Child Healthcare Archives

When To Be Concerned About Your Child’s Headache

by Marketing Manager | Mar 16, 2023 | Child Healthcare

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Eight things to look for when your child has a headache.

Headaches are common, even for children. Most of the time, a simple headache is not concerning. Minor illnesses, a bump to the head, lack of sleep, not eating, not drinking, or stress cause the majority of headaches. Although most headaches are minor and non-concerning, pediatrician Dr. Claire McCarthy wants parents and caregivers to watch for these 8 things when your child has a headache.

1. When A Child Has a Fever, Stiff Neck, And Headache

These symptoms are concerning because they could be an indication of meningitis. If your child has these symptoms, seek medical care right away.

2. When the Headache Pain Is Severe and Isn’t Helped by Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen

Common treatments for a headache are rest and medication. Always confirm the pediatric dosages when giving your child medication. Adult dosages are not safe for small children and could be life-threatening. If your child’s headache pain is severe and is not relieved by rest and medication, call your healthcare provider or make an appointment to have them checked out.

3. When A Child Has Frequent or Persistent Vomiting And A Headache

This combination of symptoms could just be a virus but if you are concerned you should call your child’s healthcare provider. These are also signs of pressure on the brain.

4. When A Child Has a Headache and Is Unusually Sleepy or Has Trouble Walking, Talking, or Doing Normal Activities

Just as with number 3, this combination of symptoms could be a virus or other illness but if you are concerned you should reach out to your child’s healthcare provider.

5. When A Headache Wakes Your Child from Sleeping

It is normal to wake up and realize you have a headache but if the pain of the headache is waking your child up from sleep this is unusual. Call your child’s healthcare provider if this is occurring.

6. When A Headache Is Worse Lying Down

Most headaches get better as time passes. If your child’s headache continues to get worse as time goes on or gets worse while lying down to rest, reach out to your child’s healthcare provider. This could be an indication of pressure on the brain.

7. When the Headaches Are Frequent or Interfering with Daily Life

If your child has headaches two or more times a week, or the headaches are interfering with their normal life then it is worth a visit to the doctor. It may not be anything serious but it is worth discussing with their healthcare provider.

8. When You Are Concerned

You know your child best. If something just doesn’t seem right and you are concerned, reach out to discuss your concerns with their healthcare provider.

This article is based on an article originally published by Harvard Health Publishing, click here to read the original article.

Resources

McCarthy, C. (2022, March 16). 8 things to watch for when your child has a headache. Harvard Health. Retrieved March 10, 2023

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Tips to Reduce the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

by Marketing Manager | Feb 16, 2023 | Babies, Child Healthcare

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The number one cause of death of children between the age of one month and one year is sudden infant death syndrome, also known as SIDS. It is described as the sudden and unexplained death of an infant younger than one-year-old. Approximately, 1,545 infants die every year from SIDS. Unfortunately, there is no foolproof method to prevent SIDS but there are ways to reduce the risk of SIDS.

What is the Cause of SIDS?

Medical experts don’t know the exact cause of SIDS, but many believe one or more of the following factors are involved:

Brain abnormalities or defects
Genetics
Environmental stressors
Body regulation

How Can I Reduce the Risk of SIDS?

Fortunately, there are several methods to help reduce the risk of SIDS. Use the following 12 tips to help prevent SIDS.

1. Place the Baby on Their Back to Sleep

Sleeping on their back is the safest sleep position for babies until they are at least one year old.

2. Use a Flat Firm Sleep Surface with a Fitted Sheet and Nothing Else

A baby’s sleep surface should be firm and flat. A baby should never sleep on soft surfaces such as a couch or pillow. They should not sleep in a car seat, stroller, sling, or swing. A baby should not sleep with a loose sheet, blanket, or anything else other than a tightly fitted sheet on the sleep surface. This helps to reduce suffocation risks.

3. Breastfeed

Breastfeeding has many health benefits for mothers and babies. Statistics have shown that babies who are breastfed have a lower risk of SIDS.

4. Share Your Room

It is recommended to share your room with your baby for the first 6 months to one year. The baby should not sleep in your bed but in their infant-safe sleep area. Sharing a bed with your infant increases the risk of suffocation. Keeping the baby in your room reduces the risk of SIDS.

5. Keep the Baby’s Sleeping Area Clear

The baby’s sleeping area should not have any toys, blankets, stuffed animals, etc. The only thing that should be on the baby’s mattress is a snug fitted sheet. There should be no objects, toys, crib bumpers, or loose bedding in the baby’s sleep area.

6. Get Good Prenatal Care

It is important for women to take good care of themselves during pregnancy. Attend regularly scheduled healthcare appointments and avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, or using illegal drugs.

7. Do Not Smoke

Women should not smoke during pregnancy or after pregnancy around the baby. Do not allow others to smoke around the baby.

8. Use a Pacifier

Offering the baby a pacifier for sleep after breastfeeding is well-established as helping reduce the risk of SIDS. Do not force a pacifier on the baby if they don’t want it and do not attach it to anything.

9. Control the Temperature

Don’t let the baby get too hot during sleep. Dress them well for sleep but without over-bundling them. Never cover the baby’s face or head during sleep.

10. Get Check Ups and Vaccines

Getting regular health checkups and recommended vaccines helps lower the risk of SIDS.

11. Only Use Products for Safe Sleep

Do not use products that claim to prevent or reduce SIDS. These products are not supported by evidence and are linked with injury and death.

12. Tummy Time

Do plenty of supervised tummy time to help the baby strengthen their neck, shoulders, and arms.

Resources

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). How can I reduce the risk of SIDS? Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Retrieved February 8, 2023

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When and Where to Get Medical Care for Your Children

by Marketing Manager | Jan 19, 2023 | Child Healthcare

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It can be challenging for parents to know when and where to get medical care for their children. Pediatrician offices are generally only open during business hours, but medical care is sometimes needed outside those hours, especially when it comes to children. Fortunately, there are emergency rooms and urgent care facilities that can provide care when you can’t get in with your child’s pediatrician. But sometimes it is difficult to know what type of care your child needs. Is it something that can wait until the pediatrician’s office opens? Is it an emergency or should you take them to urgent care? These are decisions that parents often face. Read on to review some general guidelines to help you decide what type of medical care your child needs.

When to Call 911

There are times when it is unsafe to move a person or the situation is so severe that a person needs medical care ASAP, this is when medical transport is required. In these types of situations, you will want to call 911.

Always Call 911 If Your Child…

Isn’t breathing or is turning blue
Is choking
Is unconscious after a fall
Is having a seizure
Is having a severe allergic reaction
Has a broken bone sticking out of the skin
Took something that may be harmful and is hard to rouse
Has a wound that won’t stop bleeding

When To Take Your Child to The Emergency Room

In some cases, your child may need immediate medical care but does not need medical transport. If your child is stable enough and it is safe, driving them to the ER may be the best option.

Take Your Child to The ER If They Have One of The Following Conditions and Is Able to Be Safely Moved Without the Need for Medical Transport:

Trouble breathing
Unusual sleepiness or confusion
Stiff neck and fever
Continuous fast heartbeat
Ingested a poison, drug, or unknown substance and is still alert
Possible Concussion
Eye Injury
Serious Burn

When To Call or Make an Appointment with The Pediatrician

With general health concerns, ailments, and non-emergencies call your pediatrician’s office. Depending on what the concern is they may advise you over the phone or have you make an appointment to be seen.

Call Your Pediatrician for Medical Issues Such As:

Fever
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Ear pain
Headache
Cold symptoms
Skin conditions

When To Use Urgent Care

Urgent care is great for when your pediatrician’s office is closed but your child needs medical care soon. They can treat the same conditions as your pediatrician’s office. Some urgent cares may also have the ability to do X-rays for simple injuries.

When In Doubt

When you just aren’t sure where to take your child for medical care, call ahead to the facility and let them know what is going on. They will be able to let you know if they handle the issue your child is experiencing or they may advise you to use a different level of care.

Resources

Cronan, K. (Ed.). (2019, October). When and where to get medical care (for parents) – nemours kidshealth. KidsHealth. Retrieved January 12, 2023

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Speech Delays in Children

by Marketing Manager | Dec 22, 2022 | Child Healthcare

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Parents want their children to develop in a healthy and normal manner. Unfortunately, no matter how hard a parent may try, some children do not meet developmental milestones like their peers of the same age. There are several different types of developmental delays in children. A developmental delay is diagnosed when a child does not reach normal developmental milestones at the expected age. In this article, we will explore the developmental delay of speech in children.

What is a Speech Delay? What is a Language Delay?

Speech delay and language delay can be easily confused but they are different. A child who has a language delay articulates words well but has trouble putting words together. A child with a speech delay struggles to articulate words.

What are the Signs of a Speech Delay?

Since kids develop at different paces it may be difficult to identify a speech delay. It is important to pay attention to see if your child is hitting their developmental milestones by the recommended age. This is another reason why attending regularly scheduled appointments with your child’s pediatrician is recommended. Nemours KidsHealth recommends watching for the following milestones and signs of a speech delay in your child:

By 12 months a child should be using gestures such as pointing or waving
By 18 months a child should prefer using vocalization in order to communicate, should be imitating sounds, understanding simple verbal requests, and have about 50 words in their vocabulary
By 2 years old a child should be producing words spontaneously, should be using oral language to communicate, following simple directions, and have about 100 words in their vocabulary

What Causes a Speech Delay?

The specific cause of a speech delay cannot always be found but some possible causes include an oral impairment or abnormality, oral-motor issues, hearing problems, and ear infections.

What Should I Do If I Suspect My Child Has a Speech Delay?

Contact your pediatrician if you believe that your child may have a speech delay or is not reaching their developmental milestones at the expected age. They will do a physical exam to see if a medical issue is causing the speech delay and likely recommend seeing a speech-language pathologist. These specialists are experts in speech and language development. They will be able to perform speech and language testing, make recommendations, and provide speech therapy.

Resources

Hartnett, J. (Ed.). (2022, March). Delayed speech or language development (for parents) – nemours kidshealth. KidsHealth. Retrieved December 16, 2022

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New Research Suggests Nature Helps Kid’s Lung Health

by Marketing Manager | Aug 4, 2022 | Child Healthcare

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]According to an article on the U.S. News and World Report website, a new research study suggests that children with more exposure to nature in the first ten years of their lives helps improve lung function. The study included approximately 3,300 child participants. Each child took a lung function test. The researchers then studied how close each child’s home was to surrounding vegetation including parks, gardens, and green spaces.

Researcher Diogo Queiroz Almeida was quoted saying, “Our research suggests the greener, the better…if we look at the whole population, making our neighborhoods greener could have a considerable impact…We looked at factors like physical activity and air pollution, but the link between lung function and moving closer to green space remained, even after we took these into account…It could also be that getting closer to nature reduces stress, which can improve physical health, or it might have a positive effect on children’s microbiome — the community of different bacteria that live in our bodies” ¹.

Whatever the reasoning may be, it is agreeable that nature is good for people. According to the Child Mind Institute website, spending time outdoors is beneficial by building confidence, promoting creativity and imagination, teaching responsibility, providing stimulation, getting more movement, and reducing stress ².

According to the National Wildlife Federation, the average American child spends as little as 30 minutes a day in unstructured outdoor play and more than seven hours a day in front of electronics. They believe that getting outdoors benefits the body, mind, and spirit ³.

Getting outdoors in nature will be beneficial to your whole family. Use the following tips and ideas to get your family motivated to spend time outdoors.

Plan a picnic in your backyard or at a local park
Have a playdate with your friends and meet up at a local playground
Visit a local farm
Go swimming
Plan a trip to the beach or lake
Go horseback riding
Get involved in sports
Go to a festival or local outdoor event
Go hiking
Take a bike ride

Resources

Getting kids out in nature boosts lung health, study finds. (n.d.). Retrieved July 27, 2022
Why kids need to spend time in nature. Child Mind Institute. (2021, September 21). Retrieved July 27, 2022
Health benefits and tips. National Wildlife Federation. (n.d.). Retrieved July 27, 2022

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Seeking Professional Help for Your Child’s Mental Health

by Marketing Manager | May 19, 2022 | Child Healthcare

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]There has been a lot of focus put on the mental health of children and adolescents since COVID started. In October 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Children’s Hospital Association joined forces and declared a national emergency in child and adolescent mental health. The American Academy of Pediatrics website stated, “We have witnessed soaring rates of mental health challenges among children, adolescents, and their families over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, exacerbating the situation that existed prior to the pandemic. Children and families across our country have experienced enormous adversity and disruption.” ¹. In March 2022, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a survey that found that more than 1/3 of adolescents report having feelings of sadness and / or hopelessness on a persistent basis ². There are several helpful parenting recommendations on the internet about how to help your children if they are suffering from mental health conditions, such as having open communication, but sometimes parenting skills are not always enough to address the issue and professional help is needed.

It can be hard to remember how tough being a kid was. As an adult, it is easy to get wrapped up in adult issues such as paying bills and keeping food on the table. It is important to remember that children can also suffer from mental health conditions such as stress, anxiety, depression, and more. Sometimes they may have it worse than adults realize because we can’t understand the kinds of stressors they are dealing with, such as school culture, bullying, social media, and peer pressure. If your child is struggling with mental health you may want to consider consulting with a therapist or medical professional.

For some kids, it may be difficult to talk about mental health struggles, but professional help can guide them. There are mental health professionals and therapists that specialize in different age groups, types of therapy, and medical conditions. Some common conditions that kids receive therapy for include family issues, school issues, health problems, eating disorders, losing a loved one, and more. Having your child go to therapy does not mean that they will have to go forever. There are many factors that contribute to how long therapy is needed.

If you are a parent and are seeking therapy for your child, make sure to do your homework and find a therapist that you and your child are comfortable with. Talk with your child about how they feel about going to therapy. Don’t be intimated to try therapy for yourself or your child. Therapists and medical professionals are there to help you.

Resources

Aap-AACAP-Cha Declaration of a national emergency in child and Adolescent Mental Health. American Academy of Pediatrics. (n.d.). Retrieved May 10, 2022
Adolescent behaviors and experiences survey – cdc.gov. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, April 1). Retrieved May 9, 2022

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When To Be Concerned About Your Child’s Headache

Resources

Tips to Reduce the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Resources

When and Where to Get Medical Care for Your Children

Resources

Speech Delays in Children

Resources

New Research Suggests Nature Helps Kid’s Lung Health

Resources

Seeking Professional Help for Your Child’s Mental Health

Resources

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