Healthy Kids Zone

The COVID-19 pandemic has been stressful for many of us. This can be particularly true for mother’s who are breastfeeding and may have concerns about the health of their baby. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner explains why breastfeeding is perfectly safe and can actually be beneficial for both baby and mom, even during a viral outbreak.

Despite what you may read on the Internet, viruses—including coronavirus—are not impacted by vitamin levels. So how can you best improve your child’s immune system? Pediatirician Dr. Cindy Gellner explains why exercise, diet, and sunshine are the best ways to keep your child strong against any virus.

There can be a lot of confusions surrounding Telehealth and when to visit the doctor's office. Whether to bring your child in or not depends on your child's health condition. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner talks about what parents should do if your child gets sick during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Exercise and sunshine are important, even during physical distancing. But a common concern parents may have is whether or not their kids can play outside. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner talks about the guidelines for keeping safe while playing outdoors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Are you the parent of a teenager? Then you know how hard it can be to talk to them about, well, anything. This is especially true when trying to talk about their health. Dr. Cindy Gellner recommends a few tips on how to broach sensitive health-related topics with your teenager—and actually get a positive response.

Kids are active, spontaneous—and bound to eventually get hurt at home. What are the most common injuries, how do they happen, and how you can prevent them in the first place? Dr. Cindy Gellner shares the 5 most common injuries your kid may encounter.

Bringing up health concerns like body weight can be a challenge. It can be even trickier when speaking with a child. Dr. Cindy Gellner recommends a few strategies to constructively speak about lifestyle changes without damaging a child’s self-esteem or triggering a parent.

Vaping is a huge problem in the teen population. Not only because of how many teens have begun vaping, but also the potentially dangerous chemicals present in vape juice. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner explains why vaping is not a healthy alternative to tobacco, especially for teenagers.

Newborns sleep on a schedule all their own—and it never fits with their parents' schedule. How long will your baby’s erratic sleep schedule last? When can a parent expect to get a full night’s rest again? Dr. Cindy Gellner has the answers to your questions.

Teen pregnancy is something pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner sees far more often than you’d realize. What causes teens to get pregnant? Is it lack of parent involvement? Are kids too embarrassed to ask a parent about prevention? Learn the pediatrician's perspective on the causes of teen pregnancy and what parents can do to help prevent it.

When a child complains about chest pain, it’s easy for parents to panic and assume it’s a heart problem or pneumonia. But it’s much more likely to be something less serious like costochondritis or precordial catch syndrome. Dr. Cindy Gellner explains what these conditions are and how they’re treated.

Most people can recognize the typical signs of a food allergy: Hives. Swelling. Difficulty breathing. But what if eating certain foods just makes your mouth itchy? That’s called oral allergy syndrome. Learn about the condition and what you can do to help avoid the symptoms with Dr. Cindy Gellner.

We’ve all heard the adage that reading in the dark will ruin your vision. Or that sitting too close to the TV will fry your eyes. But are these claims actually true? Dr. Cindy Gellner busts these myths about eyesight and talks about how to really keep your kids' eyes healthy.

Your relationship with your child’s pediatrician is important. Whether it be because of a move or a change in insurance, finding a new doctor for your child can be a very stressful situation. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner shares some tips to help you find the best pediatrician for your family.

You've taken your child to scheduled well visits, but a few weeks later, you receive a bill in the mail for their care. Aren’t well visits covered by insurance? Dr. Cindy Gellner explains what happens on the billing side of pediatrics and how you may have accidentally asked for extra services during a covered check-up.

As a parent, you worry when your child feels ill. If your child is suffering from painful, chronic headaches, you may assume the worst. But the cause of your child’s pain may be something much more simple. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner explains how stress, anxiety, and screen time may be causing your child’s headaches and how to prevent them.

Newborns cry—but the intensity and frequency can be shocking. How much crying is normal? If your newborn is having sudden, long-lasting bouts of crying and can’t seem to be soothed, it may be PURPLE crying. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner explains this specific period of intense crying, how much is normal, and when you can expect it to stop.

A newborn waking up in the middle of the night is a normal thing. But one in five infants who have trouble sleeping may continue to have challenges during their toddler years as well. If your toddler is having problems with nighttime awakenings, there are a few possible causes. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner talks about how to distinguish if your child's sleep pattern is normal, or if it’s something more serious.

Parents worry, naturally. "Is my child developing normally?" "Why isn't my child eating?" "Will eating carrots improve my child's eyesight?" As The Healthy Kids Zone celebrates five years, Dr. Cindy Gellner goes through her list of top five children's health topics that parents should know about before bringing their child in to see the pediatrician.

In the United States, 18 percent of children under the age of 18—13 million children—live in a home struggling to put healthy food on the table. Food insecurity can have long-lasting effects on young children, impacting their memory, social and learning skills. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner talks about the steps you can take to help children in food-insecure homes, as well as what resources are available if you find yourself having difficulty providing food for your child.