In life, certain experiences stick with you that cause you to dislike certain things. Right?

As pediatricians, we have children that have died in our arms while we do everything imaginable to save them, and that stays with you forever. Some of these could have been preventable.

Don’t get us wrong - we like a lot of things!

But, there ARE a few things we at the PediPals do NOT like:

ATVs, 4-wheelers, & electric scooters: We have seen countless injuries and even deaths from these. In fact, the AAP advises against letting anyone under 16 operate an ATV. 30 % of all ATV deaths are children, and Texas, West Virginia, & California are some of the top states in the US with these deaths.

Chiropractic manipulation in young children: Spinal manipulation is very risky in young children, especially babies, and can cause injury. There is not enough evidence to support that such treatments are effective as well.

Trampolines: 1000s of people get injured on these annually, many of these children. These can not only cause falls that lead to concussions & fractures, but even paralysis or death. The AAP actually advises against home trampoline use.

People that spread misinformation: This pandemic & the age of social media has made this a new one on our list. Please be careful where you get your information & advice from, especially if it can impact the well-being of your child. The people that spread misinformation or recommend things they are not qualified to will not be there for you when your child is harmed by that very same information. As doctors, we have your best interests at heart.

Scientists that do not recommend safe, effective vaccines: Vaccines are the single, most important invention in pediatrics. They have saved millions of lives since their first use. We now have eradicated many diseases that were common causes of death & illness in children back in the day - how amazing is that?