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  • Caring for bumps, bruises and boo-boos

    Kids are invincible- or at least they think they are! They fearlessly jump into the air, ride a little too fast on their bikes, and like to play roughly with friends or siblings. It’s all fun and games, until someone gets hurt. Cuts, scrapes, and bruises are a regular occurrence in many family homes and it is important to be prepared when accidents do happen. Minor injuries are inevitable and can be cared for properly with the right tools and education.

    The ingredients of a first-aid kit

    Walking through the aisles at the pharmacy can be overwhelming and confusing when trying to decide what to include in your family’s at-home first-aid kit. Here are some basic essentials to help care for those future bumps and bruises: Adhesive tape Gauze pads Disposable gloves- for protection or to use as an ice pack Disposable instant cold packs Polysporin antibiotic cream Nonadhesive pads Adhesive bandages in different sizes Tweezers to get debris, dirt and grass out of open woundsKeep these items in a storage box that is easily accessible in case of an emergency. If an item is used, be sure to replace it to be prepared for the next accident.

    How to treat minor cuts and scrapes

    Not only is it important to have the necessities in your first-aid kit, it’s also important to know how to use them! Let’s use this scenario- your child has fallen off his/her bike and you hear screaming and crying outside- now what?

  • Report cards for your child's weight?

    It’s all over news headlines: childhood obesity. It now seems to be an issue that just won’t go away, despite all of the programs and campaigns to help encourage kids and families to become healthier. It’s just so hard with countless fast-food chains, ever-evolving technology that gives kids one more reason not to move from the couch, and school systems that have been resistant to change. However, the school system has been attacked hard, and slowly, schools are now making a greater effort to become healthier. Some schools have even taken it to the next level with what are called, “BMI report cards”.

    What on earth are BMI report cards?

    Let’s first start by defining BMI. Body mass index, or BMI, is the ratio of a person’s height and weight as a way to determine whether that person is overweight or obese. It is often used to help identify those who are at risk for weight-related health problems.

  • Updated booster seat recommendations for kids

    Does your child use a booster seat in the car? This might be a question to ask yourself if you are a parent of a young child. It has been previously thought that a child could graduate from the booster seat around age 8, but guidelines are now being revised to take into account a child’s height, recognizing that children grow at different rates.

  • Eye screenings recommended for young children

    An eye patch is commonly used for one of two reasons in young kids. One, your child is impersonating Johnny Depp and playing “pirate for the day”. Or two, the patch is being used to treat a condition known as “amblyopia”, also known as “lazy-eye”. Amblyopia is a condition that is easily preventable, which is why pediatricians are now urging eye screening for children as young as 1 year of age.

    What is amblyopia?

    Amblyopia occurs when the brain is not using one eye because it doesn’t see as well as the other eye. This condition only occurs in children and if left untreated, can result in permanent loss of vision. Amblyopia is the most common cause of vision problems in children, affecting 2 – 4% of the US population and is preventable.

    If it's easily preventable, then why is it so common?

    Good question. Currently, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) only recommends testing children for amblyopia between the ages of 3 and 5, stating there is insufficient evidence to recommend testing for younger children. However, a recent study published in the journal Pediatrics shows otherwise.

    The Study

    The goal of this study was to help provide the USPSTF with the evidence needed to include toddlers in their recommendations. Data was collected from a photoscreening program called “Iowa KidSight”, a program that has been offering photoscreening to children as young as 6 months of age since 2000. Over 200,000 screenings of children’s eyes were conducted from May 2000 to April 2011. Of the children screened, the youngest were 6 months old and the oldest were between 7 and 8 years old. Researchers used the data collected by this program (over 11 years worth of data) to compare screening results of young children with that of preschool-aged children.

  • Is genetic testing right for my child?

    Angelina Jolie shared publicly last month her decision to have a preventive double mastectomy after genetic testing revealed that, due to a mutation in the BRCA1 gene, she carried an 87% risk of developing breast cancer and a 50% risk of developing ovarian cancer. Jolie identifies her mother’s decade-long struggle with ovarian cancer and death from that disease six years ago as one of the primary influences behind her decision.

  • Spray sunscreen: is it safe for kids?

    Consumer Reports has recently updated their recommendations on sunscreen use in kids, saying that spray sunscreens should not be used in children.

  • 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?

  • Are Weight-Loss Apps Healthy for Kids?

    If you notice your child is gaining weight, you might be tempted to suggest they use one of the many weight-loss apps that track food and exercise. But there are more dangers for kids using these apps than you may realize.

  • Avoiding Preschooler Tantrums Without Buying More Toys

    Keeping preschoolers active and occupied at home has become an even bigger challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic. When preschoolers (children aged two to five) are not actively engaged in constructive activities, it can result in tantrums, whining and often making a mess. A preschooler’s brain is hardwired for hours of taking in new information and making connections, not for sitting still. 

  • Look Before You Lock

    Last summer, after I took my kids to see the pediatrician for their regular check-up, I’ll never forget what my doctor told me at the end of the appointment. My pediatrician said, “Please remember to have your car keys in your hand every time you get out of the car.” I nodded and knew what she meant. We all hear about kids who’ve been locked in cars that become very sick, or even die from heat stroke.