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  • Is an alternative vaccination schedule better for your child?

    This post was originally posted in November 2014

  • Is My Child Too Young For a UTI?

    When babies and young children get urinary tract infections (UTIs), they can’t tell you what’s wrong. The challenge for parents is recognizing the difference between typical childhood behaviors and an infection. Knowing what to look for can help.

  • Steer Kids Away from Processed Food, Salt and Sugar for Kidney Health

    Kidney disease is rare in children and usually tied to congenital abnormalities of the kidneys or urinary tract, but older children and adolescents can develop acquired kidney disease, which can worsen with poor dietary choices.

  • Healthy snack ideas for kids

    Have you ever been to a campfire? To keep the fire burning, you have to continue putting logs onto the fire, right? Your metabolism is like that fire, and to keep it going strong you have to feed it at regular intervals, like when you’re hungry. A strong metabolism keeps your body working efficiently and helps to maintain your healthy weight.

  • Preparing your child for kindergarten?

    Kindergarten is a big step in the life of a little person. Children are expected to get through their day with greater independence and meet academic standards. As an occupational therapist, I’d like to shed a little light on one of the “other skills” needed to be a great student.

  • Preparing your child for surgery

    Hearing that your child needs surgery is difficult for many families to digest, and can often result in increased stress and anxiety leading up to surgery day. For many parents and children, the fear of the unknown leaves them with many questions relating to the preparation for surgery, the surgery procedure, and recovery after surgery. Sometimes for children, the unknown is their best coping tool in preparation for surgery as they think, “If I don’t know the details of the surgery, then I don’t have to think about it and therefore it won’t happen.” For many children and parents alike, denial and avoidance is a common stress relief tactic. However, the child is probably thinking about surgery day as he/she overhears conversations between adults about the surgery, and is likely picking up on their parent’s stress. The child has also been going to doctors’ appointments that are necessary before surgery, making it that much more real to the child. Knowing what to expect on surgery day can actually help ease those feelings of stress and anxiety, and help to eliminate misconceptions that the child may be envisioning.

    How do we help ease a child’s fears of surgery at Arnold Palmer Hospital?

    At Arnold Palmer Hospital, we offer a free, educational program called Project P.L.A.Y., which is designed to help your child understand what to expect before surgery and during their hospital stay. The program is led by a child life specialist who will walk your child, siblings, and you through what to expect leading up to surgery, as well as what to expect after surgery.

    What does the program entail?

    For younger children, our child life specialists use a teaching doll to explain what’s going to happen before and after surgery – all on an age-appropriate level. This can include things such as: IVs, catheter, and any other tubes or medical items they may see on their bodies before or after the procedure. They also show the child what an anesthesia mask looks like and explains that “sleepy medicine” helps them so they won’t feel anything during surgery.

  • Nutritional Considerations for Vegetarian Teens

    Does your teen want to become a vegetarian or is he or she already one? More and more teenagers are choosing to eliminate meat, poultry, fish, or even dairy and eggs from their diet. Some reasons are due to religion, animal rights, improved health, or maintaining a healthy weight. Many teenagers feel the pressure from family and friends about their diet choice, especially if they are unsure if their nutritional needs are being met.

  • How to set realistic expectations for your child's Christmas wish list

    This post was original published in December 2012.

  • Are You Ready for Hurricane Season?

    With the start of hurricane season, now is the time to make your hurricane plans. Long before the first watch or warning is issued is the best time to prepare for the season, which continues through November. By preparing now, you are better able to protect yourself and your family from a hurricane and its aftermath.

  • 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?