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28Mar2020

All About Tummy Time

One of the biggest surprises for many parents is the requirement of tummy time for their infants. In their concerns over breastfeeding, sleep schedules, and developmental milestones, they may forget about the importance of daily time spent on the belly. This practice can actually help your baby develop properly.

What Are the Benefits of Tummy Time?

One of the most important benefits of tummy time is the overall physical strengthening effects for your baby. Your infant will learn how to lift his head and will develop strong muscles in his neck and upper back. In addition, this can lead to an improvement in gross motor skills, which can lead to an earlier development in the areas of rolling over, sitting, and crawling. In addition, getting your baby off his back for at least some of the day can prevent the flat head syndrome.

How Much Tummy Time Should Your Baby Have?

At first, your baby will probably not want to put up with much time on his tummy. In fact, you may find that he can only make it for five minutes or less before he begins crying. You may also find that you need to interact directly with your child for much of the time to keep him content. However, as your child becomes used to this time, you can increase tummy time length each day.

How Can You Get Started with Tummy Time?

It is best to start tummy time as early as possible because your baby will be quite resistant to it the older he is when starting the routine. Tummy time should happen once or twice per day at a minimum. However, as your baby gets used to this time, you may be able to encourage it after diaper changes or upon awakening from a nap.

Consider buying your child a special tummy time mat and pillow, which is perfectly sized for his tiny chest. This will also help him lift his neck and head off the floor to look around and better enjoy himself. You may also be able to use a breastfeeding pillow if you have one. As your child gets older, place age-appropriate toys near him to encourage motor skills and enjoyment.

Tummy time is an important part of every infant’s daily life. If you have further questions about how to get started, check with Kids 1st Pediatrics.

Pediatrics
24Mar2020

The Most Common Food Allergies for Children

Food allergies have become more problematic in recent years as increasing numbers of individuals are diagnosed with them. Even children are frequently diagnosed with food allergies, with 1 in 13 children currently having this issue. In addition, almost half of children with food allergies have more than one allergy. As a parent, here are a few helpful tips when it comes to guarding what your child eats.

What Are the Most Common Food Allergies in Children?

Although peanut allergies may be the first problem that pops into your mind when you hear about food allergies, there are actually numerous foods and food groups that can cause problems for the littlest members of your household. The following are the primary concerning foods for children.

  • Milk
  • Peanuts and tree nuts
  • Fish and shellfish
  • Wheat
  • Eggs
  • Soy

All of these ingredients must be disclosed on food packaging, which can help you in making food choices for your household.

What Symptoms Should Parents Look for with Food Allergies?

You should know that while some children may be genuinely allergic to some foods, others just have a sensitivity to it. While an allergy creates a strong response, such as hives or swelling in the throat that leads to difficulty breathing, a sensitivity will probably only lead to discomfort. Keep an eye out for any of the following distressing signs of an allergic reaction, and consider emergency medical treatment for those that are life-threatening.

  • Itchy skin and hives
  • Red, itchy eyes
  • Runny nose
  • Swelling of the lips, tongue or throat
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness

How Can Food Allergies Be Treated?

In the case of a life-threatening condition, emergency medical personnel may provide an epinephrine shot, which can aid in breathing. Other than emergency circumstances, the best treatment for a food allergy is complete avoidance of the food. However, because your child is not always under your direct supervision, you will need to notify the school and other households where your child spends time about which foods are and are not safe.

Because this is just a basic look at food allergies in children, we recommend that you visit with your child’s pediatrician in more detail if you have any further concerns. Kids 1st Pediatrics is ready to help you with any of your concerns for your children from infancy through the teenage years.

Pediatrics
24Feb2020

Help Your Child Build Strong Bones

Childhood is the most important time to focus on bone health because 90 percent of one’s bone mass is in place by the time he is 20. If bones are not properly built during childhood, there may not be another good time to strengthen these vital cells. In fact, this could set up individuals for osteoporosis and dangerous fractures much later in life. If you are a parent, you should be aware of three key ways that you can affect your child’s health in this matter.

Give Children Plenty of Calcium and Vitamin D

Nutrition is a key component of good bone health. You probably remember hearing your mother reminding you to drink your milk for strong bones. This tip remains true today as milk and other dairy products are great sources of the important bone mineral known as calcium. Even if your child is not a big fan of dairy products, you can find plenty of calcium in many other common foods, such as leafy greens, fish, and nuts, as well as in calcium-fortified bread and juices.

You must also give vitamin D along with calcium because it helps the body absorb this necessary mineral. Vitamin D can be found in some types of fish, as well as in egg yolks and fortified milk. If your child does not get enough vitamin D in his diet, your doctor may recommend a supplement.

Encourage Physical Activity

Weight-bearing activities are important for growing not only strong muscles but also strong bones at any age. Sadly, many children get very little activity on most days of the week, leading to weak bones. Running, climbing, and jumping are all great activities at this age.

Keep Children Away from Secondhand Smoke

Cigarette smoke is a known cause of weak bones at any age. While you may not be concerned about this for your child because he most likely has never tried a cigarette, you should be aware that many people try cigarettes for the first time at a very young age. In addition, secondhand smoke can be just as dangerous for children to breathe.

While these tips can positively affect people of any age, they are particularly important for children who are actively growing new bone cells and especially for those in their teenage years. For more information, schedule an appointment at Kids 1st Pediatrics today.

Pediatrics
17Feb2020

Do You Have a Sleepwalker?

A pediatric parasomnia is a childhood condition that disrupts sleep. Parasomnias are actually much more common in children than they are in adults, and most children grow out of them over time. The most common parasomnia other than nightmares is sleepwalking. Although it can be distressing to see your child walking around confusedly in the middle of the night, there is usually little to worry about.

Common Conditions Involving Sleep

Parasomnias, such as sleepwalking, usually run in families. However, some of them can be caused by brain disorders, sleep disorders, irregular sleep schedules, and general anxiety. Most of the time, children who sleepwalk do not need any treatments as this condition usually goes away on its own by the teenage years.

If your child sleepwalks, you may see him wandering around the house and even participating in seemingly complex activities. Other children may seem clumsy and dazed as they walk. You will know that your child is still asleep because he will not respond to you when you talk to him. Despite popular beliefs, it is not dangerous to wake up someone who is sleepwalking. However, you may find that it is difficult to get your child back to sleep if you awaken him. Instead, you may be able to direct your child back to bed.

What to do if Your Child has these Conditions

While sleepwalking itself is not usually dangerous, it can lead to dangerous consequences if your child is not in a safe location as he walks. For this reason, you may need to invest in extra locks on doors leading out of your home and will want to lock bedroom windows and remove dangerous items from your child’s room.

Similarly, if your child talks in his sleep, there is most likely little for you to worry about unless it happens frequently or goes on for years. Frequent sleep talking could point to high amounts of stress and anxiety in your child, which may need to be treated so that it does not negatively impact other areas of his life.

Pediatrics
27Jan2020

What Is Flat Head Syndrome?

Once you get your baby home from the hospital and adjust to life as a new parent, you may think that your biggest worries are over. However, you will probably find yourself faced with some surprising scenarios over the next few months. These will challenge your knowledge and patience, but they can be overcome with the help of your pediatrician. One such concern that happens to numerous babies is the flat head syndrome.

Causes, Symptoms, and Adjustments

Flat head syndrome is known medically as positional plagiocephaly, and it occurs when your baby spends too much time on his back. Because the bones in your baby’s skull are not yet fused together, they can shift and move for several months at the beginning of life. Over time, the back or sides of your baby’s head may begin to look flat rather than rounded. Although this condition does not cause long-lasting disabilities, it can certainly cause aesthetic changes as well as worry for you.

If you are concerned that your baby may be developing flat head syndrome, there are several things you can do. First, try to have your baby spend less time on his back. Tummy time is good for building up muscular strength in his neck and back, and it will also keep him off his back during the daytime hours. Second, although you should always put your baby on his back when he sleeps, you may find that varying his position in his crib will cause him to turn his head in a new direction, balancing out his head shape.

If you are still concerned about the shape of your baby’s head by the time he reaches the age of four months, you should definitely check with his pediatrician. She may have some other steps for you to try, or she may recommend a molded helmet that your child can wear for several months. Although it may seem difficult to put a helmet on your child and your child may resist it initially, realize that your baby will not even remember this period, which is bound to be quite short.

Rather than worrying over the possibilities of flat head syndrome for your baby, get solid answers today by scheduling an appointment with your baby’s pediatrician. If you have recently moved to the area or are looking for a new pediatrician, call Kids 1st Pediatrics.

Pediatrics
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