700 Children's® – A Blog by Pediatric Experts

Posts About Safety & Prevention

Posted by: Matthew Washam, MD, MPH on Oct 27, 2025

Flu season is here—and so are the myths about the flu shot. From “it causes the flu” to “kids don’t need it,” misinformation can put children at risk. Get the facts from experts and learn why the flu vaccine is the best protection for your family.

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Food Allergies: How to Safely Navigate Outings

Holiday meals can be stressful for families managing food allergies. These simple tips will help you plan ahead, prevent reactions, and enjoy the season safely.

Baby staring near the camera while being held in parent's arms
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Should My Baby Get a Flu Shot?
Flu season is here and flu vaccines are more readily available than ever before. You can obtain a flu shot at the grocery store, every corner drug store, community centers and certainly at your pediatrician’s office.

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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

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

teen heroin abuse

Teen Heroin Abuse: How to Recognize the Signs

Nov 03, 2015

Virtually all serious drug abuse problems begin during the teen years and, for those at risk, exposure to opiates prescribed for pain increases the chances for opiate abuse later in life. The risk for abuse is even greater when teens 14 and younger receive these medications for pain. Read More

Pierced Ears: How to Prevent Painful Infections

Oct 13, 2015

Thousands of kids get their ears pierced each year. Generally, ear piercing is a safe procedure, but a common complication is infection. Here’s what you need to know to help keep your little one’s ear piercings healthy and infection-free. Read More

Spleen Injuries in Sports - What Parents Need to Know

Oct 06, 2015

Although rare, splenic rupture is the most frequent cause of death due to abdominal injury in sports. It occurs most commonly from direct trauma to, or a fall onto, the left side of the lower chest wall or abdomen. Read More

Toddler wearing a hat drinking from a plastic water bottle

Don't Let the August Heat Get You Down

Aug 05, 2015

Although summer is ending, August is usually a hot, muggy month. This means that the conditions are just right for your children to become overheated or dehydrated. Parents need to consider this as they send their kids out to play and to practice sports. Read More

The Dangers of Pinterest

Jun 30, 2015

I’ll admit I’m no Martha Stewart. But something about Pinterest sucks me in. But as a childhood injury researcher, I have a problem with Pinterest. I see ideas for children that are completely unsafe for them. Read More