Sunny Hill Pediatrics

03/12/2026

As a reminder for Nutrition Month, calcium is an important mineral that helps children build strong bones and a healthy body. The need for calcium is at its highest point between the ages of 9 and 18. Not getting enough during this time can affect bone strength later in life. Check out this guide for information on how much calcium your child needs based on their age and what foods are best for kids to get calcium. 🥦

"When we are young, our bodies can store calcium in our bones. As we get older, we lose the ability to store calcium in our bones. By the time a child reaches young adulthood, their bones reach their peak bone density. That means their bones are as dense (or packed) with calcium as they will get—for life. After that, the body mainly withdraws calcium from what is still stored in our bones."

​​As children grow, they need calcium and other nutrients to build strong bones and a healthy body. But did you know that most young people in the United States don't get enough calcium in their diets? Not getting enough calcium during this can affect bone strength later in life. Read on for inf...

03/11/2026

As a reminder for Sleep Awareness Week, babies need a lot of sleep. That is why napping is a great way to ensure your child is getting adequate sleep each day. Here's a chart to use to know how often your baby should nap depending on their age. 😴

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03/10/2026

It's Sleep Awareness Week! 😴 Sleep is very important for children's growth and development, but many kids struggle with sleep issues. Check out these tips to resolve sleep challenges in kids.

☎️ If any sleep issue persists, contact our office.

Many kids deal with sleep issues that make it hard for them to fall asleep, stay asleep, or stay awake. Try these tips to help your kids get quality sleep.

03/05/2026

Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet is important for every child's growth and development. But you might have questions like how much your child needs to eat, whether they are getting enough vitamins and minerals or protein, and whether they are consuming too much fat or sugar. For National Nutrition Month, we recommend checking out this guide on childhood nutrition for each age group. 🍎

What children eat is important to both physical and mental development. Here’s what children need — no matter what the age.

03/04/2026

Car seats are extremely important for protecting children in vehicles and can reduce the risk of death or injury in a car crash by up to 82%. In a guest column for the Washington Post, pediatrician Dr. Perri Klass and former AAP President Dr. Ben Hoffman share how parents can make sure kids are getting the full safety benefits that car seats offer. 🚗

➡️ Swipe to check out these top essential tips!

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03/03/2026

March is National Nutrition Month.🍎 You've probably heard about artificial food colors in the news, especially as the FDA banned Red Dye 3, a bright cherry-red dye found in many foods, drinks, and medicines. And like many families, you might feel concerned about your children consuming products that have food dyes.

The good news is you don't need to get rid of every colorful snack or skip sprinkles on a birthday cake. What's important is that your child is eating a well-balanced diet that consists of mostly whole foods and limits ultra-processed foods, which are the biggest sources of artificial colors.

We recommend checking out this guide for information on the health risks of these dyes and how to avoid them. 👇

Dr. Steph Lee answers questions about food colorings & additives and your child’s health.​

02/26/2026

Many kids will experience a friendship breakup at some point in their lives. 💔 The end of a friendship can be a painful and devastating experience for many people. It can also affect your child's self-esteem, trust in others, and the way they view other friendships and relationships. As a parent, you can help your child navigate through this hardship and help them cope. Read more here.

Friendship breakups can be especially hard for teens and tweens. Learn how to support your child through heartbreak and healing with expert-backed advice.

02/25/2026

Your baby's first tooth is an exciting milestone! 🦷 And it's important to start taking care of their tooth right away, as cavities can develop as soon as your baby has teeth. Check out these 10 everyday ways to keep your baby's teeth healthy.

"Cleanse little mouths after each meal. Even before your infant's first teeth break through, it is important to get into a healthy routine. Wipe the gums with a clean, damp washcloth or gauze pad after each feeding. When baby teeth come in, switch to a soft-bristled toothbrush with a smear (about the size of a grain of rice) of fluoride toothpaste."

​Baby teeth are important. If baby teeth are lost too early, the teeth that are left may move and not leave any room for the adult teeth to come in.​

02/24/2026

You probably heard about GMOs and glyphosate, an herbicide, in the news lately. And with so many conflicting messages about diet, you might wonder what is safe and healthy for your kids. We recommend reading this guide for information on how foods and drinks with GMOs can affect your child's health. 🍎

"When glyphosate was first approved, it was thought to pose no threat to human health. But research from around the world now shows that these chemicals can build up in our bodies. This can increase the risks for some blood cancers, including specific kinds of leukemia and lymphoma. Some studies show that farmers who use glyphosate on their crops face a greater risk of developing these blood cancers than people with lower exposure to herbicides."

​​In a new report, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) takes a close look at evidence surrounding genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. Here's what we know about how foods and drinks with GMOs may affect your child's health and how to reduce GMO foods in your child's diet.

02/19/2026

As a reminder for Children's Dental Health Month, fluoride is important for strengthening your children's teeth and preventing cavities. 🦷 Fluoride can be found in drinking water, food and beverages, toothpaste, mouth rinses, and dental treatments such as fluoride varnish. Here are answers to common questions about fluoride.

Fluoride from drinking water and other sources such as toothpaste can strengthen tooth enamel and help prevent tooth decay. Below is a list of questions that parents frequently ask about fluoride and how it can help their children.

02/18/2026

February is American Heart Month! ❤️ You might think of heart disease as something for adults to be concerned about. But the risk for heart disease can start as early as childhood. To protect your child's heart health for their entire lives, help them develop strong heart-healthy habits when they're still young. These include eating a well-balanced diet, minimizing foods high in saturated fat, added sugar, and sodium, getting daily exercise, and staying on top of screenings.

Children with no family history of heart disease should get cholesterol screenings between the ages of 9 and 12. For those who do have a family history of heart disease, screenings should start as early as the age of 2.

Learn more about heart-healthy habits here! 👇

If members of your family have had heart disease at an early age, your child may be at risk for early-onset heart disease.

02/14/2026

Happy Valentine's Day!! ❤️