Is your child afraid at night? Should you allow them to sleep in your bed?
BABYSLEEP.COM
What are nighttime fears? How is that different from something like an anxiety disorder? How can I respond to nighttime fears? | Baby Sleep Advice for Parents & Kids
Nothing about Covid-19 is simple. Very frustrating.
NPR.ORG
Why A Negative Coronavirus Test Doesn't Necessarily Mean You're In The Clear
We Are Pediatricians
17 hrs ·
A negative COVID19 test does not confirm that you aren't infected.
If you've been exposed, you MUST stay home for 14 days to quarantine with a negative test.
If you're exposed, develop symptoms and test positive, it may be a shorter isolation. This leads to confusion, but is due to the time frame we think people are most infectious.
The CDC site has all the up to date information on how long to quarantine and isolate.
https://www.npr.org/sections/latest-updates-trump-covid-19-results/2020/10/02/919731011/why-a-negative-coronavirus-test-doesnt-necessarily-mean-you-re-in-the-clear
We Are Pediatricians
17 hrs ·
A negative COVID19 test does not confirm that you aren't infected.
If you've been exposed, you MUST stay home for 14 days to quarantine with a negative test.
If you're exposed, develop symptoms and test positive, it may be a shorter isolation. This leads to confusion, but is due to the time frame we think people are most infectious.
The CDC site has all the up to date information on how long to quarantine and isolate.
https://www.npr.org/sections/latest-updates-trump-covid-19-results/2020/10/02/919731011/why-a-negative-coronavirus-test-doesnt-necessarily-mean-you-re-in-the-clear
Watch the kids’ “Joy” (you’ll need the sound on):
YOUTUBE.COM
Som Sabadell flashmob - BANCO SABADELL
Pandemic or no pandemic, PUBERTY will continue its relentless march:
https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/29/health/puberty-development-pandemic-wellness/index.html
What about holiday celebrations this year (2020 - Annus Horribilis)? The CDC has suggestions:
CDC.GOV
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Is it OK for your child to drink coffee? Just maybe...
TIME.COM
Should Parents Worry About Kids and Coffee?
Little choppers!
The Doc Smitty - Dr Justin Smith, Pediatrician
Yesterday at 5:13 PM ·
Teething is a frustrating, confusing problem...
😢🆘🙊🤱😬🔥❤️🤬🤕
Here are 10 facts about teething:
1) Teeth begin forming after 6 weeks of gestation. Environmental and genetic factors can affect the strength and location of teeth. So, dental problems can be inherited.
2) Teeth most commonly come out between 6 and 10 months of age and most toddlers have all their primary teeth by 2.5 years. They usually erupt with the middle bottom or top first and both sides usually come out at the same time. But...variations to this can occur and it's usually nothing to worry about. Interestingly, girls often have tooth eruption earlier than boys. You can start to brush your baby's teeth when they erupt with a smear of fluoride toothpaste.n
3) Teeth can be present at birth. These teeth can be the primary teeth and can stay in if they are secure. Working with nursing can be a challenge but it can be done. If the tooth is loose or otherwise abnormal, it can be pulled to limit the risk of them inhaling it sometimes when it does fall out.
4) Teething symptoms can vary between kids but are usually not severe. While not all fussiness during this time can be attributed to teething, it is possible that children could be fussy around the time of tooth eruption. But, prolong or excessive fussiness, should not be written off as "just teething."
5) Teething studies suggest that the most common symptoms associated with teething are: gum irritation (87%), irritability (68%) and drooling (56%). Elevations of temperature have been suggested but they do not rise to true fever so temperatures are less than 100.4. True fever should have other causes considered.
6) Teething symptoms are best managed by local methods such as chewing on teething rings and massage. Chilled but not frozen objects are helpful and prevent the risk of causing damage to the gums and cheeks that can happen with frozen items.
7) Teething products such as over the counter homeopathic tabs and gels have not been studied and shown to be effective. There are some potential downsides, particularly with gels, such as a condition known as methemoglobinemia which looks very much like cyanide poisoning in babies-they turn blue.
8) Teething symptoms with molars seem to be cause more severe symptoms in my experience. As these back teeth seem to have a broader base and have to push their way out. These generally erupt around 2 years of age.
9) Permanent teeth usually erupt around 6 years of age. Eruption of a permanent tooth before the baby tooth falls out is fairly common (shark teeth). Sometimes these need to be pulled in order to allow space for the permanent teeth to fall into place.
10) When teeth do not erupt until 6 months after their expected time frame, we should consider if an underlying condition might be present. Sometimes it can be as simple as genetically missing teeth but other systemic conditions can be present.
ZEROTOTHREE.ORG
School Readiness
We Are Pediatricians
October 21 at 7:55 AM ·
With fewer kids going to daycare and preschool these days, what can you do to help ensure your kids will be ready for school?
There are many ideas from infants through preschool aged kids on this site.
https://www.zerotothree.org/early-learning/school-readiness
A play playbook:
ZEROTOTHREE.ORG
Play
What to do about Halloween (besides the awesome photo-op)?
THEPEDIATRICIANMOM.COM
How to celebrate Halloween Safely this year - The Pediatrician Mom
Don't forget exercise!
TWOPEDSINAPOD.ORG
Quick exercises for kids and teens - Two Peds in a Pod®
Gossip: it flies faster than truth and is often more cruel. (This article comes from England and some words are spelt differently.)
LINDASTADE.COM
Gossip At School: Our Gossip Girls and Boys
Beloved visitors coming soon. What to do?
NPR.ORG
A College Student Is Coming Home. Should The Whole Family Wear Masks?
This pandemic is tough on everyone - now imagine being a teenager during this era of isolation.
NYTIMES.COM
Teens in Covid Isolation: ‘I Felt Like I Was Suffocating’
CONSTIPATION: it may be hard to digest the puns, but once they pass, this brief posting should provide some relief.
The Doc Smitty - Dr Justin Smith, Pediatrician
November 9 at 6:51 PM ·
10 facts about constipation
This is a hard topic to write about. But here are 10 little nuggets of wisdom that might help:
1) Newborns are rarely truly constipated. Straining, turning red, and sometimes skipping days are all pretty normal variations that are not concerning. If the baby does not pass stool for long periods (many days in a row) or there are hard balls, call your pediatrician.
2) In older infants, here are the things we use to define constipation: hard stools, large caliber or painful stool and only going 1-2 times per week (with the frequency being the least important part).
3) There are three major time periods where constipation is common: introduction of solid foods, introduction of cow's milk, potty training and school entry.
4) Here are some major ways to combat these major problem times: ensure adequate fiber intake (fruits and vegetables or use a supplement if necessary), push your child to drink more fluids, limit cows milk to 16-24 ounces per day, and schedule time on the potty before and after school.
5) Most constipation is benign with no underlying cause but here are some red flags that should cause more concern: present since birth/infancy, other symptom (vomiting/fever), blood in the stool or on toilet paper, belly swelling, long/narrow stools, urinary accidents, poor growth, abnormal sensation of the legs, or an abnormal birth mark on the lower back.
6) Children can have stool every day and still be constipated. Chronic belly pain can be caused by constipation even with stool every day. It's usually reasonable to aggressively treat a child who seems like they might be constipated before doing a big workup for belly pain.
7) Increasing fiber intake sometimes isn't enough to get things moving. In that case, using a trial of Miralax or other stool softener might be the best option. Keep in mind that we have to keep the stool soft for a few weeks in order for everything to get back to normal. Your pediatrician can help you with dosing and a regimen to maintain a dose but not cause diarrhea.
8) Sometimes even Miralax isn't enough. If there is enough stool stuck in the rectum, it may require a suppository or enema to get things moving. If you have done Miralax for a few days without stool, call your pediatrician for recommendation of how to get things going.
9) Diarrhea can sometimes be a sign of constipation...this one sometimes blows everyone's mind. But think about it. If there is hard stool stuck in rectum, the only thing that can get around it is loose, runny stool. Sometimes this can be associated with a loss of sensation in that area and can lead to leaky stools. So particularly if you start to see loose stool in the underwear in a child with a history of firm stool...think constipation.
10) Constipation is actually a VERY common problem. Something like 20-25% of children will deal with it at some point in their life. So, if you're facing it, it's a crappy problem but you're not alone.
Toddler drama:
ZEROTOTHREE.ORG
I Said I Want the Red Bowl! Responding to Toddlers’ Irrational Behavior
What to do about Thanksgiving? This article is a tad scary, but worth the read to help you decide.
ROBINSCHOENTHALER.MEDIUM.COM
Should I Hold Thanksgiving During Covid?
FYI: our office has resumed routine Saturday morning and Monday to Thursday evening hours. Hours may vary with holidays and vacations (and potential Covid-19 lockdowns), but, for now, we are back!
The office will have a delayed opening at 10:30 this morning (Tuesday) due to the weather conditions.
Due to unsafe driving conditions, the office is closed today (Monday). If you have an urgent medical issue, please call our regular phone #: 856 461-1717.
Is your child too thin? Assuming there are no underlying conditions, you can try to increase their calorie intake:
TWOPEDSINAPOD.ORG
High calorie foods for underweight children - Two Peds in a Pod®
Teaching your young child to wear a mask (masks not currently recommended for kids less than 2 years old):
COVID-19 isolation (if you've got it) and quarantine (if you're exposed to it) guidelines from the NJ Department of Health. Note that the NJ DoH is not promoting the CDC's reduced quarantine periods (and the CDC even says these reduced times are not ideal).
https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/documents/topics/NCOV/COVID-How-Long-Isolate-Quarantine.pdf
NJ.GOV
www.nj.gov
Tantrums? No problem! (right...)
AHAPARENTING.COM
Tantrums are normal but some are avoidable, here's how.
