Author: Splash Creative

March is National Nutrition Month and an important thing to consider for your child’s diet is how much added sugar they’re consuming. Sugar is found in a variety of food, drinks, and snacks. It can even sneak up in foods and condiments that people wouldn’t expect such as crackers, breads, ketchup, etc. Because added sugar is so commonly found, many children consume more sugar than what is considered safe and healthy. Excess consumption of added sugar can lead to conditions like obesity, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and heart disease, and it can weaken the immune system as well. Limiting your child’s sugar intake is a key part to maintaining a healthy diet.

 

Keep in mind though that not all sugars are the same. Natural sugar, which is found in whole foods like fresh fruits, starchy vegetables, whole grains, and other complex carbs, is safe to consume. In fact, foods that contain natural sugar are beneficial because they’re rich in nutrients and fiber, which slows down the digestion of sugar. Natural sugar is also important to prevent hypoglycemia, which occurs when the blood sugar level is too low, leading to fatigue and dizziness. Consuming natural sugar from fruits and other whole foods provides your children with energy. But unlike natural sugar, added sugar and refined sugar are added to foods that don’t naturally have them. These sugars come in various names and types, such as high-fructose corn syrup, brown sugar, molasses, honey, malt syrup, and raw sugar. Processed sugar in particular is the most harmful and should therefore be the most limited. This type of sugar is typically found in soda, candy, packaged snacks, and baked goods.

 

We recommend looking out for packaged foods advertised as “healthy,” including breakfast cereals, as these can contain a significant amount of added sugar. No more than 25 grams of added sugar (about 6 teaspoons) or more than 10% of calories should be consumed on a daily basis. The best way to ensure that your child is not going over these limits is to read the list of ingredients and nutrition facts labels carefully. For tips on how to read labels, check out this resource from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Children under 2 years of age shouldn’t consume any added sugar.

 

Another important thing to be aware of is that sugar-containing beverages like soda and juice, as well as candies, tend to be more harmful than many sugar-containing snacks. The reason for this is because they’re known as having “empty calories” without any nutrients or fiber to aid in digesting the sugar. Treat these as treats for special occasions so that your child doesn’t develop a habit of consuming them. If your child has a strong sweet tooth, the best option to satisfy it is by giving them fruits like bananas, apples, pears, strawberries, grapes, watermelon, plums, etc.  

 

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s diet, please contact our office. Our pediatrician can guide your family on healthy eating. 

Springtime is known for seasonal allergies as this is the season when trees and plants begin to pollinate. And unfortunately, changes in temperature and more rainfall can worsen allergies. Allergies occur when the body’s immune system overreacts to certain substances in the environment. If your child suffers from allergies, it’s important to be prepared for the spring season.  

 

Common symptoms of allergies are similar to those of a common cold, such as a runny and stuffy nose, sneezing, sniffling, headaches, fatigue, eye irritation, coughing, sore throat, itchiness, and sometimes even rashes or hives. If you notice any of these, your child might have allergies and we recommend calling our office to make an appointment for an evaluation. If your child does have seasonal allergies, know that there are several options for management and that it’s essential to start right away before symptoms worsen and lead to a sinus or ear infection. 

 

One of the most important things to do is to limit your child’s exposure to pollen and mold as much as possible. That doesn’t mean your child can’t go outside, but they should stay indoors when it’s particularly windy or the grass is being mowed. They should also avoid going near pollen or decaying vegetation and dead leaves as these can contain mold.

 

At home, it’s beneficial to turn on an air conditioner and an air purifier as both of these can filter out the air. However, both the air conditioner and air purifier should be properly maintained and cleaned in order to work efficiently and help with allergies. When kids return indoors from playing outside, make sure that they change their clothes and shoes that might have pollen on them and take a bath. Pets should also be brushed when brought back inside. Regularly vacuum and dust the house to get rid of any allergens as well. A clean and dust-free house is very important for treating seasonal allergies. 

 

To help manage congestion when reducing exposure is not enough, you can give your child over-the-counter nasal sprays, decongestants, and antihistamines. If your child struggles with hives or rashes, antihistamines, like Benadryl, can alleviate these symptoms. For itchy or irritated eyes, over-the-counter eye drops for allergies are helpful. It’s important to first to talk to a pediatrician before using any of these and to also get their advice on the proper usage and dosage. When any of these treatments don’t work, your child may benefit from allergy immunotherapy which can desensitize your child’s allergy response. 

 

Another important thing to keep in mind about allergens is that they can be especially triggering to children with asthma. Not all kids with allergies have asthma, but at least 80% of kids with asthma have allergies. Allergens can cause asthma attacks so it is crucial that children with asthma avoid exposure.

 

If you believe your child’s allergies are out of hand or they’re experiencing severe symptoms, contact our office. Our pediatrician can also guide you on treatment options and how to create an asthma plan. 

Using car seats properly is extremely important for protecting children while riding in a vehicle. Car seats can protect children from being injured or killed during a car crash. But finding the best car seat to use and learning how to install it properly can be overwhelming as a parent. In this blog, we break it down to make it easier and to ensure that you have all of the information you need for car seat safety.

 

When it comes to choosing the right car seat, you’ll want to take into account your child’s age, size, and developmental needs. Car seat manuals will provide recommendations based on these factors so it’s important to read them thoroughly. The manuals will also provide step-by-step guidelines on how to install the car seat. But if you have any trouble or doubts, it’s best to work with a professional who can install the seat for you. For a list of car seat products based on your child’s height and weight, click here. 

 

Car seats should be installed in the back of the vehicle. Older children should also sit in the back until they’re 13 years of age. When you install the seat, you can use the vehicle’s seat belt or its LATCH (attachment system for car safety seats). Forward-facing car seats will have a top tether which should be securely attached to the top anchor. The lower anchor connectors should be fastened to the lower anchors. If you’re using the seat belt instead of the LATCH system, it’s important to make sure that the seat belt is locked securely to hold the seat tightly. If you’re able to move the seat at the belt path more than an inch in either direction, the seat is not tight enough. When using a rear-facing car seat, place the harnesses in slots that are at or below your child’s shoulders.

 

Many rear-facing car seats will also have load legs and anti-rebound bars to help absorb the energy of a crash and protect your child from being injured. For children with disabilities who are not able to keep their head and neck straight, they will benefit from the recline feature on forward-facing convertible, all-in-one, and combination seats. The feature can keep your child’s head from drooping forward.

 

When newborn babies first arrive home from the hospital, it is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics to use a rear-facing car seat and to continue using one until your child reaches the highest weight and height permitted by their car safety seat manufacturer. After that, children should continue to ride rear facing in a convertible or all-in-one seat until they outgrow rear-facing seats but no earlier than 2 years of age. They can then start to use forward-facing seats until they’re ready to use booster seats, typically after 7 years of age. Older children should remain in the booster seat until they’re big enough to fit in a seat belt properly, usually after 12 years of age.  

 

Before installing a booster seat, read through the instructions and the safety manual. The lap belt should lie low and snug across children’s upper thighs and the shoulder belt should cross over the middle of children’s chests and the shoulders. 

 

When using car or booster seats during the winter, it’s important to remove any coat or jacket off your child. Children should be tightly strapped in and bulky coats create space between the child and the belt. If an accident occurs, the child will be in danger of slipping out of their car or booster seat. To keep your child warm, you can put a blanket over them and use your car’s heating system. When you’re cleaning the car or booster seat, read the manufacturer’s guidelines first and avoid using disinfectants as they can decrease the protection of the seat.

 

As a reminder, if you have any trouble installing a car or booster seat or doubts about their security, seek guidance from a certified child passenger safety technician. You can find one on this website.