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  • Should your toddler have access to your digital devices?

    You’ve probably heard your pediatrician offer this advice: no television for children under two years of age. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics has discouraged the use of screens of any kind (television, video, tablets, iPad or iPhones, to name a few) for toddlers.

  • What to expect at your child's therapy evaluation

    Your child has been referred to Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy or Speech Therapy. So, what's next? First of all, don't dread this appointment. Therapists can be a wealth of information and you will leave that first appointment with some useful tools. Part of a therapist’s job is to share valuable information with you about your child- both their strengths and weaknesses. Their job is to help your child reach their maximum potential and equip you to be an expert about your child’s abilities. This is a good thing.

    For All Evaluations

    Bring your child in comfortable clothing that allow full movement Make sure they are well rested Bring any specific equipment they use such as walkers, splints, or communication devices Be prepared to share concerns you or your doctor may have Provide a list of their medications Be prepared to leave for part of the session if asked (so that therapist can build rapport and see how your child works on their own)

    What to bring for Feeding Concerns

    A hungry kiddo Food you’re sure your child will eat Food you have tried to give your child but they haven’t accepted A drink your child typically accepts: bottle, sippy cup, straw cup, etc. A list of their allergies or recent notes from any specialists

    What to Bring for School Related Concerns

    A copy of their 504 Plan, IEP, Behavior Contract or Health Plan A letter from the teacher expressing any specific concerns (if possible) A sample of their written work from class (if this is a concern) Report a from the school psychologist or therapist (if it’s available)

    During the Evaluation

    Let the therapist take the lead but feel free to comment if you feel your child is not showing their full potential. Be as specific as possible. Remember, you are the expert on your child and the therapist is getting a one-time snapshot. Any information on how your child typically functions is very much appreciated. During the evaluation, your therapists will gather valuable information on how your child responds- or doesn't respond- to certain tasks. The therapist is likely to approach your child in a specific way to achieve a desired outcome. For this reason, resist the urge to help your child complete tasks presented. Remember, therapists are looking to build rapport with your little one and form a partnership with you to ensure your child’s success. They’ll definitely let you know if they need you to jump in and help out.

    After your Evaluation

    Ask the therapist for their professional opinion on what strengths they observe in your child and what areas of concern they have. Would they recommend referrals to other professionals or further testing? If therapy is recommended, how often will they need to be seen to achieve their goals? What skills does the therapist see your child achieving through their intervention? How much work at home will be required to achieve these results? Although most of the recommendations will come during your child’s treatment sessions, you can still leave the evaluation equipped with something beneficial for your child. Ask for a few suggestions on what you can work on at home while you await your first therapy session. Therapists want to build your child’s skills and maximize their strengths so they’ll have great suggestions for toys and fun activities to help your child achieve their goals.

  • What we do now may affect our future children’s genetics

    We are all aware that mothers who smoke while they are pregnant run a higher risk of having children who are premature, smaller than they should be, or stillborn. This is likely due to reduced oxygen supply to the baby through mom’s diseased body and to toxins shared by mom with baby. We also know that children who are exposed to second-hand smoke have a higher risk of developing respiratory diseases like asthma, chronic lung disease and even cancer due to direct lung damage from inhaled smoke.

    What you do with your body early in life can affect future generations

    But recent data suggests that a father’s behavior even years prior to conception may affect the health of his children and future generations. For example, early paternal smoking has been associated with increased body mass in children. Paternal alcoholism has been associated with smaller birth weights in babies, and hyperactivity in children. Most recently, smoking even early in life has been found to be associated with an increased risk of certain forms of asthma in a man’s children. A study which was recently presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress looked at 13,000 men and women and found that non-allergic asthma was significantly more common in children whose fathers smoked before the age of 15. In addition, the longer the father smoked, the higher the risk of his child having this kind of asthma. Interestingly, the same link was not found in children whose mothers smoked before they conceived.

  • How technology helped Katie overcome her fear of needles

    Written by a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at Arnold Palmer Hospital

  • So, did I do it?

    Some of you may have read a post I wrote during the summer of last year, entitled “.” In case you didn’t read it, I wrote of my experiences regarding my New Year’s resolution for 2013, which was to stop eating fries for a whole year. I decided to give up French fries for my health, to set a good example for my son, and well, just to see if I could (I really wasn’t sure if I could pull it off)! See, I have always been a fry-lover. There are pictures of me as a toddler eating fries from vintage Happy Meals. It was my side item of choice for nearly every restaurant meal I’ve ever had. This love I have for fried potatoes continues, and still does. However, on New Year’s Eve 2012, I decided that it was time to give myself a break from the grease and oil, and search out healthier options.

  • Teaching your children to let go of others' expectations

    This morning I experienced a small miracle. I emerged from my bedroom at seven o’clock after waking up (all on my own!) without children crying or yelling from their bedrooms to wake me. It felt like a little slice of heaven.

  • Too fresh for our own good (health)?

    There’s nothing better than a cool glass of fresh milk after a long day. But how fresh is too fresh?

  • When should a child return to school after a concussion?

    Written by Steven Schulenborg, Resident of the Sports Medicine Program at Arnold Palmer Hospital

  • What you should know when starting your baby on solid foods

    One of my favorite milestones in a baby’s first year is introducing them to their first foods. I love the anticipation of trying new things and watching to see how they’ll react. Their excitement as they experience new flavors and textures for the first time (not to mention the hysterical facial expressions!) is entertainment at its best. And watching my oldest laugh uncontrollably at the baby’s messiness as he eats is better than watching TV.

  • Get to know Dr. Karen Bender, pediatric anesthesiologist at Arnold Palmer Hospital

    Knowing that your child needs surgery can be difficult for any parent. One of the most frightening aspects for parents is knowing that your child will be under anesthesia. How will my child respond to the anesthesia? Will he or she recover well? Will you keep my child safe? These are just a few of the many questions that parents have as they prepare their child for surgery.