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Category "Pediatrics"

20Aug2021

Keeping Your Child Safe in the Heat

The temperatures are rising, and the last days of summer break are here, leading many parents to want to make the most of the waning days of summer. It’s essential, though, to stop and think about the dangers posed by the record temperatures when your child is playing outside. Taking some time to look at how to keep your child safe in the heat is always a good idea.

Pay Attention to these Summer Heat Dangers

First and foremost, you’ll need to remember that it’s never a good idea for a child to stay outside in extreme temperatures for very long. You’ll want to use your best judgment, of course, but frequent breaks from playing outside are a must. Even if this just means sitting in the shade under an umbrella for a few minutes, giving your child’s body time to cool down and adapt will be helpful.

It’s also a good idea to make sure that your child is wearing light clothing that won’t further increase their body heat. Hats can do a great job of providing shade and protection, but make sure that you’re also using sunblock on your child when they go outside – the last thing you want to deal with is a sunburn, after all. Remember, sunblock does need to be reapplied, so pay attention to the labels on the products that you use.

Finally, make sure that your child stays well-hydrated when outside. Bring a large water bottle with you any time you go outside, and make sure that your child is frequently drinking. It’s also a good idea to consider bringing some kind of healthy sports drink with you as well, as your child will need to replenish their electrolytes after a hard day of playing and sweating.

While you certainly don’t need to feel like you should always keep your child inside, it is important to make sure that you’re keeping your child safe when the temperatures rise. The right clothing, the right amount of water, and frequent breaks during play can help your child stay safe while still giving them an excellent chance to make the most of these last days of their summer break.

Kids Staff
Pediatrics
19Jul2021

How to Know if Online Medical Information is Trustworthy

Parents today have access to more medical information than ever before. While many can use this to educate themselves, the truth is that there often seems to be just as much misinformation out there as there is valid information. As a parent, it’s your duty to not only do your research, but to figure out how to determine if the information you are reading is actually worth your time. Doing so requires following a few simple steps to determine if you’re getting your information from a valid source.

Understand the Source of Information

First and foremost, try to figure exactly from where the information comes from. Any information that comes from social media should be treated with at least a bit of suspicion. When you read a statement, start by figuring out if it comes from a health professional or from a published study. This will give you an idea of whether or not what you’re reading can be backed up by any actual medical science.

If the information does include a source, try to look at that source. Don’t be fooled by professional-sounding names – look into the organization that sponsored the information and try to determine if they have any biases. Many sources that peddle inaccurate information do so successfully because they have names that seem trustworthy, so check out their websites to see if they are legitimate.

Talk to Your Pediatrician

It’s also a good idea to think about the biases of the source of your information. Is this source usually trustworthy? Is it a source that generally has good medical information? Is this a source that is trying to sell you something or to convince you of something else? You need to ask all of these questions before you can commit to trusting the information from any source.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, take the time to discuss any information you find with your child’s pediatrician. Don’t go in with the idea that the doctor is trying to trick you – after all, he or she has a vested interest in keeping your child safe. Simply present the information to the doctor and see what he or she has to say. You might be surprised by how willing a doctor will be to help you with any medical concerns that you might present.

Kids Staff
Pediatrics
12Jul2021

How to Deal with a Fear of Shots

One of the most commonly asked questions by any child going to the doctor is whether or not he or she will get a shot. Though as adults we all know that properly administered shots really don’t hurt, many children have at least a mild phobia of getting shots even if they’ve successfully gotten them in the past. As a parent, it’s often good to have a basic strategy to help your child deal with this fear on the way to his or her next doctor’s appointment.

Effectively Explaining Shots to Your Child

It’s never a good idea to lie to your child about whether or not he or she will get a shot at a doctor’s appointment. If you know that he or she will get a shot, tell him or her. If not, be honest and say that you don’t know whether or not a shot will be given. While this might not necessarily assuage your child’s fears, it will help you to build a better bond of trust. This will help lessen your child’s fears of future doctor’s appointments.

It’s likewise vital not to build up a shot as anything more than a standard procedure. Never use it as a threat to scare a child, and never try to downplay what’s going on. If your child asks you whether or not a shot will hurt, be honest – compare it to other mild discomforts that your child has experienced and make sure that he or she knows that the pain will be brief.

Finally, make sure that you praise your child after the shot has been given. Don’t focus on what he or she might have done wrong, but rather on the fact that he or she made it through. Your child will be much more likely to remember how you responded to him or her getting a shot than he or she will be to remember getting the shot in the first place.

Kids Staff
Pediatrics
28Jun2021

Getting Back to the Pediatrician

Getting your child back to the pediatrician after a long year of lockdowns and quarantines can be tough, but it’s also necessary. Though many non-necessary visits have had to be put off, many parents now find themselves making up for the lost time as they help their kids get back to something approaching normal. For many, though, getting back to the pediatrician requires a bit of extra work.

Preparing Your Child for the Visit

The first step you’ll need to take to get your kids back to the pediatrician is to contact your doctor. While things might have changed over the last year, your pediatrician still has a vested interest in making sure that your child receives the best care possible. If you haven’t been in for some time, this might mean updating yourself on waiting room procedures and expectations for patients.

It’s also a good idea to make sure that your child is ready to get back to the doctor. If you have a very young child, this means setting his or her expectations for what’s going to happen. For some, this might mean letting your child know that there might not be toys to play with while he or she waits. For others, though, it might mean talking about shots or even what it means to go to the doctor.

Ensuring Information is Up to Date

You may also need to remember to update some paperwork. Insurance changes, addresses changes, and other issues still need to be processed, and some doctors now prefer you to fill out paperwork ahead of time. As most parents know, though, filling out paperwork while watching a sick child has never been easy so this might actually be a bit of an improvement for many.

It is, however, important that you get back to the doctor when you need to do so. Though things might have changed on the outside, you should still expect to receive the same level of care that you’ve always received. While adaptation is necessary, it is always good to know that your child’s physician still has his or her best interests at heart.

Kids Staff
Pediatrics
21Jun2021

Teamwork with Your Child’s Physician

It’s always important for a parent to be able to talk to his or her child’s physician. Doing so isn’t always easy, though, especially if you find yourself intimidated by the idea of talking with an expert about your child’s health. Taking the time to learn how to talk to a doctor is always a good idea, and following the steps below can help you to have a better relationship with your child’s pediatrician.

Be Direct

One of the biggest hurdles in talking to your child’s doctor is not ensuring that he or she knows that you want to talk about something. When you schedule an appointment for your child, make sure that you’re direct with the doctor about your concerns when he or she is in the room. It’s always better to talk to the pediatrician face-to-face and to be able to address things directly rather than waiting until later.

Be Specific

It’s also a good idea to bring as much specific information to your discussions as possible. If you feel like your child isn’t sleeping well, for example, you might want to specifically state about how often your child is waking up every night and how long it has been since your child has gotten a good night’s sleep. Your child’s doctor certainly doesn’t expect you to come in with a diagnosis, but he or she can always work better when he or she has more actionable information with which to work.

Remember, You Are a Team

Maybe the most important thing to remember, though, is that you and the child’s doctor are on the same team. Even if you don’t agree with him or her, you’re both working to make sure that your child is in the best possible health. As such, it’s always good to go in with the attitude that the two of you are going to work together and that your doctor’s advice is always in the interest of helping your child.

Kids Staff
Pediatrics
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