700 Children's® – A Blog by Pediatric Experts

Posted by: Jennifer Kosla, PCPNP, DNP on Aug 01, 2025

Bug bites are not just annoying—they can be harmful too. Some bugs carry germs that can make people sick. Using insect repellent helps keep bugs away, so your child can play safely.

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How to Talk to Your Kids About Drugs and Alcohol

It is important to start talking to your children about alcohol and other drugs before they are exposed, as early as age 9.

A smiling baby lies on their stomach facing the mother, as they engage in joyful eye contact and interaction. The baby wears a striped outfit and the woman leans close with a loving expression, highlighting a moment of bonding and early communication.
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Baby Talk vs Parentese: How to Talk with Your Baby

Your baby is already learning to talk just by listening to you! Discover the difference between baby talk and parentese, and get expert tips for building your baby's language skills through everyday moments, songs, gestures, and fun interactions.

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About this Blog

Pediatric News You Can Use From America’s Largest Pediatric Hospital and Research Center

700 Children’s® features the most current pediatric health care information and research from our pediatric experts – physicians and specialists who have seen it all. Many of them are parents and bring a special understanding to what our patients and families experience. If you have a child – or care for a child – 700 Children’s was created especially for you.

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Latest Posts

How to Choose the Right Summer Camp (Yes, in January!)

Jan 19, 2016

Right about now, parents across the country are feeling the pressure. It’s not because their New Year’s resolutions are beginning to slide, or that the neighbors are starting to notice that the holiday decorations are still up. Read More

fire escape plan

Fire Escape Plan: Can Your Family Get Out in Less Than Two Minutes?

Jan 14, 2016

As a mother and an injury research scientist, I’ve dedicated much of my career to keeping kids safe and reducing pediatric injuries, which are the leading cause of death for children. Read More

Early Sports Specialization: Does Benefit Outweigh Risk?

Jan 05, 2016

Early sports specialization is when a young athlete chooses a single sport to practice and play exclusively. This usually occurs prior to elementary or middle school, is nearly year-round, and is an attempt to gain early skills. Read More

Our Top 10 Posts of 2015

Dec 31, 2015

As we wrap up 2015, we want to take a moment to put a bow on the top ten 700 Children’s posts from the past year. This site is a wealth of information from our clinicians, researchers and staff and we thank them, and our readers, for sharing this space with us. Read More

Child blowing their nose into a tissue.

What Kind of Stuff Clears up a Stuffy Nose?

Dec 21, 2015

This time of year, clogged noses are usually caused by upper respiratory viral infections. In most cases, that means there isn’t a whole lot you can do to speed up the healing process, but you do have some options when it comes to stuffy symptom relief. Read More

Caffeine During Pregnancy: Good News for Coffee-Drinking Moms

Dec 15, 2015

When you’re pregnant, it seems like everyone has something to say about what you should eat or drink, and it can be stressful trying to listen to all the advice. Read More

Are Scented Candles and Air Fresheners Harming Your Child?

Dec 03, 2015

Scented candles and air fresheners are popular items that many families use inside their homes. But recent reports have found their way to the internet regarding the potential harm from these items, some of which are exaggerated or misconstrued, whereas others have more merit. Read More

Autism Spectrum Disorder: Should Every Child Be Screened?

Nov 17, 2015

For several years, most pediatricians have been following guidelines created by medical experts that suggest all children between the ages of 18 and 24 months be screened for an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) – even if the parents aren’t worried about development or behavior. Read More