Thursday, January 26, 2012

Well Child Check Up Reminder

Have we seen you lately??.....Did you know that the current recommendations for the American Academy of Pediatrics are for children to get a well child exam annually? This has changed within the past few years.
 
Well-child care also is a chance to raise questions and concerns about your child’s development, behavior, and general well-being — questions that are difficult to discuss during sick visits. For instance, pediatricians are used to discussing common concerns with parents such as eating, sleeping, toilet training, social behaviors, as well as attention and learning problems. Having regular well-child visits with your child’s doctor and raising the concerns that matter most to you are key ingredients in helping the doctor know you and your child, and in forming a reliable and trustworthy relationship.
 
 The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Department of Research recently conducted 20 focus groups with parents and 31 focus groups with pediatricians and pediatric nurse practitioners to gather recommendations about how to make the most of the well-child office visit.
From these sessions, four themes emerged:
  • Pediatricians and parents share the goal of healthy children.
  • Pediatricians want the well-child visit to best serve the needs of children and their families.
  • Pediatricians are experts in child health, but parents are experts on their child.
  • A team approach can best develop optimum physical, emotional, and developmental health for the child.
  • It may seem early in the year to even think about scheduling your child's check up, but this is when the busy season starts! All children who are entering kindergarten or middle school, who have not had a well child exam within the past year will need one before they register for school! So if you have not done so already, please call the office as soon as possible to schedule your child's well visit!

To read more on why it is recommended for your child to have a well visit annually, you can read this article provided by healthychildren.org. We look forward to seeing you. WATCH the blog tomorrow for a FUN new CONTEST that is going to be worth your time!!

 **some info from AAP

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Study: Babies try to lip read

Last week we shared a post with you on how babies comprehend mother's tone of voice. Dr Lynch found this story in the Washington Post that suggest that babies don't just listen but they actually try to lip-read while turning babble into words. Read part of the article here and click below for the full article.

WASHINGTON — Babies don’t learn to talk just from hearing sounds. New research suggests they’re lip-readers too.
It happens during that magical stage when a baby’s babbling gradually changes from gibberish into syllables and eventually into that first “mama” or “dada.”
Florida scientists discovered that starting around age 6 months, babies begin shifting from the intent eye gaze of early infancy to studying mouths when people talk to them.
“The baby in order to imitate you has to figure out how to shape their lips to make that particular sound they’re hearing,” explains developmental psychologist David Lewkowicz of Florida Atlantic University, who led the study being published Monday. “It’s an incredibly complex process.”
Apparently it doesn’t take them too long to absorb the movements that match basic sounds. By their first birthdays, babies start shifting back to look you in the eye again — unless they hear the unfamiliar sounds of a foreign language. Then, they stick with lip-reading a bit longer.
“It’s a pretty intriguing finding,” says University of Iowa psychology professor Bob McMurray, who also studies speech development. The babies “know what they need to know about, and they’re able to deploy their attention to what’s important at that point in development.”
The new research appears in this week’s issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. It offers more evidence that quality face-time with your tot is very important for speech development — more than, say, turning on the latest baby DVD.
It also begs the question of whether babies who turn out to have developmental disorders, including autism, learn to speak the same way, or if they show differences that just might provide an early warning sign......Click here for the full article

**thanks to Washington Post for part of this article

Friday, January 20, 2012

Fact Friday: Poison Control helps more than 40,000 people a year!

The poison center helps more than 40,000 poison victims a year. (Including my 4 year old son last night--spraying Lysol in his eyes) Quick action could save a life.  About half of poisoning emergencies involve small children, but also provide immediate life-saving information for suicide attempts, medication errors, chemical spills, occupational exposures, product misuse, drug interactions and pet poisonings.  About 67% of Poison Center callers are treated at home...safely.  That saves the region's residents over $18 million/year in unnecessary health care costs. Reported poisonings are monitored for new or unusually dangerous hazards.  When we identify a problem, we urge manufacturers and government regulators to change the formulation, improve the closure or even ban the product.

ACT FAST  - if you think someone has been poisoned!

• If you find your 2-year-old with an open bottle of medicine
• If your spouse mixes household cleaners and can't stop coughing
• If your teenager overdoses
• If that liquid in the glass wasn't soda

• If you think someone has been poisoned....
Call 1-800-222-1222 right away!

Personal Experience:
Last night my four year old thought he would "spray" Lysol to make our house clean and instead it went straight into his eyes. I did many thing wrong from the start. First, I put my guard down since my children are older. I still have all my cleaning supplies locked up but this was sitting in plain sight in my kitchen. Second, I assumed that he was old enough to not use it after repeated warnings but lets be honest, he was a curious boy! Finally, I assumed it can't happen to me. My son is fine and I flushed it immediately like the bottle said and then called Poison Control. I have to admit I have called them several times, in my 11 years of parenting, and every time I am SO impressed with the calm, educated person on the other line giving me the EXACT information that I need to help my child.  Be sure to have what ever "poison" with you when you call--but once again I was humbled by the fact that we have such an amazing resource. So please use my personal experience as a Reminder!  At the end of my call she suggested me to follow up with my pediatrician or to call back if I had any other questions.

 Willow Creek is always here to answer any questions you may have and we will refer you to Poison Control if necessary. We at Willow Creek Pediatrics are very grateful for a wonderful service like this! Please pick up a magnet or sticker for your home so you have this number at hand. We have stacks at the office and would love to give them to you! Also, there is a APP for your smart phones and also click on this link for more information
 http://www.poison.org/home.asp or http://www.aapcc.org/dnn/PoisoningPrevention/Children.aspx
**info from Poison.org and Poison Prevention

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Babies comprehend mother's tone of voice

Dr Jopling found this great article and wanted to share it with you. "This study suggests that we parents need to be more intune with HOW we say things, than the WORDS we actually speak to our children. I think it is true, for differing reasons, for all ages of children (and yes, even adults as well)." --Dr Jopling

Here is part of this article--click below for the full article

Babies understand what their mothers are saying even though they do not know the language she is speaking, according to new research by British scientists.

Scientists studied reactions from one-year-old babies to their mum's voice The study proves what parents have known for years - that babies pick up on the tone of their mother's voice rather than her words. Researchers showed that babies reacted in the same way to mum's voice regardless if she is speaking English or Greek. The scientists studied reactions from one-year-old babies to their mum's voice even when she was speaking either languages. Babies watched their mothers perform actions with toys using the English words "whoops" and "there". And the same process was repeated in Greek with the same tone in the voice.

Study leader Dr Merideth Gattis, of Cardiff University's School of Psychology, said: "What this work showed as that children could have access to understanding using simply the tone of voice.
"We did "whoops" and "there" in two languages and got exactly the same results - whether in English or Greek, which none of the children understood." The research published in the journal Cognitive Development was conducted with 84 babies, aged between 14 and 18 months, in Cardiff over the course of a year with none of the babies having any previous exposure to Greek.
Dr Gattis said that children respond to "tone" clues in their parents' speech from an early age.
She said: "Tone of voice is a really useful signal to what someone is thinking.
"We never have access through to other people's minds, except the signals in language that we give out."
She said that the study results meant that it was less important what parents said, but "how they said it".
She said that even swearing, or anger could theoretically be "covered up" by disguising tone - but that it was better to use another word in its place. CLICK here for full article.
**info from the TELEGRAPH

Friday, January 13, 2012

Fact Friday: RSV is here

We wanted you to be aware that we are seeing an increase of RSV in our office.  Always remember that the best prevention is hand washing! Here are two past "post" with great information about RSV.
Remember-- we do have after hours at our office and we are happy to see your child if you need.  Please call if you have any questions. Have a great weekend !

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

What are the healthy foods in 2012


.
Why not take a more positive approach to changing eating habits for the better in 2012 and beyond? Instead of concentrating on what you can't eat, plan your eating pattern to include more nutrient-rich choices.
I reached out to my colleagues, some of the country's top health experts, and here's what they recommend you put on the menu in 2012 and every year.

Pumpkin. It's packed with antioxidants as well as immuneboosting vitamin A , and it's simple to incorporate into your everyday diet. Use canned pure pumpkin to work this super-nutritious vegetable onto the table any time of the day. Stir a cup into your favorite bean chili recipe; use 1/4 to 1/2 cup canned to replace some of the solid fat, such as margarine and butter, in recipes for baked goods; or add a few tablespoons of pureed pumpkin to fruit smoothies.

- Janice Newell Bissex, MS, RD, and Liz Weiss, MS, RD, aka The Meal Makeover Moms (authors of No Whine With Dinner: 150 Kid-Tested Recipes from the Meal Makeover Moms)
Beans. Whether purchased in a can or bag, beans provide more nutritional and culinary versatility than any other food I know. They are one of the best natural sources of fiber you can bring to the table with an average of seven grams of fiber in every 1/2 cup serving of cooked beans. Beans are also a good-to-excellent source of six other vitamins and minerals including folate, potassium and iron.
When trying to meet the ChooseMyPlate recommendation to fill half your plate with produce, beans can help because they are vegetables. When you have plenty of other vegetables on your plate, your beans can count as a protein source instead. Now that's versatile!
-Robyn Flipse, MS, RD (co-author of The Wedding Dress Diet)
 
 

To read the other suggestions click HERE
**info from USATODAY

Friday, January 6, 2012

Fact Friday : Chillin' With Winter Safety From AAP

What should you do to help them prepare? It may be cold outside, but it’s just as important for children to get physical activity during the winter as it is during the warmer months. Physical activity should be a healthy part of your family’s routine throughout the year. And safety should always be a central part of your children’s recreational fun.

Fun in the Winter Sun

It’s true that many safety concerns are the same regardless of season, says Holly Benjamin, M.D., FACSM, FAAP, the director of primary care sports medicine program at the University of Chicago Student Care Center. For starters, parents still need to remember sunscreen, for example. “People come back from ski trips and we actually treat a fair number of sunburns,” she says.  Even though it might seem odd, you can get sunburn in the winter.  The sunlight reflects off snow and ice. Wear sunscreen with an SPF 15 minimum and cover exposed areas of the body. You should wear protective eyewear and an SPF lip balm, Benjamin says. 

Safety in Layers

When thinking about outside activity, think about clothing, too.  Layering is a good idea; so are moisture-wicking
“I think with winter sports safety, especially with kids, the temperature and the environment are near the top of the list in importance.  And I think that parents have to be really proactive and responsible about dressing them appropriately in layers, covering their heads and necks.” 
Watch out for fashion trends that could land you in the ER. Long scarves and cords can get caught in sled blades, and hoods can block peripheral vision, she says. “Some people believe that it’s safer to just have a hat, neck warmer, a warm jacket and gloves,” she says. As long as the exposed skin is covered and the jacket can be zipped, your child should be ready for winter play.

Stay Alert

Injuries can happen anywhere, anytime. Dr. Benjamin’s advice follows that of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): Be aware and use caution. Children should always wear helmets while sledding, skiing, snowboarding, and playing ice hockey, for example. 
“If you’re talking about sledding or tobogganing, especially with young kids, they’re not always looking for trees or rocks, so you have to scope out the environment and make sure they have a clear path,” she says. 
Parents should also make sure that the hill your children are sledding down doesn’t empty onto a pond that might not be frozen solid, she says. 
Older children should play it safe, too, she says. Don’t load up the sled with multiple riders; take turns. “Reckless play — actively trying to crash into each other or knock people off is obviously a setup for injury.” 
“It’s fun for kids to enjoy winter sports,” Benjamin says, “and we’re fully supportive of kids participating in winter activities as long as they follow safety guidelines.” 

Equipment Check

If you’re planning a skiing or snowboarding trip, have the equipment fitted by a professional. A child in too-large boots can trip and fall. A child in skis that aren’t the right size can fall, too. And keep in mind that wrist fractures — commonplace in snowboarding — can be prevented by simply using wrist guards.
Safety is key in ice hockey or sports involving equipment, Dr. Benjamin says. “The biggest challenge with kids is fit, making sure everything fits properly and is the right size. And that changes. No one wants to buy new skates every year, but it may be necessary as your child grows.”
Used equipment is fine, she says, but check it out before you buy it. Look at the laces, for broken blades and make sure the leather on hockey and ice skates isn’t too broken down around the ankles. Follow the team guidelines, too. If you need a mouth guard, wear one.
“A piece of used equipment that fits well and is in good condition is better than something new that doesn’t fit properly,” Dr. Benjamin says.
You have to check all equipment, new and old, to see that it fits. You need to check it to make sure it’s still safe or not broken. If it gets used a lot, it may not hold up. Make sure helmets and boots are sized correctly. Make sure the equipment is in good shape. If you’re concerned, ask a sales person at a ski shop, she says.    

Skills Assessment

If it’s a new activity, work to master your skills, she says. Play it safe by starting with a snowboarding lesson before you hit the slopes.
It’s recommended, appropriate and safe, she says, to start slow or on a more gentle slope. Practice with your equipment and gradually build up to a steeper slope or faster speed. Be patient and resist pressure to take on more than you’re ready for.
By taking a few precautions, you can make sure that your children get the healthy benefits ts of winter exercise without taking unnecessary risks.
This article was featured in Healthy Children Magazine. To view the full issue, click here.
**info from HEALTHY CHILDREN MAGAZINE...click upbove for full article

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

20 Healthy New Year's Resolutions for Kids

The following New Year tips are from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). We look forward to these coming out each year! Great ideas and this year they broke it down by age group. For the full article click on the bottom and thank you to the AAP for putting great articles out like this...Happy New Year

Preschoolers

  • I will clean up my toys and put them where they belong.
  • I will brush my teeth twice a day, and wash my hands after going to the bathroom and before eating.
  • I won’t tease dogs or other pets – even friendly ones. I will avoid being bitten by keeping my fingers and face away from their mouths.

Kids, 5- to 12-years-old

  • I will drink reduced-fat milk and water every day, and drink soda and fruit drinks only on special occasions. 
  • I will apply sunscreen before I go outdoors on bright sunny days. I will try to stay in the shade whenever possible and wear a hat and sunglasses, especially when I’m playing sports.
  • I will try to find a sport (like basketball or soccer) or an activity (like playing tag, jumping rope, dancing or riding my bike) that I like and do it at least three times a week!
  • I will always wear a helmet when bicycling.
  • I will wear my seat belt every time I get in a car. I’ll sit in the back seat and use a booster seat until I am tall enough to use a lap/shoulder seat belt.
  • I’ll be nice to other kids. I’ll be friendly to kids who need friends – like someone who is shy, or is new to my school.
  • I’ll never give out personal information such as my name, home address, school name or telephone number on the Internet. Also, I’ll never send a picture of myself to someone I chat with on the computer without my parent’s permission.

Kids, 13-years-old and up

  • I will try to eat two servings of fruit and two servings of vegetables every day, and I will drink sodas only on special occasions. 
  • I will take care of my body through physical activity and nutrition.
  • I will choose non-violent television shows and video games, and I will spend only one to two hours each day – at the most – on these activities.
  • I will help out in my community – through volunteering, working with community groups or by joining a group that helps people in need.
  • When I feel angry or stressed out, I will take a break and find constructive ways to deal with the stress, such as exercising, reading, writing in a journal or discussing my problem with a parent or friend.
  • When faced with a difficult decision, I will talk about my choices with an adult whom I can trust.
  • When I notice my friends are struggling or engaging in risky behaviors, I will talk with a trusted adult and attempt to find a way that I can help them.
  • I will be careful about whom I choose to date, and always treat the other person with respect and without coercion or violence. I will expect the same good behavior in return.
  • I will resist peer pressure to try drugs and alcohol.
  • I agree not to use a cell phone or text message while driving and to always use a seat belt.
**info from Healthychildren.org
for full article click here