PEDIATRIC HEALTH ASSOCIATES

Do you have a little one who loves to climb?

2012-01-23T11:36:00.007-06:00

Michelle Maloney
Nurse Practitioner

Young children love to climb. Climbing on furniture is especially exciting for them. Unfortunately, this can lead to tragedy. In the past three months alone, 3 Chicago area children have died after knocking over a TV which fell and crushed them. Furniture and TV tip-overs are among the top accidents in the home for young children.

According to the Consumer Product and Safety Commission for just the ten year period of 2000-2010 there were 245 children ages 8 and under who were killed when a TV or other heavy furniture fell. 169 of these deaths were attributed to TVs. There were also more than 22,000 ER visits for injuries related to these tip over incidents.

Many of the TV deaths were of the older model tube TVs. These TVs were either on TV stands too small for TV or on unstable stands. However, the newer flat screen TVs are not without problems. These TVs are lighter and on small stands as well. Because they are lightweight, it is extremely easy to tip them over. These can severely injure a small child.

TVs are not the only culprits of tip over accidents. Bookcases and dressers are also guilty. The drawers and shelves make it very inviting for a child to climb.

So what can be done to protect our youngest and most vulnerable children? It is best to secure both the furniture and the TV. There are straps that can be bought at Babies R Us, Target, online @ Amazon, etc. These straps are easy to apply to the TV and then secure it to the wall. You can also purchase wall mount kits to raise the tv out you’re your child’s reach. Bookcases and dressers can be secured by bolting them to the wood studs in the walls.

Of course, close supervision is important but as parents, we know we can step out of a room for just a few seconds and things happen. Keep remote controls, toys and other desirable items off of the TV stands and the tops of dressers and bookcases so children won’t climb to reach them.

****PHA Nurse Practitioner Michelle Maloney see patients at our Plainfield office for checkups, sick visits and nutrition consultations.

Now is the perfect time to schedule your child's yearly physical

2012-01-16T14:41:00.006-06:00

Kim Gubbins
Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Want to beat the rush? Now is the best time to get your child’s physical/annual checkup completed! Why wait until the summer ‘check-up’ crowd. Scheduling it now gives you the opportunity to schedule an appointment when it's convenient for you.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and PHA recommend that all children have an annual well child exam even if a physical form is not needed for sports or school that particular year. This visit will include a history of what is going on in the child's life, developmental screening (autism screening at 18 and 24 months), a physical examination, possible laboratory tests (such as hemoglobin, lead, cholesterol or a urinalysis) or vaccinations. There will also be a discussion about health and safety issues including: anticipatory guidance, prevention, nutrition, exercise habits, sex, alcohol and drugs.

Here's what you can expect during the head to toe physical exam:
• Height, weight, head circumference (only for children under 2 years old) and blood pressure checks (for children over 3 years of age)
• Head, eyes, ears, mouth, teeth and throat examination.
• Neck exam: check for swollen lymph nodes or an enlarged thyroid gland.
• Abdominal exam: check for problems with the spleen, liver and kidneys.
• A stethoscope with be placed on the child's chest and back to assess respiration and listen to the heart.
• Posture is checked to detect if there is any abnormality of the spine or progressive curvature of the spine, such as scoliosis.
• The pediatrician will test muscle strength and reflexes
• Both girls and boys will have their breasts examined.
• Possibly a full-body skin inspection, checking for acne, eczema and suspicious looking moles.
• Lastly, the provider will inspect the genitals.

Don’t forget to ask for a copy of your physical form. These can be easily generated from our electronic medical records system.

Tune in tonight!

2011-12-14T10:36:00.007-06:00

12/27/2011 UPDATE:

To view more on the story of families in our community helped by Hesed House please check out the YouTube video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io5UTInn2XU&feature=related

This evening at 6 pm the Rosie O'Donnell show on the OWN network will highlight a situation all too common in our community. A mother with her two young sons who currently reside at Hesed House in Aurora will be the guests.

Hesed House provides shelter for the homeless in our area. It is the second largest homeless shelter in Illinois. Within the past couple of weeks, the State of Illinois was going to severely reduce funding for Hesed House. Some of the children who are living at Hesed House are patients here. We contacted our legislators asking them to reinstate funding so that no child is left out in the cold. We are happy to report that funding was approved and Hesed House will be able to continue to provide services.

A few of our families have spent time at Hesed House until they could find permanent housing. Our non-profit foundation, CareLink, provides free health care exams at Hesed House and other homeless clinics sponsored by area churches. Physicians from the area, including our beloved Dr. Wall, donate their time and talent at these clinics.

This holiday season, please consider helping our families in the community by donating to Hesed House. You may donate online at: https://help.hesedhouse.org/

Here are some other places that we recommend for holiday giving:

Feed My Starving Children where a single meal can be provided for just 24 cents! 93% of all money donated goes directly to feeding the hungry. You can donate at: http://www.fmsc.org/
How about enabling a family a way to feed themselves? Several ideas can be found at: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/Giving/gift_catalog
Over 1 billion (that’s billion with a B!) people around the world go hungry on a daily basis. Each day children die of starvation. You can save the life of a child by donating life saving food, clean water and medicine at http://donate.worldvision.org/OA_HTML/xxwv2ibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?section=10680
Want to help people in your own community? Please consider a gift to the CareLink Foundation to provide medical interpreters, caregivers at our autism support group or pay for transportation for a child with special health concerns. Or perhaps you would like to further your reach by providing funds for a family in Honduras to set up their own small business. For just $300 a family there can become self employed and self sufficient. You can donate online at: http://www.carelinkfoundation.org/to-donate/

New cholesterol screening recommendation for children

2011-11-28T16:47:00.003-06:00

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) in conjunction with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) created an expert panel to discuss and endorse early cholesterol screening in an effort to combat childhood obesity and to address those at highest risk. Specifically, they advise cholesterol testing for all children regardless of their risk factors. Pediatric Health Associates is in full support of these new recommendations. We start our cholesterol screening at age five and we screen again between ages eleven and twelve.

Previous guidelines included looking at family history and risk factors including high blood pressure, obesity, or diabetes to decipher when to check a child’s cholesterol. According to a statement by Dr. Patrick McBride, one of the authors of the new guidelines, “the old approach of testing only high-risk children simply did not work and previously targeted screening missed more than 50 percent of children with high cholesterol.”

Pediatric Health wants to stress:

- PHA needs parental support with early cholesterol screening to protect children from problems later in their life.

- High Cholesterol levels as a child are directly linked to heart disease as an adult.

- With an increase in childhood obesity, cholesterol levels are on the rise also.

- A decrease in body mass index (BMI) and weight will lead to lower cholesterol levels.

- Even after a normal cholesterol screen, healthy eating needs to be a daily family focus.
- Parents must increase the activity level of children and reduce screen time. PHA recommends one hour of moderate to vigorous exercise per day for all children over five years of age.

Information taken from the following links:

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/11/18/cholesterol-and-heart-disease-in-children-on-rise/

http://news.consumerreports.org/health/2011/11/cholesterol-screening-guidelines-now-urge-kid-testing-by-11.html

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/children-cholesterol-tests-panel/story?id=14933905

From Our Families to Yours

2011-11-22T14:58:00.002-06:00

We wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!

We now offer fluoride varnish for babies and toddlers

2011-11-21T19:40:00.001-06:00

Many children do not start visiting the dentist until they are 3 years of age or older. By that time they may already have the start of cavities which can lead to early tooth loss. To help our families start their little ones off with good oral health, we are now offering fluoride varnish for children between the ages of 9 month and 3 years.

Fluoride varnish is especially important for children who drink a lot of juice, soda, drink bottled water or go to bed with a bottle. Children should receive 3 applications per year.

Most commercial payers do not cover the cost but we recommend that you check with your insurance carrier to see if it’s a covered service. The cost of the application is $31.

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T09:45:00.027-05:00

We wish all of our families a

safe and Happy Halloween!

Halloween is an exciting time of year for kids. Here are some tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to help ensure they have a safe holiday.

All Dressed Up:

•Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.

•Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and Trick-or-Treat bags for greater visibility. •Because masks can limit or block eyesight, consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives. Hats should fit properly to prevent them from sliding over eyes.

•When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories look for and purchase those with a label clearly indicating they are flame resistant.

•If a sword, cane, or stick is a part of your child's costume, make sure it is not sharp or too long. A child may be easily hurt by these accessories if he stumbles or trips.

•Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts.

•Do not use decorative contact lenses without an eye examination and a prescription from an eye care professional. While the packaging on decorative lenses will often make claims such as “one size fits all,” or “no need to see an eye specialist,” obtaining decorative contact lenses without a prescription is both dangerous and illegal. This can cause pain, inflammation, and serious eye disorders and infections, which may lead to permanent vision loss.

•Teach children how to call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they have an emergency or become lost.

Carving a Niche:

•Small children should never carve pumpkins. Children can draw a face with markers. Then parents can do the cutting.

•Consider using a flashlight or glow stick instead of a candle to light your pumpkin. If you do use a candle, a votive candle is safest.

•Candlelit pumpkins should be placed on a sturdy table, away from curtains and other flammable objects, and should never be left unattended.

Home Safe Home:

•To keep homes safe for visiting trick-or-treaters, parents should remove from the porch and front yard anything a child could trip over such as garden hoses, toys, bikes and lawn decorations.

•Parents should check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs.

•Wet leaves should be swept from sidewalks and steps.

•Restrain pets so they do not inadvertently jump on or bite a trick-or-treater.

On the Trick-or-Treat Trail:

•A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.

•If your older children are going alone, plan and review the route that is acceptable to you. Agree on a specific time when they should return home.

•Only go to homes with a porch light on and never enter a home or car for a treat.

Because pedestrian injuries are the most common injuries to children on Halloween, remind Trick-or Treaters:

•Stay in a group and communicate where they will be going.

•Carry a cell phone for quick communication.

•Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.

•If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic.

•Never cut across yards or use alleys.

•Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks (as recognized by local custom).

•Never cross between parked cars or out driveways.

•Don't assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing Trick-or-Treaters. Just because one car stops, doesn't mean others will!

•Law enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity.

Healthy Halloween:

•A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats.

•Consider purchasing non-food treats for those who visit your home, such as coloring books or pens and pencils.

•Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.

•Try to ration treats for the days following Halloween.

Is your teen testing limits?

2011-10-19T17:07:00.000-05:00

You might have read in recent articles in the Naperville Sun about drug and alcohol use by teens in the community. The article noted that there has been a 20% increase of drug overdoses in just the past two years. It was also noted that this was not limited to just teens but to adults as well. We strongly recommend your teens not drink or do drugs at all as their brains are still rapidly developing, to say nothing of the legal/driving issues that can accompany these choices.

Be careful what you say in front of your teen. If you smoked pot or won beer pong in your college days, keep it to yourself for now. You can tell them later on in life but right now they will use it against you if you tell them “do as I say, not as I do”.

Teen years are the time of life when young people are stretching their wings, experimenting, gaining independence and learning to become adults. BUT they are not yet adults. They still need boundaries. And sometimes it’s hard for parents to say no, especially if their kid is the superstar at school in grades or sports. It is also wearing to constantly fight with your teen about freedoms. We all know the freedom fights:

• Why can’t I stay out past curfew?

• Why can’t I drive the car after curfew when my license is no longer valid?

• My friends are all doing it!

• I just wanted to try and see what it was like
• What are you going to do to stop me?
• You are the meanest parent ever!
• You did it when you were young so what’s the problem?
• I’m just going to have sex anyway, whether I’m on the pill or not.
• It’s none of your business!
• Why do I have to wait till I’m 15 to date? My friends started dating at 12!
• I’m not like all the other kids…I’m a good kid and never cause you any problems!

Sound familiar? What’s a parent to do? It gets really tiring to fight about these things all the time. Many parents will negotiate.
• Ok…you can drink with your friends so long as you do it here at home and I drive everyone home or they stay overnight.
• Ok, you can stay out till 2 am.

Some parents give in because they feel it’s a right of passage. For others, it’s easier to ignore. Some feel their child is entitled to be above the law and lastly, some parents feel they will alienate their child if they constantly fight over these freedoms.

Remember, your job as a parent is to be the parent, not their friend. Friendship will come further down the road but right now they need your guidance. You are not alone on this road to freedom…..we are here to listen, point you to support groups, behavioral specialists and counselors.

Remember too, that your teen’s teachers are dealing every day with the attitudes your teen is allowed to display. It is important to support your school’s teaching staff and back them up. If your child is having a hard time with just one teacher, it may be a personality conflict between the two of them. On the other hand, if you are hearing from several teachers about your child, you probably need to consider it may be your child.

It is important to teach your child to respect those in authority over them. It is even more important to teach them conflict resolution. While none of us like having our children deal with a teacher they don’t like, use it as an opportunity for them to learn how to deal with difficult people. Later in life they will have encounters with difficult bosses, neighbors or strangers.

Set limits on how much freedom to give/not give your teens with cellphone texting and spending time on YouTube or Facebook. You should always be one of their “friends” on the social network scene. Computers should be in a public part of the house and not in your teen’s room. Remind teens too that their private areas should remain private---not something to be shared via a camera phone and potentially used against them by a disgruntled friend.

Don’t let your teen get caught up in the “entitlement” trap. Not allowing your teen to struggle teaches them that you will always be there to rescue them. You might have to choose what you want for your child….for them to learn a sense of accomplishment or entitlement?

We know we’ve touched on some very sensitive subjects here. Our intent is not to judge, point our fingers or think all teens are problem kids. We are parents too who deal with the same situations in our own lives. We wish we had a magic wand to make problems disappear. But until one is invented we are here to help you and to help your teen and to let you know you are not alone.

Parents of Multiples Presentation

2011-10-19T17:01:00.002-05:00

We are pleased to share that Wednesday, November 16th, Dr. Shelly Flais will be the guest speaker for the Southwest Suburban Moms of Multiples (SWSMOMs) group. She will provide a brief presentation about keeping our kids healthy through the cold and flu season this winter, followed by Q and A and group discussion.

SWSMOMs provides support and guidance to celebrate the rewards and meet the challenges of parenting twins, triplets, and more. The group meets every third Wednesday of the month at 7:30 pm at 1718 Avalon Avenue in Joliet (Grace United Methodist Church). This group of parents enjoys an open forum, fun projects, sharing ideas, and guest speakers. Hope to see you there!

WeGo Together for Kids

2011-10-19T16:40:00.001-05:00

Pediatric Health is pleased to announce our partnership with WeGo Together for Kids, a West Chicago initiative encompassing West Chicago Schools and community coordinators with an interest in addressing the overall health, safety and well being of all students and families within the community.

The goal of this partnership is to facilitate a coordinated effort to provide intervention and assistance as necessary in areas such as bridging social service sectors together so that no child or family slips thru the cracks. WeGo Together for Kids will assist families in finding what services they need and putting them in touch for example with food pantries, emergency services, health access as well as other needed services.

As always, Pediatric Health is committed to the well being of the children of our communities and we welcome this opportunity to help establish a larger network of available services for them.

Stroller Recall Alert

2011-10-19T16:36:00.005-05:00

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a recall of BOB strollers due to a choking hazard due to a logo on the canopy that can detach.

In February of this year, BOB jogging strollers also were recalled due to a strangulation hazard posed by a drawstring on the canopy. This recall affected about 400,000 strollers.

For more information please visit: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12006.html

Community Caring and Sharing

2011-10-19T16:33:00.002-05:00

This Saturday, October 22nd, volunteers will be accepting donations of all kinds at the Whole Foods parking lot in Naperville. Whole Foods is located near the intersection of Rt. 59 and 75th Street.

All donations of household materials such as paint, nails, or roofing shingles will be taken to ReStore of Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity near the Westfield Fox Valley Mall. They in turn will sell the products with the money being used to raise funds to help put roofs over the heads of working families who can’t afford to shop the regular housing market.

And don’t forget that the holiday season is fast approaching! Please check your pantry shelves for items you bought on sale but never got around to using to help families with Thanksgiving and Christmas. Whether its cereal, soup or a box of stuffing, you will help make the holidays a little brighter!

Winter is supposed to be pretty brutal this year. Please take a look at your closets and see if there are warm coats, boots, mittens and hats that maybe the kids have outgrown that you donate.

Even though we live in a rather affluent area, many families have been affected by the economic downturn in this country. You probably have homes in your areas that are in foreclosure and perhaps you are noticing more people who are homeless these days. You see them standing near a stoplight with a sign, maybe pushing all their worldly goods in a shopping cart or passing by someone who is down trodden. So many have lost their homes, their jobs and their savings. For those of us who have been able to maintain our quality of living, won’t you please consider helping those in our community who have not been as fortunate.

The need is greater than ever. It is the time for all of us to work together to help one another. Please don’t let a child go without a present at Christmas, walk to school without a warm jacket or go to bed hungry this year.

Sharing your blessings will not only help your neighbors but will do your heart good!

Another opportunity to donate to the community is through: http://www.givingdupage.org/

Congratulations Dr. Jackson!

2011-10-10T15:25:00.005-05:00

Congratulations to Dr. Tara Jackson on her marriage on Sunday, October 9, 2011. We wish her and her new husband, Michael, all the best!

Talking to your child about puberty

2011-09-21T10:27:00.009-05:00

Guest Blogger Allison Gamble talks about puberty:

A Growing Conversation
It was awful: uncontrollable sweating, shaky voice, overwhelming emotions that left them feeling moody, sensitive, and flustered. No, we're not talking about the signs of puberty (yet). We're talking about some of the symptoms parents experience just thinking of talking to their children about puberty. However, instead of waiting to one day dramatically give the big talk, many parents are finding success with smaller, casual dialogues over time. Fortunately it doesn't take a psychology degree to make this strategy of communication work. Parents who engage their children in honest conversations while paying close attention to both their own and their children's feelings can keep communications open about some very important subjects.

Physical Considerations
Puberty for a kid means going through some major physiological changes, and most considerate parents don't want to make that even harder. When talking to your child about those changes, try to look visibly comfortable about it. Telling a youngster about procreation with crossed arms and nervous glances isn't going to convey a lot of confidence. Make sure you're sending good signals with your body language, and paying attention to theirs.

A good time to talk could be when performing chores together: start by mentioning how much you appreciate what a help your child's been as he's gotten older, and how there are good and interesting changes coming you want him to be ready for. Or maybe take him out to eat someplace private and talk about a friend or family member who recently had a baby. Find laid-back times to get your child to discuss important ideas with you, and allow plenty of comfortable pauses for him to speak his mind. Being honest and casual without slipping into interrogation mode can get you far.

A Healthy State of Mind
While we often associate puberty with physical transformation, it's important to think about both your own and your child's mental state during those years. Increased hormones and new experiences means there will be ups and downs for everyone involved. It's important to let children know that what they're feeling, as wonderful and awful and confusing as it may be, is natural and that you're there to talk about it.

Never forget the impact your own feelings and actions are going to have on kids. They're going to notice if you're too stressed to talk about something important, so be careful what you let yourself get stressed about. Your kids will also learn a lot from your own relationship to your body and to sex. What they learn from your relationships is largely up to you, the parent.

The element of the unknown in the future often worries us all, but as an adult who survived puberty (just barely), you can offer your kids great consolation through wisdom and preparation. Reminding them of the strength, knowledge, and independence that comes with growing older can give them the positive attitude they need to avoid many of the pitfalls of puberty.

Learning From Others
Many parents are waiting for the perfect time to spring "the talk," worrying about "corrupting" childhood by talking too early, or fear delaying till it's too late. The truth is you'd probably be surprised by what your child already knows. Children learn all the time, and their knowledge can either come from you or it can be left up to other sources. The best means to keep children sharing later down the road and to make an impact on their beliefs is by establishing open and casual dialogue early on.

You might be shocked by what your children have already learned, or by the opinions they've begun forming, and may perhaps feel tempted to strongly lecture them on what's acceptable and unacceptable. While cultivating children's sense of values is important, you shouldn't make them feel bad about having been honest with you. Let them know you're there to listen without judging and that you're ready to answer any questions they might have.

The Guidance They Need
I'm guessing that cave people around the cave fire turned to each other and said "Kids grow up so fast these days..." However, nowadays we truly do live in a rapidly-changing world. It's important for your children to know that while maturation is part of life, they needn't let other people pressure them into activities beyond their years. Parents who emphasize healthy communication and help their children understand the changes they're going through will give them the knowledge they need to stay strong, smart, and in control during one of the most trying phases of life.

**************
About the author:
Allison Gamble has been a curious student of psychology since high school. She brings her understanding of the mind to work in the weird world of internet marketing."

The case for Gardasil

2011-09-21T09:35:00.000-05:00

Gardasil is one vaccine that is somewhat controversial for parents. Used to combat the transmission of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). There are over 100 types of HPV with more than 40 of them affecting the genital area. HPV is responsible for 70% of all cervical cancer cases, genital wars, precancerous lesions and other maladies.

Recommended for girls around the age of 12 and now for boys starting around age 9. Why so young? Because it is better to vaccinate BEFORE they become sexually active. Many parents are of the opinion of “better safe than sorry”, some lean towards their personal beliefs on sex before marriage while still others might feel it is a signal to their child that it’s ok to have sex. Of course there are many other reasons parent do or don’t approve of this vaccine.

As parents and pediatricians we deal with the same concerns as you do for our own families. We all want our children to wait until they are adults to have sex. But the reality is that whether we like it or not, some of our kids will start before then.

The bottom line is no matter when your child becomes sexually active, it may be better to consider having the vaccine done because even if they wait until they are married, their partner could have HPV without knowing it. Some types of the virus do not have any symptoms. Some are low risk. Some are high.

Gardasil does not prevent all types of HPV but it does prevent several. You know what they say about an ounce of prevention……

To find more information on HPV please visit the CDC website at: http://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment/2010/hpv.htm

Flu Vaccines Are Now Available

2011-09-14T10:33:00.003-05:00

Flu vaccines are now available through October 22nd. We strongly encourage you to schedule your appointment as soon as possible as these shots go quickly and sometimes there is a delay in getting another delivery.

Here are the office numbers:
Naperville: 630-717-2300
West Chicago: 630-876-4460
Plainfield: 815-609-2300

http://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/chest-lungs/Pages/The-Flu-Seasonal-Influenza-2011-2012.aspx?nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR%3a+No+local+token

It's that time of year again!

2011-08-26T12:54:00.007-05:00

Hard to believe but it’s already time for our kids to go back to school. We thought it might be helpful to provide a few tips on helping your children get back on schedule for the school year.

Try to stick to a bedtime even for teenagers. Sleep deprivation can cause your child to have difficulty paying attention, staying awake, perform well on tests, have mood swings and affect their behavior. Teens need 8 to 9 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night. While sometimes homework or activities may interfere with their sleep routine, it is important for parents to set a bedtime and enforce it as much as possible.
Set up a family rule that after lights out, no iPods, texting, phone calls or television are allowed. Teens tend to sleep with their cell phones so they don’t miss a text message. This causes them to not sleep fitfully and can lead to sleep problems such as insomnia.
Eat healthy! Nutrition is brain food! Pack fruits and veggies into their lunchboxes. Try to avoid sugary drinks and treats which for many children may trigger hyperactivity.
After school have your children have some down time. Set a rule that they need to do some physical activity so they get enough exercise to help them keep fit and strong.
Allow no more than 1-2 hours per day of media time. This includes listening to music, watching tv, playing video games or updating Facebook. Don’t let them become couch potatoes!
Try to eat at least two meals together every day as a family without the television on. This is your opportunity for each person to talk about their day….a good way to find out what’s happening in your child's world.
Remember that teachers are there to teach! It is important for children to learn the art of self control. Kids generally put a slant on things when they are in trouble….take time to consider what the teacher may be dealing with…..today many kids mouth off, don’t turn in homework and refuse to cooperate. Learning to respect those in authority now will definitely help them in their future when dealing with their employer.

*********PLEASE NOTE*********

As of September 1^st ALL refill requests must come from your pharmacy.

*********Construction Update*********

We’d like to thank you for your patience during the renovation and expansion of the Naperville office. We hope you like the new look!

******Back to School Clinic*******

Our non-profit, The CareLink Foundation, will be holding a back to school clinic for families who may be between jobs and don’t have insurance coverage for school and sports physicals. The clinic will be held this Sunday, August 28th at PHA’s West Chicago office from 1 – 3 pm. For further information, please go to

http://www.carelinkfoundation.org/ and click on the “Clinics” tab. A $5 donation is requested to help offset our costs.

*********Calling All Golfers!*********

On Sunday, Sept. 11th you are invited to join us at the 7th annual CareLink golf outing to raise funds to help kids less fortunate in our community and as far away as Honduras. This is a great opportunity to share our blessings with others while having fun doing so! For

registration please visit http://www.carelinkfoundation.org/ and click on the Events tab.

The outing will be held at the Tamarack Golf Club in Naperville. Cost is $150 per person and includes 18 holes, golf cart, lunch and drinks.

CareLink is also looking for golf sponsors. We appreciate your consideration of helping us help others! You may sign up as well on the website.

2011-08-17T13:08:00.010-05:00

Introducing Rebecca Smeraglinolo, M.D.

2011-08-03T18:06:00.001-05:00

Rebecca Smeraglinolo, M.D.

This week Rebecca Smeraglinolo, M.D. begins her career here at Pediatric Health. We are proud to welcome her to the PHA family!

Dr. Smeraglinolo received her medical degree from Loyola Stritch School of Medicine and recently completed her residency at Rush University Medical Center. Her experiences at Rush provided her the opportunity to work with children with a variety of health conditions.

Dr. Smeraglinolo is married and has two children so she can personally identify with the various issues parents encounter day to day.

Her areas of interest are newborn care and preventative medicine. We know you will enjoy meeting her as much as we enjoy working with her!

We are growing!

2011-07-25T14:26:00.006-05:00

So many exciting changes are happening here at PHA! The expansion of the Naperville office is close to completion. Our families are now enjoying an enlarged waiting room and the renovation of the existing office has begun!

You will also see some new faces here at PHA. Along with enlarging the size of the office, we are also expanding staff.

This week Pediatric Health Associates is proud to welcome Julian Tang M.D., M.B.A., to the practice! Dr. Tang received his medical and business degree from Tufts University School of Medicine and completed his pediatric residency at the Mayo Clinic in 2007. Dr.Tang is looking forward to meeting all the wonderful families and being able to care for their children. His interests include caring for children with a history of prematurity, sports medicine, and food allergies.

Updated photos of the expansion and a few reminders

2011-07-15T15:29:00.004-05:00

The expansion of the Naperville office is well underway! Along with expanding space we will be also adding new staff! Two new pediatricians are on the way along with several new members of the nursing staff.

For those of you who have a child who needs a sport physical for Winter sports you may want to avoid the August crunch of school physical season by scheduling your visit in September.

Do we have your preferred pharmacy on file? If not, please send us an email to pha@pedhealth.net with that information, along with your child's/children's first and last name(s), your address and your child's date of birth. We have several children with the same name and even the same birth date which is why we need your address as well.

Lastly, remember that calling your pharmacy for prescription refills will speed up the approval time from the doctor. Refill requests can now come into the office electronically saving you valuable time by not having to wait for a nurse to call you back.

Does the media influence our kids' food choices?

2011-07-15T13:04:00.019-05:00

From the desk of Kim Gubbins,

Nurse Practitioner and Nutrition Consultant

Ever notice how many commercials are specifically geared towards our children? Media has a huge influence on all of us. Whatever slant the media puts on our news coverage will help shape our opinions. We’ll try something new on the store shelves that we saw on tv. If it influences our decisions, how powerfully it impacts our kids!

Screen time is negatively influencing children in many ways and keeping them from the recommended amount of daily exercise. American children are spending entirely too much time in front of a television or computer. The American Academy of Pediatrics [AAP] recommends two hours or less of screen time daily. Screen time is defined as time watching television, surfing the internet and playing video games combined.

Pediatric Health strongly recommends that parents require their child to have 60 minutes of exercise before watching any TV and when the TV, computer or video game gets turned on, it is turned off after 2 hours (total for all three).

Dr. Victor Strasburger, author of the new policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that Congress and the Federal Trade Commission get tough on fast food advertising to our children. He noted that by banning such advertising that there would be a 17% reduction in the obesity rate for our children according to one study that was performed.

We all know how hard it is to take off extra pounds. Food can be as much an addiction as cigarettes. In just a generation obesity among young people has shot up three-fold. The Federal Trade Commission acknowledges that childhood obesity is the most serious health crisis facing our kids. One in 6 children are overweight or obese today. One third of kids eat fast food on any given day according to the AAP and amounts to over $110 billion dollars spent on unhealthy food choices.

Kim Gubbins

Fast food advertisers spent $4.2 billion on ads in 2009. One study found that kids shown fast food ads while watching their favorite cartoons actually ate 45% more junk food!

Another strong recommendation from the AAP, is no television or computer in a child's bedroom. Parents, we have all heard this before, but why? Why do the people who care about your child's health not want them to be watching TV or on a computer in their room? Research tells us that child are exposed to many unnecessary and unhealthy viewing regarding sex, violence, junk food, etc. on TV. A new report states that preschoolers who watch TV in their room took a longer time falling asleep and woke up more drowsy in the morning. Additionally, children who spent only 30 minutes of screen time viewing before bed were 28% more likely to have sleep difficulties compared to 19% who had no screen time. Violent content, no matter what time during the day it was viewed by a child can also greatly affect their sleep.

As parents we are diligent to use sunscreen on our kids to prevent skin cancer. We use environmentally friendly products to make our surroundings less toxic. We’ve enacted laws to reduce the amount of second hand smoke we are exposed to. All are done in an effort to help us lead healthier lives. But it’s hard to avoid fast food. Our busy schedules often prevent us from having time to cook a meal let alone get the whole family together to eat. And many times it’s just easier to let the kids have whatever they want instead of listening to them whine.

In an ideal world we would recommend to avoid all junk food. But in reality we recommend that you limit fast food meals to once a week and reduce the amount of junk food you buy for the kids to munch on.

If your child is struggling with weight problems consider having a nutrition consult with one of our nurse practitioners. During this visit she will assess current eating habits and help set goals by making lifestyle changes. Making small changes adds up. The payofff is less empty calories and a reduction in future health problems like diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol.

You may find more information on helping your child with weight issues at:

http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/obesity/l/aa012503a.htm

http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body/overweight_obesity.html

http://www.eatright.org/kids/

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/27/us-fastfood-ads-idUSTRE75Q0K820110627

http://www.npr.org/2011/07/11/137670547/social-networks-thinking-of-the-children

Enjoy the Holiday!

2011-07-01T16:19:00.004-05:00

Traveling With Children: The Ultimate Parental Feat

2011-06-24T09:58:00.006-05:00

Guest Writer Sara Shaw shares her experiences on flying with small children:

The heat of our crowded confined space was sweltering. Our tiny beads of perspiration had turned into full blown drippings of sweat. The sheer terror and anxiety that we had experienced from the moment this day had begun had reached its climax and together my husband and I were forced to beg and plead. “Here! Take this! What about this? Please. Stop. Shhhh. No! Stop!” The bribes had not worked; chaos ensued. As I stared out the tiny portal of a window, broken, weary and helpless, I began to wonder why traveling with children always, every time, with no exceptions, left me feeling like a prisoner of war.

While some may feel that my recollection of traveling with children under the age of five is a bit dramatic, I would bet my last candy bribe that those people have never, not once, done it. Or perhaps they are the ones that have those perfect kids...the babies who slept through the night at 6 weeks, the toddlers who potty-trained themselves and the preschoolers who were reading at age three. I myself do not have those kinds of kids. I have the “Mommy I have to go potty as soon as the plane is taking off and if you don’t get me there immediately I will pee all over this floor” kind. And the “No I will not sit in my seat because I’m two and I’m curious and I’ve never seen a window like this before so I think I will stand right here and open and close it.” Loudly, "while squealing with delight" kind.

When people see us boarding the plane the looks on their faces say it all, “Oh, this is just great. There goes my nap. Please dear God, do not let them sit near me!” And quite honestly I don’t blame them. I don’t want to sit near us either. Children can be difficult anywhere but there is something about that airplane that can transform ordinary cranky children into holy terrors.

When Ella was 10 months old we experienced our first traveling-with-children disaster. We flew from Denver to Chicago for my brother’s wedding. I felt strong and confident as I walked down that aisle. We had read up on flying with babies, we had asked our pediatrician questions, we had heeded advice from friends and if all those tips failed, we had a bottle of Benadryl in our carry on and we weren’t afraid to use it. Unfortunately Ella was hungry well before our plane began its ascent and she nursed too early. Her screams began almost immediately as I imagine her poor little ears were in so much pain and those very loud screams didn’t stop until we landed two and a half hours later. During those incredibly long hours I sat on the toilet seat holding my baby attempting to soothe her until I had no shushing left in me. There we sat for the length of the flight; rocking, swaying and sobbing, trapped in one of the germiest places on earth. It was a far cry from my vision of our seatmates cooing at the beautiful, sleeping baby.

Sara Shaw

Since that first trip we have been extremely fortunate and have had opportunities to travel with both our children at various ages. I think after a few years of this I foolishly believed that it gets easier every time; that flying with kids is a skill and once you perfect it, you are done. Armed with this assuming confidence, I decided it would be just lovely to travel back home to Chicago with both my 3 year old and my one year old alone. And by alone I mean ALL BY MYSELF. When planning this adventure I decided that an evening flight was most ideal as my angels would of course sleep the entire time and I myself would quietly flip through the latest copy of People magazine completely relaxed. Well, as you might have guessed, my children had no intention of sleeping despite the fact that it was hours past their bedtime. Instead they decided to play super fun games like “How many times can I try to get out of your lap and into the aisle before you or I start screaming?” or “What happens if I play drums with my feet and the chair in front of me, even though my mom has repeatedly told me not to?” and lastly, the ultimate crowd pleaser, “How long do I have to sob/yell/scream/and kick until I get to do what I want?” These games and other misbehaviors did not stop until both children finally, finally, fell asleep exactly two minutes before landing.

After reading these horror stories you are probably wondering, what in the world is wrong with those children? Or maybe you are judging my parenting skills and my ability (or lack thereof) to discipline said children. Trust me, when it came time to exit that flight, that long aisle was my ultimate walk of shame. I was embarrassed for myself and my kids, and I too questioned my ability to parent these little monsters or at least to do it in public places. While visiting with family and friends that week I vowed to all that I would NEVER, EVER try to fly with them by myself.

Looking back on these experiences, I have to give myself and my kids a break. It may be nearly impossible to believe but both my children are actually on most days extremely polite and well-behaved. Asking a one year old to sit still in your lap for almost 3 hours when he has just boarded a giant plane filled with endless “no-no’s” : windows to open and close, seat belts to tinker with, buttons to press, seats to climb and aisles to run seems almost mean. How can he not be tempted by all these new delights? And all parents will agree, reasoning with young children in these situations is nearly impossible. Tantrums are just going to happen and, unfortunately, when flying they are going to happen in an enclosed space. The nightmare performances will be played for a captive audience for all to see and not to escape.

What then are we to do? I have friends who have avoided this all and have chosen to wait until their youngest child is old enough to “handle” flying before they embark down the aisle of a plane. But what if that isn’t an option? Family is not always a few hours’ drive away and realistically most of us cannot avoid air travel to see our loved ones. I have two girlfriends whose husbands are from Albania. With most of their families still living there they have both decided to travel the 24 hour flight as often as they can regardless of how hard it will be to fly with their children.

So for the brave or ridiculously optimistic parents who do choose to travel what tools can we use to make the experience manageable? Is there a list out there that once completed will make traveling with young children not only possible but enjoyable? I have not found that list but I do have suggestions: bring new activities and new toys, bring loads of treats and snacks, bring your sense of humor and more patience then you’ve ever had in your life. And when you land in your arrival city whether you’ve had a “crying in the bathroom” flight or a “two kids sleeping peacefully” flight, give yourself a proverbial pat on the back. Reward yourself because you did it. You made it through what is, in my opinion, one of the most challenging parental feats.

Also, let us hold on to the tiny ray of hope that many parents have promised. It does get easier as our little angels get older. The tantrums disappear and the DVD players entertain. Children understand when you say “We are almost there!” Seat belts are only unbuckled when it’s time to land. And someday we may actually find ourselves in a completely manageable situation sipping our drinks and flipping through magazines.

Pardon Our Dust!

2011-06-16T12:44:00.017-05:00

New checkout staton

The expansion of the Naperville office is underway! We will be gaining another 5 exam rooms and with that growth you will be seeing some new faces on our staff as we expand to serve you better! Construction and remodeling of the existing office is expected to begin the end of July and the whole project completed sometime in August. Thank you for your patience during this time and hope that you will like our new look!

The hall that connects the old

office to the new

We'll be breaking thru the back wall
of the waiting room

A New Poison-- that your kids play with now!

2011-06-16T11:31:00.007-05:00

     Watches, ipads, ipods and hearing aids are devices that use disc
     batteries.  They can also be found in many toys such as hand held
     video games. Convenient for us to carry in our backpacks, in the
     car or on an airplane they also can pose serious health hazards to
     little ones.   To your child it may look like a mint wafer or candy.
     But should they swallow the battery, it can cause severe
     consequences. They can get stuck in a child's esophagus.  Bodily
     fluids can prompt an electrical discharge that can cause severe burns
     to the tissue.   If not removed within two hours there is a very high
     chance of permanent damage being done.

You can't watch your child every minute. Putting something in their
mouths and swallowing it only takes a second. Unfortunately it's nearly impossible to discover the
ingestion, get them to the ER, take an x-ray and have it removed by a specialist all within two hours. So what's a parent to do?

Keep all battery packages out of reach.
Never leave 'spares' anywhere your child can reach. Remember, some children are great climbers and are very inquisitive by nature.
Don't leave them in a drawer or in the fridge. Keep them in a locked container.
When disposing of batteries place them in a sealed container and preferably not in the garbage. It's safer to take them to a recycling center....not only so they don't get into little one's hands but because it's also better for the environment.

Behind Naperville Fire Station #4 at 1979 Brookdale Road there is a hazardous waste drop-off facility. Open on Saturdays & Sundays between 9 am and 2 pm (excluding holidays) it makes it convenient for most parents who are working during the week.

Benjamin Franklin coined the old adage "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". Prevent, prevent, prevent! As soon as your child receives a battery operated toy, we recommend that you double duct tape the covering of the battery compartment, even if it has a screw lock. Although those little screws generally don't come loose it is better to prevent the risk of a child getting to the batteries by taking this extra precaution.

If you think your child has ingested a battery, go immediately to the closest ER--don't call us first!!! Time is of the essence! Tell the ER staff you think your child ingested a disc battery and they should alert the ENT physician to be ready to remove it if the x-ray confirms its presence.

As in all poisoning issues, what we do to prevent exposure is as important as treating the poisoned child.

To find the nearest battery recycling center to your home please visit http://www.ehso.com/ehshome/batteries.php

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has many articles regarding batteries. You may find them at http://www.cpsc.gov/

New Orajel and Tylenol Recommendations

2011-05-13T17:10:00.000-05:00

From the desk of Nurse Practitioner Kimberly Gubbins:
The Food and Drug Administration [FDA] recently alerted the public about the use of benzocaine gels("numbing medicine" for teething and throats), liquids and sprays in children under two years of age. In any concentration the main ingredient, benzocaine, has been associated with methemoglobinemia. Methemoglobinemia is a rare disorder but unfortunately can be deadly. This disorder prevents blood from properly carrying oxygen to the cells. Signs of methemoglobinemia may include pale, gray or blue colored skin, lips, and fingernails; a child may also experience headaches, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, fatigue, and rapid heart rate.

Products that include benzocaine are: Baby Orajel, Anbesol, Hurricane, Orabase and other store brands. Pediatric Health Associates [PHA] recommends NOT using any benzocaine products in children under two years of age.

If you feel as though your child is experiencing pain from teething, we recommend using Children's Tylenol, 160mg/5mL for all ages. PHA no longer suggests using Infant Tylenol drops even for our younger patients. This is not to make life difficult but to ensure the safety of all children in the practice. This suggestion comes directly from Johnson and Johnson in their efforts to decrease confusion and errors. They will be removing Infant Tylenol Drops from the market mid-year and the standard concentration for Acetominophen will be 160mg/5mL for all children.

You may find the dosing chart at:
http://www.tylenolprofessional.com/assets/TYLENOL_Pediatric_Dosing.pdf

Allergy Support Group

2011-05-04T14:48:00.002-05:00

On Monday, May 9th at 6:30 pm, Dr. Shelly Flais will be the guest speaker at the upcoming POCHA of Will County support group meeting for families with food allergies. Her presentation is entitled "Navigating the Psychosocial Aspects of Our Kids' Food Allergies at Home, School and in Restaurants."

POCHA of Will County stands for Parents Of Children Having Allergies. The group meets several times throughout the year to discuss issues unique to families raising children with food allergies.

Two of Dr. Flais's four children have been living with food allergies for years and she understands the concerns and challenges facing parents from a personal as well as professional perspective.

Dr. Flais along with her husband, allergist Michael Flais are the medical advisors for the group.

POCHA meets at Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet, Illinois and further meeting details, location, and driving instructions can be found at their website: http://pochaofwillcounty.com/

You are invited to a free vaccine question and answer session.

2011-04-26T16:31:00.020-05:00

From time to time we like to update you on Immunization events and new recommendations.

First, the American Academy of Pediatrics is offering special meetings this week in our area to discuss your concerns on vaccines. The program is entitled: “Everything You Want to Know About the Safety of Childhood Vaccines But Are Afraid to Ask”.

Our own Sofia Shakir, MD will be available to answer your questions on Wednesday, April 27th from 10:00 – 11:00 am at:
Greater Lagrange YMCA
1100 E. 31st Street
LaGrange Park, IL 60526

Or you can join the discussion with Bill Harenburg, MD of Wheaton Pediatrics at the Naperville Y on Wednesday, April 27th from
6:00 – 7:00 pm at:
Kroehler Family YMCA
34 S. Washington St.
Naperville, IL 60540

Admission is free but registration is required. You may register at www.surveymonkey.com/s/childhoodvaccines
or contact Jeanine Solinski at 312/733-1026 ext 206

On another note…
Check-up season is here--- and it’s a time to update your child's immunizations. Our appointments are already starting to fill in for the summer so call early to schedule your appointment!

One change that you'll hear from us is a booster on Menactra--the vaccine to prevent one type of meningitis. It helps to prevent the most common type of bacterial meningitis in children ages 2 through 18. It’s a serious infection of the spinal cord and brain which can leave children seriously harmed or even cause death. Most of the cases that you hear about in schools and colleges are caused by this type--meningococcal.

It's too late to give the vaccine once your child is exposed, so prevention by the vaccine is the key. Is it required? We strongly recommend the vaccine--but as of yet, the schools don’t' require it, although some colleges do. You may be thinking your child received the meningitis vaccine in their younger years--no, that was for another type of meningitis, Haemophilus b. They still need protection from meningococcal disease.

The new recommendation is to receive two doses…one at age 11 or 12 with a booster after age 16 or 17. The change to the added booster is because the protection from the shot decreases after age 16. If your child is at least 16 and receiving it for the first time, then they only need the one dose. You may ask “Why not wait till 16 then?” The reason is that the incidence of this infection in middle and high schools is high enough that we want to prevent your child from getting this type of meningitis with the earlier vaccine.

For international travelers, we may want to give this vaccine if your child is younger than 11 years of age, especially if you are going to Africa or some parts of the Middle East. Please contact our Travel section at PHA for more details on those recommendations.

Please feel free to discuss your questions or concerns with us at the time of your checkup.

Screen Free Week

2011-04-20T16:47:00.005-05:00

This week is designated by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) as Screen-Free Week. This twice-yearly event encourages families to explore other entertainment options. Instead of hitting the screens after dinner, why not go for a family walk or a bike ride? Try your hand at some of the board games from your childhood… or ask your children what’s new or interesting to them. Cuddling together on the couch to read a book can be a soothing experience for the whole family.

Researchers at the University of Sydney studied the effects of inactivity on fifteen hundred 6 and 7 year olds. They discovered that the children who spent 1.9 hours of screen time daily and were physically active for only 36 minutes per day had a significant narrowing of retinal arteries in the back of their eyes. In adulthood, these children have a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.

A good way to test how much media is impacting your child is to watch what they do in their spare time for a day. Are they quick to play a video game, text their friends, watch a movie or a favorite program? Odds are that their skills in social interaction may be affected and they are limiting their learning opportunities through reading, discussing issues around the dinner table, discovering new interests, etc.

By taking the opportunity this week to try new types of entertainment, you may just discover something that works for your family all year round. The resources below can help parents learn more about media use in childhood and learn ways to manage children’s media diet.

We recommend that once your “screen free” week is completed that you set up a family rule that no more than 2 hours per day be used on media.

You may find more info at:

http://www.healthychildren.org/English/news/Pages/AAP-Updates-Guidance-to-Help-Families-Make-Positive-Media-Choices.aspx

http://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/What-Children-are-NOT-Doing-When-Watching-TV.aspx

http://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/Whats-on-TV.aspx

http://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/The-Benefits-of-Limiting-TV.aspx

http://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/Talking-to-Kids-and-Tweens-About-Social-Media.aspx

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j4O2m2eUkoPdHYFijLQ7pXFWkBbQ?docId=CNG.4ad4f9082812cdbe83919ae15e39c5d0.1d1

PHA Happenings

2011-04-11T18:24:00.016-05:00

If you've called the Plainfield or West Chicago offices recently you may have been surprised to be speaking to someone at the Naperville office instead. In an effort to improve service to our families we have instituted a call center.  The call center is designed to have more staff available to handle incoming calls and reduce wait times.

If you are calling to make an appointment, please make sure you tell the staff which office you want your child to be seen at.   Your time is precious and the price of gas is high so if you are unsure where your appointment is at please call the office to double check.

********************************************************************************

We are all anxiously awaiting the birth of Dr. Tina Smith's baby! Dr. Smith is now completing her tenure with us and will be moving to Michigan in the near future.

We wish her the best of luck and want to say thank you for the wonderful and compassionate care she provided to our patients. She will be missed!

***********************************************************

Our summer appointment schedule is filling up quickly for school physicals.  To beat the rush consider having your child's school physical done now.   The paperwork will be accepted when your child goes back to school in the fall.   If your child is planning on Spring sports next year then we advise you wait until winter to schedule your appointment.

With Dr. Smith's absence our schedule will be tighter than usual. Book early to get an appointment that fits your schedule!

Binge drinking

2011-04-11T18:01:00.004-05:00

The Partnership For a Drug Free America reports that 62% of teens have had their first alcoholic beverage by age 15. Teens view alcohol as a “right of passage” into adulthood. Many equate drinking to being “cool” and safer than drugs. Early drinkers have a tendency to have problems with alcohol later on in life.

For some teens, binge drinking seems like harmless fun. They perceive alcohol as having only temporary consequences such as hangovers. Binge drinking is categorized for girls as having 4 or more drinks in one evening, 5 for boys, two or more times per month.

Studies of brain scans reveal that binge drinkers have significantly less white matter than non-drinkers. White matter affects cognitive functions and it is unknown at this time whether this reduction is permanent or not.

While teens may be as tall as us, their brains and bodies are still growing. As parents we find it difficult to get our teens to sit down and talk with us without it sounding like a lecture. Many parents also want to be their child’s friend and be considered cool. Remember that being a parent sometimes means tough love. While your teen may not appreciate your rules and guidance right now they will come to appreciate you when they become mature adults. Being a parent is hard but you aren’t alone. Your pediatrician is here to help you through your child’s life stages.
You may find more information at www.drugfree.org/

What can our kids learn from the Japanese devastation?

2011-03-25T14:16:00.004-05:00

The recent earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan has wreaked tremendous havoc on the families who live there. Can you imagine losing your home, your family, your job, your vehicle, your pictures and all your possessions at the same time? Their entire lives have been turned upside down. Trace amounts of radiation is showing up in the food supply and electricity is being rationed. Hundreds wait in line for water, food and other basic needs. The things we all take for granted every day have been taken from them. Mourning, shock, grief, sadness, depression, anxiety, feelings of helplessness and loss will have a tremendous psychological impact and may break the spirit of many. You may read more about the impact the disaster is having on those affected at http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/20/weekinreview/20psyche.html?src=recg.

This disaster can help us as parents teach our children about giving to those in need. Kids like helping other kids. Here are some ways they can help:

• Give a portion of their allowance to be added to the family donation
• Organize a bake sale at school or church
• Sacrifice the money they would use to purchase a toy or game to relief efforts
• As a family, forego one meal out. This could be an ongoing family effort over a certain period of time with the savings going to relief efforts
• Set up a “pennies for Japan” fundraiser at school. Perhaps the class that raises the most can receive some kind of reward

All around the world people feel great sadness for the people of Japan. Their lives have been forever changed. Although millions of dollars have been donated thus far, the devastation will cost billions to repair. If ever there was a time of need it is now.

You may find several relief agencies at the following website:
http://www1.networkforgood.org/help-survivors-pacific-quake-tsunami

or you can just click on one of the links below:

Habitat for Humanity: http://www.habitat.org/
Catholic Relief Services: http://www.crs.org/
Salvation Army: http://disaster.salvationarmyusa.org/
Feed My Starving Children: http://www.fmsc.org/page.aspx?pid=398
Catholic Relief Services: http://www.crs.org/
Salvation Army: http://disaster.salvationarmyusa.org/
World Vision: http://www.worldvision.org/
Send International: https://www.send.org/donate/?contributable=389
ECLA: https://community.elca.org/netcommunity/page.aspx?pid=631
Feed the Children: http://www.feedthechildren.org/
Islamic Relief USA: http://www.islamicreliefusa.org/japan?gclid=CObota2T46cCFU9pKgodR0zN-Q

New Guidelines for Car Seats

2011-03-22T13:48:00.004-05:00

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has updated their policy regarding rear-facing car seats for infants and toddlers. It is now recommended that the seats continue until 2 years of age. Formerly rear seating was recommended only for babies up to 1 year in age.

Staying in a rear-facing car seat until 2 years of age reduces the risk of serious injury by 75%. The blunt force experienced during an auto accident can cause serious injury or death due to spinal cord injuries suffered when an small child’s head is jolted back and forth during impact.

Once your child has reached the height and weight limit of their car seat they may transition to a booster seat but not until the age of 4 and if the seat belt straps do not cross the neck or abdomen of your child in the booster seat. They should continue to use the booster seat until they reach 4 feet 9 inches (generally between 8 and 12 years of age). Booster seats are important to use so that seat belts cross their bodies properly to restrain them. All children should remain in the back seat through age 12.

You may find more information at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/22/health/policy/22carseat.html?_r=1&nl=health&emc=healthupdateema4

www.aap.org

Dr. Smith is relocating

2011-03-22T13:44:00.001-05:00

Tina Smith, M.D.

Dr. Tina Smith has many exciting changes going on in her life. As many of our families know, she is expecting her second child shortly! Her husband will be finishing his fellowship at Rush University in plastic surgery soon and has accepted a job offer in Michigan. They will be moving there not too long after the baby arrives.

We anticipate that Dr. Smith will be seeing patients until mid-April unless the baby has a different timeline!

If your insurance carrier requires you to choose a PCP and you have Dr. Smith listed, you will need to contact them and choose another physician.

If you would like to continue with Pediatric Health Associates, all physicians are open for new patients with all insurance plans we are contracted with.

We are very happy for Tina and her hubby and wish them all the best! She has been a delight to work with and we will certainly miss her. Thank you Tina for your hard work and for being a blessing to our practice!

Dr. Shoshara in the news!

2011-03-16T16:07:00.002-05:00

Kindness is a gift we give to others. Many acts of kindness are long remembered and means so much to the person who received it. This past Monday, the Chicago Sun-Times published an article about one mom’s remembrance of the kindness she received from Dr. Shoshara while he was in residency. It told of his compassion, concern and encouragement to a new mom of a premature child who was terrified her child was not going to make it.

You may read the article at: http://www.suntimes.com/news/cepeda/4261205-452/jihad-came-to-me-in-its-kindest-most-gentle-form.html.

Here at Pediatric Health we are blessed with diversity among our patient population and staff. In the true American tradition, we are a melting pot of different cultures, languages, beliefs and traditions. We have patients and staff whose families have come here from Cuba, Pakistan, Greece, Sweden, Mexico, Colombia, Burundi, Ghana, England, Taiwan and so many others places on the earth. But one thing is universal: a kindness given is a treasured gift.

Teaching your child to do “random acts of kindness” helps them to learn compassion, sacrifice and creates the imprint they leave on a person’s life.

We are so fortunate to have Dr. Shoshara in our practice (as we are blessed with all of our docs!) We believe that kind and compassionate care is something every patient deserves no matter who they are.

Crisis We Can No Longer Ignore

2011-03-07T12:09:00.011-06:00

By Kim Gubbins, CPNP

Childhood obesity is on the rise. One third of the children in our country are overweight or obese...ONE THIRD!!! We need to reduce calories and increase activity. This is truly a crisis and an epidemic that can no longer be ignored.

To put this crisis into perspective, realize that in the United States the annual consumption of seafood is 11 pounds. To counter this statistic, the average annual consumption of beef is 65 pounds (33 of those pounds being hamburger).

In 2010 the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. These organizations offered practical solutions for a healthier lifestyle. They suggested healthier food choices, the right portion sizes, and increasing physical activity. Below is a list of specific tips from the guidelines:

Enjoy food but eat less
Avoid oversized portions
Make half of your plate fruits and vegetables
Drink skim or 1% milk
Look at labels; pick food with less sodium and less sugar
Drink water and skip the sugary drinks

Here at Pediatric Health Associates childhood obesity is a huge concern. We are passionate about helping your children. ALL aspects of your child’s health are important to us. If you know your child is in need of nutrition counseling, please schedule an appointment. Your child deserves both your help and ours. The crisis can no longer be ignored.

References:

• The 2010 Dietary Guidelines at http://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/

• Tomson, B & Brat, I (2011) New Dietary Guidelines: Less Food, Less TV. Personal Journal.

Kim Gubbins
Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

School Panic

2011-03-01T13:49:00.019-06:00

By Sara Shaw

“You mean, Ella is NOT going to pre-school this year?” The other mothers at the park that Spring seemed to be staring down at me accusingly, shocked as they were, that I dare defy the new “two years of preschool is now mandatory if you want your child to have any hope of success in this world at all” rule that is the norm in our culture. “Um, well, I wasn’t going to, I mean she isn’t three until October, and I thought they went to pre-school when they were four? And I don’t know, I just think it’s a shame to push them into school when you get so few years with them as it is?” I stammered out my unsure response, trying to convince these fellow mommies that this was a Plan, that my husband and I had discussed Ella’s pre-school goals, that we were right on track. This, obviously, was the farthest thing from the truth. I did assume that only four year olds went to pre-school, but the notion was something I had previously thought of in the same way someone like me thinks about “trends in the financial market”; that is to say, not at all. As I sat with these other good moms, mothers who had their children on waiting lists for pre-school minutes after seeing the double pink lines on their pregnancy stick, and listened to them discuss their developing psychosis, or more specifically, what I now refer to as “school panic”, I wondered how I had missed this. I knew part of your job as a parent was to worry about your child’s education but I naively thought that meant worries like; “will my child do well in school?”, “Will they get along with other kids?” or “Will they get into a good college?”. And I also thought those fears weren’t supposed to start UNTIL they actually began school.

For the next few months I couldn’t help but overhear other parental conversations, moms on cell-phones pushing their little darling with one hand and nagging husbands to see about getting them in at _____ School. I also overheard other play date conversations that revolved around this issue; specifically phrases like, “Yes, but I want him to be an early reader. I heard that if you don’t start now, they may not read till, age four” or “Well, we were going to go there but I’m not sure they really nurture the ‘whole child’ at the school”, and finally, “Oh, yes, if they don’t have two years of pre-school, then they will be behind. I mean, every child is doing that now.” It wasn’t long before I was scouring the internet, wildly dialing the phone, and asking any mother within ear-shot where their child went to preschool and how could I possibly get Ella in there? I was even tempted to ask the tiny tots that I ran into on a daily basis. I pictured myself bending down at the McDonalds play place, “And how do you like your preschool? Do you feel that your “whole child” is being nurtured? Can you please tell me what that even means????” My school panic had sent in.

What is “school panic”? In my opinion, school panic is any educational related topic that creates stress for parents, causing them to obsess on the given issue for any amount of time. At our routine playgrounds the topics of concern are typically:

What is the best preschool?

How old should my child be when starting Kindergarten?

Which is better private, charter, or public?

If I choose public, do I choose my neighborhood school?

However, there are also the side topics such as, test scores, curriculum, teacher student ratio, and homeschooling.

Admittedly, most parents are probably not obsessing about their child’s first day of Kindergarten (What will she wear? Will she like her backpack? Will she cry? Will I cry? Will I be able to stop crying?) years before that day is set to arrive, and you know, neither am I…… But in my experience, every parent, or at least every mommy, has been worried about these big “school” issues to the point of getting stressed out. After feeling that way for far too long, and certainly before our children are even there, we begin to wonder if our panic is necessary.

Just last night, I was out to a rare dinner with the girls, and we weren’t but three edamame beans in before it began. Most of us have children who could potentially begin Kindergarten next fall so discussing the merits of different schools or the benefits to holding boys back versus girls is a relevant and appropriate conversation. But, what wasn’t appropriate was the amount of fear and uncertainty we all felt trying to make these “major life decisions” for our kids. I looked around the table at these incredibly loving, smart, well-intentioned mothers and blurted out, “Don’t you think our generation of mothers has made this a THING when it wasn’t ever a big THING before? Don’t you feel panicked? And do we even need to be?” While I could have been more eloquent, my point was made and we launched into a discussion of what it was like when we were kids. How did we get from “my children attend the school that we live near at the time when the school says so”, to this?

I know this issue is far too complex to adequately tackle here. Some may argue that our competitive culture has created the fear in parents, and is driving the panic to ensure their child gets ahead. Others may say our political system has helped to create broken schools, therefore the fear parents have is warranted, one must be a bulldog with the waitlists, otherwise your child could, infamously, be left behind.

For the purposes of this piece, I suppose the reasons why we are “here” are not crucial. School panic is a reality and we all must choose how to maneuver our way through this maze that undoubtedly has only just begun. For example, I want Ella to go to Kindergarten next fall. I feel she is ready. She misses the cut-off by two days but I have found a school that will accept her. Now, will I question our decision for the next six months? Will I get every opinion I possibly can from anyone who will give it? Will I Google this until my fingers hurt? Or will I trust and know that we are good parents, we love our child, and we are making the best decisions that we can. I realize that if I spend the next six months doubting this, I will miss the precious moments I have left before I send her off to school, into the world.

Besides, I only have six months left to fixate about her first day of school and the backpack issues that may arise…

Sara Shaw

PHA welcomes Dr. Shelly Flais to the practice!

2011-02-24T15:16:00.000-06:00

Pediatric Health Associates welcomes Shelly Flais, M.D. to our practice! She is the accomplished and award winning author of the book “Raising Twins” published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Flais has appeared on television and radio programs such as WGN Midday News and Doctor Radio. She has been interviewed by numerous magazines and newspapers including Parents Magazine, Parenting, and Fit Pregnancy.

Dr. Flais received her medical degree from Northwestern University School of Medicine and completed her residency at Children’s Memorial Hospital.

The mother of four children, Dr. Flais has an 8 year old, twins that are 7 years old and a 5 year old. We know our parents of multiples will enjoy talking with her about the joys and challenges of raising
twins, triplets, quads, etc.!

Dr. Flais will beginning seeing patients on Monday February 28th.

Happenings at PHA

2011-02-14T15:56:00.014-06:00

This Tuesday, February 15th, we will be switching to a new electronic medical records system. We will experience a little slower data entry while we get accustomed to inputting information into the new software. Your patience is greatly appreciated!

One reason we are moving to a new software is to give our families a faster method of communicating with us. For things such as requesting forms, records and refills, you will in the next few months be able to go on your computer and enter a “secure web portal” to make these requests and they will be sent back to you through this portal. No more having to stop by the office to pick things up (with the exception of refills for certain medications).

Our Naperville office will be expanding in the next few months as well! We will be enlarging the waiting room and adding more exam rooms. We think you’ll like our new look!

As always, we are humbled by the trust you place in us and grateful for the opportunity to build wonderful relationships with our families.

Spring is right around the corner! We are currently scheduling spring/summer sports physicals along with school physicals for the fall. Summer appointments always fill up quickly! Beat the rush and schedule your appointment today!

Soccer ball courtesy of: http://www.wpclipart.com/toys/balls/soccer_ball.png.html

Baby on computer image courtesy of: http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=6884&picture=child-with-laptop&large=1#large

Hearts courtesy of: http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=6085&picture=group-of-hearts"&gt

PHA anticipates being open for business on Thursday!

2011-02-02T15:13:00.000-06:00

Now that the roads are cleared we anticipate that all PHA offices will be open all day on Thursday, Feb. 3rd. Many schools are still closed so this is a great opportunity to have your child seen and not have to take them out of school! Call the office for available appointments.

It's never too early!

2011-02-02T15:09:00.000-06:00

Want your child to do better in school? Give them a head start by reading to them from birth. Babies learn language from hearing words over and over again and from pointing to the things the word represents.

Spending time reading with your child has many benefits. Most importantly, it is a time spent together bonding. Reading helps a child learn how to focus and pay attention. It helps them form cognitive thinking, comprehension, imagination and eventually recognize how a word is spelled. It expands their knowledge of the world.

They say that imagination is the mother of invention. Just think of all the things that were invented in the last century! Cars, computers and aviation to name a few. Rapidly changing technology made so many things become outdated so quickly such as 8 tracks, cassette tapes, vcr machines and typewriters…all replaced in the digital age. How radically the world was changed by people like Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and Bill Gates…each one imagining what was possible!

The great thing about reading is that it allows you to learn about the past, the present and the future. About places you’ll never visit, cultures that are so different than yours and to read different view points to give you a more rounded perspective. Reading is one of the most important gifts you can give your children. You are opening their minds to an unlimited amount of information!

We all spend so much time in our cars these days. Instead of turning on the dvd player for the kids or playing on your smart phone, consider bringing books for them to read. We recommend that children have no more than 90 minutes of media time each day including television, video games and texting. The rest of their free time should be filled with exercise, play and reading.

Children who struggle with reading generally struggle with school. Inability to recognize the written word and comprehend it greatly affects test score results. Poor school performance has an adverse effect on their self esteem.

As parents, it is our responsibility to prepare our children for school and to reinforce the things they learn at school. Waiting for school to teach your child how to spell, count and read puts them way behind their classmates.

Each child is born with their own level of intelligence and ability. Not all will be rocket scientists or natural born athletes. It’s important to accept your child’s capabilities.

Don’t miss out on that special bonding opportunity reading provides for the two of you. Reading a bedtime story is a special routine that is enjoyable and children look forward to it. It’s a great way to get them into bed!

Books don’t have to be costly….most communities have libraries. Garage sales often have many books available. There are many free internet book sites as well. Here’s a few of them:

http://www.ipl.org/div/storyhour/index.html

http://www.magickeys.com/books/

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/

http://storyplace.org/ (for English and Spanish)

Office opening during blizzard

2011-02-02T12:23:00.000-06:00

All Pediatric Health offices will be open Wednesday starting at 1 pm. If your child is sick today and you would like to be seen, please call the office for an appointment.

2011-01-17T17:19:00.000-06:00

PHA is proud to welcome Kim Gubbins CPNP to our practice! Kim received her BS from Purdue University and her MSN, CPNP from Rush University. Kim has a special interest in childhood obesity, nutrition and asthma. Kim will begin seeing patients starting at the end of January.

Naperville Food Pantry

2011-01-10T20:58:00.001-06:00

Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry is moving to a larger facility! Doubling their space, their new address is 1871 High Grove Lane in Naperville. The new facility will open for business on Saturday, February 5th with Mayor Pradel cutting the grand opening ribbon at 8 a.m. Food distribution will begin immediately afterwards.

With the mission of providing food and leadership in the community, Loaves and Fishes provides resources to assist people in becoming self sufficient. Besides providing a food bank, they will be hosting their first "Pathways to Empowerment" program that day which will address nutritional education, financial skills, mental health and literacy for people within the community.

For those whose income is less that $49,000/year or are over the age of 60 can find free income tax assistance as well.

We all know the economy is still weak and many people are still jobless and/or losing their homes. Many have exhausted their unemployment benefits. Many parents are foregoing their own nutritional needs as they try to have enough to feed their children.

Please consider making a donation to Loaves and Fishes to help provide for those who are facing hard times. We never know when hard times will hit or whether they will affect our family. Should we face such circumstances wouldn't it be a relief to know there is more than enough food to go around and that our children won't go to bed hungry?

You may find more information on Loaves and Fishes at
http://www.loaves-fishes.org/ or by calling 630-355-3663.

My Holiday Mantras

2010-12-21T17:52:00.007-06:00

Sara Shaw

We welcome Mrs. Sara Shaw as a guest contributor to our PHA blog. She comes well qualified with a Masters degree in Education from Regis University and works as a part time middle school teacher in the Denver suburbs. She spends most of her time raising her two children, Ella (4 yr.) and Jude (20 mo.).

Yep. It’s here… again. The holiday season has been knocking on my door, determined to force its way in to our lives since Hobby Lobby took down their Fourth of July display and replaced it with hundreds of fake Christmas trees. I can’t even count the amount of times I was in the grocery store and overheard, “Jeez. Jingle Bells? Didn’t we just celebrate Labor Day?” It seems that I am not the only one who wonders why we find ourselves humming along to “Frosty the Snowman” when it is 79 degrees outside. Despite the insanely early marketing of the holiday season, this is the year that I refused to accept that December was approaching. I stuck my fingers in my ears and bought my Halloween costumes; I ignored the ornament aisles and focused on fall-colored tablecloths. I held off on pulling out the red and green storage totes until the very last minute. Now I realize that my holiday procrastination may seem extremely Scroogey, if not downright un-American, but please, let me explain. It isn’t the celebration that I dread. It’s all the stuff that comes with that one day, which in our house is December 25th.

I wasn’t always like this. My childhood memories of Christmas are like most people I know: in a word - magical. The snow was always falling, the fireplace lit, cozy snuggling on the couch with loving grandparents, delicious cookies and steaming hot cocoa, and of course, that giant sparkling tree teeming with piles of beautifully wrapped presents. Through my childish eyes, it was truly the most wonderful time of the year. What I didn’t see was the wizard behind the curtain; the one responsible for it all. No, it was not a big jolly guy dressed in red. It was the woman bent over endless lists at the kitchen table, frantically checking things off and adding more tasks. The woman who was determined to do everything just right and create that magical Christmas for her family. My mom.

There is so much you never understand until you have kids, and last year I added “How much work Christmas really is” to that list. When you are growing up, Christmas just happens. Thanksgiving ends and suddenly, almost overnight the house is decorated, the treats are on the counter, and the Holiday activities commence. But now, as a mother of two, I have fully realized that NONE of that stuff happens without hours and hours of hard work, organization, and thoughtful preparation by, (gasp) me? It is a scary thought. One that didn’t really occur to me until I found myself knee deep in shredded wrapping paper, watching my children buzz around with their new toys, waiting for them to hit their inevitable crash from their month-long sugar high, I myself collapsed on the couch. I looked at my mom, and groaned, “Is it always like this?” My mother knowingly smiled and tried to encourage me, agreeing that yes, Christmas is a lot of work, a lot of time, and a lot of stress. I suspect she may have taken some secret revenge- like pleasure in hearing my complaints. Much like when my daughter throws diva-style tantrums over her wardrobe and my mom gleefully tells me that Ella is a lot like a little girl she used to know…..That aside, last year, I finally got it. I was able to see the holiday season through the eyes of a mother, and based on the way I felt that morning, I made a decision. I would create a magical Christmas for my family, but I refused to do it stressed. Insert your laughter here.

I will enjoy the holidays. I will not attempt to replicate the decorating photos I see in Martha Stewart’s magazine. I will not make 17 different types of cookies including several new recipes I’ve never tried. I will not stay up until one in the morning frantically searching the internet for that one perfect gift my mother in law didn’t even know she wanted. I will not do research on where to find the best Santa Claus with the best beard and the most twinkle in his eye. I will not drive from store to store buying every single toy my children ask for, even if they really, really, really hope that Santa brings it.

These were just a few of my Stress-Free Holiday mantras this year. As you read this, you may be thinking, “Well that’s great, but I don’t try to bake 17 different types of cookies, I don’t even care what Martha Stewart’s house looks like, and I only buy my children a few presents. Yet, every year, I still find myself frantically trying to keep up with all the requirements of the holiday season.” In every interaction I’ve had with other moms over the past few weeks, I hear some hint of this sentiment. We want to enjoy the holidays. We want to create beautiful celebrations with friends and family. But we want to do it and keep our mental, physical and spiritual stability intact. So how can we accomplish this?

I do not profess to have all the answers. Or even, quite frankly, any of the answers. I am not a psychologist, or a life coach, (although most would agree I may benefit from a visit from one or both of those). I am a stay-at-home mother of two who is learning by trial and error and can only speak from my experience and perhaps the experience that my treasured “mom” friends have shared with me. As I shared my previous year’s nightmare of taking on way to much during the holiday time, and the mounting pressure’s I had felt as the weeks of December went on (all of which led to a giant let down on Christmas, and ultimately left me wondering, “Is this worth it? Isn’t this supposed to be fun?”) with other women, I feel I have learned at least one valuable lesson which has helped me in my attempts to have a stress-free holiday.

That lesson is this: Lower your expectations. I do not mean this in a cynical, negative, “don’t even bother” way. I mean stop the madness of trying to create the “perfect” anything, especially Christmas. There are so many pressures that we as mothers place on ourselves; so many “to-do’s” that we feel terribly guilty about if we don’t accomplish. And sadly most of those “to-do’s” are not at all necessary. I spent some time after Thanksgiving making a list of what exactly is important to me and our family, and what exactly this month should be about. And guess what? Making sure my children make a holiday craft every day wasn’t on it! Neither was spending large amounts of money on elusive gifts in order to show people I loved them. So, I had to let it go. All that “stuff”, all those extra pressures to create a Norman Rockwell scene, that we have somehow convinced ourselves is required, needed to vanish. Instead, I tried to focus on what was on my list. Sharing my faith beliefs about this holiday with my children, giving gifts that were simple yet still thoughtful, decorating the tree, but not Martha’s tree, and ultimately creating an environment where friends and family would want to be and would be able to experience the peace that this holiday can bring.

So, with December 25th a mere five days away, I must determine if I was able to do this. Did I give up the fantasy or will I collapse on the couch and in some ways be thankful it’s over? Truthfully? Yes, and no. Despite my stress-free holiday mantras and my shift in priorities and focus this year, I must confess I still found myself running to Hobby Lobby way too many times in order to perfect my fireplace mantel. And I was still that frantic mother at Target trying to get those last-minute gifts purchased in time. However, I’m happy to report that those moments of chaos occurred far less frequently this season, and I can only hope that each year I will learn to avoid the pitfalls of the pressure a Rockwell fantasy will bring. In doing so, I hope to live in the blissful moments of peace and joy that this season has to offer. And maybe, just maybe, when the soundtracks of the stores begin blaring holiday tunes in September, I will find myself smiling, perhaps even humming along…

Getting kids to eat their veggies

2010-12-15T16:37:00.003-06:00

From the desk of PHA nurse practitioner Romina Gieseman:

Our nurse practitioners at PHA provide nutrition consults and have experience not only as health care providers but as parents who also try their best to provide nutritious meals to their own families.

The biggest obstacle in presenting vegetables to our children is in making them taste terrific. Here are some tips and recipes from our nurse practitioners:

1) Start with vegetables that are in season. They cost less money and taste the best. In spring it may be brussel sprouts, cabbage, green beans and asparagus. In summer: carrots, broccoli, spinach, alfalfa sprouts, corn and cauliflower. In fall: kale, zucchini, squash, pumpkin and cucumbers.

2) Do not overcook vegetables. Remember that boiling takes the most vitamins out of your vegetables. Overcooked vegetables has the least amount of flavor, color, look soggy and have lost most of the fiber that gives it its shape.

3) Steam vegetables in a steamer basket (a metal one that opens and closes and therefore is adjustable to fit in your pots) It is acceptable to serve these vegetables with a little margarine and salt to taste. This method retains the most vitamins. Steaming most vegetables for 5-7 minutes works the best.

4) Bake french fries at home. Cut sweet potatoes or Idaho potatoes and place on cookie sheet and spray with canola oil. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 min. Bake cut up cauliflower on a cookie sheet after mixing it in a bowl with canola oil, followed by bread crumbs, powdered parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 min. turning once.

5) Stir fry broccoli in a wok with one tablespoon of canola oil and a minced clove of garlic. Only stir fry for 5 minutes. Add soy sauce or salt to taste. Stir fry fresh kale in the same way and serve with black beans from a can and brown rice for a filling meal.

6) Serving vegetables as an appetizer before dinner may get them to eat them as they get hungrier waiting for dinner to be ready.

Be the best role model you can as a parent. Kids are most likely to try vegetables only after they see their parents eat them and sometimes it takes 17 tries before they will taste it. Be patient and do not push them; let your child come around to it on their own.

Bullying

2010-12-08T15:24:00.012-06:00

Respect, responsibility, reciprocity are the three R’s that school children learn today. Parents spend a lifetime teaching their children how to treat others and what’s acceptable behavior. School districts have put into place policies regarding bullying and yet such behavior continues to go on.

Some children are more likely to be bullied than others. Those who deal with physical handicaps, learning disabilities, obesity or dress differently may be targeted. But no one is immune. In fact about 60% of children will fall victim to bullying at some point in their school experience. Some will continually be abused by bullies. While in the past it was thought that a child who was bullied would eventually learn to either ignore the situation or would fight back, the reality is that hurtful remarks, physical threats or even being shunned by peers can leave an imprint for life. Today we recognize that children who are victimized can suffer from depression, low self esteem and social withdrawal. Bullying can come in a variety of forms: cyberspace, gossip, shunning, hitting, making fun of, rumors, intimidation and threats to name a few. Both victims and bullies have one thing in common: they are both at higher risk of suicidal thoughts and tendencies.

Cyber bullying has drawn more children into the bully mentality because there’s no face to face confrontation. Young people are still developing their sense of self. You may want to require your child to “friend” you on their social sites so you may keep an eye out. However, most teens want their privacy so the alternative is to periodically monitor what they are doing. Don’t forget about text messaging and pictures on their cell phones. We encourage parents to set up “house rules” about cell and computer use and your right to monitor.

Most area schools in our community enforce a "bully free zone" in the schools and do marketing to promote such programs. We encourage you to discuss any concerns or issues related to bullying (whether being a bully or being bullied) with your school administration and with your pediatrician or nurse practitioner here at PHA.

It is also important for adults to keep their own behaviors in check. Each of us knows someone who exhibits bully behavior in their neighborhood, workplace, place of worship or other venue. Children look to adults to teach them by example. Teach your children tolerance, conflict resolution, forgiveness, anger management and respect for all living beings. Show them how you handle such situations.

Encourage your child to talk with you if they are being bullied. If your child is being bullied, it is important to listen to them. Empathize and discuss ways that might resolve the situation. Affirm your child by letting them know they are loved, that they have your support and that no matter what, you will always be there for them. If your child finds the bullying continues, it is important for you as the adult to step in. Children who feel secure have confidence in themselves are less likely to be victimized.

To learn ways to help your child with bullies, go to http://www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/adults/best-practices.aspx

Photo courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/winning-information/2314383724/

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

Dr. Uselding had her baby!

2010-12-02T15:58:00.000-06:00

PHA congratulates Dr. Laura Uselding on the birth of her son, Zachary Thomas. Born Tuesday, November 30th, both mom and son are doing terrific!

Strength Training Beneficial for Children and Adolescents

2010-12-02T14:09:00.018-06:00

In the last decade (2000-2010) there has been a shift in the recommendations regarding strength training for children and adolescents. "Strength training, as part of a well-balanced youth fitness program can be beneficial for children as young as 6 years old", according to a statement by the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2003). As long as the child is adequately supervised and training follows specific and careful guidelines, the benefits of strength training are many.

Whether your child is struggling with obesity or overweight, or is young athlete looking to gain a competitive edge, the benefits of incorporating resistance training exercises can improve your child's overall health. The benefits of strength training may include: increased lean body mass and body composition (less fat/more muscle), improved base metabolic rate (calories burned/hour), increased muscle strength, efficiency and power, improved flexibility and resistance to injuries sustained during other sports activities, better posture and improved cardiovascular health. New evidence has been published that strength training may also have benefits for diabetes prevention. As one acquires more muscle mass, blood sugar levels become more normalized. But perhaps the most often overlooked benefit is improved self-esteem and self-confidence. Resistance training can have an overall positive effect on a child's ability to jump higher, run up and down a gym faster, hit a volleyball farther, make more baskets in basketball and swing a baseball more effectively. New found improvement in skills and energy level may enhance a child's self-perception.

Our Pediatric Nurse Practitioners at PHA provide Nutrition Consults that incorporate fitness and exercise goals as a part of the overall process toward healthier lifestyles. Your child should have a completed sports/school physical by one of our pediatricians or nurse practitioners prior to embarking on strength training program This is critical to minimize the chances of your child being injured or re-injured. Our providers can answer questions you may have at this time as well.

Guidelines for strength training have been developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics in collaboration with other medical professional organizations and are provided in a table at the end of this article.

It is important that everyone understands what strength training is and is not. Injuries from overuse, rapid or jerking movements can result if the perception of the training is that it involves pushing oneself to the limits or using an excessive amount of weight. Children and teens need their parents' guidance in order to avoid the misconception that they must lift their "max" or maximum amount of weight during workouts. Perhaps the most classic representation of lifting weights is that of Olympic power lifting competitions. This is NOT at all what is recommended. In an article written by physicians, HJ Benjamin and KM Glow for "The Physician and Sports Medicine Journal", a clear distinction between this type of training and "weight lifting , power lifting or bodybuilding" was made. Many potentially serious injuries are associated with the sports of weight lifting and power lifting. In contrast, strength training results in less injuries while still increasing strength and flexibility.

Specifically, strength training, "uses resistance methods to increase one's ability to exert or resist force. The equipment uses free weights, the individual's own body weight, machines, or other devices like elastic bands and medicine balls to provide resistance - Low weight, more repetitions." For example, one pound arm or ankle weights to lift the arm or leg in a slow sustained movement, ten times in a row. Ten repetitions is equal to one set. It is typical that one would do three sets of ten repetitions. Another example of a strengthening exercise using resistance is for the ankle, a very important, but often overlooked joint. Strengthening the ankle for all kinds of running sports may prevent injury. Using a resistance rubber band tied to a leg of a chair, the other end of the resistance band is wrapped around the foot, the foot is flexed and counter flexed in all four directions while supporting the ankle just under the heel. This movement is slow and steady and with care, so as to avoid any rapid rebounding movements.

In contrast, weight lifting and power lifting, "are competitive sports that contest maximum lifting ability. The sport of weight lifting is composed of two competitive lifts: the clean-and-jerk and the snatch. Power lifting involves three competitive lifts: the squat, the bench press, and dead lift. This type of workout is not appropriate for children.

Similarly, children's strength training should not be linked to bodybuilding. Bodybuilding "is an esthetic sport that does not involve competitive lifts but depends on weight training." This is a sport of competitive body sculpting for the art of creating a certain physique or body shape. Today, we have a better understanding of the physiology of neuromuscular strength development of children and adolescents. There are differences in the way a pre-pubertal child gains strength compared to an adolescent who has reached pubertal maturity. Researchers conclude that strength gains seen in resistance-trained children before puberty are due to various neural adaptations and muscle size is not increased. Increases in neural activation, muscular adaptations and improvements in motor coordination (muscle memory) seem to play a role in strength development in childhood." (Benjamin, HJ; Glow, KM, 2003) The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine(AOSSM) recommend that children and adolescents should avoid weight lifting, power lifting, and bodybuilding until they have reached a stage of physical maturity called "Tanner stage 5." Your pediatric medical provider will identify for you if your child has reached this stage of physical development.

Here are the AAP's tips for any kind of strength training:

Take it easy. At first, there should be ''no load," or no resistance, while learning the exercise. Add weight in increments of 10% only after 8 to 15 repetitions can be done.
Focus on technique. It's better to do the exercise correctly than to do more repetitions or to take on more resistance.
Ensure proper supervision and safety. The AAP says instructors or personal trainers should be certified and should have specific qualifications in pediatric strength training.
Don't lift weights rapidly or do "explosive" lifting. The AAP discourages power lifting and body building until someone reaches physical and skeletal maturity.
Strengthen all major muscle groups, including the core muscles.
Warm up and cool down with gentle stretching without weights. Devote 10-15 minutes to your warm up and another 10-15 minutes to cool down after strength training.
Be sure to stay properly hydrated and eat a nutritious diet to help muscles recover.

Remember, strength training is just one part of fitness. Don't overlook aerobic conditioning or replace your child's active play time or sports programs with strength training if he or she is already enjoying those activities. Strength training is only one aspect in helping your child grow physically strong.

Resources:

American Academy of Pediatrics Grand Rounds

Benjamin, HJ; Glow, KM. Strength Training for Children and Adolescents: What Can Physicians Recommend? Phys Sports Med. 2003; 31:19-28.

By Romina Gieseman, PHA Nurse Practitioner

Thanksgiving blessings

2010-11-24T10:48:00.005-06:00

Most of us are fortunate enough to afford food on the table every night. But for many families in the Chicago area, children go to bed hungry on a regular basis. For many the only food they have available to them each day is at their school breakfast and lunch program.

Each year we hear heartbreaking stories of children who ask Santa for basic necessities or toys for their baby brother or sister. Many don’t even ask anything for themselves but for their mom to be able to pay the rent. We tend to only hear these stories only during the holidays. But children go to bed hungry all through the year. While many people are fed through food pantries imagine your child having to eat whatever is available, not what they like and oftentimes things that don’t necessarily go together. Can you imagine eating canned tuna with sauerkraut? YUCK!

To kick off this year’s holidays we thought we’d share with you pictures of the 10th Annual Chicago Muslim Turkey Drive organized by Dr. Shoshara and Dr. Shakir. Many staff members contributed to the cause as well as many people from the community. Enough donations came in to purchase and distribute 660 turkeys to needy families on Chicago’s south side. Held at Emmett Till Academy this past Monday, Drs. Shoshara and Shakir helped out with the unloading of the trucks, the distribution to the families and the cleanup afterwards.

Many of our staff members work behind the scenes in our community. Some are soccer coaches. Some help out at food pantries. Others donate their time to charities or write checks to organizations like the American Red Cross (http://www.redcross.org/) or the CareLink Foundation (http://www.carelinkfoundation.org/). (Please note that CareLink’s office has moved to the new PHA office in West Chicago at 946 North Neltnor Blvd., Suite 120).

Here at PHA we have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. We are grateful to our patient families for entrusting us with the care of their children. We are grateful to our staff who make it all happen. We are grateful for our own families who put up with us when we work later than expected. Most of all we give thanks to God for his provision to each of our families we serve as well as our staff. Thankfulness means rejoicing in the source of all our blessings.

As we reflect on our past year, we also know that at least four of families in the practice are having a very difficult time being thankful. We mourn with them the loss of their children. Others have begun to face the long road of fighting cancer or other chronic illness. May God bring comfort to the families mourning and healing to our children.

From our families to yours we wish you a very happy Thanksgiving and a wonderful holiday season. May God’s blessing to be upon all of you and that next year will be one of peace, prosperity and joy.

2010-11-22T18:57:00.008-06:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

From the desk of Dr. Jihad Shoshara on Iron Deficiency

2010-11-15T16:02:00.003-06:00

Dr. Steensma

Recently, we have had a number of inquiries from parents regarding the possibility of iron deficiency in their teenage athlete children. The origin appears to be an email purportedly from local high school coaches containing a link to a blog post asserting that “low ferritin iron levels” were one of the most common causes of fatigue in athletes, and asserting that “all runners [should] get this test.”

As a pediatrician, I have received some training in managing disorders of the blood, including iron deficiency; as a primary care doctor, however, I am far from an expert on them. So, to get more information, I decided to ask one. I called Dr. David Steensma, who is a hematologist and oncologist and an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School; seventeen years ago, we learned how to examine patients together as students at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine.

I started by asking Dr. Steensma about iron deficiency among teenage athletes.

“There are a lot of young people out there, particularly menstruating girls and women, who have low or entirely absent iron stores,” Dr. Steensma says. “Based on the data, more than 10% of 13-17 year old girls are frankly anemic, and the population at risk for iron deficiency could be much larger. Probably more than 30% of adolescent girls have zero iron stores and will have a ferritin less than 50.”

Additionally, Dr. Steensma states that the effects of iron deficiency are not limited simply to fatigue and decreased athletic performance. “We are learning more about the other effects of iron deficiency. Recent studies show that the cognitive performance of students who are iron deficient lags behind the performance of those who are iron replete.”

Having established that iron deficiency is a problem among adolescent girls, I then asked Dr. Steensma if he would agree that all teenage athletes should have their blood ferritin levels checked. His answer was a firm, “No.” For one thing, female gender is a major risk factor. “Women and girls of reproductive age are one of the two populations (the other being people over 65) who are at risk of iron deficiency.” he emphasizes. “In young women, the iron deficiency is largely due to the blood loss associated with menstruation, or the needs of a developing baby in pregnancy. Unless there is a mitigating factor, such as a vegetarian diet, it is far less likely that a teenage boy will be iron deficient. And in general, it is more likely that athletic underperformance is due to lack of sleep, other nutritional issues, and suboptimal training.”

Having said that, Dr. Steensma does agree that given the right scenario, a ferritin level obtained along with a complete blood count “is a reasonable test for iron deficiency, particularly in girls.” However, he adds that even a ferritin level is not a perfect marker. “Ferritin levels can rise after an infection or injury, and as such can be misleadingly normal.”

So, what can be done if fatigue is a concern?

1) Make sure that your athlete is treating his or her body well. The highest iron stores will not help an athlete who is getting less than eight hours of sleep a night and isn’t eating breakfast. Good nutrition, safe conditioning, and appropriate rest are essential for optimal academic and athletic performance.

Dr. Shoshara

2) If fatigue is still a concern, see your doctor. He or she will need to obtain a complete history and perform a thorough examination to determine what the possible causes of fatigue may be, and decide if laboratory testing (possibly including ferritin) is warranted.

(Note: Oral iron supplements can cause bloating and cramping. Therefore, it is recommended to consult with your pediatrician before administering them, as the side effects are not warranted if one is not truly iron deficient.)

Our thanks to Dr. Steensma for sharing his expertise!

Update on West Chicago office

2010-11-08T17:20:00.011-06:00

Welcome to PHA!

Effective Friday afternoon November 12th at 1 p.m., the new West Chicago office will be open for business.

Our new address is:

Pediatric Health Associates

946 N. Neltnor Blvd.

Suite 120

West Chicago, Il. 60185

630-876-4460

(located between Aldi's and Family Video at Tower Station on Route 59)

From inside an exam room

We are very excited about our new place and hope you will be too!

An outside view





        We look forward to
                 serving you!

Tired Teens

2010-11-08T17:09:00.002-06:00

Many parents of teenagers will attest that they’ve caught their teen texting in the middle of the night. Many teens are exhausted in the morning from lack of restorative sleep. It’s a domino effect….lack of sleep can make them crabby, argumentative, have difficulty paying attention in class and have a general lack of energy.

In a study of 40 teens who sought treatment at the JFK Medical Center Sleep Lab, 77% of them stated they had difficulty falling asleep. Using computers, cell phones, video games or television all the way up to bedtime causes the brain to still be stimulated. In fact, after lights out they all confessed that they were sending an average of 34 text messages or emails during the night or using some type of electronic media.

Sleep gives your body a chance to organize all that it took in during the day. Melatonin is released during sleep which in turn helps keep our circadian rhythm in tune. Sleep additionally gives your body a time to rejuvenate and rest.

Teens need about 9 hours of sleep on school days. Being tired affects a teen’s school performance as it affects their cognitive skills. For teens that drive, many blame sleep deprivation as the main cause of their car accidents.

Help your teen get the rest they need by getting all electronic devices out of the bedroom. Establish a policy that all cell phones are left on the kitchen counter at night. Encourage your teen to set a bedtime routine. Reading, having a late night snack or taking a shower helps them to establish a pattern they will associate with sleep. They may find it a little easier to get up in the morning and not needing energy drinks to get through the day.

In memory of Army PFC Andrew Mearl

2010-11-05T01:26:00.000-05:00

We extend our deepest sympathies to the family of PFC Andrew Mearl of Plainfield who was killed by insurgents in Khandahar, Afghanistan. He was 21 years old. We pay tribute to this great American hero from our community. Please join us in keeping his family in prayer as they mourn their loss. We thank PFC Mearl for his service to our country and our hearts go out to all who were touched by his life.

Update on West Chicago Construction

2010-11-05T00:59:00.001-05:00

The West Chicago office is almost ready! While we had anticipated the new office to be ready by the beginning on November we are experiencing some construction delays. We thank you for your patience. We will send another email out when we know for sure what the opening date will be.

2010-10-27T18:41:00.001-05:00

Happy Halloween!

Our new West Chicago office will be open for business on November 8th!

2010-10-27T18:05:00.001-05:00

Our new address will be:

946 North Neltnor Blvd.
Suite 120
West Chicago, Illinois
630-876-4460

New HMO plans that we are now contracted with

2010-10-27T11:51:00.001-05:00

We know many of our families are currently in "open enrollment" season with their health plans. Many of our families have called and asked us to join the Naperville Health Care Associates (NHCA) network. We know how important it is to our families to be able to stay with their favorite doc.

We are happy to announce that effective November 1st, 2010 Pediatric Health Associates will be part of the Naperville Health Care Associates (NHCA) network for Blue Advantage, HMOI and Humana HMO. If you are in this network you may now choose any of our physicians as your child's primary care doc. You must call your plan and let them know who you choose as your child's PCP. You may continue to see any doctor in the practice once you have chosen one of our docs as your PCP.

We are only contracted with these HMO's through Naperville Health Care Associates. If you belong to a different IPA network (i.e. Fox Valley Physicians or Dupage Medical) you must continue to go to their physicians in order to be in-network. If you are unsure which network your plan is in please call the number on your insurance card and ask who the plan administrator is.

We now have flu vaccine for all patients.

2010-10-20T15:20:00.006-05:00

Our shipments of preservative free flu vaccine have arrived from all payers. This year's flu vaccine covers both the H1N1 strain plus 2 strains of seasonal flu. We have both the nasal flu mist for ages 2 and over as well as the injectable form for all children 6 months and older.

All children 6 months and over should receive the flu vaccine. We also encourage all parents to get a flu shot. Adults may receive their vaccine at their primary care physician's office or at area retailers such as Walgreens, Osco and CVS. These facilities have flu vaccine with preservative for ages 14 years and older.

Please call the office to book your appointment.

Dr. Wall goes to Honduras this week to provide care.

2010-10-18T13:11:00.002-05:00

This week Dr. Wall is in Honduras with the Good Shepherd Church “medical brigade”. In partnership with World Gospel Outreach the medical team will provide health care services to approximately 1,000 people! For most, this is the only time they have access to medical care.

With an average annual income of $1800 medical care is a luxury for most of its citizens. Nearly 8 million people live in Honduras yet there are only 57 physicians per 100,000 people.

To read more about Honduras and World Gospel Outreach please visit the following sites:

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/1922.htm

http://www.wgoreach.org/

Got milk?

2010-10-18T11:09:00.007-05:00

The National Milk Mustache "got milk?" campaign, in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics, encourages families to "treat their bones" this Halloween. You can easily “trick” your ghouls and goblins into getting nutrition by giving them low-fat chocolate milk. Milk provides 9 essential nutrients to build strong bones and lean muscles. Although it may seem as though milk is expensive to serve 3 times a day, it actually cost about 25 cents per serving. In comparison, a can of soda out of the vending machine will cost anywhere from 75 cents to $1.25 on average.

Another added benefit for children who drink milk as their dietary mainstay beverage is that they have an easier time maintaining a healthy weight over their counterparts who drink soda (diet soda included!) If your child is allowed one can of soda or sports drink per day you may want to switch over to chocolate milk to get the most nutrition while giving your child the sweetness they crave.

For more information on the benefits of milk and some “spooktacular” recipes for Halloween, visit http://www.whymilk.com/.

http://www.betterhomesandgardens.com/

http://www.besthealthsnacks.info/

How much media time is your child spending each day?

2010-09-27T09:39:00.001-05:00

Young people spend on average more than 7 hours each day using some sort of media. The vast majority of young people have access in their bedroom to a tv, computer, cell phone and video games. While sites such as Facebook and YouTube can help kids socialize with one another wouldn’t it be better if they learned to communicate face to face? Another concern is how much they are viewing is being monitored.

Recent evidence raises concerns about the how the media influences aggression, eating disorders, sexual behavior and drug use in our youth. Girls are bombarded with constantly by content that says you can’t be too thin. Do we really want our girls to have role models such as Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Brittany Spears? Our young men are fed are constant diet of violent behavior in movies. Vampires seem to be the hottest television and movie subject. While it may seem innocent, what influence does it have on a child’s psyche? Programs such as 24 show that violence is the only solution to resolve situations.

Try an experiment: see how many times in an evening of watching their favorite programs your child is exposed to violence, smoking, sex, drugs, drinking and deception. Also observe how many times they are exposed to peaceful resolution, honesty, healthy lifestyles, morals, values and doing the right thing. We must remember that our young people’s brains are still developing. Their judgment and rationalization are being formed. Their self worth is being assaulted daily by the quest for beauty, thinness, wealth, popularity and success.

Amongst the most popular programs on television this past year have been American Idol, Vampire Diaries and Jersey Shores. What do our young people come away with? That Snooki has a problem with alcohol? That a teenage girl is the object of attention for two vampire brothers? That talented singers vie for fame and fortune? Is this really what we want for our kids?

As parents, we have the responsibility and the opportunity to help shape our children’s view of the world. Help them to focus on more positive portraits of life.

To read more information about the influence of the media on children please visit the following websites:

http://www.kff.org/entmedia/mh012010pkg.cfm

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/125/4/756?maxtoshow=&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=media+and+time&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=10&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/126/1/e89?maxtoshow=&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=media+and+time&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT

Similac Recall

2010-09-27T09:05:00.004-05:00

Certain lot numbers of Similac (powder form) have been recalled. You may check your lot number online at http://similac.com/Recall/?utm_source=ppc.

From the desk of Dr. Nithya Sunder..........

2010-09-22T14:55:00.019-05:00

Since this week is National Child Passenger Safety Week, the staff at PHA would like to remind parents about the current Illinois laws and recommendations for transporting your children safely.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 150 children under the age of 19 years are treated in emergency rooms every hour for injuries sustained in motor vehicle crashes. In 2008 alone, 968 children under the age of 14 died due to injuries from motor vehicle crashes- about 2-3 kids every day.

The best thing you can do to decrease your child’s risk for severe injury (including whiplash and internal damage) and death is to make sure your child is properly restrained in the car based on age, height, and weight requirements. Published studies reveal that child safety seats reduce the risk of death in passenger cars by 71% for infants and by 54% for toddlers ages 1 to 4 years. According to researchers at the children's Hospital of Philadelphia, booster seats for children ages 4 to 7 reduce injury risk by 59% compared to seat belts alone. Please remember that the seats are only effective if used correctly- studies show that 72% of nearly 3,500 car and booster seats were misused in a way that could potentially increase a child’s risk of injury during a crash.

Infants under the age of 1 year and under 20 pounds should be in a rear-facing child car seat in the rear seat. If your child has outgrown their infant car seat based on the limits written on the label, you can transition to a convertible car seat. This can be used rear-facing until your child meets BOTH the age and weight requirements to transition to a front-facing seat. Keep in mind that small studies show that keeping your child in a rear-facing car seat past the legal requirement until their legs are no longer comfortable does provide additional safety.

Children should stay in forward-facing car seats in the rear seat until they weigh 40 pounds and are about 4 years old. As far as height, the tops of theirs ears should be at or below the top of the seat and the tops of their shoulders should be at or below the shoulder strap slot. Kids still need a 5-point harness restraint until they are at least 40 pounds.

Between 40 pounds and 70-80 pounds and until 4’9” (57 in), your child needs to use a booster seat if the rear seats in your car have lap and shoulder belts. Booster seats make sure that the seatbelt passes from your child’s shoulder to the opposite hip and across the hipbones. Without a booster seat, during motor vehicle collision the seatbelt can push against your child’s neck and abdomen instead of the bones and cause serious internal injuries to the abdomen, spleen, and carotid vessels. While Illinois law states children under age 8 must use a booster seat, the above height and weight recommendations ensure safety for older children under 80 pounds and 57 inches. According to Illinois law parents are responsible for providing child safety seats to anyone who transports their child.

If your child uses a combination car seat, the weight requirement might say it is approved for use between 20 and 100 pounds, but remember that it should be used as a 5-point harness until 40 pounds then as a booster seat. Check the weight limits on your seat. For help deciding between convertible and combination car seats and high back or backless booster seats, visit http://www.thecarseatlady.com/ for tips. If your child’s head is higher than the rear seat you do need a high back booster seat to prevent whiplash

For older kids and teens remember that under Illinois law all kids under 16 should be in seatbelts. If the driver is 16 or 17, all passengers under 19 must wear seatbelts. We do recommend seat belt use for all passengers of all ages. All kids 12 and under should be in the rear seat.

If you want to know if your child’s car seat or booster seat is safe and properly installed these are your options:

1- On Saturday, September 25th the NHTSA is sponsoring a National Seat Check. Visit www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/CPS to find a Child Safety Seat Inspection Station where a certified technician can evaluate your seat.

2- Call your local fire department and ask if you can make an appointment for a car seat safety inspection. If they do not have a certified car seat inspector, you may find a location near your community by going to http://www.seatcheck.org/

For more information, visit:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention- http://www.cdc.gov/

National Highway Transportation Safety Administration- http://www.nhtsa.gov/

Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles- http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/

Safe Kids USA- http://www.safekids.org/

The Car Seat Lady- http://www.thecarseatlady.com/ -includes pictures and diagrams of proper positioning

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety- http://www.iihs.org/

2010/2011 flu vaccine for commercial insurance has arrived.

2010-09-13T16:40:00.003-05:00

The 2010/2011 flu vaccine for commercial insurance plans has arrived. We are still waiting for our state (All Kids) flu shipment to come in.

All children 6 months and over should receive the flu vaccine. Here at Pediatric Health Associates we use only preservative free vaccine. We have both the nasal flu mist for ages 2 and over as well as the injectable form for all children 6 months and over.

We also encourage all parents to get a flu shot. Adults may receive their vaccine at their primary care physician's office or at area retailers such as Walgreens, Osco and CVS. These facilities have flu vaccine with preservative for ages 14 years and older.

Please call our office to see if we are able to book your appointment as we have limited amounts of the vaccine at this time. This year's flu vaccine covers both H1N1 and the 2 strains of seasonal flu.

Photo courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/liwu/4164710001/

It's Back to School!

2010-08-23T17:23:00.004-05:00

Summer is just about over and the kids are heading back to school! We hope that your family enjoyed some wonderful times this summer and that this coming school year will be a great year for your students.

For some families, it’s loading the car and taking your child off to college. For others it may be waving goodbye to your child’s first day on the bus. Whatever stage of life your child is at it’s always a challenge to get all the supplies, clothes and schedules together for the coming year.

So many of our staff have children of their own or are students themselves. We’ve asked them to share suggestions for getting the school year off to a good start so that it's a successful, safe and healthy one. Here are their suggestions:

From Dr. Shakir:

If your children are buying a school lunch, consider brown bagging once or twice a week to ensure they are getting a balanced meal.
If you live close enough to school, have your child walk or ride their bike.

From nurse practitioner Erica Jannisch:

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It refuels your child’s body and jump starts their day. Research shows that kids who eat breakfast have better attention and focus at school and make greater gains on standardized tests than those children who skip breakfast. Here are some easy ideas for your child’s breakfast:

Non sugary cold cereal with low fat milk
Hot cereal (oatmeal or Cream of Wheat) topped with dried fruits or nuts
Whole grain toast or bagel with low fat cream cheese
Yogurt topped with fruits or nuts
Eggs
Whole grain pancakes, waffles or French toast

From front desk greeter Sandra Alongi:

Laughter is the best medicine so give your child a chuckle! It’s easy – just write a joke on a piece of paper or index card and put it in their lunchbox every day. You can find joke books at the library or search the internet for “kids’ jokes”.

From Dr. Timothy Wall:

Many of us are noticing how much the cell phone is now so much a part of our teenagers' lives. At the same time, our children need our one on one interactions to give them support as their experience ups and downs of school. A few simple suggestions—have a family rule of no cell phones/TV during your family meals. When they get that urgent call during a meal, simply say, “you have voice mail”
Consider a day or two on the weekend that is technology ‘free’—pack up the cell phones for everyone, and let your kids learn to interact with each other and you. One writing phrased the term “Sabbath for technology”.

From nurse practitioner Michelle Maloney:

Try not to allow hot lunch. Even if your child is receiving free lunch through the free school lunch program, compromise and allow only 2 meals per week from school. Include at least 1 fruit or vegetable with lunch. Water or plain milk is best to drink with lunch.
Have breakfast before school. Even busy teenagers need to have something to eat to start their day. Try fruit, yogurt, smoothies, hard boiled eggs, low sugar granola bars or peanut butter on toast. Breakfast is important to wake up the brain and children who eat breakfast perform better in school.

From project manager Pat Borrowdale:

Arrange for a neighbor’s house to be a “safe house” to go to if your child is home alone after school and has an emergency.
Stress the importance of looking both ways before crossing the street and establish a rule of no texting or talking on cell phones while walking, riding or driving to school.
For children who walk or wait at the bus stop review “safety in numbers”.
Hold your child accountable for their actions. If you know they are an “A” student and bring home “C’s” they are not living up to their potential. If your child is a “C” student and doing the best they can, that’s ok! Many very successful people had a hard time in school!

Some famous people who struggled in school:

Sir Isaac Newton did poorly in elementary school
Winston Churchill failed the sixth grade
George Washington could barely write and had terrible grammar
Thomas Edison was told he was too stupid to learn by his teachers
Tom Cruise learns his movie lines by listening to tapes
Albert Einstein struggled with simple math calculations

You are your child’s biggest cheerleader. Root them on!

You may find more back to school tips at:
http://www.healthychildren.org/English/news/pages/Back-to-School-Tips.aspx

http://kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/school/back_to_school.html

Sunday Hours Reopening

2010-08-23T17:05:00.001-05:00

Pediatric Health will resume “sick only” Sunday mornings from 9 am till 12:30 pm starting September 12th at the Naperville office. We will be available every Sunday except holiday weekends.

You must call the office for an appointment that morning. Our answering service will assist you in getting your child in to be seen. Appointments fill up quickly so please call early! Please call the main office number at 630-717-2300.

Here We Grow Again!

2010-08-09T20:04:00.058-05:00

Pediatric Health’s West Chicago office is bursting at the seams! We will be moving to a larger facility to better accommodate our patients. The new office will be located at 956 North Neltnor, Suite 120 in West Chicago. Approximately 1 mile north of our current office, we can be found near Family Video and Aldi’s.

Anticipated to open November 1st, we are looking forward to serving our families at our new office. We will update the blog with the official date once we are further with construction. Our phone number will remain the same.

ADHD

2010-07-19T13:59:00.008-05:00

Would you do everything you could to minimize the risk of your child having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)? Every parent would say YES to that question! But for many parents saying yes means saying no.

Although you can’t prevent ADHD you can reduce attention problems. When your child is born spend time reading to them and as they grow allow them time to point to pictures and turn the page. As toddlers and young children, spend time putting puzzles together or playing board games. These types of activities give the brain time to process information and problem solve. Establish rules and stick with them. Children need consistency to learn right from wrong, take responsibility and make good choices. Lastly, limit their exposure to television and video games.

On average children spend 4 hours per day watching tv or playing video games. Images on tv change about every 6 seconds. Such rapid change does not allow their brains time to process the information into one continuous thought process. Some good alternative options on how to spend their time are sports, hobbies, playing with their friends, reading a good book or playing a strategy game which helps strengthen their ability to solve complex problems.

In a new study published in the August issue of Pediatrics, researchers assessed media usage by over 1,300 children in third to fifth grade for 13 months. They compared reports from parents and children about how much time they spent daily on these activities with teacher reports of attention problems from this group. They found that the children who spent more than 2 hours per day watching tv or playing video games were 1 ½ to 2 times more likely to have attention problems.

No one knows for sure what causes ADHD but we do know some of the things that can affect ADHD sufferers. A few small changes can impact your child’s development in big ways. It will pay off in the end!

For more information and resources on ADHD visit:

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder/complete-index.shtml

http://www.chadd.org/

http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/learning/adhd.html

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/facts.html

http://www.healthychildren.org/english/health-issues/conditions/adhd/pages/understanding-ADHD.aspx

photo courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/soapywater/149934278/

How do I know when to take my child to the doctor?

2010-07-07T17:48:00.001-05:00

Are you sometimes unsure whether your child needs to be seen by the doctor? The American Academy of Pediatrics now has a symptom checker on their HealthyChildren.org website. Here you will be able to view various maladies your child may have. Stomach ache? Sometimes it’s hard to tell whether that stomach ache is constipation, gastroenteritis or strep. Yes, strep can cause abdominal pain in some children!

On the web page, you can click on an image of a boy or girl to show the area of the body that your child is complaining about. Click on the area to view symptoms, get advice on when to call the doctor and care advice if the symptoms appear to be something that just needs to take its course.

Parents sometimes struggle to know whether to bring their child to the doctor. The symptom checker may relieve some of that uncertainty for you and save you a trip to the pediatrician. Here at PHA, our nurse triage team can always answer your questions and help you decide whether your child needs to be evaluated. We set aside appointments every day in order for sick child to be seen quickly.

Children often get sick at inconvenient times. They wake you in the middle of the night or come down with something on a Sunday afternoon when the doctor’s office is closed. Symptom checker will help you decide whether it’s something that can wait till morning or if it’s something of a more urgent nature that you need to page the doctor about. Waiting for that call back can be stressful. Symptom checker may just relieve your concern and allow you and your child to get back to sleep at night.

For new parents it can be especially nerve wracking when your newborn is crying. You try feeding them, changing their diaper, take their temperature and make sure nothing is poking them and yet the crying persists. If only babies could talk! HealthyChildren.org addresses what common conditions newborns may have. It will empower you as a parent to feel more in control of the situation.

Here is the link: http://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/Symptom-Checker/Pages/default.aspx

photo courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/50021140@N02/4723570943

Have a safe 4th of July

2010-06-29T18:55:00.011-05:00

This weekend kicks off 4th of July celebrations. In our 234th year as a nation people from all over the country will be having
bar-b-ques and watching fireworks displays. An All American holiday, the Fourth of July is a time of family, friends and neighbors gathering together to celebrate our country and our freedom.

Fireworks displays are grand and glorious. The explosion and crackle of fireworks along with their deafening boom delight us and gives us reason to smile. Unfortunately many communities this year are cancelling their celebration due to budget restraints. Many families will purchase fireworks themselves instead. We take this opportunity to remind parents that fireworks burn at very high temperatures and can be unpredictable. Each year emergency rooms treat burns and bodily injuries caused by fireworks.

In the state of Illinois, the only fireworks that are legal are sparklers and small devices such as snakes, party poppers and ground spinners. While sparklers seem innocent enough, they burn at 1,000 – 2,000 degrees (Fahrenheit). Skin burns at 130 degrees and catches on fire at 480 degrees (Fahrenheit). The temperature from a curling iron pales in comparison! Yet we can buy them at the local grocery store.

Children love sparklers. But they often do not realize the danger. They will dance around, run or even set a sparkler in the grass while it burns. For areas where the grass is dry, obviously sparks can ignite. But children who run or dance risk the chance of igniting their hair, clothes or others.

According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission there were approximately 9,000 people treated at emergency rooms in 2009 because of fireworks. Of that, 6,000 of those injuries happened during a 30 day period surrounding the 4th of July holiday. Over 50% of those injured were treated for burns. The highest ratio of injuries involved teens between 15 – 19 years of age. 73% of injuries involved boys. Sparklers were responsible for 1/3rd of fireworks injuries sustained by children under 5 years of age.

To help consumers use fireworks more safely, the CPSC offers the following recommendations:

• Do not allow young children to play with fire-works under any circumstances. Sparklers, considered by many the ideal "safe" firework for the young, burn at very high temperatures and can easily ignite clothing. Children cannot understand the danger involved and cannot act appropriately in case of emergency.

• Older children should only be permitted to use fireworks under close adult supervision. Do not allow any running or horseplay.

• Light fireworks outdoors in a clear area away from houses, dry leaves or grass and flammable materials.

• Keep a bucket of water nearby for emergencies and for pouring on fireworks that don't go off.

• Do not try to relight or handle malfunctioning fireworks. Douse and soak them with water and throw them away.

• Be sure other people are out of range before lighting fireworks.

• Never ignite fireworks in a container, especially a glass or metal container.

• Keep unused fireworks away from firing areas.

• Store fireworks in a dry, cool place. Check instructions for special storage directions.

• Observe local laws.

• Never have any portion of your body directly over a firework while lighting.

• Don't experiment with homemade fireworks.

You can find more information at:

http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/fireworks/index.html

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10282.html

http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;108/1/190

http://www.healthychildren.org/English/news/pages/Stay-Safe-this-4th-of-July.aspx

http://www.nfpa.org/categoryList.asp?categoryID=297

photo courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/50433172@N04/4627771450/sizes/m/

We Mourn The Loss.....

2010-06-21T17:54:00.008-05:00

Pediatric Health Associates extends our sympathy and prayers to the Hotchkin family of Naperville. Pfc. Gunnar Hotchkin was fatally wounded while serving our country in Afghanistan.

In a war so far away from home, the realities of war are not seen here in the every day fabric of life here in our community. We don’t dodge bombs, buildings are not rubble and we don’t live in constant fear for our lives. We owe a great debt of gratitude to our soldiers who put their lives on the line every single day for our freedom.

No greater love has a man than to lay his life down for another. Pfc. Hotchkin did that just that. He is truly a great American hero.

Swaddling your Infant

2010-06-21T17:51:00.006-05:00

From the desk of Jessica Pech, CPNP:
What is swaddling?

Swaddling refers to the act of wrapping your baby in a blanket to provide comfort, warmth and security.

What are the benefits of swaddling?

In addition to providing comfort, warmth and security for your baby studies have shown that swaddling may help your baby sleep longer with decreased periods of arousal or awakening. It may also help decrease your infant from scratching his/her face and/or waking up frequently from the startling reflex.

Important Facts to remember:

-Swaddled infants should ALWAYS be placed on their backs to sleep….NEVER on their stomachs or face down!

-Always use a light blanket and do not overdress your baby to avoid overheating.

-Swaddling blankets should never cover the infants face or head.

-If the swaddle blanket becomes too loose, remove it from the sleep area.

Pool Safety Tips

2010-06-16T15:24:00.011-05:00

The lazy days of summer are here. Time for fun in the sun! Many families join a community pool or have a backyard pool to help keep their kids busy, provide exercise, hang out with their friends and stay cool.

Before jumping in with both feet, remember to review with your kids the safety rules around pools and other bodies of water:

Children must be supervised at all times.

Make sure your community pool has an adequate amount of lifeguards.

At home make sure you are out on deck to observe. If you have a child under age 5 in the water make sure you are within an arm’s length at all times.

It is easy to get distracted when the doorbell rings but do not get tempted to answer it and leave the children alone.

Supervising adults should have CPR training.

Make sure your pool is fenced in and latched when not in use. Make sure the latch is high enough to prevent young children from opening it.

Have a life preserver and phone on hand in case of emergency.

Teach children to walk around the pool instead of running. Remember that in-ground pools have concrete surfaces which can cause serious injuries such as concussions.

Make sure your child understands how far out into the pool they can go. Point out the depth markers and set your limit. If your child purposely goes further out than allowed be consistent in making them have a time out. Ignoring their behavior can lead to them getting into too deep of water that they may not be able to handle.

Life preservers should be worn even if your child is a good swimmer.

Inflatable devices such water wings should not substitute as a life vest.

The deep end of the pool should be off limits to inexperienced swimmers.

Remember to jump far enough out from the diving board to not get hit by the board’s rebound. Diving should only occur from the diving board, never from the side of the pool to prevent jumping in too shallow of water to avoid serious injury.

Check the PH of the water on home pools regularly to make sure bacteria is not a problem.

Remind children never to urinate in the pool as this releases bacteria into the water and can cause urinary tract infections.

Make sure you put sunscreen on before entering the pool. The sun’s reflection on the water will cause sunburn to occur quicker.

Remove all toys and cover the pool when not in use so children are not tempted to go in without supervision.

For above ground pools always make sure you take the ladder out of the pool when not in use.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that a swimming pool should not be installed in your back yard until all children in the home are over 5 years of age. Children age 4 and older should learn to swim. Children who cannot swim tend to panic when they get in to deep water because they don’t know what to do. Even good swimmers can drown so always be vigilant around water.

Drowning is the second leading cause of injury-related deaths in children up to age 15. It happens so quickly that a child can lose consciousness within 2 minutes and irreversible brain damage can occur within 4 to 6 minutes. Drowning is known to be a silent killer.

Pools are not the only water hazards to children. It only takes one to two inches of water for drowning to occur. Around the house make sure to never leave a young child alone in a bathtub even with a supporting baby seat. Buckets of water should never be left unattended. Toilet seats should always be down. Ponds and fountains should have a safety fence around them to keep children from falling in. Window wells should be covered.

For more tips on pool safety go to:

http://www.aap.org/family/tipppool.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/

http://kidshealth.org/kid/watch/out/water.html

photo courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/interexchangeusa/3952635445/

Happy Memorial Day

2010-05-30T14:03:00.000-05:00

Thank you to the courageous men and women who have served our country proudly.

photo courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/phillipchitwood/504012232/

Oh Baby!

2010-05-18T11:52:00.004-05:00

Have you noticed that many stores are now carrying sunglasses for children? While it may seem frivolous, sunglasses are actually very important for everyone to wear including small children.

Children are quite vulnerable to UV (ultra-violet) rays that can damage eyesight. Just like sunscreen and hats, sunglasses are now recommended whenever your child is outside. Children tend to spend longer periods of time outside causing more exposure to the rays.

When choosing sunglasses, make sure that list protection against both UVA and UVB rays. So what’s the risk of not wearing sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection? Exposure over the years to UV rays increases the risk of cataracts, macular degeneration and other conditions of the eye.

Make sure sunglasses protect the entire area of the eye. Wrap-arounds protect both the eye and the sensitive skin around the eyes. Purchase polycarbonate lenses instead of glass in case your child falls. Choose lenses that are dark for best protection against the sun.

For more information on sunglasses, please visit the American Optometric Association website at http://www.aoa.org/uv-protection.xml

Photo courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/10908062@N03/

Recall Alerts

2010-05-04T09:11:00.024-05:00

McNeil Consumer Healthcare has recalled several over the counter medicationsincluding certain types of liquid Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec and Benadryl.

The recall is due to some of the medications having higher concentrations of ingredients than what was indicated on the label and others may contain small particles or did not meet their internal quality standards.

If you have any bottles of these medications at home, you can go check to see if they are on the recall list at http://www.mcneilproductrecall.com or http://www.fda.gov/medwatch. On the manufacturer’s site, there is information about refund requests or coupons for replacement bottles.

Another place to reference: www.kidsdr.com

Photo courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thfireman/3148577337/

*************************************************************

7 million drop-side cribs have been recalled due to babies suffocating by getting stuck between the mattress and crib. 21 babies have died this way. If you own a drop-side crib, you can check the recall list at www.cpsc.gov.

Even if your crib is not on the recall list, periodically check for missing, broken or loose parts to ensure your baby is safe.

Please call the Consumer Product Safety Commission at 1-800-638-2772 if your baby has experienced this type of incident.

Photo courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/uscpsc/4158079200

2010-04-19T15:22:00.013-05:00

Today kicks off National Screen Time Awareness Week (NSTAW). During this week your child may bring home a pledge form from school asking that you turn off the television and other media (including texting!) in an effort for children to become more aware of just how much the media influences their lives. For 'tweens and teens this includes time spent on their I-phones, I-pads, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Even as adults, we struggle with excessive amounts of time spent on mobile devices and computers.

This week is a wonderful opportunity for families to reconnect. For some families, it may mean a dinner hour where they can talk about the day. For others, playing a board game of shooting hoops will give your kids hands on time with you. It is also a great time for kids to go outside and play with their friends, explore the great outdoors and use their imaginations.

Children need to develop their imagination. This particular skill develops the ability to envision concepts which can give birth to innovations. Albert Einstein said that "imagination is more important than knowledge for knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand while imagination embraces the entire world and all there ever will be to know and understand."

Pondering, daydreaming and pretending can all lead to your child's eureka moment of understanding something complex. Daring to dream that which is and that which can be unleashes creativity and potential. Children need non-structured playtime to develop their imagination. It helps them gain critical problem solving skills, practice roll playing (i.e. mommy or daddy), develop language skills as they tell stories and gives birth to creativity and innovation.

Passive entertainment does little to stimulate a child's brain activity, develop their physical abilities or help them with socialization skills. It takes away physical activity leading many children to struggle with obesity. Obese children often have problems with their self image and are many times the subject of teasing and ridicule from their classmates.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation's study "Zero to Six", 30% of children from newborn to 3 years of age and 46% of children 4-6 years of age have televisions in their bedrooms. Kaiser's further study "Generation M2" revealed that children 8-18years of age spend more than 7 hours per day in front of a tv, computer or some other type of media.

It is still important for parents to read to their children. Did you know that reading scores are lower when children spend too much time watching tv? Television also impairs language skills in young children, exposes older children to more violence and influences their attitude toward drinking, cigarettes and drugs.

As pediatricians we recommend limiting media time to no more than 2 hours per day. Some teens are required to do their homework on a computer because it must be turned in typed instead of handwritten. This is an exception to the rule but for free time it should still be limited to two hours.

You may read more on the influence of media of children at:
http://www.cmch.tv/

www.healthychildren.org/english/family-life/work-play/media/pages/default.aspx

http://www.screenfreeweek.org

To read more on imagination go to:
http://primaryschool.suite101.com/article.cfm/imagination_in_kids_is_important#ixzz0IZ2oOAz4

To read more on the importance of physical activity:

http://www.brightfutures.aap.org/pdfs/guidelines_pdf/7-promoting_physical_activity.pdf

http://www.aap.org/healthtopics/literacy.cfm

Photo courtesy of: www.flickr.com/photos/barelyfitz/34914670/

Sports Safety

2010-03-30T14:55:00.005-05:00

Recently a friend of mine called to say her nephew was injured in The Ultimate Game. What’s that I asked? Ultimate is a combination of football, soccer and Frisbee. The game requires end zones, goalposts and outside boundaries. Scoring is accomplished by getting the Frisbee past the opposing team and into the end zone for a touchdown or through the goalposts for a field goal.

Players are limited to taking only take 3 steps before having to throw the Frisbee to another player which must be done within a 7 second period. Failure to hand off means giving up possession to the opposing team. Defense can block, catch or knock away the Frisbee so long as they don’t grab it out of the player’s hand.

What a great game! Fast moving, high energy and can be played just about anywhere outdoors or in a gymnasium so it can be played year round. You are sure to get quite a workout! But as with all sports, there can be risks. In the case of my friend, her nephew had an unfortunate collision with an opposing team member as they both grabbed for the Frisbee. After colliding, his momentum continued and he plowed into a brick wall causing severe head trauma.

This situation reminded me of when Michael Kennedy, son of Robert F. Kennedy died while playing football while skiing. Striking a tree, he suffered a massive head injury. Yes, there are risks in every sport. In some sports it’s required to wear headgear but in others, it is considered quite uncool. Helmets should be worn for football, biking, roller blading, skate boarding, skiing, motocross, hockey, baseball, lacrosse, and soccer. Yes, even soccer players can suffer concussions from head butting the ball.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is currently asking the State of Illinois to approve a bill requiring bike helmets for children less than 16 years of age. Since nearly every child rides a bike but not all participate in other activities, we agree with the AAP that there should be at least at minimum a mandatory requirement in place for bike helmets since it applies to the vast majority of children.

If your child participates in a sport where protective equipment is recommended make sure to review with them why it’s important to wear it. Sports related injuries are more common than we realize. Millions of people are injured each year. You can’t stop all injuries and accidents but you can reduce the severity by using protective gear.

For more information on head injuries, please go to:
http://www.biausa.org/elements/BIAM/2010/biam_biaa_sports_concussions_fact_sheet_2010.pdf

http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/head-injuries-causes-and-treatments

Pat B.

2010-03-17T16:54:00.010-05:00

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

Baby Slings

2010-03-10T16:47:00.011-06:00

The Consumer Product Safety Commission will be announcing shortly a warning on baby slings that parents use to hold their babies close to their chest. For young infants who do not yet have the muscle coordination to move around on their own are most at risk for suffocation in a baby sling. Additionally some infants have fallen out of the slings and have been seriously injured.

Suffocation is a common cause of death for little ones. The highest mortality rate for suffocation is due to co-sleeping. A sleeping parent can roll over on their infant in the middle of the night or move blankets or pillows obstructing their baby’s ability to breathe.

Babies and young children can suffocate on ordinary everyday items. Here are some of the more common things to avoid:
· Soft bedding
· Pillows
· Stuffed animals in crib
· Plastic bags
· Small parts such as legos that are designed for older children
· Certain foods such as hot dogs, carrots, popcorn or anything large enough to block the airway
· Discarded refrigerators that still have the doors left on that may be left on the parkway for garbage day
· Drop side cribs causing babies to get lodged between the mattress and railing--these types of cribs should not be used nor should bumper pads
· Cords on hoodies or jackets
· Cords on blinds
· String
· Balloons
· Coins
· Buttons

Parents and older siblings may want to take a CPR class for infants and small children. Due to their small body size, CPR is done with only a couple of fingers for compressions. Heimlich cannot be used for a choking infant so it is important to know the correct way to help an infant.

With spring and summer just around the corner parents may also want to consider swimming lessons for children over 3 years of age. Many community pools have lessons or at the YMCA. It is easy for busy parents to get distracted for a few seconds when their child is in a pool. That’s all it takes for a little one to get in over his/her head.

The link to the Naperville area YMCA is: http://www.heritageymca.org/

To read more on infant suffocation: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/123/2/533

Photo courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/38344617@N05/3842933958/