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  • Choosing a pediatrician for your family

    After you process the initial joy of learning that you are pregnant, you will soon realize that you have many decisions to make for you and your baby. These choices may include picking baby names, finding an OB-GYN physician to take care of you during your pregnancy, deciding which hospital to deliver your baby, and choosing a pediatrician for your family. While many decisions can seem overwhelming, picking a pediatrician does not have to be if you know what you are looking for in a doctor.

    Talk to other parents about recommendations for a pediatrician.

    If you are beginning your search for a pediatrician, talk to your friends and family members that are parents. See if any particular names pop up repeatedly, either positively or negatively. Remember to keep an open mind, though. One person’s not-so-great experience with a pediatrician in the midst of many other positive recommendations may be a result from that particular family and pediatrician not being a good fit. The reverse is also true; one family’s amazing pediatrician may not be exactly what you are looking for. But at the very least, talking to other people is a starting point for your search.

    Plan to meet the pediatrician…before your baby is born.

    After you have made your list of potential pediatricians, the next step is to meet them in person. Many pediatric practices will host open houses for new parents, or will schedule prenatal consultations. By meeting with a pediatrician, you will be able to see if his/her beliefs, values, and attitudes regarding pediatric health care are in line with your own. You can decide if you like him/her or not…plain and simple! You and your baby will have at least 10 well-baby visits to the pediatrician in the first two years of life (not even counting sick visits!), so it helps if you like your pediatrician. Ask the pediatrician if he/she is pediatric board-certified (taken and passed the pediatric board exam) or board-eligible (preparing to take the pediatric board exam).

  • New Recommendations for Treatment of Ear Infections

    One of the most common illnesses in U.S. children is acute otitis media (AOM), which is a type of ear infection when the middle ear becomes infected. This type of ear infection is the most common condition for which antibiotics are prescribed for U.S. children. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has recently updated its recommendations to physicians taking care of uncomplicated ear infections in children ages 6 months to 12 years. This new clinical practice guideline will be published in the March 2013 Pediatrics journal. These new guidelines help provide a more specific and stringent definition of a middle ear infection, pain management guidelines, recommendations for initial observation versus immediate antibiotic therapy, and preventive measures.

    What is an ear infection?

    Usually, a child will get an upper respiratory infection or a cold, and the middle ear can become inflamed. Fluid may build up and become trapped in the middle part of the ear during an acute illness. The tube that helps drain fluid from the middle ear to the back of the nose is called the Eustachian tube, and this tube is smaller and more horizontal in children as compared to an adult’s. So when a child becomes ill with a cold, it is more difficult for this fluid to drain out and bacteria can possibly grow in this fluid that is trapped behind your child’s eardrum.

    How do I know if my child has an ear infection?

    Symptoms of an ear infection may include: Fever Headache Difficulty sleeping Difficulty hearing Crying more than usual Fluid draining from the earThese symptoms may be difficult to detect. If your child has a cold and any of the above symptoms, your doctor will be able to use an instrument called an otoscope to look at your child’s ear drums to diagnose an ear infection.

    If my child has an ear infection, do I need a prescription for antibiotics from my doctor?

    The surprising answer is that your child may not always need antibiotics for an ear infection. In treating non-severe ear infections, less may actually be more because our body’s immune systems can usually handle and take care of ear infections on its own. Studies have shown that children with ear infections usually report similar symptoms after about ten days, whether or not they received or did not receive antibiotics.

  • Healthy breakfast cereals for the whole family

    How would you feel if your child ate cookies for breakfast? I am sure most parents would not approve. Surprisingly, many breakfast cereals have just as much sugar as a cookie, brownie or other desserts. Breakfast cereals are a great choice to provide our body with energy for the upcoming day, but it is important to make wise choices in the cereal aisle. A healthy cereal should be able to fuel your body with necessary nutrients that will help it grow and stay strong. Our body, just like a car, needs good quality fuel to keep it going throughout the day. When we put not-so-healthy food in us, we often feel run down, tired, cranky, and very hungry. In order to make wise choices, there are three key nutrition criteria that we should look for when purchasing cereal.

  • When Is Your Child Ready for a Phone? Pediatrician Tips for Digital Safety

    The “digital street” presents just as many safety challenges for children as the physical one. That’s why it’s so important to help your child develop a healthy relationship with technology, starting with the responsible use of their first phone.

  • Are you making the most of your child’s well visits?

    We often see our pediatrician for a specific complaint: ear infections, stomach flus or broken bones. And now that summer’s in full swing, many families will be making a trip to their pediatrician’s office for sports physicals and immunizations before the new school year begins. As we manage all of these items on our to-do list, it’s easy to forget that a visit to your pediatrician when your child is well is much more than a box to be checked off of your list.

  • Who Cares for Your Child in the Pediatric ER?

    High fevers, life-threatening trauma and severe wounds are just a few issues pediatric emergency medicine doctors treat regularly. No matter the ailment, bringing a child to the emergency room (ER) can be a stressful experience. The medical experts and caregivers in the pediatric ER are trained to calm your concerns while providing the best possible treatment for your child. 

  • Fun and (Secretly) Healthy Holiday Gifts for Kids

    When selecting a child’s gift for the holidays this year, think of educational toys that stimulate learning, inspire imagination or encourage the use of fine and gross motor skills. 

  • Could television be a good thing for preschoolers?

    Television is blamed for many problems in children, but could it be part of the solution as well?

  • Why codeine isn’t a good medicine for your child

    We never really plan a trip to the emergency room. We don’t anticipate our children falling off their bicycles and breaking their arms or our babies waking up screaming in pain in the middle of the night. But, it happens sometimes. And when it happens to you (like it does to every parent at some point or another), here’s something important you should know.

    Medicines containing codeine aren’t the best option for your child.

    Codeine is an opioid medication that has been used in children and adults to relieve mild to moderate pain and also to help relieve coughing. You may have seen it in the form of Tylenol with codeine, Tylenol #3, Robitussin AC, Guiatuss AC and many other combinations. For a more complete list of brand-name products, check here.

  • Your go-to guide for packing a healthy school lunch

    Packing a school lunch every day can be stressful and often time-consuming. Many children and teens prefer to munch on sweet and salty foods such as chips, candy, fast-food burgers and greasy pizza instead of fresh fruits and vegetables. Choosing a more healthful lunch most likely will improve a child’s school performance, attention span, and also health. Having a lunch-packing guide can help make the process go more smoothly.