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

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.