Lactation Essentials

Whether you call it breastfeeding, chestfeeding, nursing or bodyfeeding, the team at Premier Pediatrics wants to give you the best possible support and information to help you meet your goals.…

Sexuality and Gender Identity – Talking to Your Children

Talking to your child (ages 18months-10 years) about sexuality and gender identity in an age appropriate way You are your child’s best teacher! Children will hear lots of information from…

June is Pride Month

June is Pride Month. Pride month is celebrated to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan and commemorate the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement. You don’t have to be LGBTQ+ to…

The Daily Activity Pyramid

During the pandemic, we have all had to lean on new technology for better and worse.  Given our complete inter-dependence with screens in this new world, it is important to…

SLEEP PART II – THE SLEEP WAVE

Teaching your baby to sleep well begins early.  During the first four months of life, an infant  can learn to self-soothe and fall asleep without a caregiver’s help (see previous…

Pearls to improve your remote learning experience.

Thinking Caps Tips For Making the Most of Fall 2020 As we move into an uncertain back-to-school, we’re finding opportunities to transform learning experiences instead of just trying to bring the…

Coping with Anxiety as We Return to School During the COVID Pandemic

This post was written by Jeanne Goodman, MD The buzz words we can’t help but hear regarding this fall include “unprecedented”, “pivot”, “be nimble”, “stay safe”. The questions regarding the…

Enhancing Eye Hand Coordination And Early Executive Function Skills During The Toddler Years

Learning how to stand is a game-changing milestone.  Now, your child sees the world from an upright position and adapts to a different relationship with gravity. The accelerated ability to…

Preparing for New Siblings

Bringing a new baby into the family is an exciting time, but there can be stress related to how your older child will adjust to becoming a big sibling. Although…

Nurturing your child’s language development from Birth to Pre-K…  

The first year of life is remarkable.  A newborn starts life with an indistinguishable cry, develops an extensive inventory of sounds, and then learns how to apply these sounds to…

Thinking Caps Top 5 for Summer Learning

It’s been a long unsettling Spring and many of us are worried about what fall will look like for our kids. The concern about the “summer brain drain” feels heightened…

Perspectives in Play

Young children learn through play.  Although it may appear simple at times, play is an extraordinary confluence of learned skills and new skills that have to be coordinated to pull…

Response to Antibody Testing Requests

We do not encourage testing for covid antibodies for children unless they exhibit signs of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) or are hospitalized with symptoms that are consistent with…

Indoor, Outdoor, and Food Allergies in the Age of Isolation

This post was written by Robert Sporter, MD, Pediatric & Adult Allergist at ENT & Allergy Associates Fifth Avenue Office (28th/29th) Coronavirus is on every family’s mind right now, but…

Infant and Toddler Dental Care

This post was written by Dr. Mindy Homer of Happy KiDDS Pediatric Dentistry – www.happykiddsdental.com Most new parents recognize that dentistry is an important element for the overall health of…

Call Your Pediatrician

We at Premier Pediatrics are strongly encouraging all children to continue seeking out well child care for their children during the pandemic.   The American Academy of Pediatrics has launched…

Myths, Milestones, and The Magic of a Messy Mealtime-The Early Months at the Family Table

A lot of families view the discussion about “introducing solids” as a conversation about nutrition.  Yet, focusing on nutrition might actually undermine your efforts. The most important developmental goal when…

Face Coverings

Adults and older kids are starting to accept wearing masks outside as the new norm and a public health necessity.  Now, we need to figure out a way to help…

The One About COVID Testing

At this time we at Premier Pediatrics do not test and cannot write an order/script for COVID PCR or antibody tests. This is based on current AAP, CDC and New…

The Premier Pediatrics Bridge Feed

This is a program designed to help new parents use formula or pumped milk in addition to breastfeeding during the early days of their baby’s life before their milk  comes…

Creating a School Day Schedule

Creating a Picture Schedule One of the reasons that young children seem so comfortable at preschool is because they know exactly what is happening when.  Their classroom routines become automatic,…

Safe Eating and Your Baby

Under 1 years old Choking is a very common cause of unintentional injury or death in children under age one, and the danger remains significant until the age of five.…

Creating a Schedule for Your Preschooler

Toddlers are in a unique position.  They are always in a school setting but old enough to crave a schedule to their day.  A preschool teacher who is a very…

Anxiety and Depression in Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Mental Health Challenges and Coping Strategies While Social Distancing As we continue to live through this unprecedented time, there is still so much we are working to understand about COVID…

COVID-19 and PMIS

Over the past two weeks, there has been a lot of attention paid to a new pediatric condition associated with covid-19 called “Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome”.  We want to reassure…

Vitamin D

3 SURPRISING BENEFITS OF INFANT MASSAGE

by Lena DeGloma, MS, LMT, CD, CLC, CCCE As a licensed massage therapist who specializes in prenatal and postnatal massage, I love teaching parents about how to massage their babies!…

Social Development in a Period of Self-Isolation

During the current pandemic, many parents have asked about the impact of social isolation on toddler development.   The first three years of life are characterized by remarkable growth in…

Take Back the Snacks: Strategies for Snacking during Quarantine

Without a doubt the questions I have gotten most from clients since everyone has been staying home are about snacking. When you’re home, with the kitchen in plain view and…

Sleep Part II – The Sleep Wave

Teaching your baby to sleep well begins early.  During the first four months of life, an infant  can learn to self-soothe and fall asleep without a caregiver’s help (see previous…

Keeping Your Infant and Toddler Moving While You Shelter in Place

Shelter at home has caused us to temporarily modify the way we live our lives. For children, one of the biggest challenges is how to keep them active and keep…

Recovering Your Postpartum Body Safely Through Pilates

This post was written by Jessica Hynes, Certified Pilates Instructor, please visit her website jessicahynes.co  Pregnancy and postpartum are special yet challenging times for new mothers. They have just experienced a major…

Sleep as easy as 1,2,3,4

There are many different books dedicated to teaching infants to sleep well.  I think the hard part is finding the book or strategy that is right for your family.  …

Handling quarantine calmly

HOW TO STAY CALM – QUARANTINED SEGMENT The world as we once knew has drastically changed. Quarantine has become our new norm. However, this is new and extremely challenging. How…

Sheltering from Coronavirus in Two Homes

We have to stay home for the virus crisis.  Your family has two homes.  Those homes may or may not see the world in different ways, may or may not…

Breastfeeding During Covid-19

Breastfeeding with concerns about COVID-19 can be quite nerve racking. It is important to realize that a healthy, breastfeeding mom can take comfort in the fact that nothing needs to…

Talking to Your Kids About Covid-19 – Blueprint of a Conversation

When talking to your child about covid-19, there are a number of simple principles that can guide your conversation.  It is important to think about your initial  conversation as the…

Flying with an Infant

As featured on The First Month Traveling with a new baby is always a tricky proposition.  In my perfect world, you would wait until 2 weeks after the “2 month”…

Measles & The MMR Vaccinne

There is still a significant measles outbreak burden in many countries throughout the world.  Therefore, overseas travelers should make sure they are fully vaccinated at least 2 weeks before their…

Croup–the Premier Pediatrician Guide and Must Knows for a New Parent!

What is croup? Croup is a general name for inflammation for the upper airways, specifically in the area around the vocal chords. If croup is severe there can be swelling…

Iron Rich Foods

Why is it important for my child to eat foods with iron? Iron deficiency can occur in toddlers who are picky eaters and drink too much milk and don’t eat…

Stomach Bug/Gastroenteritis

What is the “Stomach Bug”? Gastroenteritis is an infection in the stomach that can cause both diarrhea and vomiting. It is usually caused by a virus in the intestinal tract.…

Asthma

What is wheezing? Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound made while you breathe. Wheezing is caused by inflammation of the small airways and can have a variety of different underlying…

Sunscreen

One or more blistering sunburns in childhood or adolescence more than double a person’s chances of developing melanoma later in life* One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in…

Teething

Teething is a common cause of pain and discomfort for infants and toddlers. It typically begins between 6-9 months of age, although it may begin as early as 4 months…

Premier Parenting: Starting Solids

Starting Solids Woo hoo! You are on this page because you’re thinking about or have recently started solid foods with your little one! Starting solids is a fun and exciting…

Sleep

From early infancy through around 4 months of age, your baby’s wake/sleep patterns go through many changes. The Early Weeks In the first few weeks of life, babies mostly sleep…

Picture This…

A recent study from the University of Colorado found a connection between the use of compartmentalized plates with pictures of fruits and vegetables and the amount of fruits and vegetables…

What You Need to Know About Vitamin D

For years, families have been aware of the importance of sufficient vitamin D consumption in developing healthy bones.   Researchers have begun to realize that the benefits of vitamin D…

The Language of E-Cigarettes

The other day in the office, a parent of an adolescent patient and I were remembering the feelings we had as kids when our parents sat us down to have…

Move to Baby Led Weaning

Recently, there has been a transition among nutritionists and pediatrician toward baby led weaning.  This strategy takes advantage of the developmental prowess of the 6 month infant and invites even…

Increased Allergy Risk with Early Medication Use

A large study published in JAMA Pediatrics demonstrates a significant link between the use of certain medications and the development of atopic disease including allergies, eczema, and asthma in childhood. …

Safe Travels and The Car Seat

A car seat primer for the New York family… This article answers the most common questions we encounter in our Premier offices when traveling around the city as well as…

Vaping is Not a Safe Alternative…

A new study by the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) reveals that vaping is not a safe alternative to smoking cigarettes.  There were two important findings.  First, vaping, with or…

In The News: Playground Accidents

A new study found that toddlers are prone to leg fractures when sitting in their parents lap while using a slide.  The inciting accident usually occurs when a child’s foot…

Positivity A Real Indicator of Academic Success…

A recent study by researchers at Stanford concluded that a positive attitude is as important as IQ as a predictor of academic success.  The researchers demonstrated that a positive attitude…

The Phone Contract

When I talk to parents of pre-teens, the conversation inevitably turns to the question of when their children should have their own cell phones. It is crucial to handle this “pre-phone…

A Positive Food Environment Makes for Healthier Eaters

For years, nutritionists have emphasized the importance of fostering a happy meal time environment to help children become better eaters.  A small study out of University of Illinois described that…

Good parents don’t make good kids; Good kids make good parents!

I will always remember this one line from a professor during my pediatric training.  As she was closing her lecture, she told us, “Good parents do not make good kids;…

The Relative Age Effect

An interesting study from Finland describes that children who receive a diagnosis of ADHD between 7 and 9 years old  are more likely to have a birthday from September to…

Teaching Grit

Grit–A Predictor of Future Success Jill Ceder LCSW, a therapist who works closely with Premier Pediatrics, wrote this excellent article on how to teach grit.  She outlines a number of…

Designated Watchers

Recent evidence shows that there has been a rise in the number of injuries on the playground and near-drownings at the beach related to caregivers being distracted by their cellphones. …

Sleeping Habits

Last Tuesday, Natalie Barnett PhD, a sleep expert from Seven Oaks Sleep, joined a number of Premier parents to talk about establishing excellent sleeping habits. I would like to share…

Keeping Young Children Safe on the Streets of New York

A wise teacher forwarded me these excellent words of advice for keeping young school age children safe on the streets of New York.   I would have a serious but fun…

Video in Kids Rooms Linked To Poorer Health Outcomes

A recent study confirmed the commonly held belief that the presence of television and video games in a child’s room is linked to poorer health outcomes such as obesity, addiction,…

What You May Not Have Known About The Flu

A new study from England points out that children with a sibling are “more than twice as likely to be hospitalized with the flu” when compared to children without a…

How to Share Bad News with Kids

We are raising children in a world where social media makes it  difficult to filter the news.  It is important for parents to have a strategy to help their children…

Premier Pediatrics: The place for your family!

Choosing a pediatrician is a big decision; after all, it’s the person who is going to be there helping, guiding, and partnering with you to raise your child. So, you’re…

Coxsackie: Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

It seems like everyone has had hand foot and mouth disease this summer. This is the colloquial way of referring to some of the symptoms that can be caused by…

What it’s Like to Raise Quadruplets

It’s 7 a.m. in the Ferraro household, and 7-month-old quadruplets Charlie, Claire, Henry, and Dillon are crying for breakfast. Two-year-old Molly is hungry, too. To Read More Click Here

What nobody tells you about kindergarten: 6 things to know

School has already started in some parts of the country, but if you’re sending your first child to kindergarten this fall, you may want to take your own crash course…

Is 99.9 A Fever?

Fevers are a big topic in my pediatrics practice. After all, they’re common. Nearly all children will develop a fever at some point in their lives. Fevers are also upsetting…

It’s OK to Be Scared: Tips on Helping Your Child Brave a Vaccine

It is natural for children as they get older and understand more to be afraid of shots—it’s uncomfortable to receive vaccines. Here are some tips to help your little one…

How to Recognize the Signs of Secondary Drowning

It was a beautiful Sunday morning, and my family was at the pool with friends. The day had been glorious and the kids were taking a break from swimming to…

Allergies 101

My son Nathan walks in the door after playing outside with his friends on Saturday and his eyes are all red and he looks like he got punched in the…

The First Visit

The First Visit: Preparing Your Child for a Doctor Visit Preparing a young child At some point, most children will develop a healthy fear of going to the doctor. A…

Water Safety For Kids: Splash Into Summer Safely

Recently, Lindsay Kujawa of, Delighted Momma wrote about her toddler’s near drowning experience and the aftermath. Her post went viral and the discussion about “secondary drowning” has become a major…

Winter Wisdom

Just when we’ve finally gotten used to the fall weather, it seems that Old Man Winter is nipping at our toes. This will mean some chilly days playing outdoors, but,…

When Parenting Doesn’t Turn Out as You Expected

When parenting doesn’t turn out as you expected: Learning to redefine perfection, find a “new normal,” and find strength and empowerment in your own parenting. Renee is a friend whose…

Whoop There It Is! Explaining the Whooping Cough

It may seem like recently there has been a lot of press about the whopping cough. That is with good reason. There is currently an epidemic of whooping cough in…

Keeping Your Child’s Skin Safe During the Summer

Thank you to Jen Eden for this guest post about summer safety. In about two weeks, I’ll be sending three of my four kids to sleepaway camp. Which means that,…

A Father’s Day Gift From the Heart, Robert Kaufman Day Gift From the Heart, Robert Kaufman

Being a father in today’s world can mean many things. There are the traditional roles of provider, protector, teacher and fixer of all. And, thanks to the more enlightened views…