How many colds per year is normal for kids?

Young kids — toddlers and kids in preschool — can have as many as 8 to 12 respiratory infections or stomach bugs per year. As kids get older and enter school, that number goes to 5 or 6 illnesses every year, until the teenage and adult years when it’s common to get 2 to 3 colds every year. 

For young kids in particular, it’s common for colds to come with fevers, cough, and runny nose or congestion. The fevers tend to resolve first, followed by the congestion or runny nose, and lastly by the cough. During the peak of respiratory virus season, it’s common for a child to catch a second cold while still having a lingering cough from the first, which to tired, sleep-deprived parents, can certainly feel as though the illness has lasted forever. 

But back-to-back illnesses are not always a sign of concern, and may instead be a reflection of the season and the environment.

Why does my child get sick so often? 

We all get sick more often in the winter, and that’s because we tend to spend more time inside with others, often with closed windows to stay warm. The proximity with others creates the perfect breeding ground for different viruses. There are, however, viruses known to circulate more commonly in the summer — like the virus that causes hand, foot, and mouth disease — but in general, kids tend to get sick less often in summer. 

Just like adults, kids can also get sick more frequently if they are stressed, if they are not getting enough sleep, or if they are not eating well. In addition, children who are in daycare are known to get sick more often. 

How can I prevent my child from getting sick so often?

When it comes to preventing illnesses, it’s important to go back to the basics. Adequate sleep, nutrition, and getting outside have all been shown to help the immune system fight infections. Toddlers need between 11 and 14 hours of sleep per day, preschool children between 10 and 13, school age kids need 9 to 12 hours, and teens need 8 to 10. In addition, a diet rich in vitamins and minerals — which are best obtained through foods like berries, leafy green vegetables, and nuts and seeds — can go a long way. 

The basics also include staying up to date with routine immunizations. 

When should I worry? 

While getting sick more often than average is not necessarily a red flag, there are a few instances that do merit a discussion with your pediatrician. Those include getting repeat bacterial infections, such as ear infections, pneumonia, or urinary tract infections, as well as requiring frequent treatments or interventions when sick. If your child requires treatment in the office or in the ER when sick, discuss with your pediatrician whether an underlying condition could be making them prone to more serious illnesses.

Editor’s note: Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez is a practicing pediatrician at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, a contributing editor to SheKnows, and a mom to an active toddler.

Before you go, shop our top cold-relieving products for kids:

Dermatologist-trained esthetician Shani Darden of Shani Darden Facial Studio, who’s worked with stars like Jessica Alba and Shay Mitchell, doesn’t think so. “Overall, I think it’s harmful,” she says of the Gen Alpha skincare craze on social media platforms like TikTok. “Social media can expose teenagers and young kids to products that might not be right for their skin type.” That means that kids (and their parents) might be spending big on creams and face washes that don’t even work well for their skin. “It’s so important to do the research on the brands and products they’re interested in,” Darden tells SheKnows.

So what products should teens and tweens be using now, and what should you, as a parent, be investing in? As a mom of two daughters in their teens and tweens, Darden has a few simple rules to guide your next skincare purchases..

Your teen only needs three skincare products. Yes really — just three! “A gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen is sufficient,” Darden says. “I recommend keeping it simple.” Less truly is more in this case, as Darden notes that using too many products, especially on young skin, can do more harm than good. “It can compromise their skin barrier and cause irritation,” she explains.

Be careful with active ingredients. Also known as actives, these ingredients are the ones that target specific skincare concerns, like acne, dry skin, or hyperpigmentation. (Hyaluronic acid, retinol, and vitamins A, C and E are among the common actives you’ve probably heard of.) For teens and tweens specifically, Darden says there’s no need for actives “unless they truly need it for acne.” Consult with a dermatologist or esthetician (see below) and avoid layering different products, Darden adds. “It can still be a very simple routine.”

Sunscreen is a must. Sunscreen is the one product we all should be using daily, no matter how old or young. “The sun is so harmful to your skin and not only can it speed up aging in the long term, but it can also lead to skin cancer,” Darden says. “Both of my kids know to reach for their sunscreen every single day without me telling them to.”

Consult with the experts. If your teen or tween wants to revamp their skincare routine, it’s a good idea to talk to a dermatologist or esthetician first. They can “recommend a routine that will work with [your child’s] skin,” Darden explains, and address any specific needs your child has, like acne or dryness. The best routine all depends on their skin type, she says.

While your social media-savvy teen might want to slather on all the trendiest products, it’s a good idea to listen to the experts on this one. “A great skincare routine doesn’t need to be complicated for young kids,” Darden emphasizes. “It can be as simple as washing your face in the morning and at night, wearing sunscreen everyday, and finding a great moisturizer for your skin type!”

Before you go, shop our favorite skincare products for the teens in your life:

As tempting as it may be to give them some cough and cold medicine, that’s unlikely to do much good, says Brandon Smith, MD, MPH, a pediatrician with Johns Hopkins Medicine. “Unfortunately, most don’t really work,” he says. (In particular, one common decongestant, phenylephrine, sold under brand names like Sudafed and Dayquil, was recently discovered to be completely ineffective and has since been pulled off many shelves.) Tylenol or — for those over six months — Motrin can help if your child has a fever or is in pain, but Dr. Smith recommends keeping use minimal. 

So what can help a child with a cold feel better enough to finally doze off? Dr. Smith says it depends on both their age and their symptoms. With that in mind, here are a few of his top recommendations. 

Use a nasal saline spray

If the cold is mostly in their nose, whether it’s runny or congested, a nasal saline spray can help to flush it out. “If you can convince them to use some before bed, [that can] clear out some of the nasal passages before they try to fall asleep,” says Dr. Smith. This solution is safe for any age. 

Try suction to release the snot

As awkward as it might feel to do, using a suctioning device can help clear out the nostrils of infants and young toddlers who can’t yet blow their noses. This can be particularly effective after using a nasal saline spray to loosen things up. Dr. Smith just recommends not doing it more than three or four times a day. Otherwise, you could actually increase irritation and swelling. 

Rub menthol ointment on their chest   

For kids older than two with stuffy noses, Dr. Smith recommends a common home remedy: massaging a menthol rub on your kiddo’s chest (then covering it with a t-shirt or pajamas so they don’t try to put any in their mouth). “There’s some good studies out there that a little menthol rub on the chest can actually give patients more sleep at night compared to when they only use Vaseline,” says Dr. Smith. He says that’s likely because the menthol can help open up the nasal passageways to help the child breathe a little better. 

Turn on a humidifier in the bedroom

It’s harder to breathe through a stuffy nose when the indoor atmosphere is dry. A humidifier can help moisturize the air so that it flows better through the nasal passages, says Dr. Smith. It can also help loosen up phlegm if your little one has a cough. These are safe for any age “as long as you’re cleaning them routinely,” says Dr. Smith. (Though you might want to keep them out of reach of toddler-aged hands.)

Make the bathroom into a steam room

If your child can’t stop coughing, let them play with those bath toys as long as they want before getting in their PJs. “Maybe have a longer bath or shower time right before bed,” says Dr. Smith. “The steam can help clear out some of the stuff that’s dripping down in the back of their throat and causing them to cough.” If you have an infant, fill up the bath and get in there with them to keep them safe while you both soak up the benefits of the steam.

Serve up a little honey

If a cough is the primary symptom you’re dealing with, a teaspoon of honey could help soothe their throat. “You could mix it in warm water or warm tea in the evening,” says Dr. Smith. But this should only be done after a child is one year old — honey occasionally contains bacteria that infant digestive systems aren’t ready to handle.  

Prop their head up on extra pillows

For older kids (school age and above), Dr. Smith says it’s perfectly fine to have them lie on an extra pillow or two to bring the head up higher. “It’s helping their nose to drain a little bit more and maybe their sinuses stay a little bit clearer,” he says. 

But remember, always keep sleeping infants flat on their back — and alone in their crib, for that matter. “As a parent, you want to comfort them and make sure that they’re feeling okay and watch over them. But they should still be sleeping alone in their crib on their back,” says Dr. Smith.

Consider a little melatonin (carefully)

Dr. Smith says many parents these days are experimenting with melatonin in pre-teens and teens who have trouble sleeping. He says a small dose can be safe and might be helpful, but since melatonin is not FDA-regulated, you’ll want to look for a product that has a seal on the packaging to indicate that it’s gone through some testing. 

Stick with your regular routine

When your little one’s not feeling great, it can be tempting to skip some of your normal bedtime steps and tuck them right in. But that’s a mistake, particularly with toddlers, says Dr. Smith. “Toddlers love consistency and expectations and knowing that you know that routine for them,” he says. Following the same schedule helps them mentally prep for bedtime, no matter their symptoms.

If symptoms linger, call the doctor

Dr. Smith says that the worst cold symptoms typically last a few days, and will generally make sleep the hardest on night three or four. If your child’s a week into a cold, and they’re still struggling to sleep at night, he suggests hopping on a call with a pediatrician. While he and his colleagues have seen a number of colds and viruses this winter that cause coughs to hang on for weeks, it’s worth checking to make sure nothing else is going on.

Before you go, check out these natural solutions for your kid’s cold symptoms:

First loves, butterflies fluttering around, non-stop jiggling… Who could forget those long-gone, youthful, and carefree times when falling in (or out of love) made the world feel like it revolved around you whenever you were close to that special someone? Ah, those were the days… or were they? Well, maybe for you, because you didn’t have to endure the cringe-worthy awkwardness of bumping into your ex at every turn — including in your own room. Yep, those are the joys of new young love — where even your own house isn’t a safe zone from the remnants of heartbreak!

From the tender years of crushes to the tumultuous terrain of teenage relationships, navigating matters of the heart has never been easy. However, in today’s digital age, the joy of being in love can easily turn ugly when it becomes a public heartbreak, with social media playing an unprecedented role in shaping the emotional journeys of teenagers.

While social media platforms offer unprecedented connectivity and outlets for self-expression, they also add new layers to the already complicated process of coping with a broken heart. They expose the teenager, already experiencing a journey of self-discovery and identity formation, to more intensifying feelings of vulnerability, amplifying the challenges of navigating adolescence.

Ever So Lonely: One of the most significant ways in which social media exacerbates heartbreak is through its ability to magnify feelings of loneliness and inadequacy. In the aftermath of a breakup, teenagers often find themselves bombarded with curated snapshots of their peers’ seemingly perfect lives plastered across their social media feeds. From graphic couple photos to declarations of undying love, the online world can constantly remind them of what they perceive to be their own failures.

Separate But Together: Social media also perpetuates the illusion of constant connection, making it very difficult for teenagers to disengage from their former partners. With just a few taps on their screens, adolescents can maintain a virtual presence in each other’s lives long after the relationship has ended. While this may initially provide a sense of comfort, it ultimately prolongs the healing process and prevents both parties from moving on and healing.

Fake It Until You Break It: In a culture that glorifies independence and self-reliance, teenagers may feel compelled to suppress their true emotions and present a facade of invulnerability online. The pressure to project an image of resilience and emotional strength can lead to a profound sense of isolation as adolescents struggle to reconcile their public personas with their internal struggles.

Unsafe Interactions: The phenomenon of “online stalking” has become increasingly prevalent among teenagers coping with heartbreak. Unable to resist the temptation to check their ex-partner’s social media profiles, many adolescents subject themselves to a relentless cycle of comparison and self-doubt. Every new post or interaction becomes a source of agony, fueling feelings of betrayal and rejection.

Teen heartbreak and social media: what can parents do?

As parents, it is crucial to recognize the unique challenges that social media poses in the context of teenage heartbreak. Instead of dismissing social media as a silly distraction, we must actively engage with our teenagers and provide them with the support and guidance they need to navigate this complex terrain.

Parents can foster open and honest communication with their teenagers, creating a safe space for them to express their feelings without fear of judgment or retribution. By validating their emotions and offering empathetic listening, they can help alleviate the sense of isolation that often accompanies heartbreak.

Helping teenagers cultivate healthy boundaries when it comes to social media usage can make a difference in their usage and impact their mental health. This may involve setting limits on screen time together, agreeing on established guidelines for online behavior, and encouraging activities promoting offline connection and self-care.

But we can’t do that much if, as parents, we don’t lead by example and model healthy coping strategies for dealing with heartbreak. Gone are the days of simply kissing away the hurt with butterfly kisses for our not-so-little babies, but we can still offer our unwavering support and create a safe space for them when they’re ready to reach out. By showing them how to navigate heartache with emotional authenticity, resilience, and self-compassion, we empower them to heal and grow stronger from their experiences.

Welcome to Family Reset, a monthly column and must-go destination for all parents seeking guidance (and grasping for some sanity) in the wild adventure of raising children. Behind this compelling and candid read is New York psychotherapist, writer, editor, and “mommyyy” Zuania Capó, (or just call her Z), a compassionate, multicultural, and integrative therapist passionate about supporting families to thrive and connect. Armed with a touch of wisdom, insightful tips, a witty spirit, tons of honesty, and a sprinkle of humor, she is here to help you navigate the complexities of parenthood while prioritizing your well-being.

Family Reset is not just a source of advice; it’s a vibrant community where parents can find inspiration, share their stories, and realize they are not alone in the exhilarating roller coaster ride of parenting. Have questions? Want answers? Get ready to hit that reset button and connect with Z at zuania@integrativetherapynj.com.

Thanks to TikTok, teens are much more well-versed in curating the perfect skincare routine than we were as adolescents. That also means they’ve probably been asking you to buy them beauty products to replicate that glow of their favorite celebs or online influencers (whom you might not even recognize). If you’re back-to-school shopping for your middle schooler or high schooler, consider saying yes. An essential life skill is carrying out a good, healthy skincare routine, and it’s it’s never too early to get started!

Top 10 Skincare Brands for Teens at a Glance

Best Affordable: The Inkey List
Best Influencer-Approved: Bubble Skincare
Best Dermatologist-Created: BTWN
Best Celebrity-Owned: florence by mills
Best Sustainable: Cocokind
Best for Teen Boys: JB SKRUBB
Best Customized: Glossier
Best for Teen Athletes: Rally
Best Sunscreen Brand: SuperGoop!
Best Korean Skincare: Glow Recipe

It’s true that we only had a handful of healthy skincare options to choose from when we were 13 if you wanted to zap zits (does a certain grapefruit face scrub stir up any memories?). Now, there are more effective and affordable options than ever targeted for the unique needs of teen skin. Bonus: The packaging on these newer teen skincare brands are super IG-worthy, so they make for the perfect medicine cabinet #shelfie. You won’t even mind them cluttering the bathroom counter every morning. They’re that cute, trust us.

As for teen skincare product lines, there’s Bubble, a nontoxic skincare brand for teens, that makes taking care of acne actually fun — so much so, that we wish we had this brand in our younger years. The Inkey List boils things down to simple ingredients without all the fillers, keeping costs down. BTWN is also filling the gap in the young adult skincare world with eco-friendly, socially conscious, and gender-neutral products created by a dermatologist, no less. There’s a laundry list of other teen skincare brands (many available on Amazon and Target), so read on to find the best brands to stock your teenager’s bathroom with (and even your own bathroom — there is no age limit on these products!).

Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. The Inkey List is a SheKnows sponsor, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

“It” would eventually become the story-slash-poem-slash-children’s book called Piper Joy and the Grand Old Tree. Released last November, it’s Kim’s ode to Evan, who died two months shy of her fourth birthday. It’s also a projection of Kim’s unrealized dreams for her granddaughter and a celebration of her unique spirit, which was “unlike anything I’ve ever felt,” Lindzi tell SheKnows.

Battling a rare, devastating disease

Diagnosed with a mitochondrial disease at four months old, Evan Frances Buckner’s life expectancy was somewhere between 16 months and four years. Mitochondrial diseases are considered rare — affecting just 1 in 5,000 people, studies say — and harrowing. Defined by Mayo Clinic as a group of genetic conditions that affect how mitochondria function in the body, mitochondrial diseases can affect nearly any part of the body, including cells in the brain, nerves, muscles, heart, and kidneys. And, unlike other diseases, earlier diagnoses mean worse outcomes.

For Evan, it started as a string of small, seemingly unrelated symptoms. “She had extreme acid reflux,” Lindzi recalls. “She started having these choking fits that they labeled laryngomalacia, but that was expected to correct itself on its own. She had mild hydronephrosis [kidney swelling from built-up urine], also expected to correct on its own.” Evan was also born deaf, “which was shocking in and of itself,” Lindzi says.

Any one of the symptoms, taken separately, weren’t necessarily considered serious. Altogether, though, “these little things were adding up to something,” Lindzi says.

Eventually, Evan came down with a cold that got so bad, the family had to take her to the hospital, a pattern that would repeat itself again and again. “Any time she got a cold,” Lindzi remembers, “we had to go back to the hospital because of how it impacted her.” It was two years before Evan was finally diagnosed with a mitochondrial disease.

“Being in her presence was literal magic”

There is no cure or treatment for mitochondrial disorder, and Evan faced dozens of physical challenges every day, including not being able to sit up on her own. She received nine or so medications every morning via syringes. Despite it all, Evan was full of an infectious joy, Lindzi says.

Part of it was her unique style. Evan rocked her signature pair of sunglasses and a sweet smile, and had an aura that made strangers stop her family in the street, saying things like, “You just made my day. Just seeing your child made my day,” Kim remembers. “Evan had a presence that people would flip out and clasp their heart when they saw her,” Lindzi agrees.

That quirky style was a reflection of her spirit. “We dressed her in a way that let people know, the second they saw her, what we saw without all of that,” Lindzi explains. “Being in her presence was literal magic.”

Evan also got cochlear implants, electronic devices that improve hearing by delivering sound signals directly to the auditory nerve, per Mayo Clinic. (Hearing aids, in contrast, simply amplify sound.) The implants “changed her life,” Lindzi remembers, and Evan quickly became a music lover (Ludacris’ “Llama Llama Red Pajama” was a favorite) and a bookworm who loved when her family read to her.

“She was feisty and joyful, and she was feisty and joyful despite,” Lindzi says. “I think it’s a lesson to us and to anyone that she had every reason not to smile and yet she smiled between those hard moments. She was really something.”

Honoring Evan

Evan has inspired everything from Kim’s tattoo (a llama, for the aforementioned song), rings, and articles (written by Lindzi, a journalist). Even the name of Evan’s baby brother, Reid, is connected to Evan, as both an homage to Lindzi’s brother and Evan’s love of books. Reid was born just three months before Evan passed away, and Kim says, “Evan made sure she stayed long enough to meet him.”

Now, Evan even has her very own children’s book in Piper Joy, something Lindzi and Kim agree she would have loved. “Evan liked anything about Evan,” Lindzi laughs.

Piper Joy herself doesn’t have mitochondrial disorder. She’s also older than Evan and physically able to do things Evan couldn’t, like walk and stand on her own — although eagle-eyed readers will notice that Piper Joy’s bright red headband is, in fact, a set of cochlear implants like Evan’s.

But when Kim explains it, the connections all make sense. Piper Joy, she explains, is a projection of who she believes Evan could’ve been without the mitochondrial disease, while taking inspiration from the curiosity and joy Evan felt in the world around her.

“We spent a lot of time in her backyard,” Kim explains. Since Evan couldn’t sit unsupported, they would lie together on their backs, looking up at the sky, the trees, and the things around them. “I used to watch her, and her eyes would just shift and look all over the place,” Kim says. “So many of the things that are in the yard [in Piper Joy] are actually in Lindzi’s yard. I gave this child the ability to speak for Evan and say what it is that made her feel this was her safe place.” The book will also help other people struggling with similar health problems, Kim says, as a portion of its proceeds will go towards mitochondrial disease research non-profit organizations.

And the response to the book, overall, has been supportive and touching. “I’m still blown away by the notes that I get about Evan,” Lindzi says.

“Every parent wants to know that their child had every opportunity to make their mark,” she continues. “Evan didn’t have the opportunity to [do that] on her own, and yet her spirit made such a mark on all of us. That’s why we feel it’s our privilege to be able to carry on her legacy.”

Evan’s story, Kim and Lindzi say, shows that we should never take anything for granted. “She had to try so hard for every bit of her existence. Just breathing was an act of resistance,” Lindzi says. “Just existing was an effort. A smile was an effort” — and yet Evan smiled constantly. “I just have such profound appreciation for that.”

Piper Joy is a way to pass that message on, honor Evan, and share her spirit, all in one. “This is lighting up the sky with her name like a flame,” Kim says. “That’s my contribution to it, and it’s been a pleasure.”

Unfortunately, a woman on Reddit is dealing with that exact situation, and she’s about at her limit. The woman, aka our OP (original poster, which is Reddit-speak for the person who authored the post), has a mother-in-law who insists on commenting unhelpfully on OP’s toddler son — and specifically, on her son’s weight. OP feels her MIL is overstepping and is ready to set some hard boundaries, but she took to Reddit’s Am I the Asshole (AITA) forum to see if she’s taking things too seriously (as her husband seems to think).

So how bad are the comments, and are they really worth semi-cutting off her MIL the way OP is planning to do? Read the full story ahead to decide for yourself (and stick around for Reddit’s mince-no-words responses).

As a refresher, your appendix is a “finger-like tube” connecting to your large intestine on the lower-right side of your abdomen, Dr. Kristen Navarette, pediatrician and medical director at MVP Health Care, tells SheKnows. You’d probably never hear about it if it wasn’t for what happens when it gets infected, aka when you get appendicitis. “Appendicitis is inflammation and bacterial overgrowth or blockage of the appendix,” Dr. James Davis, a pediatric surgeon at Pediatrix Surgical Associates, tells SheKnows. While anyone can get appendicitis, it’s most common in children between the ages of 5 and 15, he says.

For parents, the tough part is differentiating between your kid having a generic stomachache or something like appendicitis, which — just to be clear — is considered a medical emergency. If gone untreated, Navarette explains, appendicitis “can cause the appendix to burst,” allowing the infection to spread throughout the abdomen in a potentially life-threatening way. Luckily, there are some quick and fairly simple ways you can tell if your child’s (or your own) stomach pain is an appendix issue.

What’s the jump test for appendicitis?

The jump test is a good way to see if your child might have appendicitis, especially for young kids who may not be able to describe their pain or its location. “It is among the most straightforward, user-friendly tests one can perform,” Davis says.

To do the jump test, simply have your child jump with both hands in the air, reaching toward the ceiling. “If this elicits significant abdominal pain, studies suggest there is up to a 70 percent chance that the child has appendicitis,” Davis explains. For context, he’s citing a 2019 study that found that, when combined with blood tests, the jump test “could successfully predict which child is in urgent need or not of surgery.”

The jump test on its own shouldn’t be used to diagnose your child, Navarette notes; think of it as a signal that it’s time to seek medical help. And if the pain persists or worsens (even if your child doesn’t have pain when they jump), you should seek medical attention so doctors can find out what is causing the issue.

Appendicitis symptoms

It’s also a good idea to be familiar with other signs and symptoms of appendicitis so you can identify it or rule it out when your child is sick or in pain. According to Navarette and Davis, some common symptoms include:

Abdominal pain, Davis says, is “by far the most common feature of appendicitis.” It often starts as a “vague pain around the belly button,” he explains, “but within 24 hours, the pain will localize to the right side of the patient’s abdomen, below the belly button.”

It’s also worth noting that there are a few conditions that share symptoms with appendicitis. “Gastroenteritis, constipation, or urinary tract infections can all simulate appendicitis-like symptoms,” Davis notes. However, if your child is specifically experiencing “progressive pain” in the lower-right part of their abdomen, or is struggling to remain hydrated, medical attention is required.

Treating appendicitis

If your child is showing symptoms of appendicitis, take them to the emergency room as soon as possible for treatment. Once doctors confirm the diagnosis, your child will undergo an appendectomy, or surgery to remove the appendix. They’ll do this either via traditional open surgery, Navarette says, or via a “minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure.” She notes that both surgeries “have a low risk of complications,” and Davis adds that appendectomies are one of the most common surgeries performed on kids.

Laparoscopic appendectomies typically have a shorter recovery process, Navarette says, especially if it’s done when the appendix is just infected (versus burst). While everyone’s body is different, “most children are back to their usual activities about a week after the surgery,” she says. For open surgery, the recovery time is longer, with patients needing to stay in the hospital for an average of five days, Davis says. They may experience fevers, swollen belly, diarrhea, and lack of appetite, and will need antibiotics and medication for treatment.

Despite how common it is, appendicitis can be a scary topic, especially if your child is the one suffering from possible symptoms. The best thing you can do is to stay calm, get familiar with the symptoms of appendicitis (like pain during the jump test), and make sure to take your kid to the hospital if they’re showing any of the telltale signs.

Before you go, shop our favorite products to treat kids’ cold symptoms:

If your child is healthy, a cough of any duration can be safely evaluated and treated at your pediatrician’s office. Yes, I realize that if you are up in the middle of the night, the urge to do something about it in that moment — and the worry as a parent — are nudging you to grab your keys and head to the nearest emergency room. But I want you to know that in otherwise healthy children who are breathing well, there actually isn’t much ER physicians can do. You’re better off getting whatever little rest you can get at home, reaching for the honey if your child is older than one, and making an appointment in the morning.

The same goes for most fevers. In children who are older than three months and are otherwise well — no dehydration, trouble breathing, or underlying medical conditions — the pediatrician’s office (and not the emergency room) is the best place to evaluate a fever. Though most fevers in young children are due to a viral illness and resolve on their own, primary care pediatricians are also equipped to evaluate for other common causes of fever, such as ear infections, strep throat, and urinary tract infections.

When children are seen in the office, we are also able to take a stepwise approach. For example, if you come in early during an illness, we can always see you back in a few days for fevers that have not gone away and do additional testing then. This approach is tough to do through an emergency room.

Another conversation that is perfect for the primary care office: viral testing, and whether it’s even needed. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, “testing” became a common word in our vocabulary, and many daycares and schools required it regularly for what felt like an eternity. As a result, many of us want to know which virus is causing our ailments- even when that may not change how you or your child is treated. As primary care physicians, we want to talk through the need for these viral tests with you, in the calm of our offices.

I’ll end with two important caveats to the case I’ve made until now. First, if you are worried, we are worried. Emergency rooms and the physicians, nurses, and staff who work there are dedicated professionals ready to help who will not turn you away. And second, there’s no medical advice or compilation of tips that can replace your parental intuition. If something doesn’t feel right and you believe your child needs to be evaluated right now, grab those keys and head on over to the nearest ER.

 Editor’s note: Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez is a practicing pediatrician at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, co-founder of Informada, a contributing editor to SheKnows, and a mom to an active toddler.

Before you go, grab these all-natural remedies to relieve your child’s cold symptoms:

Brittany Mahomes discovered her son Bronze’s peanut allergy in one of the scariest ways, when she rushed the then-8-month-old to the hospital in August. Now, Mahomes is opening up about how food allergies are impacting their family life, including daughter Sterling and husband Patrick Mahomes, and why she’s passionate about speaking out about the cause.

“We recently found out my son Bronze has a severe peanut allergy, which led to a scary trip to the ER,” Mahomes told People recently, describing it as “one of the most terrifying days of my life.” Fortunately, she continued, “he was OK, but I’ve had to cope with this new way of living and ensure my family is safe inside the home and out.”

The family had been aware of two-year-old Sterling’s allergies said “since she was an infant,” the Kansas City Current co-owner said, adding that she’s now “hyper-aware of what food and drinks we have in our household.”

“I can relate to all moms and families out there that are dealing with children with severe food allergies,” Mahomes went on, acknowledging that “the holiday season is extremely difficult when gatherings and activities revolve around food.”

To show her support, Mahomes is partnering with plant-based nutrition brand OWYN to support the Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) organization. Both Mahomes and the brand have pledged to match donations up to $100,000 to kick off the organization’s fundraising initiative, the “I Can” Campaign.

Through the campaign, Mahomes says, she hopes “to inspire change within the food allergy community,” adding that it’s “so special to be able to help these people and reassure them that they are not alone.”

It’s a worthy goal, because food allergies impact more people than you might realize. “During the first year of life, up to 10 percent of all infants have been reported to have developed an allergic reaction to a food,” Dr. Ama Alexis, an infectious disease allergy and immunology physician for children, previously told SheKnows. Many children grow out of their allergy, “but peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish may persist for life.” Allergic reactions can vary widely, including hives, redness, or itchiness; swelling of the yes, ears, lips, tongue, or throat; vomiting or diarrhea; and coughing or wheezing. Alexis also explained that most reactions show up “within minutes,” but can occur up to two hours after ingesting the product.

For the Mahomes family, dealing with Bronze’s food allergy means being more aware and mindful of what the kids are eating and what products are present in the house. Mahomes said she likes OWYN for that reason, as the brand provides “clean, delicious protein shakes that I know are safe to be around our kids,” she explains. Most of all, Mahomes says, “I want Sterling and Bronze to grow up having a healthy relationship with food.” As a mom, she adds, her goal is to “ensure they feel safe and informed in case of emergency. We are learning so much.”

Before you go, shop these products to help your kids’ cold and flu symptoms: