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Posts Tagged "Children"

15Feb2022

Kids and Pets

Selecting a pet for your family can be a daunting task. There are many options available, from pets that are low maintenance and require little time and effort, to those that require a lot of time and attention. Below are a variety of options that will help you in your journey to finding the perfect pet for your family.

Fish and Small Aquatic Animals

Fish and other small aquatic animals are oftentimes the perfect first pet. They require very little maintenance and have fairly low start-up costs involved. Fish require a tank, gravel, foliage, a thermometer, and a water filter – all of which can be purchased at the same time as your new pet. Fish are ideal pets for young children and for families who may live in larger cities or those who do not have yard access. Fish are relatively low maintenance and may only need to be fed once a day. They are also great pets for families who have busier schedules or who lead more active lifestyles.

Small Caged Animals

Small caged animals, such as hamsters, Guinea pigs, and mice, are great for school-age kids who are ready for a little more responsibility. These small animals require a small cage, bedding, or cage filling for the bottom of the cage, food dishes, water bottles, and a small wheel or other interactive toys to keep them entertained during the day. These small animals are still considered low maintenance – they require less than larger animals – but need to be fed and watered daily. Their cages will need to be cleaned on a regular basis, and they can be handled with care and can provide hours of entertainment. Because they are small, they do need to be handled safely and responsibly – which makes them good pets for older children.

Cats and Dogs

Cats and dogs can give a family many years of companionship and love. These pets are more time-consuming than most and do require dedication and more responsibility than most pets. However, children of all ages can participate in the care of them. Younger children can be tasked with simpler responsibilities such as feeding and watering, while older children can be tasked with taking walks, bathing, and assisting with housebreaking. Due to health risks, parents will need to be responsible for litter box changes. Expenses are more significant with dogs and cats, but their life expectancy is longer than most other pets.

Choosing a pet for your family is a big decision. Still, by taking into account your family’s commitment level, lifestyle, and children’s ages and developmental stage, you can be sure that you will find the perfect fit for your family.

Kids Staff
Pediatrics
17Jan2022

Healthy Sleep Habits for Kids

Sleep is an integral part of every person’s life – we absolutely can’t function without it. But when kids have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, it can wreak havoc on their daytime routine as well.

Establish a Bedtime Routine

Babies and young toddlers thrive on routine. So when it comes to falling asleep at night, a bedtime routine will help them drift off to sleep quickly and effortlessly. This should include a nighttime feeding (a bottle or sippy cup), bath, diaper change or toileting, a bedtime story, or other calming activity, such as rocking or snuggling, then transitioning to the crib or bed when they are drowsy for “lights off.”

Older toddlers and children benefit from the same type of structured routine, but simply modified for their age. Bath time, teeth brushing, and storytime or reading in bed for a set number of minutes before “lights out” is ideal. This is usually the age where parents may want to put a television in a child’s room – this is usually done with good intentions, but will inevitably lead to insomnia if the child is allowed to watch television in order to fall asleep or gets up in the middle of the night to turn the TV on. TVs provide both visual and sound stimulation, which keeps little brains active!

Limit Visual Stimulation Before Bed

Teens essentially follow the same evening routine as older children, most importantly adhering to the same bedtime each night. Limiting the amount of screen time (tablets and cell phone use included) prior to bedtime will help cut down on the amount of visual stimulation and make falling asleep easier. Also, ensure that your teen has at least an hour of “transition time” before bed each evening after completing homework to rest and unwind – it can be hard for minds to shut down quickly after focusing on homework.

With time and consistency, many sleep troubles can be overcome, leading to much more peaceful nights and pleasant days ahead. Contact your pediatrician if your child still struggles with falling asleep and staying asleep after implementing these bedtime routines.

Kids Staff
Pediatrics
30Dec2021

Dealing with Holiday Sniffles

As the holidays approach, a number of potential group gatherings will come along with them. While many will find themselves gathering with friends and family for the first time in quite a while, it’s important to remember that these events are pretty common vectors for spreading illness. As a parent, it’s essential to know how to deal with the holiday sniffles when they occur and when to bring in a doctor.

The good news is that most of the sicknesses picked up by children during this time of year are the same illnesses that have plagued people for centuries. The same kinds of colds and viruses are floating around that existed pre-Covid, and it’s essential for parents to remember that it’s far more likely for a child to get a simple cold than it is for them to pick up something more serious. As such, the first thing to remember when you start to see your child getting sick is that panicking is the wrong response.

Steps to Take if Your Child Might be Sick

One of the most important things you can look at right now is your child’s temperature. If your child isn’t running a fever or only has a mild fever (sub-100, for example), you can generally feel a bit safer about handling the problem at home. However, with that said, even a child who doesn’t have a fever might need to get tested if they have more than one other Covid symptom.

It is, however, vital that you keep your sick children home. While not every illness is Covid, it’s important to remember that spreading sickness is never a good idea. It’s always better to be safe than to be sorry, after all, and most people will appreciate it if you are able to stay home with a sick child instead of spreading their illness around the group.

So, how do you deal with holiday sniffles? Stay calm, monitor your child, and stay home if they aren’t feeling well. If you are concerned, call your pediatrician and make sure to make an appointment to get your child checked out. Even if the problem is mild, it’s sometimes better to get a professional opinion.

Kids Staff
Pediatrics
23Dec2021

How to Deal with Sports Injuries

Encouraging your child to participate in athletics can have a host of benefits. Not only can sports be fantastic for helping kids to keep in shape and to form excellent exercise habits, but most school sports also encourage teamwork and can even help keep students accountable when it comes to their grades. Unfortunately, though, students who participate in sports can still be as prone to injury as any other athlete. So, as a parent, it’s essential to understand what to do if your child gets injured playing a sport.

Immediate Action After Sports Injuries

First and foremost, make sure that you get your child checked out after they are injured. As helpful as on-field officials can be, it’s always a good idea to get a second opinion about the extent of your child’s injury. While schools have become significantly more responsible when it comes to issues like concussions, nothing beats an actual physician when it comes to diagnosing the severity of an injury.

It’s also vital that you make sure that your child follows any orders from a doctor when they are recovering. It’s very possible that your child might feel ready to get back on the field before they are actually fully healed, and doing so might lead to more severe injuries in the future. Sometimes the best thing you can do is to make your child sit down and rest.

Take Necessary Time to Recover

Finally, make sure that you and your doctor set the timeline for your child’s return to the field. Unfortunately, many students feel pressured to get back to practicing sooner than is necessary, something that’s even tougher if your student is a significant part of their team. If you feel like a coach is pushing your child to get back too quickly, it’s vital that you push back.

Remember, most sports injuries are relatively minor and won’t impact your child forever. Taking the time to get your child checked out and following your doctor’s orders can help to ensure that your child will be able to keep competing for years to come. If you can help your child to exercise a bit of restraint, they will have a safer athletic career.

Kids Staff
Pediatrics
13Dec2021

The Holidays and Your Child’s Health

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, many parents are thinking about the best ways to keep their kids healthy. Given that many families will be having group gatherings for the first time in over a year, it’s always wise to step back and think about the ways that you can help to ensure that your child stays safe over the holidays.

Good Habits for Staying Healthy

The best place to start is, of course, always going to be with the basics. Make sure that you’re practicing the same kind of basic hygiene practices that you practiced with your child before the pandemic. That means washing hands, stepping back from people who are actively sneezing or coughing, and keeping hands off of objects like doorknobs and railings. It’s also a good idea to make sure that your child doesn’t put anything in their mouth that doesn’t belong to them.

Staying healthy this year may also mean making choices about where you go and when. Always keep the health of your child and family in mind before you go to gatherings, and feel free to stay back if you know that someone at your party isn’t feeling well. The last thing you need is to exacerbate existing problems, and almost everyone around you will appreciate your willingness to stay home to keep others well.

Finally, make sure that you’re keeping up with your child’s general health. Making sure that they can get plenty of rest and that they stay hydrated can play a massive role in making sure that their immune system stays strong. This isn’t going to be enough to fight off every contagious illness, of course, but your child’s body really will function better if they are getting everything that they need.

There’s no perfect way to keep holiday illnesses away, but you can take steps to keep your child a bit healthier. Make sure that you’re practicing good hygiene, that you avoid places where people are already sick, and that you keep your child to a good rest and hydration routine. If nothing else, doing so gives your child a better chance to stay well.

Kids Staff
Pediatrics
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