Child Health Information for Parents & Families

Esse Health Pediatrics is committed to helping keep kids healthy and safe. That's why we have put together these resources that provide valuable information, tips and advice for our families and patients to learn more about their health.

The information provided here does not replace the advice of a doctor. Please call or text your pediatricians office if you have questions or concerns about your child’s health.

General Pediatrics & Parenting Resources

New Baby Handbook (.pdf)

Symptom Checklist – Is it allergies, cold, flu, COVID-19 or RSV? (.pdf)

Pediatric Dosing Chart (.pdf)

Healthy Children - from the American Academy of Pediatrics

Kids Health

Web MD – Parenting

Positive Parenting Tips

Ages & Stages: Helping Your Child Grow

FamilyDoctor.org - Health Information for the Whole Family

Immunizations

CDC - Vaccines for Your Children: cdc.gov/vaccines/parents
On-time vaccination throughout childhood is essential because it helps provide immunity before children are exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases. Vaccines are tested to ensure that they are safe and effective for children to receive at the recommended ages.

AAP - Vaccination Recommendations: aap.org/en/patient-care/immunizations/
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) strongly recommends immunizations as the safest and most cost-effective way of preventing disease, disability, and death..

Nutrition

One of the most important ways to support your child’s overall health and well-being is with healthy nutrition

Downloadable Nutrition Guides

Feeding Your Baby – 4-6 months: Learn everything you need to know about feeding your baby, the importance of breast milk or formula, and what solid foods to start with.

Feeding Your Baby – Next Steps: Once you’ve started your child on solid foods, here’s what you need to know about the next steps.

Baby-Led Weaning: Curious about what baby-led weaning is? Here’s everything you need to know about this method.

The Great Transition: Here’s everything you need to know about feeding your child and nutrition when your baby turns one year old.

Healthy Eating for Toddlers: Wondering the best way to promote healthy eating habits for your child? Here are our recommendations for developing healthy eating foundations for toddlers.

What’s for dinner? Encouraging advice on how to prepare your family a healthy meal (.pdf)
by Dr. Kristen Terrill, Esse Health Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine

USDA - My Plate: myplate.gov
Nutritious recipes and menu planning serve as the building blocks for healthy meals and overall diet and contribute toward improving lifelong eating habits.

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute - WE CAN!: nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/wecan
We Can! (Ways to Enhance Children's Activity & Nutrition) provides helpful information and dozens of valuable resources for your family, including tips, worksheets, and tools, all designed to help your family eat right, get active and stay healthy.

Travel

Adventures in Traveling with Your Kids - takingthekids.com
Taking the Kids - created by a nationally syndicated travel columnist and the author of more than a dozen books - is your information resource for family, multi-generational and group travel to thousands of family-friendly destinations including unique resorts, lodges, hotels, camps, theme parks, cruises and more.

U.S. Department of State - Travel Advisories - travel.state.gov

World Health Organization (WHO) - Air Travel Advice - www.who.int

Doctor using a Stethoscope to check on a smiling young boy

References for Children’s Health

HealthyChildren: healthychildren.org
Developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics specifically for parents and includes a lot of information about growth, development and specific medical topics.

CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: cdc.gov/parents/index.html
You'll find information for parents on a variety of topics from steps for a healthy pregancy and health baby to the critical teen years.

Child Life Services: stlouischildrens.org/conditions-treatments/child-life-services
The Child Life Services department provides a holistic and diverse approach to meeting the social and emotional needs of each child, adolescent and family.