Blog

Let the Elf on the Shelf Stick to Jokes!

Many thanks to Amy McCready of Positive Parenting Solutions for sharing her thoughts on bringing the fun back to The Elf on The Shelf. Elf on the Shelf has become a fun and humorous holiday tradition for many families … but beware of some unintended consequences! Every morning, your Elf appears in...

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RSV – TIS THE SEASON

RSV – TIS THE SEASON

What Parents Should Know About RSV Hey there, parents! We all worry about our little ones' health, right? Well, one virus that often has us concerned is respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). It's a pretty common respiratory virus that tends to affect infants and young kids, especially during those...

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Antibiotics and Kids: Beware

Antibiotics and Kids: Beware

Is your child in need of antibiotics? Know the risks of overuse and how to ensure their necessity. As a parent, it's natural to want the best for your child's health. But when it comes to antibiotics, caution is key. While these medications can be life-saving, the overuse of antibiotics in...

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The Flu Shot: Not Just for Old People!

The Flu Shot: Not Just for Old People!

Flu season is upon us, and it's important for everyone, from littles to teens, to get their flu shots. Here are the top 5 reasons why everyone, including children, should get a flu shot this year. 1. Children may have weaker immune systems compared to adults, making them more susceptible to severe...

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The WHYS AND HOW-TO’S OF TAKING NEWBORN TEMPERATURES

Fevers are common in children, but for a newborn baby, a fever can be a sign of a serious infection. A fever over 100.4 Fahrenheit in a baby under 2 months old is considered a medical emergency and requires immediate attention. That’s why it is so important to get an accurate temperature reading....

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Sink or Swim: Child Safety at the Swimming Pool

Swimming pools are a great way to keep cool during the hot Sarasota summer, but they can be deadly. Several weeks ago I read a story about a little boy from Orlando who had stumbled into his grandmother’s pool and nearly drowned. I remember playing poolside with my own boys and the excitement they...

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Florida Kids’ Health Insurance at Risk

Medicaid changes effective April mean that many Florida children will lose their health insurance coverage because of Medicaid Unwinding.  Make sure your child does not lose health insurance! What you should know about Medicaid Unwinding The COVID-19 pandemic made it important for people to have...

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THE SECRET TO GOOD HEALTH FOR KIDS

Have you ever wondered why the American Academy of Pediatrics and Weiss Pediatric Care require annual well visits? Especially when you look at your children and they look perfectly healthy! It’s because you’re likely not checking for suspicious spots on their skin, between their toes, and on their...

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Harry Houdini: Weiss Pediatric Care Magician

Harry Houdini, Therapy Dog Extraordinaire, works magic with children of all ages and their families at Weiss Pediatric Care. Whether he’s working with a 4-year-old anticipating immunizations, a toddler receiving a nebulizer treatment, or a teenager awaiting an annual well visit, Harry is proof...

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The Brain’s Favorite Food: A Prescription for Play

Children’s brains grow at a faster rate in the first three years of life than at any other time in their development.  One of the best ways toddlers learn and get smarter during this critical time is through play. And it's FREE!  Interactive play has been shown to have an impact not only on brain...

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Fever – A Hot Topic

We’ve probably all been there at some point (or we will in the future!).  Our child wakes up crying in the night.  You go in and put a hand on her head to find her “burning up” with red tearstained cheeks.  In a groggy instant you ask yourself… Where’s my thermometer!? How high is “too high” for a...

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Phreesia

Did you know that Weiss Pediatric allows you to check in online ahead of time? You can confirm your appointment via text message or email, and check in online prior to your visit.You can also check in on your own device when you arrive.Ask us about using mobile registration to make your next visit...

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Texting While Parenting

The ever increasing use of smart phones in our society represents an important tipping point in parenting. It’s up to us to remain focused in the present and ensure our kids don’t get lost or hurt in the shuffle.

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FLU CLINIC IN THE TIME OF COVID

The combination of flu and COVID-19 could pose serious risks for children. Making sure your child gets a flu vaccine is more important than ever.
Check out our flu clinics and schedule an appointment today.

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Phone Troubles- Email us!

We’re having intermittent phone problems. If you’re unable to reach us by phone please email us at frontdesk@weisscare.com to let us know how we can help you. We’ll return your call using alternate phones.

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FLU -What Parents Should Know

Flu vaccine is the best way to protect your child against flu and its potentially serious complications. Children younger than 5 years old, especially those younger than 2, are at high risk of developing serious flu-related complications. Here’s what parents need to know about flu and flu vaccine.

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COVID-19 Community Test Sites

Because of massive demand and limited resources, we are referring children to community sites for testing except to rule out COVID-19 when a child is sick and needs to be seen in-office. We’ve compiled an up-to-date list of testing sites to make it easier for you to locate the best site for your child.

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No Mask Exemptions

In support of the health and wellness of all children in our community we do not write or prescribe exemptions for mask mandate policies, including in school settings.

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Delta Variant & Kids

The number of COVID cases are on the rise in Sarasota County.  The positivity rate is 8.53, up 3.31% in just the past 7 days.   It’s definitely not time to let our guard down. 

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Coming Soon – Harry Houdini!

Harry Houdini, Weiss Pediatric Care’s Therapy Dog In-Training, will be joining our team soon. While his participation in visits will be by invitation only, we expect that many children and parents will ask for him whenever they come to see us.

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COVID 19 Vaccine Update – 16 years+

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the state of Florida have expanded COVID 19 vaccine availability to certain High Risk adolescent individuals 16 years of age and older.

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Say YES to COVID-19 Vaccine

The COVID-19 vaccines will prevent hundreds of thousands of children and adults from becoming very sick or dying from this virus. That’s why Weiss Pediatric Care is encouraging everyone to get the vaccine. 

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Talking With Our Kids About Race

The hopeful news is that experts in the field agree that kids find honest, developmentally appropriate conversations about race to be beneficial. (Hughes et al., 2006). As always, if it’s mentionable, it’s (more) manageable.

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Kids & COVID..in the news

The takeaway is that this newly reported condition in children is VERY, VERY rare. Knowing what to look for is important. But even more important is keeping calm, keeping everything in perspective, and having access to accurate information. Call us with questions or concerns. We’re here for you.

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Call us first!

Call us first when your kids are sick so we can keep you out of urgent cares and emergency rooms. We’ve suspended walk-in-visits for now but are scheduling sick appointments and well visits that limit unnecessary exposure.

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TALKING TO KIDS ABOUT VACCINES

Taryn Chapman, The Vaccine Mom and Guest Blogger, says it’s never too early to talk to kids about vaccines. Here are her tips for starting the process of scaring the scariness out of vaccines.

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Teaching Young Kids: “No” means “No”

Whether they’re four or fourteen, all children need to know that when you say NO, you mean NO – and no amount of whining, pleading, or bargaining will lead to a change of mind. So, what’s a parent to do in the face of relentless begging and bargaining? Here’s a strategy you might want to try.

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What Does Dead Mean?

Elliot, our beloved therapy dog, has given us the opportunity to talk to kids about a difficult subject…death. Guest blogger, Ethan Weiss, L.C.S.W. gives us a better understanding of what to say and how to say it.

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Back to School: Time to Protect Your Kids Against The Flu

Weiss Pediatric Care is scheduling patients for weekday flu clinics from 8:00-8:45 am Tuesday – Friday, and 4:00 – 5:00 pm Monday -Thursday. Saturday Flu Clinics will be held on October 6th and 27th. Call our office today at 941-552.8341 to make an appointment. Here’s to a safe and healthy flu season ahead!

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ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS

Weiss Pediatric Care is accepting new patients! Check out our most recent blog to find out about our “back to the future” care for kids and meet our amazing team, including our award-winning, Dr. Weiss and our two nurse practitioners, Ali and Tara, who are especially popular with our preteen and teen girls.

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Antibiotics…learn the facts!

While antibiotics are a wonderful tool to fight disease, sometimes they can also prove to be harmful. Dr. Weiss shares the facts about antibiotics and explains when to treat and when cautious observation is the best approach.

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Talking to Kids About School Safety

Weiss Pediatric Care is delighted to feature a guest blog from the Counseling and Academic Services Department at Out-of-Door Academy that provides parents with a context and even the words for talking to kids about this tough subject.

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Time Change Tips for Great Sleep

Weiss Pediatric Care’s Certified Pediatric Sleep Specialist offers tips for ensuring that everyone has a just right sleep schedule as daylight savings time comes to an end.

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Influenza – A tale of two siblings

The flu has arrived in Sarasota and based on what has been reported from the other side of the globe where winter has come and gone and along with it, their flu season, this is expected to be an especially bad year for flu in this country. We are already beginning to see that prediction come true.. Call today to schedule your child’s flu vaccine today!

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PHONE SERVICE DISRUPTION FOR COMCAST CUSTOMERS

We’re here and always ready to take your calls! But unfortunately, if you’re a COMCAST subscriber, we are NOT receiving them. Until COMCAST rectifies the problem, if you get an endless ring tone without a response from us, please call us from a phone that is on VERIZON service. We know how inconvenient this is and hope that COMCAST will quickly take the necessary action to reconnect you with us.

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Fun Lunch Box Creations

Presentation is the key to having your child interested and even excited to see what Mom or Dad specially made them for lunch today. Here are a few fun ideas to get you started from Weiss Pediatric Care’s Kerri Bonich, B.A.S., to get you started

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Preparing Children for Routine Check-Ups

When children know what to expect at a routine visit to the doctor, they are more confident, less fearful, and better prepared. Children’s books are a wonderful way to provide age appropriate information and reassurance, and set the stage for a positive experience.

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Comfort Food & Kids

“When does emotional eating become something to worry about?” That’s a question posed by one of our parents and the focus of this month’s Ask Dr. Weiss &The Weiss Pediatric Care Team series. For the answer, we turned to Ethan Weiss, MS, MSW, a Child & Adolescent therapist (and Dr. Weiss’s and Diane’s son!).

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IS MY CHILD SICK?

Is Your Child Sick? is a new feature on our website where you’ll find trustworthy medical advice and answers to the most common kid health and wellness questions – day or night!

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Well-Child Care: A Check-Up for Success

Our well-child visits are one of the most important ways we help keep your child, and your whole family healthy. Because our preventative visits include much more than a comprehensive head to toe exam, these appointments often take between 30-60 minutes. Here are some things you can expect at a Weiss Pediatric Care well-child visit.

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Swallowing Pills – Tips & Tricks

Jordyn, age 10, asked the first question in our new Ask Dr. Weiss & The Weiss Pediatric Care Team series. “When do I starting taking pills over liquid meds, such as Motrin?” Here is Dr. Weiss’s answer, along with tips and tricks for helping kids learn how to make the transition from liquid to pill medications.

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Celebrating Tara Cocco, ARNP

As our Nurse Practitioner, Tara has expanded our ability to see your children in a timeframe that is best for you through her availability for well and sick visits. She has also added new preventative care services that are improving the health and well-being of our kids.

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Halloween Costumes & Masks: A Recipe for Toddler Fears

As a child development specialist, I knew right away that the gorilla costume would become part of family lore. Two year olds are often frightened by masks and things that don’t make sense to them – like the giant Mickey Mouse at Disney World, or the happily made-up clown at the circus.

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Weiss Pediatric Care Hosts First Family Advisory Council Meeting

While the Weiss Pediatric Care team meets regularly to focus on quality improvement goals, we rely on you, our parents and patients, to share your experiences and expertise with us so that our services are responsive to your needs. Our Family Advisory Council makes recommendations for practice improvements that will continue to inform what we do and how we do it at Weiss Pediatric Care.

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2014-15 Flu Vaccine Shipping Delays Announced

It’s so frustrating to see signs all over town saying, “Get Your Flu Shots here!” Like you, we are wondering why the big stores have plenty of flu vaccine to go around while Pediatricians all over the country are waiting to receive orders placed months and months ago. Thanks for your patience as you wait, along with us, for the much anticipated delivery of our 2014-15 flu vaccines!

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Enterovirus and Children: Accurate Information for Parents

The internet and facebook are abuzz with news of a respiratory illness called enterovirus. At best, it causes mild symptoms like the cold, or even no symptoms at all. At its worst, it is sending children to the hospital. Weiss Pediatric Care offers evidenced-based answers to questions parents are asking, such as: “What is enterovirus? Who’s at risk? How is it treated?

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Answers to Your Burning Questions

While we don’t encounter many blistering sunburns at Weiss Pediatric Care, we see far more sunburns than we’d like to, especially as the intensity of the sun and level of outdoor activities spike in the summer. Here are a few tips for enjoying a safer summer, and managing the discomfort of a burn that may not surface until hours after a day of fun in the sun.

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From First Fibs to Tall Tales – Honest Advice for Dealing with Your Child’s Lies

Helping children understand the importance of honesty – and how lying, cheating or stealing can damage your credibility and friendships – is not a lesson that can be learned in one day, one month or one year – it has to sink in gradually, with ongoing parental guidance, as a child matures and faces ethical questions and dilemmas.

Here are a handful of strategies we recommend to help your child develop a better understanding of truthfulness:

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Weiss Pediatric Care Selected to Participate in State Demonstration Project

We’re so excited! Weiss Pediatric Care is one of 14 pediatric practices in the state chosen to participate in Florida’s Pediatric Medical Home Demonstration Project, and one of two Florida pediatric practices invited to be a part of a national pilot project, CHIPRA’s (Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act) Patient Centered Medical Home Recognition Facilitation Project.

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Kids & Smart Phones – What’s the Right Age?

At what age is it safe for kids to have smart phones? It’s a question posed by parents in our practice almost every day. Although there is no clear answer as to when a child should get his or her first smart phone, experts agree that safety is paramount when a child does eventually get one.

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Sleepless in Sarasota?

Is your child misbehaving or simply missing sleep? Research demonstrates that a mere 41 minutes of sleep deprivation begins to diminish children’s coping skills and ability to reason; over time, too little sleep can lead to a host of emotional problems at home and school,

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A Gift That Lasts a Lifetime



If we want to help our children develop realistic expectations and an attitude of gratitude, we must help them appreciate the beauty in giving not getting, and most importantly, to realize that it is not “things” that will satisfy their yearnings and make their holidays meaningful, but the love, connection, creativity and spirit of generosity that accompanies the exchange.

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