Capital City Parent

We all agree on the desired outcome of every pregnancy and birth – healthy, happy baby and healthy, happy mom. In fact, if there were a shortcut that could decrease complications during pregnancy and birth, raise babies’ Apgar scores, increase mothers’ senses of well-being and self-efficacy, and reduce the likelihood of needing costly and invasive […]

If the song is correct and “the children are our future,” it stands to reason that the quality of life experienced by children will have an impact on that future. Each year, the advocacy group Voices for Illinois Children releases its Illinois Kids Count report, compiling statistics from throughout the state indicating the well-being of […]

A dear friend of mine has three children under 5½. And she’s one of the best, most grounded, least edgy moms I know. She’s not the mom with blown out hair and a full Lululemon wardrobe or spotless babies with giant bows stuck to their heads. She’s the one pumping breastmilk in the car as […]

What’s your family thankful for this holiday season? If the answer doesn’t come easily, keep pondering. Research shows cultivating gratitude can positively affect health, relationships and happiness, for kids and adults alike. Sometimes life’s most basic pleasures – like a meal prepared and served with care – can inspire the most thankfulness. For instance, family […]

The human papillomavirus – or HPV – is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world. There are more than 170 types of HPV, and about a dozen of them are linked to cancer.   According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than half of all sexually active people will contract […]

Experts advise caution: sleep is not a luxury; it’s a necessity for good health. It’s no secret that the sleep debt is growing like the national debt in American adults. Studies show that our children are walking in our sleepy footsteps, and it’s affecting their health. Anwar Shafi, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics at SIU […]

If you’re a parent, August’s school bell rings bittersweet. You have to love the schedule, but at the same time, stress kicks in – from getting all the supplies to packing those lunches. So how can you start the school right from with good nutrition for your child? Think about lunches like a well-planned puzzle. […]

A 2015 study by Common Sense Media reported that 80 percent of 10-year-old girls have been on a diet. More than half of girls ages six to eight said they wanted to be thinner. Dieting, besides being a self-esteem killer, is a huge distraction for girls in the midst of growing up and learning about […]

In the past 20 to 30 years, childhood obesity has been on the rise. There are many causes, and they look very familiar to most of us. Kids have more access to video games and other different screens. Families have gotten busier, with both parents working and kids on the go with more activities. Fewer […]

In 2015, Trinity Lutheran School in Springfield began examining what a successful graduate would look like in a future vastly different from the school’s foundational days. The journey of discovery was both deep and wide, and the destination would be a new design for Christian education. This fall, 157 years since the humble start described […]

As walk-in clinics and telemedicine appointments abound, parents are often tempted by the quick and convenient care afforded by the quick, retail-based clinics. But having a primary care physician or pediatrician – a medical home – for your kids is a prescription for good health. In fact, building a long-term, ongoing relationship with a pediatrician […]