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The Next Evolution of Pediatric Care Modern families are busy. Schedules are full, kids get sick at inconvenient times, and navigating the healthcare system often adds stress instead of relief. At Balanced Kids, we believe pediatric care should fit into your life—not require your family to rearrange everything around a clinic visit. Balanced Kids is built on a Direct Primary Care (DPC)  model. This approach removes many of the barriers found in traditional healthcare and repl

By Dr. Sarah Slater, DNP, CPNP-PC, ECS Specialist Concerns about vitamin K, whether injection or oral, are common. For most parents, these concerns do not come from being “anti-science.” They come from a deeply human place: wanting to protect their baby, avoid harm, and make thoughtful, informed decisions. Understanding where these fears originate is essential for having respectful, productive conversations about vitamin K and newborn care. Safety Concerns About the Vitamin

By Dr. Sarah Slater, DNP, CPNP-PC, ECS Specialist There is a lot of fear and confusion surrounding the “best” way to give vitamin K to newborns , especially when families are choosing between injection and oral dosing. In the United States , the standard recommendation is the vitamin K injection . It is quick, it is given once, and it virtually eliminates the risk of missed doses or absorption problems. This recommendation does not mean that oral vitamin K is unsafe or ineff

By Dr. Sarah Slater, DNP, PCNP-PC, ECS Specialist A common myth that continues to spread misinformation about Vitamin K: “Babies have all the clotting factors they need by day eight of life, making vitamin K supplementation unnecessary.” THIS IS NOT TRUE. This misunderstanding traces back to a study published in 1941 that is still cited today, without proper context. This 84-year-old study, showed that a clotting protein called prothrombin rises to normal levels by seven to

By Dr. Sarah Slater, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC, ECS Specialist Understanding Vitamin K and Newborn Health Vitamin K plays a critical role in blood clotting, yet many parents first encounter it only after their baby is born. To understand why vitamin K is recommended for newborns today, it helps to look at how it was discovered and how its absence led to serious bleeding in infants long before modern prevention existed. Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding Before Routine Prevention Before v

Navigating healthcare can often feel overwhelming for families, especially when it comes to young children. The idea of traveling to a clinic or lab for pediatric testing can create anxiety for both parents and kids. We understand these challenges. That’s why we are thrilled to announce our partnership with Speedy Sticks, a national mobile phlebotomy service that brings lab draws and specimen collection directly to your home. This collaboration aims to enhance the quality and

Sick child? Stay home and let Balanced Kids come to you A few weeks ago, I spoke with a new acquaintance who shared her family’s recent...

Understanding the Immune System in Children The immune system is the body’s natural defense network, made up of cells, tissues, and...

As a parent, your time is valuable—and your child’s health is your top priority. Between school pickups, work meetings, and sports...

Your Balanced Kids Pediatric Healthcare Provider, Dr. Sarah Slater, DNP Hi, I’m Dr. Sarah Slater, DNP, CPNP-PC —a pediatric nurse practitioner, wife, mom of two, and the founder of Balanced Kids , a Direct Primary Care (DPC) pediatric practice based out of Prior Lake, Minnesota. My mission is simple: to provide high-quality, relationship-based pediatric care that fits into real life without rushed visits, long wait times, or insurance-driven limitations. I believe children t

In today’s fast-paced world, parents juggle work, school, sports, and countless to-dos—all while trying to prioritize their children’s...