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Posts for category: Safety
We all know how accident-prone kids can be. They get bruises, bumps, cuts, and scrapes from time and time. Most of the time, these boo-boos are nothing to worry about, but sometimes a cut or laceration may require turning to your pediatrician for stitches. Does your child need stitches? We know it isn’t always easy to tell. Here are some telltale signs that your child might need stitches,- Apply pressure to the cut for five minutes. If it’s still bleeding after five minutes, it probably needs stitches
- The cut is more than ½-inch deep or longer
- The cut is around their eye
- The cut is on their face or neck and is longer than ¼ inch
- The cut is gaping open
- There is an object sticking out of it, including debris or glass
- The cut is spurting blood
When should I call the pediatrician?
If in doubt about whether or not your child may need stitches, call your pediatrician. With the introduction of telehealth visits, many pediatricians can now look at images of the injury or wound through a simple online appointment and determine whether the child or teen needs to come in for stitches. While the warning signs above are telltale indicators that your child may need stitches, even if the cut doesn’t need stitches, you should still see the doctor if:
- The cut was made by a rusty or metal object
- There is redness, swelling, pus, or other signs of infection
- The child has been bitten by an animal
- The cut hasn’t healed within 10 days
- There is still severe pain after a few hours
If you still aren’t sure whether or not your child should get stitches, it doesn’t hurt to give your pediatrician a call. Let us know the symptoms your child is experiencing, and we can determine if their injury requires a closer look from our team. Call us today; we can deal with your child’s urgent medical matters.
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your pediatrician in shares important information to help you understand if your child has a broken bone. - You or your child hears a snap or grinding noise as the injury occurs
- Your child experiences swelling, bruising or tenderness to the injured area
- It is painful for your child to move it, touch it or press on it
- The injured part looks deformed
What Happens Next?
- Call 911 - If your child has an 'open break' where the bone has punctured the skin, if they are unresponsive, if there is bleeding or if there have been any injuries to the spine, neck or head, call 911. Remember, better safe than sorry! If you do call 911, do not let the child eat or drink anything, as surgery may be required.
- Stop the Bleeding - Use a sterile bandage or cloth and compression to stop or slow any bleeding.
- Apply Ice - Particularly if the broken bone has remained under the skin, treat the swelling and pain with ice wrapped in a towel. As usual, remember to never place ice directly on the skin.
- Don't Move the Bone - It may be tempting to try to set the bone yourself to put your child out of pain, particularly if the bone has broken through the skin, do not do this! You risk injuring your child further. Leave the bone in the position it is in.
The minute your baby is born you want to do everything possible to keep them healthy and safe. From making sure they get vaccinated to providing them with the.jpg)
very best nutrition, there are so many things you have to think about in order to keep your little one healthy and happy. Of course, one thing you’ll need to consider is the different kinds of baby products you will choose and how to decide on the safest products, from the crib they sleep in, to the toys they play with it.
It can feel a bit overwhelming to know the exact products to choose, particularly since products are changing and revamping all the time (not to mention some products end up being recalled). Regardless of whether you are being given some hand-me-down baby products from a friend or you are purchasing all new products, every parent has one goal in mind: to make sure their child is safe.
Some of the products you’ll have to think about include:
- Car seats
- Carriers
- Changing tables
- Cribs
- Gates
- Playpen
- Toys
While, of course, you may want to find a product that fits with your color scheme or style, the most important aspect is that the product is safe for your little one. One way to determine whether the product you like is safe is to look for the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) seal of approval. This association inspects and certifies that certain products are safe enough for baby and infant use. Another way to check the safety of an infant product is to look at Consumer Reports to read through honest reviews from other parents who have already used these products.
Lastly, you should always read the labels that come with the products to make sure that they are age-appropriate for your baby. Certain toys and products are age-specific and parents should heed these warnings to prevent their little one from getting hurt or choking.
Of course, if you are feeling rather confused about what products to choose for your baby, this is the perfect time to turn to a pediatrician you trust to provide you with the valuable information and advice you need to have peace of mind. The ideal pediatrician for you and your baby will understand just how important it is to find the right newborn and infant products.
Of all of the items you purchase for baby, a car seat is arguably one of the most important. Your child will get a good deal of use out of it, as you bring baby on errands and
to doctor’s appointments, so you'll want to make sure that the seat you choose is both safe and practical.
Looking at the options in the car seat aisle or online can be very overwhelming. Here's what you need to know.
1. Choose the Correct Type
When choosing car seats, you have a few options. Rear-facing infant car seats are very convenient because they simply click in and out of a base in the car, allowing you to easily transport a sleeping baby without moving him or her. Unfortunately, however, babies grow out of them very quickly. Convertible seats can change from rear-facing to forward-facing when ready, and all-in-one seats can go from rear-facing to forward-facing to booster, but both stay installed in the car.
2. Choose the Right Size
Not all car seats fit in all cars. If your car is roomy, you won't have to worry about size. If your car is small or if you will be transporting several people at the same time, you'll want to look for a slimmer option.
3. Read the Reviews
As you are car seat shopping, it is absolutely essential that you read online reviews. Honest reviewers will point out all sorts of features and drawbacks that you would never have even thought to look for. From belts that are hard to tighten to seats that are difficult to install reviewers will let you know where the problems lie.
4. Purchase with Confidence
Once you've determined your ideal car seat type and found one that gets rave reviews, you are ready to buy! Buy with confidence knowing that you did an awesome job keeping your little one safe. And if you want a second opinion, be sure to stop by your local pediatrician to discuss your decision, and get further advice!
According to the EPA and the American Association of Poison Centers, more than 1.7 million children ages six and under got into dangerous chemicals in the United
States in 2012 alone. Clearly more needs to be done to protect our children from the dangerous chemicals lurking in our homes!
Dangerous Household Chemicals
While all or nearly all parents know that it is not safe for children to play around dangerous chemicals such as bleach or rat poison, these dangerous chemicals aren't the only ones that need to be kept away from children. The average American home has more dangerous chemicals than most people realize, and as evidenced by the number of calls to poison control, parents aren't doing enough to keep these dangerous chemicals out of the hands of their children.
In addition to harmful chemicals and poisons, other chemicals which should be kept away from children, include medicines, sanitizers, glue, swimming pool cleaners, make-up and make-up remover, paint and insect repellents - just to name a few.
Preventing Poisonings
Thankfully, preventing poisonings is usually quite simple. You just have to think ahead and imagine all of the worst case scenarios! At the very minimum, you should take these six steps.
- Place dangerous products high enough that baby cannot reach them or climb to them.
- If you must store products within reach, make sure they are behind a child-proof lock and don't forget to set it.
- Switch to all-natural homemade cleaners as much as you can. They contain gentler ingredients that are still effective, but less likely to harm baby.
- Don't overdo it on the chemicals. Just because baby doesn't actually get into the chemicals doesn't mean he or she cannot be harmed by them. Use chemicals frequently and they will be in the air and on every surface.
- Throw out any cleaners you never or rarely use. The fewer cleaners you have, the fewer cleaners baby is able to get into.
- Lastly, don't forget to put things away when you are done! None of these safety measures will do you much good if you forget a cleaner right where baby can reach it.
Poisonings are incredibly dangerous, but thankfully they can often be avoided. Know the facts and keep your baby safe.