Search Results for: blog do you over or under medicate your toddler

Put Down the Benadryl

When I was childless, I heard several of my friends who were parents talk about using Benadryl on their children to make them drowsy when traveling or when they just needed a break. Once I became a parent, I certainly understood the motivation behind that, although we never did it. Now, Dr. Shan Yin, a toxicology fellow at the University of Colorado, has completed a study that says this is akin to child abuse. The study was just published in the Journal of Pediatrics. Yin and his fellow researchers found at least 160 reports of parents using Benadryl and other … Continue reading →

Strep Throat

In March 2010, my middle sister turned 50. My family wanted me to be there to celebrate with her. I got permission to take the foster baby with us, so foster baby, Jessie, and I flew home to California for a week. Traveling alone with two small children was hard, but I was so happy to do it. The weather was pretty miserable the whole time we were there. My mom stayed home with the baby the night of the party because it was raining so hard. My sister’s party was a lot of fun. There were over 150 guests … Continue reading →

Something Worth Watching

What do you get when you combine a boy with mustard-colored skin and purple hair with the swine flu? The answer: Must-see TV… at least if you have young kids at home. If you’re worried about the H1N1 virus or seasonal flu, don’t have all the facts on vaccinations AND you parent needle-phobic children, then you might consider tuning into PBS’ “Sid the Science Kid” on Monday, October 26, 2009. That’s when a new episode of the popular kiddie series will air. The special show follows 4-year-old Sid as he goes to the doctor to get a flu shot. Those … Continue reading →

Is Your Toddler Getting Enough Vitamin D?

Probably not… at least according to medical experts. A new study published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine reveals that at least 40% of American infants and toddlers aren’t getting enough vitamin D. What’s more, the study also found that there has been an increase in the number of rickets (a vitamin D deficiency disease) cases in several states in the last few years. Doctors say millions of American children are vitamin D deficient and that number is likely to increase if parents don’t start adjusting their kids’ diet or modifying their schedules to allow toddlers to spend … Continue reading →

Medicine Cabinets and Toddlers

What’s in your medicine cabinet? If you have a toddler, the American Academy of Pediatrics has a list of items you should have stocked in your medicine cabinet, including: Thermometer: Pediatricians recommend that you invest in a rectal thermometer, as it provides the most accurate readings. However, most doctors also realize that many parents are weary of using one, so they suggest taking your toddler’s temperature in a way that you feel most comfortable. Be warned, though, digital ear thermometers are notoriously inaccurate. What’s more, trying to cajole a sick tot into holding an oral thermometer under his tongue or … Continue reading →

Do You Over or Under Medicate Your Toddler?

My young daughter would rather endure excruciatingly painful injections to her thighs than down a teaspoon of grape-flavored medicine. Since she was a tiny baby, my daughter has forcefully regurgitated every single drop of oral medication that I have carefully and skillfully placed in her mouth… towards her cheek, away from her taste buds and not directly down her throat. As a result of her violent gagging and distressful purging tendencies, my daughter’s pediatrician recommends that my little throw-up queen receive medication via syringe. It works when the injection option is available, like when she had strep throat, hand, foot … Continue reading →

Toddlers and Lyme Disease

Tis the season to be looking for deer ticks. Now is the time to educate yourself about the dangers of Lyme disease, so your toddler’s romp in the woods doesn’t end up in a trip to the hospital. Lyme disease is an extremely painful condition that can affect a person’s skin, joints, nervous system, and other organs. Symptoms, and their severity, can vary from person to person, but if left untreated the disease can prove deadly. Contrary to popular belief, Lyme disease is not transmitted from person to person, and the risk of a child contracting the disease is minimal, … Continue reading →