B’More Healthy

My first “real” sunglasses were gold Ray Ban aviators. I proudly wore them every day of the summer of 1988 as I sat poolside in a lifeguard stand, twirling a whistle and feeling super cool. Since those days, I almost always have a pair of sunglasses handy when outside, year-round. …

Vaccinations have long been used to minimize the risk of developing specific viruses. More recently, researchers have begun focusing on developing vaccines to prevent cancer. The HPV vaccine, approved by the Food and Drug Administration about a decade ago, is one such exciting development that has resulted from these efforts. …

After kids have been cooped up indoors all winter, the arrival of spring and its attendant warm weather and blooming flowers bring an almost magical quality to the new season; except, that is, for spring allergy sufferers. And children are by no means immune to the problem. In fact, about …

  On Dec. 16 of 2013, just two days after his 23rd birthday, Carroll County native Sean Schmidt would inject what he thought was heroin into his arm, a decision that would end up costing him his life. On that same day Beth Schmidt lost her son, she would also …

It’s no secret that we are living in a stressful day and age. Parents are expected to juggle work and home life, and help their children navigate the competitive worlds of school, sports and social activities. And with social media permeating our daily lives, the added pressure to project a …

As a parent, you understand the importance of teaching your child about good personal and dental hygiene. But many parents don’t realize that it’s equally critical to teach children good sleep hygiene—the practice of habits that directly impact the quality of a person’s sleep. Both the quantity and quality of …

When a major storm strikes, it can leave a trail of devastation and danger behind. Just look at Hurricane Matthew last month. Volatile weather is common when seasons change, so it’s the perfect time to take stock of your emergency resources. Being on the coast, Maryland is no stranger to …

There’s a gray area in child development—an area where difficulties in behavior, attention or academic skills reveal early risks for long-term challenges. These early challenges can easily develop into lifelong disabilities in some children; however, when environments nurture brain health, more of these children will succeed like their typically developing …

It’s that time of year again—back-to-school. Where kids will again be around many other kids and, inevitably, many more germs. It’s common to see our children with runny noses, coughs, sore throats, and respiratory infections like the common cold and flu. This school year, help your children learn how to …

There’s really only one reason children fear going to the doctor—shots. There’s nothing inherently unfriendly about most offices, particularly pediatricians’ play-oriented spaces, but not even the cutest monkey wallpaper or snuggliest waiting-room bear can hide the truth: There’s going to be a big scary needle, it’s going to pierce skin …