Playground Safety
Going to the park or playground? Make sure to consider the condition of the equipment. A recent study by the AAP of playgrounds in Chicago showed one third to one half failed safety inspections. The inspection included age appropriate design, ground surfacing, equipment maintenance and physical environment.1
Some Thanksgiving Food for Thought by Hillary Lewis, MD
During the Thanksgiving holiday, millions of people will be traveling. There are a few things we want you to be aware of, in order to keep your child safe this holiday season!
Pool and Water Safety
A day at the pool is a great way to spend time with your kids and cool off from the hot Texas weather. Just remember, children can drown in less than a foot of water. Drowning is the leading cause of accidental deaths among children ages one to four and the second leading cause of death for children under the age of fourteen.1
Carseats and Coats by Hillary Lewis, MD
It's a natural parental instinct to want to keep your child warm and bundled while traveling. However, it is important NOT to put your child's coat on before buckling them in the carseat. The bulky padding in your child's coat can compress with the force of a crash, which would allow your child to move within the carseat harness, thus increasing risk for severe injury.
Should You Take Your Child to an Urgent Care Center?
Only if it's after hours and if you've talked with our after hours nurse. Most illnesses can safely wait until the following day, and our nurse advice line can help you decide. If the nurse refers you to an urgent care center, ER, or follow up in our office the following day, there is no charge for the call. If you're concerned about poison exposure, call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222. Do not wait for your child to act or look sick.
Oh Baby, It’s Summer! by Robyn M. Lilly, CPNP-PC
You waited and waited for your bundle of joy to arrive and the baby is here. You are getting adjusted to life with a new little one. Between sleep and feeding schedules, it is enough to make you a little crazy. Each day is a new day to figure out your little one and how to meet his or her needs. Their needs change on a day by day basis as they grow. Time marches on and seasons change as your baby grows and changes, so what is a mom or dad to do with a baby in this Texas heat?
Answers about Medication for Your Child, by Robyn Lilly, CPNP-PC
What's the deal with giving kids medication? It is the middle of the night and your little one awakens you fussy and feverish. The doctor's office is closed. You just want to get a few more hours of shut eye before the sun rises. You reach into your trusty medicine cabinet to find something to help your itty bitty feel better and get some sleep. Sounds easy enough, right? Just reach into the cabinet and find some Tylenol or Ibuprofen to do the trick. But wait, it really isn't that easy.
Dr. Watkins Comments on Water for Baby
There are so many choices: distilled water, spring water, deionized water, filtered water, boiled water, Italian water, French water, Arkansas water, fluoridated water, tap water and even 'baby water'. What do choose for your children? What is safe, what is optimal? The easy answer to this question is tap water and also, in most cases, probably the best answer. The water system in Dallas and the Dallas area is very safe and has an excellent record for reliability. Buying bottled water has not been shown to be safer by any research, though there are arguments in its favor.
