1 year “blogiversary”

Has it really been a year already?

The idea for this blog began several years ago, after hearing multiple parents say, “I know I shouldn’t have, but I looked on Google…” I would cringe every time, and half-jokingly say, “No Googling!” in response. Because the truth is, when you are dealing with medical issues Google can be a scary place. Anyone can say anything, and if you do not have the medical background to sort through the falsehoods, you can be mislead into believing incorrect and even dangerous things. I wanted to create a place that parents could feel safe going to for information online. Somewhere there would be quality, science-based information that parents could trust. I have only a short time with patients and parents during visits, but the blog is always there (even at 2am). Thankfully, this blog has begun to reach even farther than just my own patient families. 

Top Articles 

I have tried to write on a variety of topics and for a variety of age groups over the past year. I understand that a parent of a newborn is not really looking for the same advice that the parent of a toddler, a preschooler, or a teenager is. Some topics are more applicable over a broad range of ages and stages, while others are very specific. Looking back at the statistics for the site over the past year, I have put together a Top 10 Most Viewed list of the articles on the site. If you missed one of these, or simply weren’t looking for that information at the time, here’s your chance to go back and read them. I would also encourage you to look at the menu categories and explore the topics available – Development, Nutrition, Safety, Parental Advice, Mental Health, Infection & Disease, and Vaccines.

Like nearly every other aspect of our lives this past year, the topic of COVID dominated the the Top 10 list for the blog this year. I wrote two articles specifically addressing COVID: one about the vaccine and one about kids returning to school safely in the Fall of 2020. These were the top two articles viewed and read in the past year.

Nutritional information was also popular and captured three of the Top 10 slots. Parental advice regarding sleep, screen time, anxiety, and vaccinations also made the list, as you can see below:

1. Understanding the Science Behind the COVID Vaccine
2. Should Kids Return to School in the Fall?
3. Infant Nutrition: Feeding Your Baby Step-by-Step
4. Infant Vaccines
5. Infants & Toddlers – Tips for Sleep
6. Is Baby Food Safe?
7. Anxiety – When Fear is Overwhelming
8. 2 month Well-Child Visit
9. Screen time Recommendations and Dangers
10. Nutrition Recommendations – Iron

Don’t forget there is a section on Well Child Checkups that will keep you informed on what to expect at each checkup for your child. 

Moving forward

Parental advice and accurate medical information are ongoing needs. As I often tell families, “there are no stupid questions” when it comes to parenting. I will continue to write about topics that are pertinent, timely, or commonly asked about. I am always open to suggestions (please send emails to astheygrow.pedsblog@gmail.com). However, I will be changing the frequency of posts slightly, to be published every two weeks rather than every week. 

If you do not already do so, please consider subscribing to our email list (there is a sign-up box at the end of this post) to ensure you do not miss any future posts. Please also follow on social media – Facebook and Instagram are updated with each new post as well. 

Final thoughts 

I would like to take the time to say thank you to all of you who read this blog, who refer friends and family to it for quality information, who follow our social media platforms and who comment on posts. I appreciate your support and encouragement. When I began writing a year ago I truly had no idea if the blog would be successful, but I hoped it would be helpful.

The role of a Pediatrician is a unique one in the world of medicine. We take care of patients through multiple stages of life, patients who often cannot speak for themselves. We form a relationship with the entire family, and the sentiment of “it takes a village” is very evident through this process. I enjoy being part of my patients’ families, but I also know that I cannot always be there to answer questions. I hope this blog fills the gap for both my families and those who I have never met but are looking for trustworthy information. 

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