Kids and Technology: Living in the Digital Age – Laura Kauffman, M.D., F.A.A.P.

It’s hard to imagine a time when an smart phone, tablet or laptop was not at our fingertips. It is inevitable that children of our generation will grow up with media in all aspects of their lives. In a world where children are “growing up digital,” it’s important to help them learn healthy concepts of digital use.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has some tips for managing the digital world with our children:

Treat media as you would any other environment in your child’s life:

Set limits; kids need and expect them. Know your children’s friends, both online and off. Know what platforms, software, and apps your children are using, where they are going on the web, and what they are doing online.

Set limits and encourage playtime:

Tech use, like all other activities, should have reasonable limits. Unstructured and offline play stimulates creativity. Make unplugged playtime a daily priority, especially for very young children.

Families who play together, learn together:

Family participation is also great for media activities—it encourages social interactions, bonding, and learning. Play a video game with your kids. It’s a good way to demonstrate good sportsmanship and gaming etiquette.

Be a good role mode:

Teach and model kindness and good manners online. And, because children are great mimics, limit your own media use.

For more tips and information, please visit:

healthychildren.org – Tips for Parents Digital Age

Vitamins and Toddlers – Asha Ramachandran, M.D., F.A.A.P.

Often we are asked by parents if their children need additional Vitamin supplementation – especially in the Toddler years when eating a complete and satisfying (for the parent) meal can be a difficult task. While Vitamins are not harmful and can certainly be given as a supplement they are most likely not necessary. Meat and Dairy restricted diets may require some supplementation and should be discussed with your Physician.

But if you are one of those parents who has broken down and started given your kids vitamins, you are not alone! The truth is most nutritionists agree that there is very little benefit in giving your children a daily multivitamin as there are very few instances where the child’s diet alone leaves him deficient. Here are some additional points described by healthychildren.org to consider:

• The amount your child needs to eat to get enough vitamins and minerals from his food alone is probably much smaller than you think. Even for the pickiest of eaters, it doesn’t take more than a very few picks from each of the basic food groups for children to get their recommended daily dose.
• Many vitamins can be stored in the body. This means that your child doesn’t have to eat each and every one every day—affording you the option of spreading your efforts at achieving a balanced diet out over the course of a week or two without spreading the vitamins too thin.
• Ironically enough, parents who are most likely to give multivitamins are also those who are most likely to be feeding their children healthy diets in the first place.
• Vitamins can be found in some unlikely sources. Calcium doesn’t just have to come from cows, since it is contained in both supplements and many nondairy foods ranging from salmon, tofu, spinach, and sardines to rhubarb, baked beans, bok choy, and almonds—admittedly not all of which are an easy sell at the dinner table, but at least you have plenty to choose from!
• And finally, many foods these days are fortified. That means that even if your child favors foods that do not come naturally loaded with all of the necessary nutrients, all hope is not lost; it’s entirely possible that food manufacturers have added them in for you. Classic examples include the vitamin D fortification of milk, margarine, and pudding, and the calcium contained in kid-friendly foods such as orange juice, cereals, breads, and even Eggo waffles.

 

Take Care!

Dr. Asha

 

Lead Exposure: Steps to Protect Your Family – Dr Paul Miller

Lead is, fortunately, much less prevalent in the environment than before. However there have been some recent reports of Lead in the media, from the water supply in Flint, MI to the most recent report of Lead in the drinking water in certain Chicago schools.

Lead is a heavy metal which serves no purpose in our bodies and competes with Iron in certain biological processes (making red blood cells/hemoglobin, for one). So NO lead is good lead.

Before Lead was removed from paints and as an additive in gasoline we would typically see and accept higher levels as normal. For instance when I first started in medicine in the 1990’s a level up to 20 was considered acceptable. Nowadays we get concerned for levels > 5.

Current sources of Lead include old pipes, old paint and exposure to Lead containing dirt. Other sources are related to hobbies such as glazing/stained glass and firearms/shooting. Toys made in other countries without strict oversight may also be found on occasion to contain lead.

At Weissbluth Pediatrics we routinely check for Lead at 12 and 24 months of age in all children. Any child with persistent mouthing of non-food items or pika may be tested at the request or discretion of the family and doctor. If your child’s Lead level is above 5 in the office we will request a venous blood draw to confirm the result.

Please click this link for more information:

In good Health,

Paul Miller, M.D., F.A.A.P.

Summer Safety – Laura Kauffman, M.D., F.A.A.P.

It’s that time of year to get outside and enjoy the sunshine! Whether you’re spending the day at the beach, in a pool or on the playground, we’re always striving to keep our kids healthy and happy. Here are a few tips to keep the family safe this summer:

Fun in the Sun

• For babies under 6 months of age, to prevent sunburn avoid sun exposure, dress infants in lightweight long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and brimmed hats that shade the neck to prevent sunburn.
• For older children, stay in the shade whenever possible, and limit sun exposure during the peak intensity hours – between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. On both sunny and cloudy days use a sunscreen with an SPF 15 or greater that protects against UVA and UVB rays.

Heat Stress

• Before outdoor physical activities, children should drink freely and should not feel thirsty. The intensity of activities that last 15 minutes or more should be reduced whenever high heat or humidity reach critical levels.
• Infants and small children are not able to regulate their body temperature in the same way that adults do. The inside of a car can reach dangerous temperatures quickly, even when the outside temperature is not hot. Never leave a child alone in a car, even if you expect to come back soon.

Pool/Boating Safety

• Never leave children alone in or near the pool or spa, even for a moment; close supervision by a responsible adult is the best way to prevent drowning in children.
• Install a fence at least 4 feet high around all four sides of the pool.
• Children should wear life jackets at all times when on boats, docks or near bodies of water.

For more tips on sun and water safety, visit: HealthyChildren.org – Summer Safety Tips, Sun and Water Safety

Travel Tips – Dr Mina Kim

Summer in Chicago is my favorite time of year, but for those of you planning travel in the upcoming months, here are a few travel tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics:

• Avoid feeling rushed by giving yourself plenty of time to get through airport security.  Moms traveling with breast milk or formula should notify a TSA official that they are carrying on liquids greater than 3.4 oz so it can be tested separately, if necessary
• Pack snacks and toys to keep your child occupied during the flight
• Small babies can benefit from feeding at take off and landing to help with ear pressure pain from the change in elevation.  Older children can receive the same benefit from drinking through a straw, or chewing gum.
• Arrange a car safety seat at your destination or bring your own.  Children should be safely restrained while in a car on vacation as they would be when traveling locally.  Most car rentals offer this as an option.

 With all that in mind, don’t forget to have fun and take lots of pictures; they only stay this young for so long!

Dr Mina

Happy Mother’s Day! — Dr. Tim Porter

“The best thing a father can do for his children is love their mother.”  I’m sure most of you have come across this quote at one time or another, and with this Sunday being Mother’s Day, it bears repeating. As I was ruminating on those words today, however, a medical corollary came to mind: “The best thing a pediatrician can do for their patient is listen to the mother.” As I considered the likely barrage of strongly worded emails from members of The Papa Tribe Chicago community, I took the idea to its truest conclusion:

“The best thing a pediatrician can do for their patient is listen to the parent.”

Without parents and caregivers, being a pediatrician would be next to impossible. Well, technically, without parents we wouldn’t have patients, but that’s beside the point. When your child is sick, we look to you to provide every tedious detail of the illness. When your child is in for a well visit, we expect you to know everything your child can and cannot do so we can assess their development. At the same time, we trust you to bring something to our attention when it doesn’t feel right. To understate the point, being a good parent isn’t easy.

The truth is, we love our jobs. There’s nothing more satisfying than keeping your kids happy and healthy. And so, in the spirit of Mother’s Day, thank you Moms (and Dads) for helping us do our jobs well!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Zika Virus Update – Paul Miller, M.D., F.A.A.P.

This week’s post is an update on Zika virus. Since my initial post there have been more developments leading to a better understanding of the condition although the problem of Zika spread remains to play out. Some new information will be highlighted below:

1. Zika virus is spread through the mosquito bites of Aedes Aegyptii (African) and Aedes Albopictus (Asian) species. They prefer warm climates and do not survive at altitudes > 6500 ft. They are both present in the US, primarily along the Gulf coast.

   NEW: Zika spread between humans has also been confirmed through unprotected sexual contact (Vaginal, anal). Women are recommended to avoid pregnancy for 8 weeks after returning from areas of disease activity regardless of symptoms. Men returning from endemic areas are recommended to avoid unprotected sexual contact (Vaginal, anal and oral) for 8 weeks if no symptoms and for 6 months if symptoms are experienced. Men returning from endemic areas with symptoms should avoid unprotected sex for the entire term of their partner’s pregnancy.

2. Only 1:5 people have symptoms due to infection. Nevertheless a pregnant woman can have fetal effects with an asymptomatic infection.

   NEW: The risk of microcephaly due to infection during pregnancy is estimated at 1:100. This data comes from the recent spread of Zika through French Polynesia (Oct. 2013 -Apr 2014). The greatest risk of microcephaly is still thought to be due to infection during  the first trimester. This is good news. However there is also some concern raised about the fetal effects of Zika infection during the 2nd or 3rd trimester related to deafness, visual problems, mental retardation and stillbirth. Not such good news.

3. What should a pregnant woman do?

   As of March 2016 US officials have recommended all pregnant women who visited a Zika endemic area to get blood test for the virus regardless of symptoms. An Ultrasound looking at fetal head size and presence of calcification so is also recommended. (See link -MMWR) Any questions regarding testing during pregnancy should be directed to your OB-GYN or Infectious Disease specialist.

   Overall the spread of Zika is a scary proposition, but one that should be approached with sound scientific knowledge and public health measures. Like the hitchhiker’s guide says: ‘Don’t Panic!’ It is likely that this outbreak will continue and even reach mainland US, perhaps as early as this summer. Below is a map of some of the most likely places to be infected first.

   nytimes.com – the most vulnerable predicted locations – interactive map

Scientists are working on a vaccine and a mouse model of disease has recently been discovered which should help in testing any candidate vaccines.

I am happy to answer any questions regarding Zika that you may have. Questions of testing during pregnancy should be directed to your OB-GYN or Infectious Disease specialist.

The NY Times posted a good article last week if you’d like additional information; nytimes.com – Short Answers to Hard Questions About Zika Virus

In good health!

Paul Miller, MD

Vitamin D for your baby! – Dr Asha Ramachandran

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all infants and children should have a daily intake of vitamin D of at least 400 IU, starting soon after birth. This recommendation is based on recent research that this level of vitamin D can be given safely in babies, strengthening their immune system and preventing diseases such as diabetes and cancer.

Vitamin D supplementation of 400IU daily should continue until the baby is taking more than 32 oz of Vitamin D fortified formula or until 1 year of age. Other dietary sources of Vitamin D (fatty fish, fortified cereals and egg yolks) may be in included in the daily intake.

For more information on vitamin D in older kids take a look healthychildren.org – Vitamin-D and Sun Exposure

Teething: pain and symptoms – Paul Miller, M.D., F.A.A.P.

We named him ‘baby’
He had a toothache
He started crying
It sounded like an earthquake
— White Stripes, The Hardest Button to Button

This weeks’s topic is teething pain and symptoms. A recent study

published in Pediatrics March 2016 (Signs and Symptoms of Primary Tooth Eruption: a Meta-Analysis) included a review of 10 studies from 8 different countries. It found that irritability, drooling and gum irritation were the main symptoms of teething and that they primarily occurred during the initial teething with incisors (from 6-16 months of age).

Although there was a trend toward elevated temperatures in these children, the temperatures did not rise above 38.0 C/100.4 F, which is considered the start of a fever.

As for teething pain we recommend cold items to chew on, be it a solid chew toy (not liquid filled ones), a frozen bagel or a wet washcloth left in the fridge/freezer. Older children can be given cold water in a sippy cup. Topical medicines such as Orajel or Anbesol are generally not recommended due to short length of activity. A single dose of Ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin) may be longer lasting and more effective.

In Good Health,

Paul Miller, M.D., F.A.A.P.

paul@weissbluthpediatrics.com

312.202.0300 x 114

weissbluthpediatrics.com

facebook.com/weissbluthpediatrics

Poison Prevention – Asha Ramachandran, M.D., F.A.A.P.

Each year many children suffer from exposure to poisons or ingestion. Here are some suggestions from the AAP how to keep your home safe and secure from poison ingestion.

• Store medicine, cleaning and laundry products, paints/varnishes and pesticides in their original packaging in locked cabinets or containers, out of sight and reach of children
• Safety latches help to keep children away from dangerous products, but there is always a chance the device will malfunction. The safest place to store poisonous products is somewhere a child can’t reach
• Purchase and keep all medicines in containers with safety caps and get rid of the unused portion of medications. Note that safety caps are designed to be child resistant but are not fully child proof
• Never refer to medicine as “candy”
• Check the label each time you give a child medicine to ensure proper dosage
• Liquid nicotine refills for e-cigarettes must be locked up out of children’s . Ingestion or skin exposure with just a small amount of the liquid can be fatal to a child.  Never place poisonous products in food or drink containers.
• Keep coal, wood or kerosene stoves in safe working order.
• Maintain working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Secure remote controls, key fobs, greeting cards, and musical children’s books. These and other devices may contain small button cell batteries that can cause injury if ingested and are an emergency.

Always have the number for poison control handy and in a visible place for your entire household

1-800-222-1222