Prevention & Wellness

How to limit screen time for kids

Limiting screen time can be hard for parents. It can be alarming how challenging it is to set and stick to limits on how much time children spend looking a screen. Parents may be concerned about how screen time will affect their children when they are old enough to begin texting, following social media and…

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Endocrinology, News

Halloween tips to help kids with diabetes enjoy the holiday

For many kids, Halloween is a big sugar rush. But for children with diabetes, the holiday can be very challenging for the entire family. Fortunately, kids with diabetes still can enjoy the holiday. It just requires a different approach. Parents should plan ahead to work candy into their child’s diabetes meal plan or ensure they…

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Anesthesiology, Surgery

Many children get surgeries at adult hospitals

As many as 40% of childhood surgeries are performed in adult hospitals by surgeons who haven’t trained in the intricacies of caring for growing bodies, according to a 2013 study. The study published in Pediatrics, the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, concluded common procedures such as appendectomy were just as likely to…

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NICU

Reasons why your baby may go to the NICU

When planning a pregnancy and birth, parents may not imagine that their child will need a stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). However, there are many reasons a child may need to be admitted to the NICU. When a child is born, a team of caregivers checks that a baby’s vital signs such…

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New Mom, Norton Childrens Medical Group

New parents: What to do about health insurance for kids

Some of the most frequently asked questions pediatricians hear from new parents are about health insurance. Below are some tips to help you establish insurance while making sure your baby’s medical needs are met in a timely manner. Step 1: Determine which insurance coverage your newborn should have. Option A: Private/commercial coverage – Contact your…

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Festival of Trees and Lights, Foundation, News

Norton Children’s is giving away tickets to Festival of Trees & Lights

Start a holiday tradition with your family at the 30th annual Festival of Trees & Lights, Nov. 15 to 17. Marvel at the hundreds of beautifully decorated trees, wreaths and décor items — all of which are for sale to raise funds for Norton Children’s Hospital. Every Friday until the event, the Children’s Hospital Foundation…

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Kentucky Poison Control Center

3 ways to lock down your medications

Nearly 8,000 calls came into the Kentucky Poison Control Center of Norton Children’s Hospital in 2018 as a result of concerns about children under 5 ingesting medication. Calls involve kids getting access to medication they should not have or receiving the wrong dose or wrong medication. The high number of calls puts medications on the…

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Heart, Heart Transplant, Patient Stories, PICU

Baby elephant’s name to be unveiled by toddler with a new heart

In Eli Alexander’s 23 months of life, he has overcome a congenital heart defect with the help of a heart transplant. His family has taken to comparing his strength and bravery to an elephant’s. It only made sense that he should help unveil the name of the Louisville Zoo’s baby elephant. In a naming contest…

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Heart, Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, Patient Stories

Courageous Clay gets his heart transplant follow-up visits closer to home in Bowling Green

Nicole Pendino has a courageous son. In fact, his nickname is “Courageous Clay.” Many members of his hometown community in Bowling Green, Kentucky, have rallied around him over the past 12 years. In 2017 when Clay’s heart condition worsened and he was added to the heart transplant list, he was literally fighting for his life…

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Norton Childrens Medical Group

What’s the difference between elephant and human child development?

We love babies of all kinds at Norton Children’s. Mikki, the Louisville Zoo’s 33-year-old African elephant, gave birth Aug. 2 to a bull calf. Mikki’s pregnancy lasted 22 months (651 days). The soon-to-be named calf measured 98 cm (3 feet 2 inches) tall, 77 cm (2 feet, 5 inches) long (body, head to tail) and…

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News

How to prevent bullying

About 20% of students ages 12 to 18 experience some kind of bullying, according to the National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Justice Statistics. The highest numbers of students who are bullied are made fun of, called names or insulted, or are made the subject of rumors. Cyberbullying is just as serious as conventional…

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Gynecology, Neurosciences, Orthopedics, Spina Bifida, Spina Bifida, Spine

Facts about spina bifida every parent should know

October is National Spina Bifida Awareness Month. Spina bifida is the most common permanently disabling birth defect in the U.S. The condition affects 1,500 children each year. What do you know about the condition? Learn more about spina bifida types, what causes spina bifida and much more. What is spina bifida? Spina bifida is a…

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