How do you know when your child’s cold is more than a cold? All kids will have minor illnesses, especially in the fall and winter seasons. But when is it time to get them into their pediatric healthcare provider?

Thanks to Coast Live: WTKR for allowing me a format to help parents navigate this challenging road of parenting.

Take a look at the video interview here: https://www.wtkr.com/coast-live/properly-analyzing-your-childs-illness-on-coast-live

Toddlers grow and change so rapidly. One day they are just starting to pull up to a stand and the next they are taking steps. They go from a few words to short sentences. It is amazing to watch how quickly they learn.

Still, many parents worry about their toddler’s development and bring their questions to their pediatric healthcare provider. Never be afraid to ask if you have concerns about your child’s development.

Take a look at this month’s Tidewater Family Magazine article on toddler development here: https://www.tidewaterfamily.com/health/toddler-development

Many new parents worry about the development of their infant. The developmental guidelines have recently been updated. Take a look to see if your baby is on track developmentally.

Read more: https://www.tidewaterfamily.com/health/normal-infant-development

Fall is a time when kids love to play outside. The weather is cool and comfortable. They can run in the grass and have a great time rolling around. Unfortunately sometimes they bring home little ticks on their clothes or on their skin. Ticks can hitch a ride and carry with them diseases such as Lyme disease. The longer the tick is attached, the greater the risk of disease transmission, so it is important to check your kids daily for ticks. Read more about how to prevent tick bites in the October 2022 issue of the Tidewater Family Magazine here: https://www.tidewaterfamily.com/health/how-to-prevent-tick-bites

I am thankful to say that I never had polio. I was lucky. My mom had me vaccinated to protect me from polio. Others in my family were not as lucky, as they got polio before the vaccine was available. If this all seems ancient history, it is not. 

Read this month’s Tidewater Family article on the polio vaccine to find out more about what’s going on: https://www.tidewaterfamily.com/health/about-the-polio-vaccine

Eczema can be irritating for both kids and parents. Not only is it itchy, dry skin, but it can lead to skin breakdown (and infection), as well as trouble sleeping. It tends to run in families, but you can improve your child’s eczema.

Read this month’s Tidewater Family Magazine article to learn more: https://www.tidewaterfamily.com/health/your-child-and-eczema

Most parents have had the experience of a child waking with an eye crusted shut. With the application of a warm, clean, wet wash cloth you notice that the eye is pink. What should you do?

First, call your pediatric healthcare provider. Next learn more about pink eye by reading this month’s article: https://www.tidewaterfamily.com/health/dealing-with-pink-eye

Do you ever have a restless night? I know I do from time to time. Kids can have difficulty sleeping as well. Some children have issues getting to sleep, while others have issues staying asleep. 

Did you know that waking naturally is the body’s way of saying, you’ve slept long enough? If you are struggling to wake your child in the morning, they may not be getting the rest that they need.

For tips on helping your children get the rest that they so vitally need, read this month’s article entitled: When Kids Can’t sleep

I hate that we even have to talk about it, but burns are a serious risk in children.  Although most burns in children are accidental, 500 children each year die from burns. As the weather gets warmer, I wanted to you think about ways to prevent your child from getting sunburned, as well as preventing more serious burns from cooking and spills.  Kids can get burned on playgrounds if the playground equipment is too hot (think hot slides). Be sure to protect your children from burns: Read more in the May issue of the Tidewater Family Magazine: https://www.tidewaterfamily.com/health/preventing-burns-in-kids

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