Health & Beauty

In the spirit of October being Breast Cancer Awareness month, we wanted to share a beautiful story about a local mom in Weston, Julia Kosinski. Mom to three little ones, Julia was diagnosed with breast cancer when her second son (now 5 years old) was just 5 months old. After her own journey with chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, immunotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy, and breast reconstruction. she struggled to connect with her new body, especially when it came to being carefree at the beach and pool, and could not find elevated and youthful swimwear that made her comfortable. Recognizing this, she decided to make her own, and with a tremendous amount of input and try-on sessions with many women, resme was born! In addition to a higher neckline, extended underarm coverage, and UPF50+ fabric, the swimwear has a unique padded top that smooths, compresses, and conceals any areas of asymmetry. In her spare time, Julia loves game night and hikes with her family, can not survive without dried mango and chocolate chip cookie batter, and swears by Kari Gran Face Balm. Julia’s story is one of survival, resilience, and entrepreneurship; we hope you enjoy It!

This Baby Safety Month, Goldfish Swim School and board-certified pediatrician Dr. Molly O’Shea give 5 tips for parents when it comes to keeping babies safe around water.

While Labor Day symbolizes the end of the Summer season to many, it’s important to note that the end of SPF season is nowhere in sight. Seen as a summer staple for many, SPF is a year round, daily skincare need to adequately protect the skin from harmful UV rays. To spread this message and educate the Westport community about the importance of year-round sun protection, MDSolarSciences CEO and Westport resident Renee Plato took to the streets to arm the Westport community with sun protection ahead of the holiday weekend, educating civilians about the danger of sun exposure. Locally based in Westport, CT, MDSolarSciences is a dermatologist-founded and formulated SPF skincare brand on a mission to spread awareness about the necessity of daily use of SPF! Learn more!

With back to school around the corner, backpacks are all the rage! Backpacks are customizable, come in all shapes, sizes and colors and are the ultimate in self-expression. But—when not worn properly, they can cause short- or long-term problems in kids’ muscles, joints and—well—back. So what’s the right way to wear and carry a backpack? What else should you know so we can keep our learners in good physical health? Dr. Phil Mack, orthopedic surgeon with Connecticut Children’s, has answers.

Like college students heading home from school, children returning home from sleepaway camp have a big adjustment ahead. Sometimes, re-entry can become…rocky.  It’s not just kids getting used to living back under our roof; we parents likely miss our break from driving and dinner duty.

TLMN contributor Dr. Reon Baird-Feldman says this bumpy return to the routine is both normal and expected: “Kids are returning home from an environment full of routine and structure from the moment they wake up until it’s time to go to sleep.” That’s a lot of stimulation that’s gone overnight. Dr. Baird-Feldman says the huge shift back at home can create boredom, a penchant for pushing boundaries, and even anxiety.

If you had trouble breastfeeding, your baby may have had a tongue-tie. But the controversial surgery that some pediatricians or lactation consultants recommend, called a tongue-tie release, may not be right for your baby.We spoke with a pediatric dentist about the pros and cons of the procedure and exactly what to ask your doctor when deciding.

Sunscreen for kids is one of those necessary evils every parent deals with in summer. Most kids will whine or try to wriggle their way out of it, making it feel like you’re trying to put sunscreen on a wild animal instead of a kid. Plus, trying to decide which sunblocks to use can feel overwhelming – sticks vs sprays, chemical vs mineral, not to mention rash guards, sunglasses, etc. To sort through what you actually need to know this season, we’re sharing the below interview with Lauren Geller, MD, a Westchester, NY-based pediatric dermatologist associated with Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

With so many baby products on the market, how do you decide what you actually need for your little one? Introducing The Local Moms Network Baby Guide – a trustworthy resource created by experienced moms, for moms.

When your blood pressure levels are in question, medications may not always be the best answer. Lifestyle changes, including diet and exercise, can make a big difference in your health.
In our latest blog, Dr. Nabeel Salih, a primary care provider with Hartford HealthCare MedicalGroup in Fairfield, discusses five natural ways to keep your blood pressure under control.