Keep the gaming device in a central location where there is a lot of traffic and aski children what games they like and why, ask who they are gaming with and if any stranger has contacted them, and be aware of the games’ content and use parental control.

If a parent notices any of the following, they should discuss these symptoms with their health care provider: Your child is extremely and consistently fussy, having problems breathing, has loud snoring, unusual awakenings or difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. It is important to notice if they have daytime sleepiness or behavioral problems.

The residency program wanted to highlight three residents’ work which will be presented at this week’s Annual Southern Society of Pediatric Research Conference in New Orleans! We are so proud of our residents’ scholarly products! We also want to recognize our faculty mentors guiding our residents through the scholarly process.

Family resolutions can be made together to make the family safer, stronger and more harmonious. For family goals to work each family member sees their role and gets a reward for cooperation.

The 2022 Pediatric Educator Awards are:

T-Shirt Sales proceeds benefit the Pediatrics Annual Toy and Book Drive.

Our NICU celebrated the holiday in a fun and creative way for the children and our smallest babies and their families.

Registration is NOW open! Join us at this year's Pedi by the Gulf CME conference. This course is designed to address the challenges faced in the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions of infants, children, and adolescents. It will provide participants with a maximal learning experience through lectures, interspersed with question and answer sessions, panel discussions, and workshops of specific interest. Participants will complete an online evaluation after the course.

It is "Recruitment Season!" The University of Texas Medical Branch has been educating physicians since 1892 and has trained more physicians than any other medical school in Texas. The Department of Pediatrics has an ongoing commitment to Medical Education. We have committed faculty, modern and efficient facilities, and a diverse patient population. Pediatrics has a close-knit program with a family feel. We wish all applicants the best of luck, and we are excited to welcome a new TEAM to our family! Take a moment to learn about our program, view our video tours, and a day in the life of a Pediatric Resident.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and we are taking this opportunity to reinforce the importance of looking out for early signs. Cancer in children can happen at any age. Parents should ensure that their children have regular medical check-ups and watch for any unusual signs or symptoms. No one is ever prepared to hear that their child has cancer. Read the full article and find out more.

It's the season to prepare for back to school. Are you ready?! Houston Moms Blog chats with Dr. Manuela Murray, Pediatrician for UTMB. Dr. Murray discusses scheduling your child's annual check-up/sports physical, vaccinating your 12+-year-old for COVID-19, and who may not qualify for the vaccine. She also addresses mental health issues and what can parents/educators do to help students readjust.

After more than a year of “pandemic life”, we are all eager to return to some sense of normalcy. Experts now say that fully vaccinated people are safe to travel with some common-sense precautions. The pandemic is not over but as the vaccine rollout continues travel will be safer and more relaxing.

As April is Child Abuse Awareness month, we have discussed Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and their proven long-term effects on children and adults. There are many things you can do to minimize the negative impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences and to bolster your child’s confidence. In this ACEs article Dr. Beach discusses relationships, discipline, education, when to get help, and to always remember to engage and have fun! [Click title for full article]

As April is Child Abuse Awareness month, we have discussed Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and their proven long-term effects on children and adults. Our main goal is to prevent ACEs for the children in our community. We hope these articles can help us work together towards that common goal. Families or homes are not perfect! Many families are confronted with these risk factors through no fault of their own. Parents and families can get involved in community groups to decrease risk factors and prevent child abuse and neglect. This article can help you identify those risk factors. [Click title for full article]

Traumatic events that occur in childhood can lead to levels of stress, “toxic stress,” that have long-term effects. Children are especially prone to physical changes in the brain from toxic stress. The negative effects of toxic stress and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are vast and well documented. When families, physicians, and communities work together, we can help prevent the negative impact of toxic stress and ACEs on our children. [Click title for full article]

No one has the "perfect" family. Our UTMB Patient Safety and Protection Team is committed to helping families avoid the consequences of adverse childhood experiences. April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Each week in April, we plan to discuss different aspects of adverse childhood experiences and explore the strengths in families and communities that can change children's lives by promoting a more nurturing environment. [Click title for full article]

Infants fall. It happens all the time. Given these real and pervasive dangers, is it any wonder that there is little attention given to safe sitting? Falls from unsafe sitting can result in broken arms, clavicles, or even a fracture to the skull. One good habit is to survey your infant’s environment routinely, looking for unexpected dangers. Vigilance is an essential habit of healthy parenting! (Facts to consider can be found in full article.)

Youth who want to return to physical activities and sports will need to be screened by their primary care pediatrician for heart symptoms. An abnormal screening evaluation requires referral to a pediatric cardiologist for an EKG or possibly additional cardiac tests. UTMB Health Pediatrics Division of Cardiology provides clinical services to children and youth from birth through 21 years of age. Pediatric cardiologists provide most of the necessary cardiac testing in an outpatient setting.

It is important to bring your child to their scheduled well-child visits. Well-child visits should happen regularly throughout childhood, and those first visits can be critical for your child's long-term health. A visit with a pediatrician can go a long way to build your confidence and alleviate stress, which is healthy for you AND your baby! Here is what your health care provider is looking for when you bring your child for their visit.

One in four parents have a child with myopia. Research has shown that working up close such as reading or using a tablet increased the odds of developing myopia. A study found that 48% of children are spending more than 6 hours per day online. This is nearly 500% increase from time spent before the pandemic. Schools, teachers and parents must work together to incorporate eye health strategies to help protect children as they learn online. If a parent has any concerns about their child’s vision they should discuss this with their health care provider.