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Posts Tagged "Physician"

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
20Jan2020

Dealing with Nightmares and Night Terrors

Nearly every parent has had the experience of comforting a child after a distressing dream. However, if these episodes occur too frequently or seem to be leading to daytime anxiety in your child, you may be wondering if there is something that you should do. It is important to understand the differences between nightmares and night terrors and to know when you should seek help from your child’s physician.

How Do Nightmares Happen?

Nightmares are scary dreams that awaken children. Sometimes they occur after your child has watched or read something scary. Other times, they occur for no apparent reason. These dreams typically occur during the REM portion of sleep, and your child will probably be able to tell you what happened during the dream.

On the other hand, night terrors usually result in only partial wakening even though your child may sit straight up in bed and scream. Other symptoms could include sweating and faster breathing. Your child will probably go back to sleep in a few minutes. Most of the time, your child will have no remembrance of this episode in the morning and will not be able to say what scared him.

Your child will need you to comfort him if he is going through either of these issues. Talking through what happened, staying with your child while he is awake, and leaving the bedroom door open can help your child calm down enough to go back to sleep after a nightmare. However, because a night terror can result in a great panic, you will need to protect your child from bodily harm while resisting the urge to wake him up in the middle of the episode.

Handling Night Terrors

Nightmares are usually not harmful. Most children outgrow them or find that they become less problematic if they avoid certain television shows, books, or video games. However, if the nightmares are intruding on your child’s daytime life or causing him undue anxiety, you should contact his pediatrician.

Similarly, night terrors are typically not harmful as long as they are not regularly interrupting your child’s sleep. If the episodes last longer than half an hour or if your child becomes stiff or starts to drool during an episode, you should immediately reach out to his pediatrician because this could indicate an underlying problem.

Contact Kids 1st Pediatrics if you have any further questions about healthy childhood sleep.
Pediatrics
28Dec2019

What Is a Primary Care Physician?

A primary care physician, or PCP, is a medical practitioner who provides the everyday health care that you or your child needs. He or she will have worked with you extensively and will be able to provide well-patient care, immunizations, urgent checkups, acute care, and referrals to specialists when necessary. It is always beneficial for your child to have a primary care physician.

Why Should Your Child Have a Primary Care Physician?

The most important reason to choose a PCP for your child is so that she can enjoy thorough preventative care. Preventative care is basic health care designed to help your child stay healthy throughout life. It could include well-child visits, immunizations, and regular checks for growth and development.

While preventative care is certainly important, it is not the only reason for choosing a PCP. Your child will also be able to enjoy great continuity of care. Instead of bouncing back and forth between providers, your child will be able to get used to seeing the same physician and will be able to develop a trusting relationship with the doctor. This can create a solid benefit for great health care throughout the rest of your child’s life. In addition, the PCP will already know your child’s medical history and will be able to notice any new health concerns rapidly.

What Are the Benefits of Choosing a Pediatrician as Your Child’s PCP?

While family practitioners and internists often see children, they may not see infants. In addition, they do not have the extensive education in health care for children that a pediatrician has. This is particularly important if your child has any health concerns or chronic conditions that require regular visits.

If you have not yet set up care for your child with a primary care physician or you have moved from a different area and are looking for a trustworthy primary care physician in the Apple Valley area, look no further than Kid’s 1st Pediatrics. Here you will find compassionate nurses and medical staff, a knowledgeable pediatrician, and plenty of support for all of the little medical dilemmas that your child may find herself in over the years. Set up care with us today so that you have a place to turn when your child requires urgent care, a school physical, or any other type of pediatric health care.

Pediatrics
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