Month: March 2012

Does my child have a cold or is it seasonal allergies?
Sometimes it can actually be difficult to tell, but there are a few things that might help you to tell the difference. First, most children under the age of 2 years old don’t develop significant environmental allergies. Also, in that age group, we would not want to assume it was allergies and not evaluate for other infections.

In general, children with allergies tend to be afebrile (not feverish), sneezing, and with a constant runny nose with clear discharge. If the eyes are involved, they tend to be red and itchy and may be swollen. Children with a cold can have fevers, thick nasal discharge and if the eyes are involved, they are more likely to have mucous and to not be itchy.

Finally, look for symptoms that seem to come and go only in certain environments. If your child is completely fine, but every time she rolls around in the grass she starts sneezing and gets a runny nose, talk to your doctor about potential allergies.

How do I know if my child has a concussion? How do we treat it?
A concussion is a complex process affecting the brain that is brought about by traumatic forces to the head, either direct or indirect. If your child gets any type of hit to the head caused by a player, a stick, the ball or the ground during a game, he should be evaluated immediately and by an athletic trainer if available. If there isn’t one around and, as a parent or coach, you are unsure if the player is unharmed, the most important motto for concussion in sports at all ages is, “When in doubt, keep them out.” If you are unsure if your child has a concussion, he should be removed immediately from practices and games until evaluated by a doctor. Some common signs of concussion to look out for are headache, nausea, fatigure, irritability, difficulty focusing in school, dizziness, light or noise sensitivity and sleeping problems.

How do I know if my child needs stitches?
As the weather warms and kids return outside to play, the rate of injuries increases. Often times, children will get cuts as a result of falls or other injuries. The most important thing to do at home is to stop the bleeding with firm, direct pressure if needed and then clean the wound with warm soap and water. After you’ve taken those steps, call your doctor’s office for advice. If the edges of the skin don’t touch easily or the cut goes all the way through the skin into the fat layer, then it is likely that some type of closure may be needed. Skin glue offers a nice alternative for closure in kids when it doesn’t appear to be serious. If you are having trouble getting the cut to stop bleeding, it will likely need attention and you should contact your doctor immediately.

Paige Perriello is a general pediatrician practicing at Pediatric Associates of Charlottesville. She is married, with a 2-year-old daughter.

FIRSTS
Tooth hurty: Time for the dentist
When your baby’s first tooth pops into view, it’s time to call the dentist. We talked to pediatric dentist James R. Stone to find out what you can expect from the first visit.
First, Stone recommends scheduling an appointment in the morning. A well-rested child “will present the best chance of gaining their cooperation during a visit,” he said.

Before your little one ever says “Ahhh,” a staff member will brief you on the basics, including feeding practices (bottles versus “sippy” cups), oral habits (like thumb sucking and pacifier use), cavity causers, brushing techniques, and the importance of primary (baby) teeth.

To prepare, read books to your child at home about the dentist, but Stone suggests avoiding a pre-visit lecture. “You can overwhelm them if you tell them too many things,” he said.
During an exam, Stone checks the child’s bite, enamel, and soft tissue and looks for decay. If plaque has built up, he cleans the teeth, and every exam ends with a fluoride varnish.
Then comes the easy part—introducing your little one to the legendary prize box.—Taylor Harris

“Full of beans.” That’s how Amy Gardner describes both her 4-year-old son, Ben, and her 6-month-old Corgi, Momo. In fact, they share a few other personality traits, too: “They’re strong-willed, energetic, and they’re both really funny,” she said. “I have a feeling they’re going to be quite the team.”

It sounds like they already are. Momo, a natural sheep herder, follows Ben everywhere, trying to flock him and his friends.

Giving in to her son’s promises to take care of Mo have been a great way to teach responsibility (Ben feeds the dog at least once a day), but there’s another added benefit: No more running around indoors. “Ben knows that if he runs in the house, Momo’ll chase after him and nip at his heels like he’s a sheep,” Amy said.

 Every spring, camp directors and counselors begin planning for the best three months of the year: summer camp. This year, as a parent, be prepared when you send your child off to camp for the first time.

Is my child ready?
First, consider your child’s age. Is he advanced for a 7-year-old? Is he a slightly immature 10-year-old? If you’re questioning whether or not your child is ready, send him to a day camp, or a shortened sleep-away session rather than for an entire week.

Your child’s level of independence also plays a significant role. Can he dress himself, tie his shoes, make his bed, and shower without help from an adult? To help him practice, arrange sleepovers for him during the months leading up to camp—this will prepare him for sleeping away from home and getting ready for the day in a different environment. When the weather is nice, camp out in the backyard with him so sleeping outside becomes less frightening.

If your child is shy, don’t assume he isn’t ready. Summer camp is a safe environment where kids are encouraged to be themselves, but also to step out of their comfort zones. Shy kids may initially be intimidated, but your soft-spoken kid may make a friend at camp who helps him reach out to other kids, or he may discover a sport or hobby that boosts his confidence.

Solo or with a buddy?
Many camps will offer parents the option of sending their child to camp with a buddy; this can be great for young, first-time campers who may be nervous.

A cabin full of kids is naturally an argument breeding ground, so be careful to not send your child to camp with a friend that she is prone to bicker with. Send her with a buddy who is easy-going and will help her have fun and make new friends. You don’t want her to be abandoned by her buddy, but you also don’t want the two to cling to one another and isolate from the other campers.

The older kids get and the more comfortable they become at camp, the more willing they may be to go alone. Pre-teens and teenagers often form long-lasting friendships with other campers. Encourage your child to plan her week with a friend she met during a previous summer; this builds a unique bond, and allows the girls to connect on a level outside of school.

Sending her to camp with a group of girls larger than two is asking for trouble. Making new friends is one of the great joys of camp, and doing so is difficult when there’s a large cluster of girls who already know one another.

For group bonding in a camp setting, take a Girl Scout troop to a camp event— like a mother-daughter weekend or a troop getaway—on a weekend in the spring or fall. They’re designed for girls of all ages to bond and experience camp together.

Packing
Chances are, your child’s neatly structured suitcase or trunk will be a disaster by the first morning call. To help him stay somewhat organized, resist the urge to pack for him, and encourage him to help you. This way, he’ll remember where things are, so he doesn’t reach in for a flashlight and pull out a poncho.

Despite his protests, write your child’s name or initials on everything. He’ll appreciate it when he realizes that every kid whose mom shops at Target has the same bug spray, water bottle, and towel.

For younger campers, pack each day’s clothing in a separate, labeled Ziploc bag. This will help keep his luggage relatively organized, and will also remind your 8-year-old to put clean socks on every day. And while you’re packing clothes, always include extras, especially socks and underwear.

Dropping her off
When it’s finally time for your child to embark on her journey, make her transition as easy as possible. Whether sticking her on a bus or dropping her off outside her cabin, don’t linger. A long goodbye will only sadden the homesick girls and make the independent ones anxious. If she’s nervous, talk to her beforehand about how much fun she will have. So she won’t be alone after you leave, help her meet a bunkmate or counselor, and then say a quick goodbye.

Before you go, don’t be afraid to talk to her counselors. They are likely young, energetic college students who love being outdoors and working with kids. Their job is to ensure that each child has a safe and fun week, and in order to do this, they need to know everything about each camper. Allergies, asthma, bed-wetting, nightmares—this information goes to the nurse but may not make it to the counselors. Sharing any info about a recent event that may affect a child’s demeanor is also helpful.

Homesickness
Parents can usually predict if their child will be homesick. If you suspect your child may struggle, do everything you can to prepare him and keep the homesickness to a minimum.
If the camp offers an open house, take that opportunity to visit the property with your child to relieve some of the anxieties of going somewhere new. If visiting beforehand is not an option, peruse the web-

site together. Resist the urge to tell him how much you’ll miss him. Instead, ask him what he is most excited for, and together get pumped for a week of swimming, horseback riding, archery and s’mores.

Regardless of the fact that these days, most 9-year-olds own smart phones, most camps do not permit phone usage or Internet access. Never tell your camper that he can just pick up the phone and call any time he misses home; when his counselor tells him “No,” this will most likely result in “But my mom said!” and homesick tears.

An encouraging note or card can really brighten a camper’s day. Whether you mail it or tuck it away in a backpack, give your child some loving, written encouragement. Send a letter or small package two or three days before he leaves home so he can open it early in the week.
Most importantly, tell the counselors if you suspect that your child will have a hard time. They are seasoned professionals when it comes to homesick kids, and will likely have a few tricks up their sleeves to help him forget his sadness and have a blast.

Afterward
Be prepared for a duffel bag that smells like something crawled in it and died. Between the lake water, sweat, and campfire smoke, nothing your child left with will return home smelling nice.

Older campers often suffer from the opposite of homesickness. Your daughter will probably spend hours texting camp friends and commenting on Facebook pictures, but will gradually transition back into home life.

Regardless of her age, your child most likely spent the week learning and belting out ridiculous camp songs, so be prepared to hear wacky, repetitive songs about a moose drinking juice and a snake wearing long johns.

Keeping your children happy, healthy and energized can be a challenge. UVA Children’s Hospital dietitian Angie Hasemann offers some best practices.

Before school
Got a picky eater on your hands? Getting them to eat in the morning, especially, can be a struggle.

“For younger children,” said Hasemann, “I often emphasize making breakfast something to look forward to.” Think outside the cereal box and serve nutritious foods your kids enjoy, even if they’re not traditional breakfast foods. Sandwiches, sweet potato fries, fish filets—whatever they’ll eat without a battle.

Once you are past simply getting your child to eat something, Hasemann recommends three food groups for breakfast, including a whole grain and a type of dairy.

After school
Especially for active kids, after-school snacks are vitally important. Resist the urge to drive through McDonald’s on the way to soccer practice, as high-fat and high-sugar snacks will not provide the nutrition and energy needed to run around the field. Instead, give your young athlete a whole-grain snack chock-full of complex carbohydrates for energy—crackers, pretzels, granola bars. Fruits and vegetables with low-fat dips are also a good choice.

When practice is over, be sure your child refuels with some sort of carbohydrate/protein mix. If dinner is not yet ready, drinking a glass of chocolate milk is a tasty, healthy way to tide her over until dinnertime.

Before bed
Hasemann compares eating throughout the day to filling your car with gas on a road trip. Obviously you need to fill the tank at the beginning, but would you run to the gas station right before parking the car for a while?

Eating two hours before bed is ideal—any calories taken in closer to bedtime will not be used. So if your child insists on that late-night snack, stick to fruits, vegetables, 100-calorie packs—anything that is not very calorically dense.

 Just because you have a little one doesn’t mean you have to forfeit all sense of style. Ditch the Winnie the Pooh diaper bag and pick up one of these stunners instead. Nothing says “I’m a cool mom” like bright colors and grown-up textures.

Pretty, with pink: Color-blocked faux leather tote from Old Navy ($29.94, 984-0167) with The Black Rabbit “Nosey” stuffed animal from O’Suzannah ($46). Pretty quilting, with an urban edge: Comsi: Comsa tote from Spring Street ($66, 975-1200). Would look chic, even with spit-up: Fleabag from E.G. ($465, 979-2888). Hip, cool and super durable in canvas: Lovell Designs chevron tote from O’Suzannah ($86) with Folkmanis sheep puppet from O’Suzannah ($26, 979-7467). The mix of prints is so pretty! Dipped dots tote from Anthropologie ($228, 295-1749). Big enough to hold the baby, too (though not recommended!): Travaux en Course tote from Caspari ($225, 817-7880).

A horse is a horse, of course. Unless you ask 2-and-a-half-year-old Ella Watson, whose four-legged friend, Horsey, can not only fly but is also able to provide rides for Barbie. Ella received Horsey as a gift from her grandmother on her first birthday and they’ve been inseparable ever since, sleeping and traipsing around the house together. Says Ella’s mom, Kara, “Horsey gets lots of hugs and Eskimo kisses.”