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  • Children and CT Scans

    In June 2013, an article was published in JAMA Pediatrics that discussed the use of CT scans in children, and the risk of developing cancer in the future. A CT scan can be a very useful tool for a physician to use to either make, or confirm, a diagnosis if your child is having a medical problem. It is important for families to understand that a CT scan uses radiation, and we know that exposure to radiation is linked to cancer.

    The Study: The link between CT scans and cancer

    The information from the JAMA Pediatrics study describes the overall increase of use in CT scans in children over the past 20 years. The number of pediatric CT scans increased until about 2006, and then began to decline. The amount of radiation in a CT scan can be 100 to 500 times greater than a plain x-ray. Children are very sensitive to exposure to radiation that can cause future cancer because of their young age, and because they have many more years of growth and development ahead of them.

  • Decoding the new sunscreen labels.

    As you stock up on sunscreen for the summer, have you noticed that the sunscreen bottles look a little different this year? That’s because starting this year, the FDA requires that companies be transparent about what’s actually in the bottle, and what kind of protection the sunscreen provides. And as skin cancer remains the most common cancer in the U.S., this new, clear-cut labeling will help consumers make more informed choices that will help better protect themselves against potential sun damage.

    The old vs. the new

    So, what’s the difference between the previous sunscreen requirements and the new, updated requirements? The old sunscreen rules focused almost entirely on sunburn prevention, which is primarily caused by ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from the sun. However, these rules overlooked the importance of providing protection against ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation, which contributes to skin cancer and early skin aging. After reviewing the scientific testing abilities of sunscreens, the FDA concluded that it was important to establish a “broad spectrum” test – a test that would show that the product provides UVA protection that is proportional to it’s UVB protection. This new test would allow for an even greater opportunity to protect individuals from sunburn and sun damage.

    What exactly should I be looking for on the new labels?

    It’s often easy to overlook the details on product packaging, as long as the packaging looks appealing to the eye. However, there are a few details you should take note of when purchasing a new bottle of sunscreen.

  • Getting her tonsils and adenoids removed

    My daughter, Hannah, is a typical 10-year-old girl. She loves spending time with her friends and family, doing gymnastics, reading, being silly and taking self-photos. She’s a girl who’s always on the go, except when she is not feeling well. Hannah’s tonsils have always been enlarged, and when Hannah is sick, she almost always has strep throat. Hopefully, fighting bouts of strep throat will be history, now that she’s had her tonsils removed.

  • Got Breast Milk? Wanna share?

    We’ve heard doctors say it over and over again: “Breast is Best!” for babies. A mother’s breast milk provides the most complete nutritional support for growing infants. And yet, as many new mothers are painfully aware, that’s a lot of pressure. Sometimes we make a choice whether we prefer to breastfeed or not, and sometimes that decision is made for us.

  • What I want my daughter to know about racism

    It was my eleventh birthday, and I remember it like it was yesterday. I had been anticipating this birthday party for what seemed like forever, and the day had finally come. I picked out the streamers and balloons- green and purple, my favorite color combination at the time. There were hot dogs and hamburgers, cake and ice cream. I still remember how sore my arms were after playing countless rounds of “Red Rover, Red Rover” in the front yard.

  • Early Intervention: a window of opportunity to help your child thrive

    What is Early Intervention?

    Early Intervention is a federal program that originated in the 1975 Education of All Handicapped Children Act. It is currently Part H of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the law that helps states provide services to babies and toddlers under the age of 36 months who have been diagnosed with a disability, who are not learning and growing at the same rate as other children their age, or who are at risk of having developmental delays in their learning and growing.

    What is the goal of Early Intervention?

    All infants and toddlers grow and develop uniquely. However, some children may show significant delays in attaining their developmental milestones at a young age. The goal of early intervention is to prevent future difficulties and promote the necessary conditions for healthy development.  Early Intervention programs minimize and in some cases prevent delays in development of infants and toddlers with disabilities. They can decrease the need for special education and related services when a child enters school, and increase the child’s independence.

    Why is it important to “Intervene Early?”

    Research has shown that the time between birth and 36 months of age is a critical developmental period in a child’s life. These months offer a window of opportunity for learning that will not be available later. Children whose special needs are identified and addressed during these crucial early years have a better chance of reaching their full potential.

    How do I know if my child will benefit from Early Intervention?

    Does your child have special health or learning needs? Was your child born with a very low birth weight? Do you think your child is slow to begin sitting up, crawling, walking or talking? Does your child have vision, hearing or feeding problems? Does your child have trouble relating to other people? Does your child have a condition that may cause him/her to have a future delay in development?

    What services are included in Early Intervention?

    Early Intervention Service programs and funding are different in each state. Typically, Early Intervention programs are designed to address five areas of development with specific services customized to meet each child’s particular needs. These programs take a family-centered approach, and are usually provided in the child’s “natural environment” (home or child care center). Cognitive development: how a child thinks/learns. An Early Intervention specialist/teacher may provide home-based learning enrichment or preschool classroom services may be recommended to address these needs. Physical development: includes fine and gross motor developmental milestones, vision and hearing. Occupational and/or physical therapy may be warranted to address these needs. Children may also be followed by services for children with low vision, or for the deaf/hard-of-hearing. Language, speech and communication: these skills may be further evaluated and treated by a speech-language pathologist Social-emotional development: these skills may warrant the need for evaluation and treatment by a behavioral therapist, counselor or developmental psychologist Adaptive/self-help skills and development: these skills may be further evaluated and treated by an occupational therapist.

    How can I learn more about Early Intervention in my area?

    Families and Advocates Partnership for Education web site: www.fape.org The Developmental Center for Infants and Children at the Howard Philips Center (Early Steps) 407.317.7430 ext. 2121 Florida Directory of Early Childhood Services: 1.800.654.4440  www.centraldirectory.org www.zerotothree.org

  • Having “the talk” with our son.

    The other day, my 7-year-old informed my husband and I that he knew what sex meant. As a mental health counselor at Teen Xpress, I talk to young people every day about sex. However, when my own son told me that he knew what “IT” was, I just about fell to the floor! We stayed calm and tried not to look worked up. My husband casually asked, “So, what is it?” My son got a little shy and said, “I can’t really remember, but it’s something a man and woman do.”

  • Please, please don’t say the “R” word

    This past weekend as I prepared to board a flight, I stood in line at the gate waiting for my section to be allowed to board. I was preoccupied with the same thoughts that often come to mind as I travel. I worried that the weather was going to delay my trip home even further. I hoped there would be room for my carry-on luggage on the full flight. And most of all, in my constant quest for efficiency, I wished I could make everyone around me move a little faster.

  • The best newborn sleep advice I've ever received: Part 2

    In , I shared some of the best advice I received when my daughter was an infant about getting a newborn to sleep. Of course, every family and every baby is different, but here are a few more things I learned that might be helpful to you if you’re struggling to sort out your baby’s sleep problems:

    Cry it out at increasing intervals

    You may have heard of the “cry-it-out” method. To be honest, I don’t know much about the official method that Dr. Richard Ferber developed. I’ve never read his book because that approach to parenting never appealed to me. Even the name “cry-it-out” just sounds kind of scary. The thought of leaving my baby screaming helplessly and miserably for what seems like an eternity just didn’t feel like the right approach. And, I was frightened by all of the people who told me that I would emotionally scar my baby if I didn’t comfort her immediately.

  • Sibling Bullying: What to do when bullying happens inside your own home

    My older brother and his family were recently in town for a vacation. One afternoon, I sat with him, his wife, and my husband talking, while the kids played nearby. We talked and laughed about growing up, and my sister-in-law asked my brother and I, “Did you guys fight much as kids?”