Parents’ worries may run rampant during these pandemic times, but one thing they shouldn’t fret about is whether wearing masks will interfere with their children’s speech and language development.So says Suzanne Bonifert, MC, CCC-SLP, speech-language...

Your highly allergic child wakes up sneezing and congested. You think allergies are probably the cause. But if you’re worried about possible COVID-19 infection, an at-home test could help parents know for sure.A variety of brands on the market offer ...

By Justin Smith, M.D. aka The Doc SmittyThere’s been a ton of surprises related to the COVID pandemic and skipping flu season last year was another one I never saw coming.Masks and social distancing definitely played a role but the absolute lack of c...

Results are in for the 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment parent survey conducted by Cook Children’s Center for Children’s Health and one thing is clear—the mental health of children is top-of-mind for parents, particularly during the pandemic.Ha...

A treatment now offered at Cook Children’s Medical Center is giving children with relapsed B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL)—the most common childhood cancer—a second chance for a cure. It’s called CAR T-cell therapy, or chimeric antigen re...

It’s alarming but not uncommon these days in health care settings to see children and teens who gained a significant amount of weight in the past year … 20, 30, 40 or even 50 pounds.What played a role? In some cases, junk food and lack of exercise as...

Cook Children’s Health Care System is releasing a series of drowning prevention PSA videos ahead of the Fourth of July weekend.The videos, which are part of the Lifeguard Your Child initiative, feature simulations of some of the most common drowning ...

By Diane ArnaoutThis is my friend Van.Van is at my pool. Since all of us parents are now COVID-vaccinated, we are feeling more comfortable with outdoor playdates. And our new pool has been a great escape from the heat!We parents have loved to see eac...

It looks like the rain in North Texas is finally going to stop for a while.But, driving to work the last few weeks and seeing all the standing water already starts to make my skin itch. Mosquitos are on the way. And I suspect it’s going to be a terri...

Cook Children’s Lisa Vaughan, Au.D., manager of Cook Children’s Audiology Program, is featured in the June issue of Parents Magazine under the column “Paging Dr. Mom.”She gives tips to parents about the importance of checking the volume of their chil...

The drowning season is off to a deadly start with Memorial Day Weekend just days away. Already this month, Cook Children's reports two children have died in swimming pools. Five others were admitted to the medical center for drowning in pools this ye...

By Diane Arnaout, M.D. This pediatrician has watched your mental battles from the sidelines this year, Mama.2020 was not an easy year to be a mom.Personally, I can tell you it kind of sucked, right? Just a little. The pandemic brought about so many h...

*Updated April 13, 2021*Pfizer-BioNTech recently released information regarding their COVID-19 vaccine being safe and effective for children 12 to 15. The vaccine is currently available for use in those 16 and older based on previous trials and is ap...

The decision to choose brain surgery is never easy for a parent.But for some patients with severe seizures who have not responded to medications or who have had significant side effects with medications, epilepsy surgery might be the best option. The...

By Bianka Soria-Olmos, D.O.Parenting can be hard. Everyday stresses can decrease patience and make parenting even harder. Always try to slow down, take advantage of every moment, and seize the opportunity to turn negative experiences into positive on...

By Michelle Bailey, M.D.As COVID-19 continues to inundate our society, there arises the question of when to start the countdown clock of quarantine. Let’s say mom gets sick with COVID-19 and stays at home as she is supposed to. Centers for Disease Co...

The Texas Poison Control Center Network reports that calls for children ingesting alcohol-based hand sanitizer are up 80% from last year.  Fears regarding COVID-19 have increased the amount of hand sanitizer and other disinfectants in homes, givin...

If your child plays sports, you may be worried about the long-term effects of COVID-19. Growing information in the medical community shows that concern may be warranted. “We're learning more and more about coronavirus and how it affects the body i...

The number of patients admitted to Cook Children’s after attempting suicide continues to rise. In September, 37 children and teens were treated for suicide attempts, marking the worst month on record since at least 2015.“September of 2020 has been th...

Cook Children’s Health Care System has been named to this year’s 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces list curated by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. This is the first year for Cook Children’s to make the list and comes after a recent enhan...

Like so many children and teenagers, 15-year-old Emma’s struggle with bullying is lifelong. She compares being picked on by classmates since kindergarten to losing part of her childhood. One day in 7th grade, Emma came home especially upset about ...

Man…it’s going to be a doozy of a winter. And while I’m confident that we’ll get through it together, I need your help. Ruling out COVID-19 for kids with symptoms (some mild, some more severe) has become the biggest reason for kids visiting our...

The number of patients treated for gunshot injuries at Cook Children’s is on the rise, and experts fear the trend may continue with a recent surge of firearm sales. A Fort Worth child under the age of 5 became the hospital’s 23rd gunshot wound patien...

For two nurse residents at Cook Children’s, walking a mile in a patient’s shoes isn’t too hard to imagine because they’ve been there, or rather, here. Jason Schilder and Emily Whitworth have both experienced life as a patient at Cook Children’s. In f...

When it comes to drownings, the summer of 2020 is a year for the record books. For the first time since at least 2012, Cook Children’s saw a total of 17 pediatric drowning patients in June and July. To put that in perspective, that’s less than half o...

Being in the hospital can feel isolating anytime, but during COVID-19, social distancing can make young patients feel even more alone. Before the novel coronavirus, patients were able to leave their hospital rooms and enjoy activities in Cook Childre...

Due to COVID-19, things can feel stressful and uncertain for parents. Remember, we are all in this together! Here are some tips to help you still feel connected and supported. Find ways to cope with COVID-19 social distancing guidelines There a...

Desperation or neglect, whatever the reason the story is devastating. In the wake a baby is dead and her mom has been charged with her murder. In addition, the baby’s dad has been charged with aggravated battery and cruelty to a child for diluting...

As you watch your little one walking or running during play, you may ask yourself, “Is my child falling too much?” Children initially begin to walk between the ages of 12 and 15 months. In the early stages of walking, you may notice your child “wa...

In a shelled out floor of the South Tower at Cook Children’s Medical Center, the thud of kicks and punches echo off drywall and concrete. Loud and confident, the words “No! No! No!” ricochet through the room. It may sound like a melee, but this is...