The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends: Children, teens and their adult caregivers should always wear a sport-appropriate and correctly fitting sport helmet during participation in recreational sports, including, but not limited to, bicycling, snow sports, ice skating, and equestrian sports.

DEET functions to produce a vapor layer distasteful to mosquitoes extending about 1.5 inches above the skin. The product comes in concentrations of from less than 10 to 100%, so check the label on the product you choose. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that DEET should not be used on babies under the age of two months. Older children can use DEET concentrations up to 30%.

Healthychildren.org has an article by Dr. Lauren Zajac on tips for healthier breathing at home. Levels of some pollutants can be 2-5 times higher indoors. Children’s lungs are more sensitive to smoke, chemicals, dust, and other pollutants.

When only some are vaccinated, illness spreads. When everyone is vaccinated, diseases can’t spread. It helps keep children and their families stay healthy while protecting the others in the community who cannot get vaccinated (called herd immunity).

Put the device down. People of all ages have trouble putting digital devices down. It is hard for all humans to stop something they enjoy. Digital tech is designed to hold our attention, which can lead to resistance when it is time to stop.

Parents should recognize early if there’s a problem with chronic absenteeism and help their children by encouraging attendance, getting enough sleep, streamlining the early morning chaos, schedule trips only during school breaks, don’t keep them home unless truly sick, and seek help early if they suspect mental health issues.

Adults should model their sharing and be sure to mention this sharing. Praise whenever sharing occurs.

Pregnant women should avoid activities associated with overheating and if there is a fever over 101 degrees, they should call their doctor. Heat seems to be more dangerous than acetaminophen for the unborn baby.

As long as it is below the recognized “safe” level of 1.5 mg/liter there is great benefit and low risk. In Galveston the amount of fluoride in water naturally is well below the safe level and using dental products such as tooth paste, gels, and mouthwash with fluoride is safe and good for teeth.

Hopefully knowledge about viruses and their vaccines will help making good decisions for preventing disease to insure a long, healthy life.

Lifestyle changes involve healthy diet, increased exercise and weight loss. A gradual weight loss of about 10% body weight can improve liver health in most children.

We have lots of information floating around but what we want is “just the facts”. In today’s climate of political lies and conspirator theories, it is hard to gather the facts.

It’s NICU Awareness for the month of September. 💚 Please see the attached flyer for events that are happening.

If the child is not able to adapt to being without their parent talk to your health care provider for help to make a plan to support both the child and the parent.

Children who eat with their families at least three times a week enjoy improved physical, emotional, social and academic outcomes.

Children are more vulnerable because they breathe more rapidly than adults, inhaling a greater volume of pollutants and the developing brains and bodies are more susceptible to damage from the toxins.

If a child’s pain continues or worsens over a period of 3-5 hours and if they have fever, severe sore throat or extreme change in appetite or energy level, the parent should call the doctor.

There is a surprising amount of variation in how people see the world but the colors of a sunset remain beautiful. At least humans could agree on that beauty even if every sunset offers different colors.

Regular vision testing is strongly recommended. If a problem is found during one of these screening exams there may be a referral to an ophthalmologist. Treatment may be recommended for the prevention of more problematic myopia including glasses, specialized multifocal contact lens, and specialized drops.

Regular vision testing is strongly recommended. If a problem is found during one of these screening exams there may be a referral to an ophthalmologist. Treatment may be recommended for the prevention of more problematic myopia including glasses, specialized multifocal contact lens, and specialized drops.