https://www.drjoannchildspecialist.com/

Dr JoAnn Child Specialist, B2-3A, Plaza Damas 3, Jalan Sri Hartamas 1, Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur (2026)

13/01/2026

🌞 Among all vitamins essential for growing children, one of the most important is Vitamin D!

Even though we live in a sunny tropical country, studies show that vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are surprisingly common among Malaysian children with research finding that about 25% of children have insufficient vitamin D levels and many don’t meet recommended intakes through diet alone.

🔎 Why Vitamin D matters
Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium which is vital for strong bones and teeth, healthy muscles, and overall growth.

🧀 Calcium-rich foods to include in your child’s diet:
🥛 Milk
🍶 Yoghurt
🧀 Cheese
🍲 Tofu
🌿 Leafy greens (like spinach and kailan)
🌰 Almonds

🥚 Vitamin D-rich foods:
🍳 Eggs (especially yolk)
🐟 Fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines)
➕ Fortified foods (milk, cereals, some juices)

✨ Bonus: Foods high in magnesium such as nuts, seeds, whole grains, and leafy greens help the body absorb calcium better.

☀️ Sunlight matters too!
Encourage 10–15 minutes of sun exposure on bare skin 3–4 times per week, ideally during low UV index hours (before 10 am and after 4 pm) for safer vitamin D synthesis.

📊 Vitamin D requirements (general guide):
👶 Infants & toddlers: at least 400IU/day, do ask your doctor for tailored advice
👦👧 Older children & teens: at least 600IU/day, the requirement increases with age and growth needs

💊 Supplements:
May be considered if dietary intake and sun exposure aren’t enough,but always discuss with your doctor before starting supplements.

👉 A balanced diet + safe sun exposure = a stronger, healthier child! 💪🦴

09/01/2026

🚨 Chest Recession: A Red Flag Parents Shouldn’t Ignore

Chest recession (also called chest retractions) is a sign of respiratory distress. It means your child is working much harder than normal to breathe.

What does chest recession look like?

You may notice:
✅The skin pulling in between the ribs
✅The area below the ribs or above the collarbones sinking in
✅Breathing that looks laboured or unusually fast

This happens when a child is not getting enough air, often due to narrowed or inflamed airways.

Why is this serious?

Children have softer chest walls than adults, so when breathing becomes difficult, their chest “sucks in.” This is not normal breathing and should never be ignored.

🚑 See a doctor ASAP if you notice chest recession, especially if your child also has:
⚠️Fast or noisy breathing
⚠️Persistent cough or wheeze
⚠️Fever with breathing difficulty
⚠️Lethargy or poor feeding
⚠️Bluish lips or face (emergency!)

Trust your instincts ❤️

If your child’s breathing looks different, strained, or worrying, it’s always better to get checked early!

07/01/2026

🎒 When the Holidays End and School Begins Again

The school holidays have a way of slipping by quietly.

One day the house is filled with late mornings, unhurried meals, and children sleeping in.

The next, school bags are out, alarms are set, and bedtime negotiations return.

If your child seems more tired, more emotional, or suddenly falls sick in the first weeks back at school, this is normal.

Children’s bodies thrive on routine.

During the holidays, sleep times shift, meal patterns change, screen time creeps up, and daily structure loosens. When school restarts, their bodies are asked to switch gears quickly, often faster than they are ready for.

💡 How to support your child through the transition
✅Gradually bring bedtime earlier
✅Encourage good hydration throughout the day
✅Resume regular, balanced meals
✅Reduce screen time before bed
✅Allow extra time in the mornings when possible

Most importantly, keep expectations gentle; both for your child and for yourself.

❤️ Back-to-school tiredness, sniffles, and emotional ups and downs do not mean you are doing something wrong. Transition periods are challenging, even for resilient children.

Routine will return🌈

05/01/2026

🌱 Food First, Supplements When Needed

As a pediatrician, I often get asked:

“Doctor, should my child take supplements every day?”

Here’s my honest answer👇

The best nutrients are usually obtained from real, whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, proteins, grains, and healthy fats.

These foods don’t just provide vitamins and minerals; they come with fiber, antioxidants, and natural compounds that work together in ways supplements cannot fully replicate.

That said, supplements do have a role and I do prescribe them for:
✅Children with recurrent infections
✅Picky eaters with limited diets
✅Those with documented deficiencies
✅Certain medical or absorption conditions

But supplements are meant to support⚠️ not replace, a balanced diet.

Think of it this way:
🥦 Food builds the foundation
💊 Supplements fill specific gaps

Our goal isn’t to raise children who depend on bottles and sachets but children who learn to nourish their bodies through real food, healthy habits, and variety.

Because when it comes to long-term health, nothing beats food on a plate.

31/12/2025

Goodbye 2025💖

On the last day of the year,
let us shift our focus,
not on what we didn’t achieve,
but on the challenges we faced and overcame.

We are often kinder to others than to ourselves,
quick to see our flaws,
yet slow to acknowledge our strength and perseverance.

Here’s wishing all of you a very Happy New Year.🎊

May the year ahead meet us with more kindness, grace, and peace. ✨

28/12/2025

As much as I love doing my job, it’s time for a short break with my family✈️👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

There will be some changes to our clinic timing during this period.

📌 Please head over to Firststep Child Specialist Clinic Instagram for the latest updates and details.

Thank you for your kind understanding and continued support 🤍

27/12/2025

✈️ Getting Kids Ready for a Flight

Travelling with children doesn’t have to be stressful. A little prep goes a long way especially for flights. Here’s a simple, realistic guide for parents:

🧳 Before the Flight
• Talk it through: Explain where you’re going, what the airport looks like, and what happens on a plane.
• Pack smart (carry-on essentials)
✔ Snacks (non-crumbly, non-sticky)
✔ Water bottle (empty → fill after security)
✔ Favourite toy/comfort item
✔ Change of clothes (for kids and parents!)
✔ Wet wipes, tissues, hand sanitiser
• Download entertainment: Shows, games, audiobooks—offline ready.
• Choose comfy outfits: Layers help with cabin temperature changes.

🛫 During Take-off & Landing
• Ear pressure relief
👶 Babies: breastfeed, bottle, or pacifier
👧 Older kids: drink water, chew snacks, swallow intentionally
• Stay calm: Kids mirror your emotions hence your calm helps them feel safe.

🧸 In the Air
• Surprise factor: New toys/books revealed mid-flight = longer engagement.
• Screen time is okay: This is survival mode, not daily routine 😉
• Move when allowed: Simple stretches or short walks (when seatbelt sign is off).

😴 Sleep & Comfort
• Keep to familiar routines (blanket, soft toy, bedtime story).
• Neck pillows or rolled jackets can help older kids sleep better.

🚨 Health & Safety Reminders
• Encourage hand hygiene before eating.
• If your child has asthma, allergies, or motion sickness, keep medications within reach.
• For fever or pain: paracetamol/ibuprofen (age-appropriate dosing).

💛 Flights with kids won’t be perfect and that’s okay. Aim for safe, fed, and relatively calm.

🌈Memories matter more than meltdowns.

24/12/2025

🎅 Christmas greetings from our family to yours 🎄

May this season bring you peace, good health, and many precious moments with the ones you love. ❤️

23/12/2025

💧 Travelling with kids?

Hydration is the one thing parents underestimate unless fever, vomiting or constipation appears halfway through the trip.

On holidays, children tend to:
• Walk more
• Sweat more
• Drink less
• Get distracted easily

As kids rarely say, “I’m thirsty.”

Dehydration shows up as:
😵‍💫 crankiness
🤒 unexplained fever
🚽 constipation
🤢 tummy upset
💤 extra tiredness

💡 Simple travel hydration tips:
✔️ Offer small sips frequently, don’t just wait for thirst to appear
✔️ Water first, juice later
✔️ Carry a refillable bottle everywhere
✔️ Clear or light-yellow urine = well hydrated child

Many “holiday illnesses” actually start with dehydration.

Hydrated kids fall sick less, recover faster, and enjoy the trip more. 💧✨

Happy Holidays!

19/12/2025

When I was younger, the games we played were simple : Tetris, Pac-Man, Mario on Nintendo etc.

There wasn’t much violence, and even when games like Mortal Kombat appeared, most of us were already in our teens, mature enough to differentiate right from wrong, reality from make-believe.

Today, children are getting exposed to online games much earlier.

Many of these games are filled with fast-paced aggression, battles, and rewards for “eliminating opponents.”

For a developing brain, constant exposure to such stimulation can shape behaviour, attention span, and emotional regulation.

Don’t get me wrong.

It’s not about banning games.

It’s about age-appropriate choices, balance, and supervision.

When we introduce games, let’s make sure they are safe for their age and balanced with real-life experiences.

Parents, you’re not being “strict.”

You’re protecting their growing minds. 💛

17/12/2025

🌈 When it comes to children and eating, visual presentation really matters.

Kids naturally eat with their eyes first.

Research shows that colourful, neatly arranged, fun-looking meals can increase a child’s willingness to try new foods because it reduces anxiety and makes the food feel familiar and safe.

🍽️ Simple tips for parents of picky eaters:

✅Use bright colours e.g mix fruits and veggies to make the plate visually appealing.

✅Arrange food into fun shapes or small compartments as children love a sense of control.

✅Offer small portions first as a big pile of food can feel overwhelming.

✅Let them help prepare or choose one item on the plate. Involvement increases acceptance.

✅Keep offering, gently and a child may need to see a new food 10–15 times before trying it.

💛 Most importantly, eating should feel positive and non-stressful. When kids feel safe and un-pressured, they are far more likely to explore new foods.

12/12/2025

👶👂 Normal Hearing Test… But Still Stay Alert

Many parents feel reassured once their baby passes the newborn or screening hearing test..and yes, that’s a wonderful start! 💛

But even with normal screening, it’s still important to watch for signs of hearing impairment as your child grows, especially between 12–15 months, when communication skills begin to blossom.

Why?
Because some types of hearing loss can appear later, often due to infections, fluid in the middle ear, genetic factors, or developmental conditions.

🌼 What parents should still look out for (12–15 months)
• Not responding when called from behind
• Limited babbling or fewer new sounds
• Not turning to soft noises or sudden sounds
• Delayed first words
• Prefers watching your face closely to understand you
• Seem to startle easily or overly sensitive to certain noises

☘Early detection changes everything!

⚠If you have concerns, even if the screening test is normal, it's always ok to repeat a hearing test or discuss with your health care professional. Early support is the best support!

Dr JoAnn Child Specialist

13/01/2026

09/01/2026

07/01/2026

05/01/2026

31/12/2025

28/12/2025

27/12/2025

24/12/2025

23/12/2025

19/12/2025

17/12/2025

12/12/2025

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