Florida Chapter of AAP

02/12/2026

Have you seen ads featuring FLynn in your favorite grocery stores? They are popping up across the state throughout the month of February. Keep your eyes open the next time you’re out - and be sure to snap a selfie and share it with us on social!

02/12/2026

Last month was Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Lauren’s Kids Founder and CEO Lauren Book recently shared these three practical steps parents and caregivers can take right now to help keep kids safe in a Newsweek op-ed:

* Start conversations early and often. Age-appropriate discussions about boundaries, online safety, and trusted adults give children the language and confidence to speak up when something doesn’t feel right.

* Know what your child has access to. Take inventory of all devices, apps, games, and social media platforms — and stay engaged with your child’s digital world. Unmonitored access creates opportunity for exploitation.

* Watch for red flags. Sudden behavior changes, secrecy around devices, unexplained gifts, or withdrawal can signal something is wrong. Recognizing warning signs early can interrupt exploitation before it escalates.

Learn more about and access resources at https://laurenskids.org/.

Lauren's Kids was founded in 2007 with the goal of child sexual abuse prevention. They offer a wide variety of child sexual abuse education programs.

02/10/2026

February 7-14 is Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) Awareness Week. If your child has been diagnosed with a CHD, it is important to know that thanks to medical advances people with heart defects are living longer, healthier lives. Still, your child needs to continue to see a pediatric cardiologist who can catch any problems early and help keep your child healthy. Learn more about lifelong care for people with congenital heart defects here:

After a heart defect diagnosis, parents and caregivers must learn how to care for a child with special health care needs. This new world of surgeries, procedures, specialists, appointments, and medications can be overwhelming. It helps to remember that your family is not alone. Here are some resourc...

02/08/2026

You take your job to protect your children seriously. So does your pediatrician.

Talk to your pediatrician about all the ways you can help keep your child happy, safe, and healthy.

02/05/2026

Measles is highly contagious and hearing about the recent measles outbreaks can be concerning. Your pediatrician is trained to help you keep your children safe from infectious diseases like measles. Talk to your pediatrician about your concerns and how to best protect your kids.

02/04/2026

“I hope to gain practical advocacy skills that will allow me to translate my clinical experiences into meaningful policy and community action, strengthening trust in healthcare systems and advancing equitable, inclusive pediatric care during these especially challenging times.” Dr. Yanley Lopez, 2026 Louis B. St. Petery, Jr., MD, FAAP, and Julia Revel St. Petery, MD, FAAP, Pediatric Trainee Advocacy Training Scholarship recipient. UF Pediatrics Residency - Jacksonville

02/01/2026

AAP released its updated childhood immunization schedule for 2026. The AAP schedule is updated annually to provide the latest, trusted guidance on when children and teens should receive each vaccine. This year, 12 leading medical and healthcare organizations—including the American Medical Association and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists —formally endorsed AAP’s schedule. This year’s schedule includes recommendations for protection against 18 serious diseases, including RSV, hepatitis A and B, rotavirus, influenza and meningococcal disease. Your pediatrician cares about your child’s health and development. Talk with your pediatrician if you have any questions about vaccines or the AAP’s recommended immunization schedule.

01/30/2026

Many people with hepatitis B don’t know they have it until they face serious liver problems later in life. If you’re an expecting parent with questions about the hepatitis vaccine, please talk with your OB/GYN and pediatrician before your baby is born.

01/27/2026

Earlier this month, federal officials suddenly stopped recommending several childhood vaccines. They did this after a brief review of some other countries' practices. The action breaks from a process designed to carefully review and recommend childhood vaccines—one that considers risks from specific diseases in the U.S., health impacts and how our health care system works. The AAP continues to recommend that U.S. children be immunized against these diseases.

Learn more about the recommended schedule and when there may be reasons to vary from it -

Here's what to know about the recommended immunization schedule for children and teens. The schedule is approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics and based on ongoing review of the most recent scientific data for each of the recommended vaccines and other immunizations. The schedule also recomm...

01/23/2026

Many schools are adopting stricter cell phone policies. If your kid’s school is implementing new rules on cell phones this year, it may take time adjust to the new normal. This HealthyChildren.org article offers tips for navigating these transitions at home, including:

* Normalize time away from phones

* Use built-in phone tools to minimize distractions

* Teach non-digital coping skills

* Cut back on texting your children during the school day

Read the whole article, including more tips and information, at https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/school-cell-phone-policies-tips-for-families.aspx

Many schools have rules about when and how kids can use their cell phones during the school day. This article helps parents understand common policies, why they exist, and how to help kids adjust to the change.

01/21/2026

A recent report from Florida’s Department of Health has questioned the safety of baby formula, leaving many parents confused about how to safely feed their infant children. In order to analyze data and identify its strengths and weaknesses, the data must be clear and well defined. While not all data from the DOH website is clear, this article from HealthyChildren is a current, fact-checked resource with information you can rely on: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/ask-the-pediatrician/Pages/is-baby-formula-safe.aspx.

Your pediatrician is an expert on child health. Call your pediatrician if you have questions about feeding, including breastfeeding support. Need help finding a pediatrician in your area? Visit https://www.fcaap.org/parents/ for an easy to use search tool and other resources.

Many families feed formula to their infant in the first year of life as an alternative to human milk. They trust that it will be safe and provide the nutrients their baby needs. Still, you may have heard about a report that found heavy metals or other contaminants in some baby formula products. The...

01/19/2026

This Martin Luther King Jr. Day reminds us that building a healthier future starts with caring for one another – especially our children. Thank you to the pediatricians, caregivers, and families working together to strengthen child health across our communities.