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Cierra - Pediatric Nurse Practitioner | Educator | Mom

@bitesizedpeds

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Fun facts about strep throat! (If there is anything “fun” about strep.) Since strep has officially entered our household—and apparently my daughter has chosen direct inoculation as her preferred method of sharing—here are a few things to know: 1. How does strep spread? 🦠 Strep throat is caused by *Group A Streptococcus* bacteria. It spreads mainly through respiratory droplets and direct contact with saliva/nasal secretions—which is why coughing directly into your mother’s face is, medically speaking, less than ideal. 2. The good news: we know how to treat it. 💊 Group A Strep remains universally susceptible to penicillin. Penicillin or amoxicillin are first-line treatments, and for kids who absolutely cannot/will not take 10 days of oral medicine, a one-time shot of benzathine penicillin G is another option. Most people start feeling better pretty quickly after antibiotics, and once someone has been on appropriate antibiotics for at least 12–24 hours and is fever-free, they’re generally much less likely to spread it. 3. Why do we even treat strep? Yes, antibiotics can shorten symptoms and reduce transmission—but one of the biggest reasons we care about identifying and treating strep is preventing complications. Untreated Group A Strep can cause: • Acute rheumatic fever, which can damage the heart valves • Abscesses around the tonsils or other invasive infections • Post-streptococcal kidney inflammation (sometimes even with treatment - lame) Appropriate antibiotic treatment significantly reduces the risk of acute rheumatic fever. And now excuse me, after being coughed directly in the face by my strep-positive child, I will be spending the next several days interpreting every tiny sensation in my throat as the beginning of the end. 😂 #StrepThroat #Pediatrics #Pediatrician #Parenting #MomLife PedsER HealthEducation
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I’m a pediatric ER doctor, and I’ve treated my fair share of broken bones and sent plenty of kids home in casts. But then comes the question: Now what? Beyond “keep it dry,” here are 7 things to remember when caring for a child in a cast. 1. Don’t underestimate the sling. Long-arm casts are HEAVY. A well-fitting sling can support the weight and make getting around much more comfortable. 2. Stay ahead of pain & swelling. The first few days can be the toughest. Follow your child’s pain plan (often acetaminophen and/or ibuprofen) and elevate the injured limb to help with swelling. 3. The itch is real. But NOTHING goes inside the cast—no pencils, rulers, lotions or powders. Try cool air from a hair dryer on the COOL setting or a small portable fan. 4. Protect the cast AND the skin. Keep a non-waterproof cast dry. Cast edges can rub, too. Don’t pull out the padding or put anything inside—ask your care team about protecting irritated edges. 5. Cast off ≠ fully healed. Kids may feel great before the bone is ready for everything. Your provider may recommend a splint for a while. Follow activity restrictions and ask when playgrounds, sports and other fall-risk activities are safe again. 6. Know when something isn’t right. Increasing pain/swelling, numbness/tingling, cold or discolored fingers/toes, trouble moving them, drainage or a bad smell = call your care team. 7. Keep them moving AND entertained. Think beanbag toss, balloon tapping, soft-ball games, dance parties or seated games. For downtime: LEGO, cards, puzzles, art, Play-Doh, audiobooks and podcasts. The cast is temporary. Kids are remarkably good at figuring out how to keep being kids while wearing one. Education only. Follow your child’s medical/orthopedic team’s instructions
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Big Sibling Workshop was a DREAM! Thank you doesn’t begin to cover it, so let’s dive into the story of how this beautiful day came to life: When I first met @jamieheimoslpc , I could tell we would get along well because we both had a passion for educating and supporting the families in our community, loved all the same small businesses in STL... and we both loved chatting about books and big feelings more than anyone else I’ve ever met! That’s where this idea for Big Sibling Workshop began, but we wouldn’t be here without Kristen at @totspotsocial empowering us to put this event on two years in a row and hosting us at her beautiful play space. After a wonderful first workshop last fall, we knew we had to bring it back for a second year, but we wanted to make it even better for families with more resources and more fun. Thank you SO much to @stl.bizbestie for helping bring this vision to life as we planned Big Sib Workshop 2.0! One way we wanted to add more resources to Big Sibling Workshop is by gathering some of our favorite organizations that center their work around families in St. Louis... our sponsors 🤍 A massive thank you to: @newmomschool_stlwestcounty @mommoment.app @preggoperks @barronswimschool @legacyphysicaltherapystl @fishelchiropractic @bitesizedpeds ... for believing in this event and helping us build the postpartum village for these families. But how were we going to keep the kiddos aka the big siblings playing while parents listened to Jamie share her best tips and advice for welcoming baby sibling? Thats where @stl_sitter saved the day with their team of sitters! We also knew we HAD to spoil these soon-to-be big siblings with all our favorite goodies (aka swag bags 🥳) from @polishedprints, stuffed full of surprises from @eatdinobars, @slumberkins, @hellobello @swaptheplayroom, @prekindersinparadise, @mskarlydances @monamiepoppy and all our sponsors above! But the true stars of the show are the families who came Sunday to learn, to play and to celebrate this big milestone in their lives: welcoming a new baby! THANK YOU for joining us, we can’t wait to see your newest arrivals!
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A morning full of talking through BIG feelings, connection, and fun for our soon-to-be big siblings. Our Big Sibling Workshop included story time with Britt reading her Book, A Tail of Empathy: Rocky Gains a Brother, a conversation with parents about preparing for the transition, local vendors and sponsors, swag bags, and plenty of playtime with STL Sitters at TotSpot Social. Adding a baby to the family is a big change for everyone, and we loved creating space for parents and big sibs to feel supported along the way. A HUGE thank you to our incredible sponsors and to every brand who contributed to our swag bags. Your generosity helped us make the morning extra special for these big sibs and their families. 🫶 And thank you to everyone who showed up, donated, packed swag bags, played, and helped bring this event to life. We are so grateful for our STL village. To all of our soon-to-be big siblings: you’ve got this. 🥹 Thanks again to our incredible friends for their support for this event. @polishedprints @slumberkins @eatdinobars and @hellobello Thank you so much for your support @preggoperks @bitesizedpeds @legacyphysicaltherapystl @barronswimschool @swaptheplayroom @prekindersinparadise @monamiepoppy @mskarlydances @fishelchiropractic @mommoment.app @newmomschool_stlwestcounty @littlemoosespeech @stl.bizbestie @stl_sitter
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🎃✨ HALLOWEEN GIVEAWAY CLOSED✨👻 I’ve teamed up with some amazing women to bring you a spooktacular giveaway with no tricks, just treats! 🕷️🧙🏼‍♀️ What’s up for grabs? 🎃Halloween Sensory kit and Spooky Potions Lab from @senseofplayllc 👻Two Boo Buckets from @2plus3equalswe 💀$75 💵💵from @theabbeynormalblog and @michelle.in.stl 🎃$50 gift card from @teal.magnolias for custom wood & acrylic signs, apparel and gifts. 👻Travel first aid kit and a free class registration ($105 value!) from @bitesizedpeds 💀Signed copy of a Tail of Empathy from @brittmooseslp a local author, SLP and book children’s book enthusiast 🎃$50 gift card to @lovewildlyco the best sourdough goodies you’ll ever have. 👻Halloween playdough jar and ghost koozie from the playdough master, @prekindersinparadise 💀$25 credit to up your toy game from @swaptheplayroom 🎃$20 Target gift card and a Mom Walk hat from our fave mom friend @themomwalkco.stlouis 👻THREE play passes to @totspotsocial , one of the best playrooms in town 💀Halloween books from the best book lady @zzbooksandmore 🎃All the fun Halloween hair things from @topknotchbynatalie Here’s how to enter: 🕷️Like + save this post 🕷️Follow ALL accounts in this giveaway 🕷️Drop your favorite Halloween emoji in the comments 🎃👻🕸️ 🕷️Tag a friend (each tag = 1 entry!) 🗓️ Giveaway ends 10/1/26 at 11:59pm. Winner will be announced on this post on 10/2 directly from this account and via DM. *Please note: due to the nature and location of most of these prizes we are limiting this to the St. Louis area and you must be willing to arrange pick up. Good luck, ghouls & goblins! 🧡🖤 *not affiliated with Instagram
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Our Big Sibling Workshop will be here so soon, and we couldn’t do it without this AMAZING village!  We are so excited to have these incredible local businesses and community partners joining us to make this morning extra special for St. Louis families preparing for a new baby. From supporting parents through the big-sibling transition to keeping our little ones busy, fueled, moving, and cared for, these businesses are showing up in such a big way for our community! A HUGE thank you to our sponsors + partners: @newmomschool_stlwestcounty @preggoperks @mommoment.app @fishelchiropractic @barronswimschool @legacyphysicaltherapystl @bitesizedpeds With the lovely @stl_sitter team as our childcare support for the event! 
📸 PLUS Jewels Photo Co @jewelsphoto.co our official event photographer! And a special thank you to Tot Spot Social for hosting this event to create a morning that goes beyond “getting ready for a new baby” and gives big siblings the tools, connection, and confidence they need, too.  We are SO excited for October 4th! If you have a little one who is about to become a big sibling, this morning is for you.   Spots are limited so be sure to sign up before they’re gone!! Comment TICKETS to get yours.
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Every parent has had that moment: your baby takes a tumble, spikes a fever, or puts something in their mouth—and suddenly your brain is running through every possible worst-case scenario. 😅 But keeping your baby safe doesn’t have to mean living in a constant state of “what if?” In honor of Baby Safety Awareness Month, join us for Bumps, Burns & Big Feelings: Keeping Babies Safe Without Living in Fear, a FREE virtual conversation designed to help parents feel more prepared, more confident, and a little less overwhelmed by the everyday safety questions that come with raising little ones. Moderated by Sally Aldag, we’ll be joined by: ✨ Cierra Crowley, pediatric nurse practitioner & founder of @bitesizedpeds ✨ Dr. Whitney Casares, board-certified pediatrician, founder of @modernmommydoc & author of Raising Body-Confident Kids Together, we’ll talk about preventing common childhood injuries, what to do when accidents happen, and how to know when it’s time to call the pediatrician or seek emergency care. From bumps and burns to choking, fevers, babyproofing, and car seats, we’ll cover the practical safety knowledge every parent wishes they had before they needed it. Because the goal isn’t to eliminate every risk—it’s to feel equipped to handle the moments that come your way. 📅 Wednesday, September 16 ⏰ 10 AM EDT 💻 Free + Virtual Comment RSVP for the link to join! #BabySafetyMonth #BabySafetyAwarenessMonth #BabySafety #ParentingTips #NewParents #Babyproofing #Auggie
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Do you know the difference between choking and gagging? Knowing what to look for—and how to respond—can make all the difference. This clip comes from our Baby CPR and Choking: Calm, Confident Response event, where we break down what every parent and caregiver should know to feel more prepared in an emergency. And in honor of Baby Safety Month, we’re making the full event FREE to watch on AuggieTV all September long. 💛 Save this Reel, send it to a fellow parent or caregiver, and head to AuggieTV to watch the full conversation. Comment WATCH for the link! #BabySafetyMonth #BabySafety #InfantCPR #ChokingSafety #ParentingTips #Auggie
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Today’s fun: learning skills we hope we never have to use ❤️‍🩹 So grateful to @bitesizedpeds for helping our moms feel a little more prepared + confident!
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Our August Bumps & Bagels Recap 🤰🏽🥯☕️💛 New Mom School’s mission is to change the way postpartum looks for moms in our STL community - and that starts in pregnancy 🤰🏼 Most first-time moms look at birth as the finish line and too often forget what happens next. Without the right support in place, things can get hard when baby actually comes home — and not just those first few days, but weeks and months later too. Bumps & Bagels — generously sponsored this month by @fishelchiropractic and @bitesizedpeds — welcomed moms into the studio for warm bagels, good coffee, and even better company ☕️🥯 We talked, we laughed, we asked the questions you’re maybe too afraid to google, and we left feeling so much more prepared (and so much less alone) for life post-arrival. This is exactly why we do what we do. Pregnant mamas deserve community before baby arrives, not just after. If you’re expecting and haven’t joined us yet, you are SO welcome at our next one! Come hungry, come with questions, come as you are 💛✨
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Every parent hopes they'll never need to use infant CPR—but every parent should know it. ❤️ September is Baby Safety Month, making it the perfect time to learn one of the most important skills a caregiver can have. Join pediatric nurse practitioner and child safety expert Cierra of @bitesizedpeds for a hands-on workshop that will help you feel calm, prepared, and confident if your baby ever begins to choke or stops breathing. Together, you'll learn: 🫶 How to recognize a choking emergency ❤️ The exact steps to perform infant CPR 👶 What to do if your baby stops breathing ✨ Simple, easy-to-remember techniques you can recall when it matters most Whether you're an expecting parent, caring for a newborn, or simply want a refresher, this is one of those classes you'll be grateful you took. 📅 Wednesday, September 2 🕚 11:00 AM EDT 💻 Free + Virtual Tag a parent, grandparent, or caregiver who should take this class. It could make all the difference. 💚
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I’m a Masters-qualified paed nurse. Yet, when my son got his first tick (yes, he’s had more than one), I honestly had no idea how I was supposed to remove it. After a quick Google, a dash to the pharmacy, and a very patient 4 year old, we had the tick out in no time. This situation stuck with me, because it’s the perfect example of the two things you actually need when first aid is required: 1. A well-stocked kit, and 2. The knowledge to actually use it. One without the other leaves you stuck. So this post is your nudge to sort both. Here are my fav child and baby specific first aid businesses: @paeds_education @rhythm.firstaid @little_beat_first_aid @cradleandkin @bitesizedpeds @cprkids These peeps are not first aid specific, but give such valuable child-health-illness education ⤵️ @doctor.lils @dr.beachgem10 @dr_niamh_lynch @dr_nelu_simonsz @doctor.preeya.alexander @pedsdoctalk And a pre-emotive clarification: first aid is for the accidents and injuries. Sick Happens is for when your child is unwell. Both very different. But both very much needed. . . . Tell me: what’s the first aid moment that caught you off guard?
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