The Fidelis Care Blog

Learning to swim is one of the most important skills a child can learn. Drowning is among the leading causes of death for children ages 1-4, with most of these incidents occurring in the family’s own pool. Luckily, children can start swim lessons as early as 6-12 months old. We know finding budget-friendly options can be challenging, so we’ve compiled a list of some of the free and discounted swim lesson options around New York State. Check in with your local YMCA or parks department for additional help. Free/Discounted Swim Lesson Resources: City Swim Project, based in Buffalo, offers free swim lessons

Eating fresh fruits and vegetables is an important part of staying healthy. They provide our bodies helpful nutrients like vitamins, minerals and fiber. You may have seen news reports about an illness called cyclosporiasis. People can get cyclosporiasis after eating food or drinking water that has a tiny germ in it. Sometimes, this can happen with fresh produce. Fresh fruits and vegetables are still healthy choices. You can lower your risk of getting sick by washing, peeling and cooking them. What Are the Symptoms? The most common symptom is watery diarrhea. Other symptoms may include: Loss of appetite Stomach cramps Nausea Vomiting Tiredness Weight

National Infant Immunization Week is April 20-27. If you’re the parent of a child under 2, it’s a great time to focus on keeping your baby healthy. Vaccines play an important role in children’s health, especially during their first two years, when they are most likely to get a serious illness. If you’ve had questions or felt unsure about vaccines, you’re not alone. There’s a lot of information out there, and it’s not all correct. Here are some key facts every parent or guardian should know. Fact: Infant vaccines are carefully tested and closely monitored. Vaccines recommended for babies in the United States

National Poison Prevention Week March 15-21. It’s a good time to talk about an important but often overlooked safety issue: accidental poisoning. Many poison emergencies happen at home, and adults can help prevent them. Here are a few simple steps to protect you, your children, and your loved ones. Common Poison Risks at Home Poisoning can happen when everyday items are used the wrong way or stored unsafely. Common causes include: Medications, both prescription and over the counter Cleaning products and laundry pods Pesticides and bug sprays Alcohol and vaping liquids Carbon monoxide from gas appliances Even small amounts of these items can

  We all know it’s important to get a good night’s sleep. We usually notice how important sleep is when we don’t get enough of it. We feel tired, cranky and maybe a little sick. In fact, sleep is key to our well-being. Studies show that good sleep helps: Energy Keeping a healthy weight Heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar and hormones The ability to fight off sickness and heal from injuries Focus, memory and other brain functions Mental health, like our moods and ability to cope with stress Good sleep isn’t just about how many hours you sleep. It’s also about how

Learning to swim is one of the most important skills a child can learn. Drowning is among the leading causes of death for children ages 1-4, with most of these incidents occurring in the family’s own pool. Luckily, children can start swim lessons as early as 6-12 months old. We know finding budget-friendly options can be challenging, so we’ve compiled a list of some of the free and discounted swim lesson options around New York State. Check in with your local YMCA or parks department for additional help. Free/Discounted Swim Lesson Resources: City Swim Project, based in Buffalo, offers free swim lessons

Eating fresh fruits and vegetables is an important part of staying healthy. They provide our bodies helpful nutrients like vitamins, minerals and fiber. You may have seen news reports about an illness called cyclosporiasis. People can get cyclosporiasis after eating food or drinking water that has a tiny germ in it. Sometimes, this can happen with fresh produce. Fresh fruits and vegetables are still healthy choices. You can lower your risk of getting sick by washing, peeling and cooking them. What Are the Symptoms? The most common symptom is watery diarrhea. Other symptoms may include: Loss of appetite Stomach cramps Nausea Vomiting Tiredness Weight

National Infant Immunization Week is April 20-27. If you’re the parent of a child under 2, it’s a great time to focus on keeping your baby healthy. Vaccines play an important role in children’s health, especially during their first two years, when they are most likely to get a serious illness. If you’ve had questions or felt unsure about vaccines, you’re not alone. There’s a lot of information out there, and it’s not all correct. Here are some key facts every parent or guardian should know. Fact: Infant vaccines are carefully tested and closely monitored. Vaccines recommended for babies in the United States

National Poison Prevention Week March 15-21. It’s a good time to talk about an important but often overlooked safety issue: accidental poisoning. Many poison emergencies happen at home, and adults can help prevent them. Here are a few simple steps to protect you, your children, and your loved ones. Common Poison Risks at Home Poisoning can happen when everyday items are used the wrong way or stored unsafely. Common causes include: Medications, both prescription and over the counter Cleaning products and laundry pods Pesticides and bug sprays Alcohol and vaping liquids Carbon monoxide from gas appliances Even small amounts of these items can

  We all know it’s important to get a good night’s sleep. We usually notice how important sleep is when we don’t get enough of it. We feel tired, cranky and maybe a little sick. In fact, sleep is key to our well-being. Studies show that good sleep helps: Energy Keeping a healthy weight Heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar and hormones The ability to fight off sickness and heal from injuries Focus, memory and other brain functions Mental health, like our moods and ability to cope with stress Good sleep isn’t just about how many hours you sleep. It’s also about how