Unlimited Text Messaging with Dr. Harrington

Unlimited Text Messaging—How It Works

Have a question about your child? Text me directly! This membership allows you to message me about any of your children—any time, as questions come up.

Your subscription includes:

  • Unlimited questions about all of your children (one flat fee per family)

  • Personalized, evidence-based guidance to help you make confident decisions about your child’s health

  • 50% off all virtual consults

Besides answering all your kid-related questions, I can also help you decide whether your child needs to be seen in person, clarify advice from your primary care doctor or specialist, review test results, or prepare for upcoming appointments. Really, I’m here for everything!

Who This Service Is For

This membership is designed for parents who:

  • Want quick, reliable answers from a trusted pediatrician without booking an appointment or waiting on hold forever

  • Appreciate having a “pediatrician friend” to help interpret medical advice and navigate the healthcare system

  • Have children under 22 years old (special exceptions for special needs children)

  • Live in Minnesota (texting membership is only available to Minnesota residents)

  • Already have a primary care provider—this service is a supplement, not a replacement

What Can I Help With

You can text me about:

  • Fevers, colds, sore throats, allergy symptoms, rashes, pinkeye, swimmer’s ear, stomach bugs…any of those acute kid illnesses!

  • Mild injuries, cuts, and scrapes. I can help you decide if you need stitches or an orthopedist!

  • Guidance before or after a doctor’s visit

  • Clarifying what a specialist recommended or what lab/test results mean

  • General parenting and wellness questions—think development, behavioral, feeding and sleep! I’ve got you covered.

What I Can’t Do Virtually

To keep safe and to practice medicine ethically and responsibly, I cannot:

  • Diagnose or treat ear infections or strep throat over text

  • Manage emergencies or urgent middle-of-the-night issues

  • Provide ongoing diagnosis or treatment for mental health conditions

  • Replace your child’s regular primary care visits

If your child has a serious or urgent issue, please call 911 or your clinic’s after-hours line.

When I Respond

  • I answer messages between 7 am and 8 pm.

  • You can expect a response within about 2 hours during those hours (although it is usually MUCH faster).

  • If you text after 8 pm and I am available, I will answer. However, I do not monitor messages overnight—I’ll reply as soon as I’m available in the morning.

How Much Does It Cost?

  • Monthly Plan: $100 per month

  • Quarterly Plan: $275 every 3 months

  • Payment is due at the time of sign-up. Insurance is not accepted. Memberships automatically renew. You can cancel any time—your cancellation will take effect at the start of your next billing cycle.

Ready to Join?

Enjoy peace of mind knowing you can text a trusted pediatrician when questions come up.

Click below to sign up for monthly or quarterly texting support—or message me if you’d like help getting started or have any questions. Let’s be friends!

Become a Member!

Testimonials

  • “We’ve been blown away b Dr Harrington’s responsiveness, attention to detail, and extraordinary care. We use the subscription texting regularly, and we’ve also taken advantage of video visits, which have been incredibly helpful.  We are an MD/APRN (pediatric) family, so we’re particular about who we trust and what we expect. Kate always supports her guidance with both data and deep clinical experience. She has a remarkable ability to speak to us in both worlds—honoring our medical/nursing backgrounds while understanding that we’re parents first. Her communication is always calming, thoughtful, and deeply informative.

    Kate treats all of our children by speaking to them directly, which creates a level of connection — especially for younger kids who are still learning to feel seen and heard.

    We have four kids (ages 9, 6, 4, and 1), and she’s helped us through RSV, endless colds and viruses, chronic strep and tonsillitis, questionable staph, cold sore meds, sleep issues, and most recently, navigating the need for tonsil removal. The reassurance she’s given us has been absolutely invaluable. We’re so grateful for her and for this service!”

    -Emily & Matt (children ages 9, 6, 4 & 1)

  • “Dr. Harrington was a lifesaver when my daughter was very sick, and our pediatrician couldn’t provide answers. She gave us a much-needed second opinion, which allowed us to advocate for our daughter and get her the proper diagnosis quickly. Thanks to Dr. Harrington, she was on the road to recovery much sooner. We are so grateful for her expertise and care!”

    -Jen (child age 11)


  • “Your Pediatrician Friend has been an invaluable service to our family. Dr. Harrington is truly one of a kind- so thorough, knowledgeable, and reassuring- everything you'd want in a pediatrician! She has been incredibly helpful to our family and has saved us so many trips to the doctors office and even the ER. Dr. Harrington is super responsive (even when she's on the other side of the world!) and so caring. I can't recommend her enough. This service is worth every penny!”

    -A. Leung (children ages 4 & 2.5)

  • “Our teen experienced severe facial swelling while on Spring Break. Initially, I talked to the nurse line at our regular pediatrician’s office. They offered solutions that included three types of medications and discussed us making a trip in to see a doctor. I decided to get a second opinion from Dr. Harrington. Not only did Dr. Harrington provide a detailed explanation of what was happening inside the body to cause the swelled appearance, she offered a solution that did not involve any medication. My teen followed her advice and was noticeably better within hours and has had continuous improvement since. We saved a trip to the doctor’s office and avoided unnecessary medication! Thank you, Dr. Harrington!”

    -Mom of 16 year old


  • “So thankful for Dr. Kate Harrington and this service. She has been a great resource and second opinion for several illnesses/medical concerns that we have had. She is thorough, empathetic, quick to respond and follow up, and very knowledgeable on every concern/illness that we have discussed with her. Being able to text a pediatrician to help make medical decisions for our children has been such a valuable service to us and we look forward to being clients for years to come!” 

    -Emily Eppel (children ages 4, 2 & 7 months)

  • “As a Mom to two busy boys, managing all the things can sometimes feel overwhelming. However, since I started using Dr. Harrington’s texting service, the mental load has significantly lightened. This service is a game-changer for busy parents like me.

    The convenience of being able to text a pediatrician anytime with questions or concerns is invaluable. Whether it's about symptoms, medication, or general advice, Dr. Harrington provides prompt, reliable, and reassuring responses. The peace of mind knowing that expert help is just a text away has made a world of difference.

    I highly recommend Dr. Harrington’s texting service to any parent looking for help with managing the mental load around kids' health questions, it's been a game changer for me! “

    -Sophie A. (children ages 7 & 5)

  • “I cannot speak highly enough of Dr. Harrington. She is approachable, an excellent listener, and never makes you feel like an overanxious parent. Her guidance is always clear, thoughtful, and genuinely helpful. She has a remarkable way of putting your mind at ease and reminding you that you’re not alone in facing health or behavioral challenges with your child. Thank you, Dr. Harrington—you’re truly the best!”

    -Meghan K. (children ages 7 & 3)

  • “Navigating a new ADHD and learning disability diagnosis for our child felt overwhelming - until we connected with Dr. Harrington. 

    She answered every question with clarity and compassion, provided us the information we needed to make confident decisions, gave advice for how to talk with our daughter, and helped us build a plan that felt thoughtful, doable, and full of hope. We left our first virtual visit with a deep sense of relief - a feeling of, "we’ve got this." Her warmth, care, and steady guidance have been an incredible gift during a time that initially felt so uncertain. We’re planning to continue with Dr. Harrington for a few months as we get our feet under us, as it gives us real peace of mind knowing she’s in our corner!”

    -Anonymous 

  • "There is no other doctor we trust more than Dr. Harrington. She has taken care of our two girls, ages 9 and 12, since birth. There is no one more experienced or informed than her. If your kiddo has a tricky health concern, I’m sure she’s seen it before…more than once. She approaches every situation with a kind and calm voice. Her demanor makes our girls and us so comfortable and confident in their treatment. They look forward to their appointments with her. We would highly recommend Dr. Harrington.”

    -Alyssa

Frequently Asked Questions

Get Started

  • A: My goal is to be more accessible than your triage line, more personal, and not lead to more charges. When you call to ask a question at a typical doctor’s office, you leave a message, wait for a nurse to call you back, then wait for the nurse to talk to the doctor. Or you may not have a chance to talk to the doctor at all, and are just told that you need to make an appointment. With Your Pediatrician Friend, you will always be communicating with me–not a triage nurse, a covering physician or AI. By taking out the middleman, we can have more efficient and effective communication. You can text me questions and photos, get my impressions, and even get treatment for some issues, all in one interaction. No more playing phone tag or waiting for the doctor to call you back.


  • A: Your Pediatrician Friend has a limited membership, to avoid lack of access or lack of a personal feel. In my private clinical practice, I had over 2,000 patients. By having just a fraction of that patient load in this new model, patient communication can be more manageable.  Also, I know that you are all reasonable people, and will respect my time. As a one woman show, it would not be sustainable for me to answer questions throughout the day and night. I expect that people will be thoughtful about the timing of their texts, understanding that I have a family and other obligations.

  • A: Generally you could expect a response within 2 hours between the hours of 7am and 8 pm. There will be extenuating circumstances when I am unreachable, because that is life! But, I would let you know if that were to happen.

  • A: For simple cases of pinkeye, swimmer’s ear, eczema, ringworm and impetigo, I could prescribe medication, if needed, after a text exchange. It is possible, however, that upon my questioning I discover something that I think needs to be evaluated in a clinic setting. In those instances, I would refer you back to your regular doctor.

  • A: I have not received any investor funding, so am unable to offer bargain basement prices. Further, you are paying for high-quality answers from a board-certified pediatrician with 20 years of clinical experience every time you send a question! I believe the personalized approach from a trusted resource is worth the cost.

  • A: I have a medical license in the state of Minnesota, and regulations prohibit telemedicine across state lines. Other entities offer their services in multiple states because they have multiple providers from many different states that are employed by their organization. At Your Pediatrician Friend, it is just me!

  • A: Yes! Anytime I prescribe medication, I would send a visit summary to your regular doctor. I feel it is important that your regular doctor has a full picture of your health.

  • A: At this time, Your Pediatrician Friend is a purely virtual-based healthcare service.

  • A: No, I do not accept insurance. You are free to check with your insurance company or HSA to see if they would cover my services, but you will be charged directly for services.

  • A: I will bill your credit/debit card or bank account directly each month (for monthly subscriptions) or every 3 months (for 3 month subscriptions) for your membership, starting from the time of sign-up. You will be automatically charged monthly/every 3rd month depending upon the type of membership selected. Cancellation is available anytime (see link at bottom of page for policy).