Valley Pediatric Group: Staunton

02/20/2026

Nearly every parent who has an additional child after their firstborn worries about how their older child will adjust to this incredibly major change in their family. Many popular books and social media accounts claim to have the method for preparing your child for the birth of a sibling, yet most are not research-based. For example, there is no research study suggesting that the baby give a present to the older child or that parents should not hold the baby when the older child enters the room, yet this is often the only advice parents get. It would be very helpful to have research-backed tips that actually acknowledge that this transition lasts beyond the point that children meet their baby siblings in the hospital!

So what can research tell us about the older sibling’s adjustment to having a new baby sibling? How hard is this transition really? Is there anything you can do as a parent to make this transition a little easier? Is there any way to help yourself as a parent through this transition?

All information provided by Parenting Translator Foundation — parentingtranslator.org

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Posts are for general information only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For privacy, avoid posting personal health details.

02/19/2026

We're committed to supporting you through your newborn's early stages. If you notice anything unusual or concerning about their health, please reach out to our team of pediatricians.

To learn more, visit: https://www.valleypedgroup.com/Newborn-Illness-How-to-Recognize-1

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Posts are for general information only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For privacy, avoid posting personal health details.

02/19/2026

Today the Virginia Department of Public Health reiterated its commitment to the science based vaccine schedule that is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and many other major medical societies. Valley Pediatric Group will continue to follow and recommend this vaccine schedule as we believe there is very strong evidence it provides safe, effective protection against many diseases that once caused severe illness, disability and even death.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 19, 2026 Media Contact: Logan Anderson, Logan.Anderson@vdh.virginia.gov Virginia Department of Health Reaffirms its Commitment to Vaccines as a Critical Tool in Protecting the Health of Families and Communities Richmond, Va. – The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) ...

02/18/2026

A study found that the risk of depression increases by 13% for each additional hour of social media use among adolescents. Teens can show these symptoms through:
😔Depressed Mood: Feelings of sadness or hopelessness.
😑Loss of Interest: Disinterest in previously enjoyable activities.
🤔Concentration Problems: Difficulty focusing on tasks or schoolwork.

Swipe to learn how to support your teens in navigating online negativity.

Content created by the experts at — https://fb.com/SanfordfitKids

We are here to help!

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Posts are for general information only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For privacy, avoid posting personal health details.

02/17/2026

Treatment available for girls with ADHD:

➡️ There are multiple evidence-based treatments for ADHD including medication and behavior therapy.

➡️ There is some evidence that ADHD symptoms may be affected by hormonal changes.

➡️ Girls may want to track their ADHD symptoms over the course of their menstrual cycle and during certain periods of heightened hormonal changes (e.g., puberty) and discuss these observations with their medical provider.

➡️ Girls and women with ADHD may also benefit from additional behavior therapies that focus on dual conditions, such as anxiety and depression, and developing coping skills for emotional challenges.

Talk with your daughter's medical provider for more information about treatments available for children with ADHD.

All information provided by the Duke Center for Girls and Women with ADHD — https://fb.com/ADHDGirlsDuke

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Posts are for general information only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For privacy, avoid posting personal health details.

02/16/2026

Kids count on you to keep them safe in the car. Be sure they are in the right car seat and booster seat, and make sure you are using them correctly. Learn more: https://www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/right-seat

All information provided by the National Child Passenger Safety Board — www.cpsboard.org

EDITORIAL DISCLAIMER These resources are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please do not share medical information on this platform. Contact us with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or content you see here.

02/15/2026

Anyone who has struggled with breastmilk supply has heard someone recommend “lactation cookies” as a remedy. These pricy treats are often marketed to help improve supply.

A study finally addressed this question. This study published in March 2023 was a randomized controlled trial (the highest quality research design) that examined whether lactation cookies actually cause an increase in breastmilk supply (see link in bio to read the full study).

This study included 176 mothers with exclusively breastfeeding 2-month-old infants. Participants were randomly assigned to eat “lactation cookies” with oatmeal, brewer’s yeast, flax seeds, and fenugreek or regular cookies every day for one month. They found NO significant differences between groups in the amount of milk produced, in the mothers’ perception of milk supply, or in how effective the mothers felt at breastfeeding. The specific cookies they used were Oatmeal Raisin Milkmakers® Lactation Cookie Bites.

TRANSLATION: You can probably save your money because lactation cookies are unlikely to increase your milk supply. Instead focus on ways supported by research such as frequent and on-demand breastfeeding, pumping after breastfeeding, and a LOT of skin-to-skin contact.

All information provided by Parenting Translator Foundation — parentingtranslator.org

EDITORIAL DISCLAIMER These resources are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please do not share medical information on this platform. Contact us with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or content you see here.

02/14/2026

✈️ Save this post! This is the airplane snack box - something that would take extra time to eat! It’s an activity. It’s a snack. Everything you need for toddlers on a plane!⁠
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Try putting stickers on the top of whatever box you choose to make sure it doesn’t look like a pill box. ⁠
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Works best on an airplane, when you’re sitting next to your child to supervise and make sure they don’t dump it. ⁠
⁠

All information provided by Kids Eat in Color — www.kidseatincolor.com — https://fb.com/kids.eat.in.color

EDITORIAL DISCLAIMER These resources are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please do not share medical information on this platform. Contact us with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or content you see here.

02/13/2026

For more research-backed information on breastfeeding, check out Parenting Translator’s podcast parentingtranslator.substack.com/subscribe.

RESEARCH SUMMARY ON PUMPING:
More than 85% of mothers in the United States report pumping breastmilk occasionally (Labiner-Wolfe, Fein, Shealy, & Wang, 2008). A recent study estimates that 6.9% of mothers are “exclusive pumpers” (mothers who express breastmilk with a pump yet do not feed directly from the breast; Keim, Boone, Oza-Frank, & Geraghty, 2017). Yet, there is very little research guiding women on how to pump effectively and how to be successful at “exclusive pumping”. There is also very little support from healthcare professionals in helping mothers to reach their pumping goals (Leurer et al., 2019).

Many mothers feel like exclusive pumping is their only option for offering their baby breastmilk due to concerns about baby’s milk intake, health issues, difficulty establishing a good latch, or painful breastfeeding.

Most previous research examines breastfeeding versus formula-feeding but there is emerging research in the last 10 years that is examining the impact of feeding directly at the breast vs. pumping.

BREASTFEEDING SUCCESS
First, women who pump more frequently may be more likely to quit breastfeeding earlier(Felice, Cassano, & Rasmussen, 2016), a finding which likely reflects the difficulty of this method compared to direct breastfeeding

HEALTH IMPACTS
Feeding directly at the breast is associated with less risk for ear infections when compared to pumping (Boone, Geraghty, & Keim, 2016). However, both direct breastfeeding and pumping are related to a lower risk of diarrhea when compared to formula-feeding. Another study found that direct breastfeeding reduced the risk for coughing/wheezing episodes in the first year of life when compared to either pumped milk or formula-feeding (Soto-Ramírez et al. 2013). Direct breastfeeding is also associated with a lower risk of asthma when compared to pumped milk or formula-feeding (Klopp et al., 2017).

All information provided by Parenting Translator Foundation — parentingtranslator.org

EDITORIAL DISCLAIMER These resources are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please do not share medical information on this platform. Contact us with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or content you see here.

02/12/2026

Keeping our little ones safe is always our top priority! Let's talk medication safety. It's crucial to follow these simple steps to ensure your child's well-being:

💊 Give medicine only as recommended: Always adhere to your pediatrician's instructions.

💊 Use the proper tool for liquid doses: Avoid household spoons and use the provided syringe or measuring cup.

💊 Read and follow label directions: Pay close attention to dosage and administration instructions.

💊Keep medicines up and away: Store all medications out of reach of children.

By following these tips, we can prevent accidental poisonings and ensure safe medication use.

To learn more, visit: https://www.valleypedgroup.com/Guide-to-Your-Child-s-Medicines-A-1

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Posts are for general information only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For privacy, avoid posting personal health details.

02/11/2026

Socializing without screens helps kids develop important skills.📱 When kids interact in person, they learn how to communicate better, understand body language, and build empathy. Plus, hanging out with friends can make them feel happier and more confident!😀

Content created by the experts at — https://fb.com/SanfordfitKids

EDITORIAL DISCLAIMER These resources are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please do not share medical information on this platform. Contact us with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or content you see here.

02/10/2026

Hepatitis A is a virus that causes hepatitis (inflammation of the liver). Symptoms can include fever, jaundice (a yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, clay-colored bowel movements), tiredness, nausea and vomiting. Young children are much less likely to develop symptoms when they are infected with hepatitis A virus than adults.

All information provided by The Vaccine Education Center — www.chop.edu/vaccine-education-center

EDITORIAL DISCLAIMER These resources are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please do not share medical information on this platform. Contact us with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or content you see here.