It makes me feel itchy just asking the question, could your child have lice?  It’s an uncomfortable topic for sure, but an important one. Lice are insects which can spread from person to person, causing a very itchy scalp.  You may notice your child scratching their head.  The best place to check for lice is in the hair right behind the ear.  You likely will not see the live bugs (as they are fast), but you can see the nits (eggs).

Read more about what you can do IF you suspect your child has lice in this month’s Tidwater Family Plus article: Battling lice

There are 2 issues that come up routinely with baby belly buttons.  The first one is a moist area, which generally occurs within the first 2 weeks of life, right after the umbilical cord stump falls off.  This wet area is known as an umbilical granuloma.  The other issue, can be present at birth, or may be more noticeable later, is a protrusion of the belly button.  This is known as an umbilical hernia. To learn more about these 2 topics which deal with your baby’s belly button, read my thoughts in this month’s article “About belly buttons” by in the Tidewater Family Plus magazine.

Read more here: https://www.tidewaterfamily.com/health/about-belly-buttons

I often see parents of 2-4 month old infants asking questions about teething.  These babies are starting to drool and chew, as they prepare to start eating baby foods. Parents want to know what to do (and NOT do) about teething pain. 

Find all these answers and more in my monthly Tidewater Family Plus article entitled: The trouble with teething

I remember how snuggly my kids were right after a bath.  I used to brush their hair and put on clean PJs.  Still, with a newborn, I was a bit terrified that I might do something wrong. Wet babies are slippery!  

Here’s my article on easy steps for safely bathing your baby.  I hope you enjoy it.  Happy new year!

Read here: Easy steps for safely bathing your baby

As a busy, working mom, I know how important time is.  To make the most of the very important time spent with your child’s pediatric health care provider, take a few minutes to watch my interview on Coast Live with April Woodard.  I give you tips to make the very best use of your time.

Don’t forget to bring your mask and please be patient with the staffing shortages that are being experienced nationwide.

Watch the video here: Preparing for your child’s office visit

This time of year is very difficult for my family as we lost my nephew Noah to suicide.  I write to remind folks that teens can become depressed and even suicidal. I hope that no other families will have to experience this pain. Suicide does not end pain, it just passes the pain to those who love you.

In this busy season, there are so many things to do.  One of those things includes taking your child to the pediatric health clinic.  As a pediatric healthcare provider, I want to give you some simple hints to make each visit a little more productive and hopefully smoother. Read my article to see the 12 tips I recommend for a smoother visit: https://www.tidewaterfamily.com/health/prep-for-your-next-pediatric-visit

Please be extra patient as there are staffing shortages everywhere. 

Raising a toddler can be a trying time for the best of parents. Knowing when and how to potty train is another hurdle to surpass.  It can be accomplished with a bit of knowledge and a lot of patience.

Please take a look at my article on potty training tips in the November 2021 Tidewater Family Plus!  Link below:

https://www.tidewaterfamily.com/parent-tips/potty-training-tips

This time of the year (fall) brings coughs and colds to many households.  We are seeing a surge in RSV infections.  What is RSV? Read this month’s Tidewater Family column to find out!

https://www.tidewaterfamily.com/health/common-respiratory-virus-rsv

Most parents deal with diaper rash at some time or another.  Still parents wonder, if diaper rash means that they did something wrong.  People wonder if diaper rash is a sign of bad parenting.  It certainly is not.  Any child can get a diaper rash for a variety of reasons so do not feel one bit guilty if your infant or child gets one. Read more about how you can deal with diaper rash and learn what to do to prevent diaper rash and how to care for it when it pops up unexpectedly.

https://www.tidewaterfamily.com/health/dealing-with-diaper-rash