Mayo Clinic Kids

When you see your kid scratching their head, your gut instinct might be to grab head lice shampoo. But itching can mean tons of things, ranging from the superficial to the serious. So how do you solve the mystery of your kid’s itchy scalp? And the time-honored question: how do you stop scratching when it feels sooooo good?

On this episode of Mayo Clinic Kids, we talk with pediatric dermatologist Dr. Molly Youssef about why your kid...

You might not be used to hearing "babies" and "syphilis" in the same sentence. But if you're trying to conceive, expecting, or have a young child, it should be on your radar. Because if a parent has syphilis, they can pass it along to their kid. And the number of cases in kids is on the rise. So why are we still struggling with a curable disease? And how do you know if you or your child is at risk?

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Parents are acutely aware of the importance of a good night’s rest. Kids, on the other hand, sometimes need a little (or a lot of) convincing. So how do you know if your kid is sleeping well? And should you be worried about using screens before bedtime?

On this episode of Mayo Clinic Kids, we talk with Dr. Julie Baughn to learn how to help our kids catch some quality zzz’s.

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One meal can be a big deal. Kids need lunch to fuel their brains and bodies so they can learn and be social—and parents want to feel confident their kids are getting all those essential nutrients. So when it comes to school lunch: to buy, or not to buy? Who decides what ends up on your kid's tray? And if you decide to pack, what are the best foods to deliver all the nutrition your kid needs to get them through the day?

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For kids with blood diseases, bone marrow transplants can be an amazing tool for treatment — and sometimes, even a cure. Hopefully most of us will go through life never needing to know what a bone marrow transplant is. But what if the key to another kid's cure is in your very own blood?

On this episode of Mayo Clinic Kids, we talk with pediatric hematologist and oncologist Dr. Mira Kohorst about this often-underappreciated part ...

When an infant starts experimenting with solid foods, their whole world expands. Like breast milk and formula, food is fuel for the body and a vehicle for love. But it is also a cornerstone of culture, and can define national identities. It provides entertainment and spreads joy. And it helps us understand the world and our place in it.

On this episode of Mayo Clinic Kids, we talk to Dr. Leslie Kummer, a primary care pediatrician w...

Screens are everywhere. And screens can do amazing things — but they aren’t amazing for your kids’ eyes. So when it comes to your kid, how do you know if screens are causing eye issues? And how do you strike that perfect balance of setting healthy boundaries and making sure kids aren’t missing out on key skills and digital connections?

On this episode of Mayo Clinic Kids, we talk with Dr. Eric Kim, a pediatric ophthalmologist, about...

If your kid has a fever, you’re in good company — with everyone. Fevers are the body’s natural way of fighting off bad things. But fevers can still bring up a lot of fears and questions. For example, should you try to treat a fever, or let it run its course? Can fevers harm the body? And if your kid has a fever of about 100 degrees Fahrenheit, should you bring them to the doctor?

On this episode of Mayo Clinic Kids, we’re joined by ...

The COVID-19 pandemic hit everyone hard, but especially kids. During key periods of growth, their social lives screeched to a halt. They spent more time on screens and less time outside. Not to mention the stress and uncertainty of a worldwide pandemic. Even healthy kids began to struggle in their development and well-being. 

On this episode of Mayo Clinic Kids, we talk to Dr. Rebecca Jackson about child development, the disruptions...

In the U.S., iodine is somewhat taken for granted. However, it’s an important thing to keep an eye on because globally, iodine deficiency, especially during pregnancy and the first few years of life, is the leading cause of intellectual impairment.

In this episode of Mayo Clinic Kids, we’re talking with Dr. Elizabeth Pearce to learn more about iodine and how we can help make sure our iodine levels support growth and intellectual dev...

Growth underscores pretty much all of childhood. There’s the fun side: watching kids get bigger, growing into new things and out of old ones. But then there’s the more complicated side: worrying kids are growing too fast or too slow compared to other kids their age.

On this episode of Mayo Clinic Kids, Dr. Siobhan Pittock is here to talk to us about growing up—literally.

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Eating disorders can be tricky because they affect both physical and mental health. On top of that, the symptoms aren't always obvious. But diagnosing and treating them is really, really important. Getting a kid treatment is not only essential to their well-being, but sometimes even their survival.

On this episode of Mayo Clinic Kids, we talk with Dr. Jocelyn Lebow, a clinical psychologist and expert in childhood eating disorder...

ADHD — attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder — is everywhere. Statistically, every classroom is likely to have a child with ADHD. So whether your kid has ADHD or not, it’s probably part of your kid’s life. So how do you tell the difference between everyday distraction and ADHD?

On this episode of Mayo Clinic Kids, we talk with pediatric psychiatrist Dr. Eric Pease about attention and what an ADHD diagnosis might mean for your kid...

Teeth are so easy to take for granted. And they're the only part of your body that doesn’t fix itself! That's why dental care is so important — we only get two sets, and it’s our job to make sure they last a lifetime. And that work starts when you’re a kid. So how do we teach kids good dental habits from the start? What if they hate brushing?

On this episode of Mayo Clinic Kids, we talk with Dr. Elise Sarvas about baby teeth...

Mental health is not “all in your head.” It's intertwined with physical health. And in 2021, nearly 1 in 3 students experienced poor mental health. So in this big, complicated world where everything’s stressful all the time, how can we be supportive adults? And what other kinds of help are out there?

On this episode of Kids Health Matters, we talk with John MacPhee and Dr. Laura Erickson-Schroth from The Jed Foundation about ho...

When it comes to childhood epilepsy, no two seizures are exactly alike. Some seizures have the convulsive, jerking movements that most people think of when they imagine epilepsy. But other types of seizures can be subtler, and even possible to miss altogether.

On this episode of Mayo Clinic Kids, we talk to Dr. Anthony Fine, a pediatric neurologist and epileptologist, to help us make sense of this very complicated condition.

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Roughly half the world's population will experience periods at some point in their life. Some people dread them. To others, they’re a rite of passage. And periods can range all over the place: light, heavy, long, short, frequent, irregular — everyone’s is unique. But how do you help your kid navigate getting theirs and understand when something’s wrong?

On this episode of Mayo Clinic Kids, we talk with Dr. Asma Chattha about me...

When it comes to sports, it’s all fun and games — literally — until someone sprains their ankle. Or gets a concussion. Or breaks a finger. We know kids need physical activity to be healthy, but how do we keep them safe at the same time?

On this episode of Mayo Clinic Kids, we talk with pediatric sports medicine specialist Dr. David Soma about kids sports injuries: What the risks are, how we minimize them, and how we help our kids re...

Your kid is coughing, sneezing, and has a runny nose. So is it a cold, COVID, the flu, or RSV? This episode is all about RSV or respiratory syncytial virus. How do you tell it apart from other illnesses? Who should get vaccinated?

On this episode of Mayo Clinic Kids, pediatrician Dr. Robert Jacobson joins us to talk about this common virus and how to keep your family safe during RSV season and beyond.

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