Needham Pediatrics

10/22/2026

Children bump their heads—it is a common part of growing up. While most head bumps do not cause serious harm, some can affect a child's brain or a concussion (a mild traumatic brain injury). Knowing how to prevent concussions, manage recovery, and recognize warning signs is essential for every parent.

🧠 What is a Concussion? It is a brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body. Symptoms can include headaches, dizziness, confusion, nausea, and sensitivity to light or noise.

🛡️ Prevention First:
Always use helmets for bikes, scooters, and sports.
Install safety gates on stairs and secure heavy furniture.
Supervise playground play.

📞 When to Call Our Nursing Line (781-444-7186):
- Loss of speech or slurred speech
- Weakness on one side of the body
- Difficult to awaken or acting very confused
- Headache worsens despite using pain medicine
- Neck pain or stiffness
- Worsening or new concussion symptoms (e.g., repeated vomiting or unsteady walking due to dizziness)
- Concussion symptoms without improvement by day 4 and don't resolve completely by 4 weeks
- Your child becomes worse and is “not themselves”

Please see CDC video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIDDOaONU3c

This video was developed by the CDC HEADS UP initiative and provide...

10/15/2026

When it comes to teething remedies, stay on the safe side! Here’s how parents can soothe their teething child and which methods they should avoid.

Remember: always reach out to your pediatrician if you have questions about what teething remedies are appropriate for your child.

10/05/2026

This National Primary Care Week, we celebrate the outstanding practices within Boston Children’s Primary Care Alliance! From providing comprehensive care to creating a welcoming environment for families, providers and staff go above and beyond to support the health and well-being of patients as they grow. We thank them for all that they do!

10/01/2026

09/28/2026

On Monday, September 28, at around 5 PM, Dr. Alan Stern will see his last patient at Needham Pediatrics, culminating a 32-year career with our practice.

Dr. Stern grew up in Needham and was himself a patient at our practice as a child, cared for by Dr. Chris Salvo, our founding partner. After college at Brown, medical school at the University of Vermont, and a residency in pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital, Dr. Stern returned home to Needham, and to Needham Pediatrics.

Dr. Stern started working with us in July 1994. Since then, Dr. Stern has cared for thousands of patients, helping families navigate the challenges and variations of growth and development, and assuring that children get prompt, high-quality care when needed for illness or injury.

Behind the scenes, Dr. Stern has made sure that all of us at Needham Pediatrics hold ourselves to the same high standards he has set for himself. At Needham Pediatrics, we try very hard to do things the right way, and our successes are in no small part a result of Dr. Stern’s tireless efforts and the example he has set.

We’ll miss Dr. Stern’s excellent clinical skills and his commitment to doing his best for the children and families we serve. But what we’ll miss most of all is Dr. Stern’s personal warmth, kindness, and humor. Even though we’re working hard, Dr. Stern makes sure that our workplace is filled with congratulations for successes in our personal lives, compassion when we face setbacks, and plenty of laughs when opportune moments arise. Dr. Stern is a great doctor and colleague. But most of all, he is a great friend.

We will miss Dr. Stern greatly, but we’re so happy to wish him health and happiness in his well-earned retirement years.

09/24/2026

After 32 years of caring for generations of children and families in our community, Dr. Stern has officially retired from Needham Pediatrics!
 
Throughout his tenure, Dr. Stern provided exceptional medical care with compassionate guidance—always delivered with his signature quick wit and sense of humor that could make any patient (and parent) smile. In addition to his dedication at the clinic, he served on the Needham Board of Health and was the Needham school physician for 30 years. The relationships he has built, the laughs he has shared, and the impact he has made on so many lives are a true testament to his commitment to pediatric medicine.
 
Please join us in thanking Dr. Stern for his extraordinary dedication, service, and humor, and in wishing him a happy, healthy, and fulfilling retirement. We are going to miss you, Dr. Stern!
 

09/22/2026

With the new school year starting, now is a great time to teach your child the value of empathy. It can help them make friends, prevent bullying behavior, and face social challenges with kindness. Here are five tips for encouraging your child to be kind!

09/17/2026

Youth sports can build confidence, resilience, and connection, but ...

09/14/2026

Late summer is the perfect time to get your child in the best position to manage their asthma during fall and winter.