New offering provides 24/7 virtual pediatric visits and an at-home kit for families with children under 12.

Carrot, a family-building and parenting benefits provider, is expanding its parenting benefits to include on-demand pediatric telemedicine through Blueberry Pediatrics. The service, announced February 18, is aimed at families with children under 12 and is intended to help parents access pediatric care without needing to visit an urgent care clinic or emergency department.

Members will have 24/7 access to virtual visits with board-certified pediatricians for common childhood conditions such as ear infections, rashes, colds, and influenza-like symptoms. The benefit also includes a home medical kit with a wireless digital ear scope, a pediatric pulse oximeter, and a thermometer, which the companies say can support remote evaluation and treatment during telemedicine visits.

Tammy Sun said the addition is designed to reduce the trade-offs parents face between work and caring for a sick child. Carrot also positioned the service as a way for employers to reduce absenteeism and lower costs tied to avoidable high-acuity care.

Carrot and Blueberry cited company-provided estimates suggesting telemedicine can reduce unnecessary pediatric emergency department use. Rich Berner said the partnership is intended to expand access to pediatric care for working families and reduce costs associated with emergency visits and missed work.

The pediatric telemedicine offering is being added to Carrot’s existing parenting benefits, which the company said include expert chats, educational resources, group sessions, and care navigation. Carrot said the goal is to combine preventive guidance, real-time clinical access, and care coordination into a single experience for employers offering the benefit.