Healthy Children
From cold and flu to ear infections, Dr. Steven Parker shares information and advice on how to keep your children happy and healthy all year round.
Friday, December 30, 2005
Reading aloud to your child
Dr. P's favorite quote of the week
"You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go. "
- Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You'll Go! (1990)
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"You make 'em [children], I amuse 'em."
- Dr. Seuss (aka Theodor Seuss Geisel)
Dr. P comments
Of all the gifts you can give your children, a lifelong love of books and reading has to be high on the top 10 list.
Give your little infant a nice cardboard book to chew. Start reading books aloud to him/her well before s/he has a clue what the book is about. What s/he will learn is to associate books with closeness to you and with warmth and love and interesting visual displays and expressive language. Baby Einstein can't hold a candle to reading aloud in promoting infant brain development!
As s/he becomes a toddler, the content of the book becomes more interesting and s/he will delight in reading the same thing over and over and over... Books are a great way to end the day and, as your child gets older, you may even become interested in a compelling 'chapter 'book' that is read aloud every night.
Bottom line: It's never to early to promote a love of books, which will lead to a love of reading. Aside from the early benefits of promoting attachment and language and active learning (unlike the passivity of watching TV), what a gift as an adult to be able to enjoy a wonderful book!
Related Topics: Communicating With Your Child, Pull the Plug on Television
Related Topics: Communicating With Your Child, Pull the Plug on Television
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Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Dr. P's Butt Balm
Dr. P's Butt Balm for persistent diaper rash due to irritation
If you are certain your baby's persistent red yucky diaper rash is due to irritation (and not, for example, from a bacterial infection) and the usual over-the-counter creams haven't done the trick and you are at your wit's end and your baby is uncomfortable, not to worry. Try using Dr. P's Butt Balm.
Here's how to make it and use it:
- Thoroughly mix together 1/4 zinc oxide with 3/4 A&D (or similar) ointment. If yeast is present, you can mix in 1/4 yeast cream (like Nystatin) and decrease A&D.
- Apply liberally.
- The key is not to completely wipe off the butt balm with each diaper change!
- Wipe the top layer off.
- If the bottom thin layer on the skin is clean, leave it on and apply more over it.
- If the balm on the skin is soiled, use an oil filled cotton swab to gently wipe it off before applying a new layer.
Dr. P's Pearl: When you need to clean the balm completely off the skin, always use a cotton swab with oil. Gently wipe the balm away (sometimes the balm is sticky and wiping it off too hard irritates the skin).
Good luck! Let me know on my message board if you try and if it works!
Related Topics: Diaper Rash, Diapers and Other Baby Gear
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Monday, December 26, 2005
Your teenager's physical fitness
Dr. P's Pediatric Journal Club
"Prevalence and Cardiovascular Disease Correlates of Low Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Adolescents and Adults " Carnethon M, Greenland P.
Journal of the American Medical Association. Dec. 21, 2005
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The study
3,110 adolescents (age 12-19 years) underwent an 8 minute treadmill test that increased their heart rates and consumption of oxygen. After this cardiovacular 'stress test', they were classified as either "fit" or "unfit", based on national normal values.
What the study found
Low fitness was identified in 1/3 of adolescents (= 7.5 million US adolescents). The prevalence was similar in females and males. Non-Hispanic blacks and Mexican Americans were less fit than non-Hispanic whites. Poor fitness was associated with higher blood pressures, with being fatter, with higher cholesterol and lower "good fat" (HDL) levels.
What this study suggests
From an early age, many American children are out of shape, placing them at greater risk for heart disease, diabetes, even some types of cancer as adults.
Dr. P comments
Everyone knows about the epidemic of obesity in children - 1 out 6 American children is seriously overweight. Now we find that fully 1 out of 3 adolescents can't pass a simple treadmill test of cardiovascular fitness!
Obesity is no mystery: too many calories in + not enough exercise. In my 12/12/05 Blog, I discussed the benefits of a low animal fat diet for your family, but that is only half the story.
Other studies have shown that, even by age 3 years, children are not as active as they used to be. You can guess why: TVs, computers, escalators, cars, and parents/adults who may not be the best role models --> CPITs (couch potatoes in training).
Make physical fitness a family value. Be sure there are opportunities to exercise every day, take walks or ride bikes together, climb the stairs instead of the escalator, sign your kids up for their sport of choice, talk to them about the benefits of exercise (health, fun, feeling good, competence at sports).
It's not that often we can see trouble so clearly down the road and actually have effective ways to prevent it. If your family serves high calorie foods with lots of animal fat + have kids who don't get much exercise... well, Dr. P really doesn't need to badger you: you know what you need to do. Now is as good a time as any to get started.
Related Topics: Fitness Impacts Heart Disease Risk, Fit Mom, Fit Kids
Related Topics: Fitness Impacts Heart Disease Risk, Fit Mom, Fit Kids
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Labels: childhood obesity
Friday, December 23, 2005
Setting high expectations for your kids
Dr. P's favorite quote of the week
"Mama exhorted her children at every opportunity to 'jump at de sun.'
We might not land on the sun, but at least we would get off the ground."
- Zora Neale Hurston, 1942
US novelist of Harlem Renaissance
Dr. P comments
I hope you too advise your kids to "jump at the sun."
After all, if you don't set high (but realistic) goals for them, who will?
Related topics: Positive Parenting, Parenting Tips for Teenagers
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Monday, December 19, 2005
Multiple vaccinations and the immune system
Dr. P's Pediatric Journal Club
"Childhood vaccination and nontargeted infectious disease hospitalization."
Hviid, et al., Journal of the American Medical Association Vol 294, 2005.
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The study
The records of 805,206 (!) Danish school children were examined for:
The records of 805,206 (!) Danish school children were examined for:
- When they received their immunizations, which were given, how many at a time.
- Hospitalization for an infectious disease in the next days, weeks and months.
There was no relationship between receiving one or multiple immunizations and a subsequent hospitalization for an infectious problem.
What this study suggests
There is no evidence that the increasing number of vaccinations given to children has a negative effect on their immunity to serious infections.
Dr. P comments
Vaccinations are one of the great inventions of the 20th century. Next to water sanitation, they have probably saved more lives than anything else. But we're spoiled: who among us has seen a case of polio?
I am very disturbed that unproved guesses ("multiple vaccinations are bad for kids," "the MMR vaccine causes autism," "multiple immunizations given at once are dangerous to the immune system" - all basically proved incorrect) have frightened some conscientious parents into not fully immunizing their kids, or doing so with great fear.
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof. Vaccinations are clearly beneficial. You should demand very good scientific proof that they are harmful before holding off on giving them. And here is yet another study that debunks the claims of irresponsible people who try to convince parents not to fully immunize their kids on the basis of a hunch.
Related Topics: MMR Vaccine-Autism Link Discredited, Vaccinating Kids Cuts Adult Pneumonia
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Friday, December 16, 2005
Dr. P's favorite quote of the week
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They came through you but not from you.
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They came through you but not from you.
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit,
not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you,
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you,
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
- Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931)
Dr. P comments
I remember reading this as a kid and thinking how wonderful it was. (OK, so maybe I liked to quote it to my parents to convince them to get off my back a little!)
As an adult, I appreciate this poem even more. It remains as beautiful, wise, and true a description of the parents' role as I've read.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Whooping cough ("Pertussis") increasing in adolescents
Due to the miraculous effectiveness of infant immunizations, I have only seen a few cases of whooping cough in my day. But, trust me, a few was more than enough. A more miserable, sick and pathetic baby is hard to imagine:
Cough...cough...cough...cough...try to breathe in...can't breathe in...make a horrible "WHOOP" sound desperately trying to get the air in...turn purple...sputter and vomit...and then cough...cough... cough...cough... for days, even weeks!
Worldwide, whooping cough still kills 300,000 children/year -- mainly infants from areas where immunizations are rare. (Do you wonder why I am adamant that you all fully immunize your kids?).
Whooping cough on the rise in adolescents
The number of cases in the U.S. has been increasing (11,600 in 2003, 19,000 in 2004), especially in adolescents. So it now looks like immunity to whooping cough from infant immunizations often wears off around adolescence (age 10 or so).
Whooping cough is very unlikely to be fatal in an otherwise healthy adolescent, but what it lacks in fatality it makes up in misery - most kids call it "the worst and longest cough I have ever had" (although without a "whoop").
The good news
1) The new whooping cough immunization ("acellular pertussis") is largely free of the side effects of the earlier shots and has been approved as a "booster" for adolescents.
2) Antibiotics can shorten the course of the illness. So, if your child contracts a "cold" with an impressive non-stop cough, contact your pediatric provider to consider testing and/or treatment for whooping cough.
Dr. P's bottom line
Have your adolescent kids get a "booster shot" to whooping cough ASAP!
Related Topics: Whooping Cough on the Rise, Adult Whooping Cough Cases May Hit 1 Million
Monday, December 12, 2005
Your child's nutrition
The 12/6/05 issue of the medical journal Circulation published an important study.
The study:
1,000 Finnish kids were divided into two groups at 7 months of age:
The study:
1,000 Finnish kids were divided into two groups at 7 months of age:
- Those advised to give their children a low saturated fat (i.e., low animal fat) diet.
- Those who received no dietary advice.
At age 16, boys (but not girls for some reason) on a low saturated-fat diet had:
- Arteries that could widen larger and allow more blood flow.
- Lower cholesterol levels.
A low saturated fat diet, started early in life, may improve the cardiovascular well-being of children, especially boys.
Dr. P's comments
I think it's pretty clear that a low saturated fat diet is beneficial for all humans, and that includes your kids. That implies that your family's diet should generally include:
- Only low fat or skim and milk products like yogurt ice cream
- More chicken, more fish, less red meat.
- More broiling and baking, much less frying.
- More vegetable oil (without trans fats), much less butter.
- Much more whole grains, fruits and veggies.
This was not - repeat not - a low fat diet. It was a low animal fat diet. Kids need dietary fat for optimal brain development.
A caveat from Dr. P:
In the U.S., it is recommended to give whole milk until age 2 or so. Until there is more research, I am playing it safe and recommending to continue to do so (although I suspect when there are enough further studies, we'll see that the saturated fats in whole milk aren't really crucial for brain development and low fat milk from the start is a good idea).
A caveat from Dr. P:
In the U.S., it is recommended to give whole milk until age 2 or so. Until there is more research, I am playing it safe and recommending to continue to do so (although I suspect when there are enough further studies, we'll see that the saturated fats in whole milk aren't really crucial for brain development and low fat milk from the start is a good idea).
Related Topics: Cooking With Your Children, Fit Foods: Eating Well For Life
Friday, December 09, 2005
On know-it-all parenting gurus
Dr. P's favorite quote of the week
"Before I got married I had six theories about bringing up children;
now I have six children and no theories."
- John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester (1647-1680)
now I have six children and no theories."
- John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester (1647-1680)
Dr. P comments:
Well, maybe I still have a few cherished theories left but, I have to admit, they are pretty different than the ones I was so certain of in my youth.
Take it from Dr. P: Beware the parenting guru with all the answers.
Related Links: Welcome to Parenthood
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Holiday gift-giving: A modest proposal from Dr. P
- Sit down with your kids and tell them that, instead of one of the presents you had planned to give them, you are instead going to donate the cost of that present to the charity of their choice.
- Then talk with them about what the word "charity" means, how charities aid people in distress, the different kinds there are...
- Ask them to imagine what kind of charity they might want if your family needed help in some way (e.g., "What do you think would help our family most if Katrina washed away our house?).
- Then let them think about it and pick their charity of choice.
- When the holidays come, one of their gifts can be a nice card stating "$_ donated by Billy Goodfellow to the Welcome Charity. This money will be used to..."
I think this is a great way to help teach your children about empathy, especially for those more disadvantaged than themselves, and about the joys of charity during a season that tends to emphasize commercial acquisitions.
With a little luck, these lessons might be a gift that will endure long after the latest and greatest toy is relegated to the junk heap.
(P.S. If you do try this. Let me know how it goes on my WebMD Message Board)
Related Topics: Naughty or Nice: Kids at the Holidays, 'Tis the Season to be Greedy?
Friday, December 02, 2005
Dr P's 2006 Flu Shot Update
Every year about this time I post a flu update for the members of my WebMD Message Board. I'm glad to share it here on my blog this year -- I hope it helps!
Influenza season is fast approaching. Should you immunize your children? How about yourself?
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends the following groups be immunized:
- All children aged 6-23 months.
- Anyone 6 months of age who has chronic difficulties with breathing (including asthma) or the cardiovascular system.
- Anyone 6 months of age who requires regular medical follow-up because of a weakened immune system, chronic metabolic disease (including diabetes mellitus), chronic kidney disease, or a blood disorder.
- Anyone 6 months to 18 years of age who is receiving long-term aspirin therapy ( and therefore might be at risk for developing Reye syndrome after influenza).
- Women who will be pregnant during the influenza season.
- Health-care workers and others (including household members) in close contact with persons at high risk for developing influenza-related complications.
- Anyone 50 years of age.
- Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities that house people of any age who have chronic medical conditions.
But what about immunizing your otherwise healthy kids who do not meet any of these criteria? That's a parent decision; there is no right or wrong answer.
On the plus side: 36,000 people in the U.S. die from the flu each year, why take the risk? The vaccine is quite safe and it works pretty well to prevent severe flu symptoms. It's no fun to have the flu if you can avoid it.
On the negative side: Depending on the strain of flu going around, the vaccine may not be very effective. Even if they should get the flu, the vast majority of healthy kids handle it fine (albeit after a few days of misery). Severe side effects, while quite rare, are no unheard of. Sometimes shortages mandate only at-risk people receive the vaccine (a problem last year but not this year).
Bottom line: It's your call.
FYI: All things being equal, Dr. P advises to immunize the family. See if your pediatric provider agrees. Stay well!
Related Topics:
Kids' Colds and Flu Survival Guide, 12 Tips to Prevent Colds and Flu Naturally
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