RLpedsmd

Regarding the Feb 20 post on younger siblings and worse long-term outcomes related to illness early in life, it seems to me that the most plausible explanation for these findings is “vulnerable child syndrome” rather than illness itself. This is a common phenomenon where parents of a child who requires hospitalization view their child as “vulnerable,” even if the illness fully resolves and has no long term consequences. These parents are more likely to take their kids to the doctor for minor illness or injury and generally parent them in a more cautious way. I wonder if this could account for the findings in the article, at least somewhat. -a pediatrician mom