Maybe it’s time we remembered what our teachers once knew:
You don’t grow by running all the time.
You grow in the stillness too.
Even big kids need naptime sometimes.

10/31/2021

Happy Halloween!!

09/20/2021

Hooray!!!!

A Phase 2/3 trial of Pfizer/BioNTech's two-dose Covid-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 showed it is safe and generated a "robust" antibody response.

09/02/2021

Please please listen…

08/31/2021

Good info from a local pediatrician…hope it helps!!

By Diane Arnaout, M.D.Hey friends. Our phone lines are blowing up with exposure and quarantine questions. I love that you guys are calling – it’s the right thing to do! And we are here for ya.But just wanted to spell out some common scenarios so that you have quick answers:What does the CDC cons...

08/30/2021

Let’s work together to protect our kids (and everyone else)!!

Today, The New York Times and Los Angeles Times feature our plea to all Americans. It’s urgent that we take the scientifically proven measures to protect our children:
- Get vaccinated. 💉
- Wear masks, especially in schools. 😷
- Social distance and wash hands. 🤲

08/24/2021

Due to a record number of patients, the Urgent Care Centers at Cook Children’s are making changes to accommodate our patient families and to ensure that their staff can continue providing excellent care.

These changes are taking place to keep up with the high demand of recent patient volume. On Monday, August 23, our seven UCC locations saw more than 1,000 patients in one day. More information about the changes here: https://bit.ly/3zh4Pub.

En Español: https://bit.ly/3BeZd4t.

08/23/2021

What’s upset your kid lately?

08/23/2021

What do you need to know about long term symptoms after a COVID infection in kids and teens?

Children can develop a number of secondary conditions after having COVID. Learn more about symptoms to watch out for. Your pediatrician can help guide your child’s safe return-to-activities such as sports, school, camp, jobs, and volunteer activities.

08/20/2021

This is such a great post! Please read this!

There is a lot going on in the world right now, much of it tragic, scary and unsettling. My daughter asked some questions the other day after she overheard me discussing the awful situation in Afghanistan with our nanny, and it was a good reminder that little ears are always listening….

Most adults are better able to contextualize the information presented in news reports, and to filter out content that is truly sensationalist. But even for an adult, much of it can be distressing to watch, and as you well know, even young babies can sense our distress and anxiety, even if they don’t fully understand the reason for it.

Children are listening. They may overhear us discussing news events with friends or family, as my daughter did. If the TV is on and they are playing nearby, they may hear snippets of coverage, and if those reports are repetitive they may even get confused and think the events are happening over and over again. Many of the news channels have graphic coverage in a bid for viewership. So it is our job to contextualize, to reassure, and to teach our children, in developmentally appropriate ways, how to think about these events.

Some ways to do this:
🔸Reassure them. Remind them that they are safe.
🔸Talk to them rather than letting them overhear and interpret all on their own. Ask how they are feeling, and share how you feel. It is ok (and probably important) for them to understand that these events are upsetting for you too, and this is a good chance to model ways to handle those feelings.
🔸Answer questions but in developmentally appropriate ways. Keep it simple and brief and avoid stereotyping people of different race, or religion.
🔸 Focus on the positives if possible. As Fred Rogers said, look for the helpers.
🔸 Limit unfiltered access to the media. For kids who spend time on YouTube or social media, it can be easy to come across graphic videos. Watch for preoccupation about events as a sign of anxiety. Be mindful of their presence when the TV is on, or when you are discussing recent events. Try to make sure that anything they come across is measured, limited and not too graphic.

What other tips do you have? Please share below!

08/19/2021

The Cook Children’s Emergency Department (ED) has seen an influx of families bringing in children who have been exposed to COVID-19, but show no symptoms.

Families and caregivers - please know when to call your child's pediatrician and when to take them to the ED. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/3y0gTPb.

En Español: https://bit.ly/2UHAzK7.

08/19/2021

“Why do masks work? By stopping the aerosols that carry the COVID 19 virus. There is NO harm in wearing a mask- just ask us docs who have been living in them since March of 2020!”

We talked to UCSF epidemiologist George Rutherford, MD, and infectious disease specialist Peter Chin-Hong, MD, about the CDC’s reversal on mask-wearing, the current science on how masks work, and what to consider when choosing a mask.