Lurie Children's Little Ones

Lurie Children's Little Ones is a comprehensive program for children ages birth to four years old in the Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health.

The early years can be a challenging time for parenting with the rapid growth, development and behavioral changes happening in infants and children. Lurie Children’s Little Ones aims to help navigate this time by offering support, guidance, assessment and intervention. We work with the infant, child and family to provide a comprehensive evaluation and formulate treatment recommendations.

Services Offered

Our team offers the following services for infants, toddlers and preschoolers.

Infant interventions for:

Excessive crying and fussiness
General soothing concerns
Sleep concerns/schedule
Supporting parents in the first months
Adjusting to medical diagnosis

Toddler and preschool interventions for:

Defiant and willful behaviors
Tantrums
Anxiety, separation anxiety and fears
Potty training resistance
Sleep problems
Picky or restrictive eating
Adjustments to school/daycare
Adjustments to family changes

Group therapy (infant/child and caregiver) for:

Developmental progression
Disruptive behavior
Early executive functioning and attention concerns
Anxiety

Developmental assessment for:

Developmental status of infants
Developmental delays
Genetic concerns and medical complexities

Seminars for parents:

How to establish a daily routine
How to improve my child’s sleep
How to improve my child’s eating
How to manage my child’s behavior/what are “normal” tantrums
Anxiety in toddlers and preschoolers
Planning ahead for transitions and changes
How to talk with children about family changes (divorce, adoption, move, death)

Our Team

Miller Shivers, PhD

Director, Lurie Children’s Little Ones;
Pediatric and Infant Mental Health Psychologist

Jeanne E. Antisdel, PhD

Pediatric Psychologist

Annelise Cunningham, PhD

Post-Doctoral Fellow

Rebecca M. Kanine, PhD

Pediatric Psychologist, The Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health

Caroline E. Kerns, PhD

Staff Psychologist

Kim Leinhop, LCSW

Clinical Social Worker

Beth Pettinelli, LCSW

Clinical Social Worker

Tips From Our Experts

What Is Infant Mental Health?

The field of Infant Mental Health refers to the relationship between infants and children from birth to age 5 and their families/caregivers.

Beyond Goo-Goo & Gaa-Gaa: The Power of Talking to Your Little One

Little ones look to their caregivers for signs and cues to inform them on how to respond to what is going on around them.

When Your Child Is Scared to Poop on the Potty

Our experts provide a progressive plan to get your child to poop on the potty.

Make an Appointment

If your infant, toddler or preschooler is in need of an assessment or intervention strategies, please call and ask for an appointment with Lurie Children’s Little Ones.

You will be asked to briefly describe the nature of your concerns. You will then receive a call from an intake worker in the Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health where they will gather more detailed information and schedule an appointment with one of the Lurie Children’s Little Ones’ team members.

1.800.543.7362

Resources for Families