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Posts for tag: Pediatrician
Finding out you’re pregnant is a wonderfully exciting and whirlwind time. There are so many decisions to make as you watch your bump grow: What color should I paint the nursery? Do I want my little one to sleep with me? What do I need to childproof around the house? Of course, one of the most important things to think about
is the health of your little one throughout the course of your pregnancy and once they are born. It’s never too soon to choose a pediatrician, and taking the time to find one you trust is important not just for your baby but also for you.
Once your little one is born they will be spending a lot of time with their pediatrician, so this is why it’s crucial that you find out that provides gentle, compassionate care and really takes time with you and your baby. The first two years of your baby’s life are so very important because this marks a significant developmental time for them, so it’s essential that you have a pediatrician that will be there to monitor their progress and detect any developmental delays or health problems right away.
The first pediatric visit will occur a few days after the birth. This first visit is vital, as it allows your children’s doctor to make sure everything functions as it should. This includes everything from reflexes to alertness to their hearing. Measurements are also taken to check their height and weight and to begin recording their development. Besides performing a physical exam to check the overall health of the baby this is also a time to answer any questions you might have about feeding schedules, habits, developmental milestones, etc.
After this initial visit, you should expect to bring your little one in for visits at:
- 1 month
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 months
- 9 months
- 12 months
- 15 months
- 18 months
- 24 months (2 years old)
- 30 months
- 3 years old
Once your child turns 3 years old they will only need to visit a pediatrician once a year, unless there are any health problems or concerns in the interim. These visits are imperative for every child as they are key to preventing certain illnesses through immunizations and physical checkups, tracking their growth and development, and also providing you with answers and support to help you properly care for your little one along the way. Call a pediatrician to schedule your child’s first appointment today.
The number one goal of parents is to make sure their little ones are healthy and have the best quality of life possible. Of course, this means having a pediatrician in which you can always turn, whether for preventive care or treatment when health problems arise. You want a pediatrician you can trust to always provide quality and 
individualized care for your little one time and time again.
Of course, why treat a health issue that could easily have been prevented in the first place, right? The best way to detect problems early on and to also protect your child from a variety of potentially serious health issues is by bringing them in to visit their pediatrician regularly. These checkups will occur frequently, particularly for the first few years of your little one’s life. This is because your child is reaching a lot of developmental milestones during these first few years and it’s important that you have a children’s doctor that can make sure that they are reaching these milestones.
Plus, these checkups are also important for parents, too. After all, we know that parents have a lot of questions regarding everything from their child’s nutrition to activity levels to vaccinations. While these checkups are most certainly about making sure your child is leading a healthy life it’s also important that you have all of your questions and concerns answered to promote that healthy lifestyle in your child. Make sure to write down any questions ahead of time so that you will have all of your questions addressed during your child’s next visit.
These checkups are crucial for preventing a variety of health problems and also making sure your little one gets the care and treatment they need should an issue arise. During these wellness checkups your pediatrician will monitor your child’s:
- Height and weight
- Heart rate and blood pressure
- Vision and hearing
- Reflexes and musculoskeletal system
- Lungs and heart
Your child will also have to get a series of immunizations throughout their childhood to protect against serious and potentially life-threatening health problems. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has created a comprehensive vaccination schedule to make sure your child is getting all the immunizations they need.
Once your child is born it’s important that you bring them in regularly to see their doctor for checkups. After all, preventive medical care is the best way to stave off certain illnesses and injuries. Plus, these checkups also ensure that if there is a health problem present that it’s detected right away when it’s much easier to treat.
We all know that kids can be rambunctious at times. Whether it’s the excitement of the pending summer or just a little bit too much sugar during the holidays, there are many reasons why it may seem as if the kids may rule their environment. Of course, there are certain signs that parents should be on the lookout for to determine whether or not their child is just having normal bouts of inattentiveness or whether their lack of focus could mean that they have ADHD.
What is ADHD?
ADHD, which stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a common mental disorder that causes children to seem inattentive, impulsive and hyperactive. Even though all children will experience episodes of daydreaming and lowered attention spans, children with ADHD will display these signs more intensely and more regularly.
This disorder will affect most facets of the life such as school, home and their interactions with others. Once it starts to negatively impact their daily life it’s important to have your child properly evaluated by a pediatrician.
What are the symptoms of ADHD?
A child with ADHD may:
- Become distracted easily
- Forget what they were doing or have difficulty finishing a project
- Avoid completing certain tasks
- Ignore what others are saying and seem like they are often daydreaming
- Not follow directions
- Seem disorganized or may turn in assignments late
- Display disruptive behaviors like cutting in line or interrupting the teacher
- Be antsy and unable to sit still on a regular basis
- Lose items (e.g. glasses; books; homework)
- Have excessive energy and always be on the go
- Blurt out statements or cut people off
- Fidget and squirm
How is ADHD treated?
Fortunately, a pediatrician can easily provide a variety of ways for you and your child to manage their ADHD symptoms to improve their quality of life, as well as their school and home life. Your child’s treatment plan will involve several steps including medications, behavioral therapy and special school accommodations.
Children over the age of 6 years old can benefit greatly from a combination of behavioral therapy and medication, while behavioral therapy is often the first course of action for treating ADHD in children under the age of 6 years old.
Anytime a new medication or treatment is introduced to your little one we will continue to monitor their progress to ensure that symptoms are being properly controlled through this treatment plan. If there are any questions or concerns along the way know that your children’s doctor is here to make sure that your child gets the care they need to better manage their ADHD for the long term.
Learn more about how eating disorders can affect a child’s life.
While news reports and magazines have started to bring issues like eating disorders into the limelight, it’s important that we also acknowledge how serious and
common eating disorders actually are. While we never want to think that our children will ever develop an eating disorder, it’s important to know what to look for to make sure that your child is displaying healthy eating habits. Learn more about childhood eating disorders and the impact it can have on your growing child.
Q. What are the most common types of eating disorders?
A. There are three primary types of eating disorders: anorexia, bulimia and binge eating. Anorexia is when a child or teen refuses to eat. Bulimia is when a child binges on food and then throws it up. Binge eating is similar to bulimia, but involves binging on food without throwing it up afterward. Some children may experience bouts of both kinds of eating disorders throughout their lives.
Q. At what age are eating disorders most common?
A. While the majority of eating disorders are found in teens and early adults, it can still happen to children, too. Eating disorders are also more common in women, but men also experience these disorders. Currently, men account for about five to 15 percent of anorexia or bulimia cases. Binge eating tends to be the most common eating disorder for men.
Q. What causes an eating disorder?
A. While there is no single direct cause associated with eating disorders, there are a variety of factors that can play into the development of one. Cultural and societal pressures from TV shows and magazines may influence girls to lose weight. Those with eating disorders may also suffer from low self-esteem or struggle with other psychological issues like anxiety or depression.
Q. What makes an eating disorder so dangerous?
A. Eating disorders can cause serious physical complications, even cardiac arrest. When our bodies don’t get enough nutrients, organ damage can occur. Those with anorexia can also develop low blood pressure, irregular heartbeat and frail, thinning bones.
Q. What are the signs of anorexia?
A. The most common symptoms of anorexia include excessive exercising, fear of becoming fat, avoiding mealtimes and not eating, and sudden weight loss. Those with anorexia may also be depressed, highly critical of themselves or anxious.
Q. What are the signs of bulimia?
A. Bulimics also fear gaining weight, and are usually unhappy with the way their bodies look. The classic signs of bulimia include binging on excessive amounts of food and then vomiting after eating. Those with bulimia may also abuse alcohol, take laxatives, exercise excessively or display mood swings.
Q. How do you treat an eating disorder?
A. Treatments including behavior modification, psychotherapy, antidepressants, support groups and even nutritional counseling can all be extremely helpful to sufferers of these disorders.
Concerned that your child might have an eating disorder? Talk to your child’s pediatrician for more information on how to get diagnosis and where to find the best treatment options in your community.