Healthy Kids Zone

As a busy parent, it is easy to let your child's routine doctor appointments slip through the cracks. But skipping or missing those check-ups can affect your child's health and keep other children from getting care. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD, explains why keeping those appointments matters and why canceling and rescheduling is always better than not showing up.

Dizziness and fainting are common in teens and can have many causes, from dehydration and anxiety to not eating enough. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD, explains what makes postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) different. Learn about symptoms and causes of POTS, possible risk factors, and the supportive treatments that can help teens manage the condition.

A healing umbilical cord can look alarming to new parents: oozing, bleeding, even a leftover stump. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD, explains the anatomy behind it, why the yellowish discharge is normal, and how umbilical granulomas are treated. Learn how to care for your newborn's umbilical cord at home, and when emergency care is needed.

Is your young daughter complaining about painful urination when using the bathroom? It could be more than a urinary tract infection. Girls' parts can be very sensitive, especially between the ages of potty training and puberty. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD, explains the most common causes of pain or irritation in the vagina or vulva, how to prevent them, and what treatments can provide relief to your daughter.

Not all burns are treated the same. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD, breaks down the differences between chemical, electrical, and thermal burns in kids, including the three degrees of thermal burns and how home care differs from an emergency room visit. Learn why first-degree burns can be managed at home while third-degree burns should always be treated as a medical emergency.

Newborns make many strange movements and show unexpected behaviors during the first year of life. They can startle, suck on their hands, strike a fencing pose, pause their breathing, and even roll their eyes, and much of it is completely normal. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD, explains some of the most common newborn reflexes and behaviors. Learn which movements are simply part of your baby’s developing nervous system and which signs could signal a medical problem that needs immediate attention.

Playgrounds equal fun, but also falls, scrapes, and the occasional broken bone. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD, covers common playground injuries, from simple cuts to forearm fractures and head bumps, and explains which ones need a Band-Aid versus a trip to urgent care or the pediatric emergency room.

From forgotten lunches to last-minute outfit debates, school mornings can be challenging. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD, shares strategies to make them smoother, including setting up backpacks the night before, limiting screen time until after school, and sending kids off with a positive goodbye. These habits can help kids start the day on time and ready to learn.

Preparing for the new school year means a lot more than just buying school supplies. From medication forms and updated vaccines to vision checks and sleep routines, pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD, shares a comprehensive checklist to help parents make sure their kids are physically and emotionally ready to return to the classroom. Learn how to take action now and prevent a last-minute scramble later to set your child up for a healthy, successful school year.

Will shaving your baby’s head make their hair grow back thicker? Does cutting their hair before their first birthday cause bad hair? And can eating carrots or bread crusts actually make your child’s hair curly? Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD, separates fact from fiction as she tackles some of the most common old wives’ tales about children’s hair.