In the United States, 34.8 million children (ages 0-17)—nearly half of American children—are exposed to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) that can severely harm their future health and well-being. The implications are so severe that, according to a CDC ACE Study, exposure to six or more ACEs can lower an individual’s life expectancy by nearly 20…
From infancy, children rely on their parents to learn about and cultivate the habits and skills that will ensure their health. Yet parents’ abilities to provide this care can be inhibited by many factors, from personal health to environmental circumstances such as their job, community or economic status. And when a parent struggles due to…
Everywhere we go, my little man gets all the attention. Being adorable (yes, I’m biased) helps, but people are always asking about his glasses. When did he get them? How did you know he needed them? Was it a special screening, because our pediatrician didn’t do that? Will he grow out of them? Does he…
If you’ve completed PDSA cycles but are having difficulty identifying changes that lead to improvement, it’s time to take a step back and review your PDSA process
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently released a journal article and commentary focused on national and state trends in sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUIDs). The study concluded that national SUID rates have stagnated and this is an opportunity for states to re-examine their efforts to improve safe-sleep practices. At the National Institute for Children’s Health Quality (NICHQ),…
Children should have a developmental screening at 9, 18 and 30 months of age, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. These screenings prompt early diagnosis, helping ensure children with disabilities receive optimal care. Yet successful screenings rely on training screeners, supplying appropriate equipment, a plan to offset costs, outlets to raise awareness, and ensuring…
Early childhood eye care can drastically change a child’s health and well-being. For a baby, treatment for a vision impairment could protect against development delays. For kindergarteners, diagnosis and treatment could improve school performance. Yet with specialty doctors catering to young children sometimes hours away, complicated insurance coverage and costs, and competing priorities from parents,…
Children’s brains develop at a faster rate during their first few years than at any other point in their lives. Because of this, even small improvements in early childhood health can have a significant impact on children’s developmental outcomes. Yet, millions of children continue to approach kindergarten without the necessary skills to learn. While the…
Right now, close to 100,000 people in the U.S. are battling sickle cell disease (SCD). This means that 100,000 people, many of whom are children, spend days experiencing acute pain, dealing with costly and uncomfortable hospitalizations, and fighting off infections – all common side effects associated with SCD. NICHQ recently completed a three-year, federally funded, Sickle…
My baby always seems hungry, so I must not be producing enough milk. A fat baby is a healthy baby. My milk doesn’t look right; I’ve heard it can be dirty for the first couple of days. A decision regarding whether or not to breastfeed or chestfeed almost always comes from a place of concern…