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  • Alcohol and pregnancy: not a good mix

    About three years ago this month, my husband and I were getting ready for our first “mommy and daddy” trip since our son was born. Our son was about 15 months old at the time, and he would be staying with grandparents as we explored Napa Valley, California. During that week, as we were scheduling tours of vineyards and making restaurant reservations, I was feeling a little “funny.” And I had only felt that way once before!

  • Bullying: teaching your kids not to be a bystander

    Many of us who were bullied in childhood look back on those days with anger, sadness, and pain. We know how horrible it can be. For many that were bullied, it was truly a traumatic experience. Now, that we are adults, those days are long gone. However, now, we are the parents, and unfortunately, even though we may not have to worry about bullying for ourselves, we must now think about it in regards for our kids.

  • Changing the way we feed our families

    I don’t know about you, but mealtimes have become almost nightmarish around our house lately.

  • From skin to seeds: the healthy benefits of pumpkin

    Here in Florida, it has yet to feel like fall. With the temperatures still high and humidity still lingering, kids are more likely to be breaking a sweat, than breaking in their festive fall sweaters. So how do we convince ourselves that fall has arrived, amidst the heat? With all things pumpkin, of course! Whether it be a pumpkin-inspired meal, or a much anticipated trip to the local pumpkin patch, our families can enjoy a little taste of fall too.

  • How to manage a nosebleed

    One of the more common reasons to visit a pediatric ENT is for nosebleeds, also known as epistaxis.  Nosebleeds are extremely common.  These can range in severity from a small amount of blood in the nasal mucus to bleeding like from a faucet.  In any case, particularly when it happens in your child, it can be very scary.

  • A child’s legacy: Will’s Gift Giving

    It was a day like any other day. But it was a day that this family would soon realize, would change their lives forever. Will had been out on a Sunday, wakeboarding on one of the lakes in Central Florida, along with over 20 other people boating and skiing that day. On a hot summer day in late July of 2007, the cool, fresh water was the perfect way to escape the scorching heat.

  • Encouraging your kids to brush their teeth… even when they don’t want to!

    Blue or green? No, I’m not talking about candy. I’m talking about when the dental hygienist asks your kids what color toothbrush they want. Who knew choosing colors could be so exciting! The dental hygienist hopes to leave the child with a smile on his/her face, while the parents are secretly hoping that a new toothbrush will make the daily brushings at home go a little smoother. But, after a week or two, the newness of the toothbrush wears off and kids often become less enthused, and often resistant, to brushing their teeth.

    How often should your kids be brushing their teeth?

    Dental hygiene should begin even before your child has their first tooth. Begin cleaning your child’s mouth by gently wiping gums clean with a clean, moist washcloth. Your child’s teeth will usually begin to grow in at about 6 months of age. As soon as the first tooth appears, your child is at risk for tooth decay, which is why it’s important to brush his/her teeth (or tooth) with a child-size toothbrush and water. When kids reach the age of 2 or 3, they can graduate to brushing their teeth with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. It is recommended that children (and adults) brush their teeth twice a day, in the morning and before bed, for two minutes. It’s important to teach your kids good oral hygiene habits at an early age, so that they can establish a healthy routine as they get older. But, this can be hard sometimes when it seems the brushing battle never ends.

  • Responding to the Sandy Hook shooting: How to cope with tragedy

    In some ways, it seems impossible to write anything about the tragic shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School and yet I want to reach out.  What can anyone say about such a loss?  I cannot imagine the feelings of the families whose children and loved ones have died.  Or the feelings of the children, teachers and families who were traumatized even though they escaped physical harm.

  • You can help make miracles happen, too

    A few months ago, I had the privilege of attending a Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals’ ceremony honoring children who have suffered illness or injury. During this exuberant celebration, children of all shapes, sizes, and abilities danced down the aisle with their favorite Disney characters to celebrate. Their smiles simply radiated joy. As I grinned and clapped along with them, though, I couldn’t help but think about the life and death struggles that many of these children have faced. With their bald heads from chemotherapy, their scars a reminder of past surgeries, or their IV medications disguised in a Mickey Mouse backpack, the battle was evident. And yet, they kept smiling.

  • Are you cleaning your child's ears properly?

    “I only use it on the outside…”

    When I ask parents on their initial visit with me if they use cotton swabs, this is frequently the response I get. They insist that they only use cotton swabs on the outside of the ear and that they NEVER go into the ear canal. I have even heard this from a parent, and then ended up pulling several cotton swab heads out of their child’s ear.