Dr Tan Zhen Han 陳鎮翰兒科專科醫生

Dr Tan Zhen Han 陳鎮翰兒科專科醫生 I am a paediatrician at SBCC Baby & Child Clinic, Bukit Panjang Plaza #04-03.

A proud father of two, I am passionate about paediatric care, and committed to caring for your child's physical and developmental needs. Clinical services available:
- Acute childhood illnesses
- Newborn and well baby care
- Childhood immunizations
- Developmental, nutritional & growth assessment
- Health screening
- Asthma, eczema & allergy management
- Travel medicine & vaccinations
- Adolescen

t health

* * * *

As a proud father to a little girl, I know firsthand the concerns and challenges of caring for the physical and developmental wellbeing of our little ones. Thus, I am deeply dedicated to providing the best paediatric care for your children. My journey in paediatric care began in 2008, when I graduated on the Dean’s List from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore with my Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree. I attained my postgraduate qualifications with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (UK) in 2012. In 2014, I attained accreditation with the Specialist Accreditation Board as a Specialist in Paediatric Medicine, and was conferred Fellowship by the Academy of Medicine, Singapore in 2015. Over my 7 years tenure at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital and Singapore General Hospital, I trained in various departments including Paediatric Medicine, Neonatology, Intensive Care, Children’s Emergency, and Paediatric Subspecialities. In the domain of education and research, I was actively involved in the teaching of medical students and residents posted to the Department of Paediatrics, and have published several papers in various international peer-reviewed scientific journals. I was awarded the Outstanding House Officer Award in the Department of Paediatrics in 2008, the Singapore Health Quality Service Award (Silver Award) in 2012, and held the title of Chief Registrar for the Department of Paediatrics for the period from November 2012 to April 2013. Outside of work, I enjoy music, travelling and bowling, and am an active volunteer with the Children’s Special Needs Support Group in my church.

15/11/2023

Dear Moms and Dads,

I will be away from 16 Nov (Thu) to 28 Nov (Tue), and will be back at the clinic on 29 Nov (Wed).

There will be an attending doctor from 9am-1230pm on the following days:
- 16 to 18 Nov
- 23 to 28 Nov

Thank you very much.

30/08/2023

Dear Moms and Dads,

I will be away from 31 Aug (Thu) to 9 Sep (Sat), and will be back at the clinic on 11 Sep (Mon).

During this period, my clinic will be open without doctor to provide administrative assistance.

Thank you very much.

26/05/2023

Dear Moms and Dads,

I will be away from 29 May (Mon) to 17 June (Sat), and will be back at the clinic on 19 Jun (Mon).

During this period, my clinic will be open without doctor to provide administrative assistance.

Thank you very much.

25/02/2023

Dear Moms and Dads,

I am unwell and am on MC today (25 Feb).
The clinic remains open to provide administrative assistance.
Thank you very much.

03/11/2022

Dear Moms and Dads,

I will be away on the following dates:
- 5 Nov (Sat) - Clinic will be closed on this day.
- 18 Nov (Fri) to 2 Dec (Fri) - There will be no attending doctor during this period and clinic will be closed on Saturdays.

Thank you very much.

22/09/2022

Dear Moms and Dads,

I will be away tomorrow Fri 23 Sep, and will be back at the clinic on Sat 24 Sep.
My clinic will be open without doctor to provide administrative assistance.
Thank you very much.

Wishing you and your family a happy 2022! Thank you for your support in 2021. May the new year bring you and yours good ...
02/01/2022

Wishing you and your family a happy 2022! Thank you for your support in 2021. May the new year bring you and yours good health and happiness.

I will be on leave on 3 & 4 Jan, and will be back at the clinic on 5 Jan (Wed).

Thank you!

::: When can I add salt to my baby's food? :::Babies and children only need a very small amount of salt in their diet. T...
26/11/2021

::: When can I add salt to my baby's food? :::

Babies and children only need a very small amount of salt in their diet.

The Singapore Health Promotion Board recommends the following dietary salt limits for babies and children:
- 6 to 12 months - 1g of salt a day (0.4g sodium)
- 1 to 6 years - 2.5g of salt a day (1g sodium)
- 7 to 18 years - 5g of salt a day (2g sodium)

Before 6 months old, your baby will get all the salt he needs from breast milk or formula milk. Thereafter, even when your baby starts eating solid food, there is no need to add any salt, even if you think the food tastes bland! This is because in the first year of life, your baby's immature kidneys are unable to process large quantities of salt.

After 1 year old, although your toddler may start to enjoy the same dishes as everyone at home, I would still caution you to avoid, or at the very least minimize the amount of salt added. This will also benefit the rest of the family. It is at this stage that a child's salt intake generally tends to increase, with introduction of snacks, processed foods, and non-home cooked foods.

Learn to check the nutritional information on products, even if they are aimed at children, and choose those with less salt. Salt content is usually given as figures for sodium on the labels – to convert sodium to salt, multiple by 2.5.

For your reference
- 1 teaspoon of stock cube is ~ 2.3g of salt
- 1 teaspoon of light soya sauce is ~ 0.9g of salt
- 1 teaspoon of oyster sauce is ~ 0.5g of salt

Remember: What you feed your child today lays the foundation for taste preferences for tomorrow!

::: When can I give my baby water? :::Parents and grandparents often ask me when they can offer their baby water, as the...
13/10/2021

::: When can I give my baby water? :::

Parents and grandparents often ask me when they can offer their baby water, as they often have concerns over “heatiness”, as well as baby's needs in hot and humid Singapore.

Here are some answers to the common questions surrounding this:

1. When can babies drink water?
Water may be introduced in small amounts after 6 months of age. Prior to that, whether your baby is exclusively breastfed, or formula fed, he or she does NOT need extra water. Remember that breastmilk and formula milk is made up at least 80% of water!

When babies less than 6 months of age consume water, it puts them at risk of inadequate intake of calories, protein, and essential nutrients, as well as life-threatening electrolyte imbalance and water intoxication, as their kidneys are still immature and cannot handle the extra fluids.

This is also why you should be following the formula milk powder -water ratio EXACTLY as instructed on the tin when preparing formula feeds.

2. How much water can my baby have?
The American Academy of Paediatrics suggests offering 120-240ml of water per day for infants 6-12 months of age. However, I usually recommend that water be limited to around 60-120ml a day to avoid displacing valuable nutrition from breastmilk or formula.

If you are worried about your baby’s hydration status, monitor the number of wet diapers – generally babies should have around 4-6 good wet diapers in a day.

3. How should water be offered?
Offer water in an open, sippy, or straw cup to help develop cup drinking skills and familiarity with water. Don’t worry if your baby coughs a little when first learning to drink water – water is thin and flows quickly and is one of the hardest liquids to learn how to drink!

::: Sunscreen in children :::Warm, sunny days are wonderful for our kids to spend time outdoors playing and exercising, ...
17/09/2021

::: Sunscreen in children :::

Warm, sunny days are wonderful for our kids to spend time outdoors playing and exercising, and it's important they enjoy it safely.

Here are some common questions regarding sunscreen:

1. Who needs to use sunscreen?
Children above the 6 months of age should use sunscreen daily. For babies less than 6 months old, it is recommended to keep them out of out of direct sunlight, and to stay in the shade (e.g. under a tree, stroller canopy).

2. How do I choose a sunscreen?
A broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with at least SPF 30 or higher and a PA level of +++ is recommended according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

3. What does SPF stand for?
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor, which measures the protection against UVB rays. For instance, if your child’s skin would normally burn after 10 minutes in the sun, applying an SPF 15 sunscreen allows him or her to stay in the sun without burning for approximately 150 minutes (i.e. a factor of 15x).

SPF rating does not protect from UVA rays, which are longwave rays which pe*****te deep into the skin. For UVA protection, look out for more + signs after PA.

4. What are the types of sunscreens available?
Sunscreens can be generally divided into:
a. Mineral-based sunscreens (also known as physical blockers) – These work by sitting on top of the skin to deflect and scatter damaging UV rays. Look for the active ingredients of titanium dioxide or zinc oxide.

b. Chemical sunscreens – These work by creating a chemical by changing UV rays into heat, then releasing that heat from the skin. Look for the active ingredients of oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate and avobenzone.

Nowadays, many sunscreens use a combination of physical and chemical blockers.

5. How do I apply sunscreen?
Apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before going, and even on cloudy days, as up to 80% of the sun’s UV rays can get through the clouds! Use enough sunscreen to cover all exposed areas, especially the face, nose, ears, feet, hands, and even backs of the knees and rub it in well. Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours and after swimming, sweating, or drying off with a towel.

6. Other sun safety tips
a. Limit sun exposure between 10am to 3pm when UV rays are strongest
b. Choose cool, comfortable, clothing that covers the body for additional protection
c. Choose a wide brimmed hat for your child to protect the face, ears and neck
d. Look for child sized sunglasses with at least 99% UV protection

::: Teaching Our Children Empathy :::Imagine your 5-year-old child watching his classmate crying after falling down – as...
02/09/2021

::: Teaching Our Children Empathy :::

Imagine your 5-year-old child watching his classmate crying after falling down – as a parent, what do you hope your child will do?

For many of us, the expected response would be that (apart from bringing it to the attention of the teacher) our child should go over to check on his or her friend, to be understanding and sensitive to the latter’s feelings, and provide some comfort if possible.

Empathy - the ability to imagine how someone else is feeling in a particular situation and respond with care, is not a fixed trait, and can be encouraged and fostered with time.

Here are some tips on how we can nurture empathy in our children:

1. Be a role model. We are our children’s first and most enduring teachers, and modelling empathetic behaviour is one of the best ways we can teach our children this valuable skill.

2. Talk about others’ feelings - For example, “James is feeling sad because Peter took his toy car away. What might help James feel better?

3. Suggest how children can show empathy – Using the same example “Let’s go see if James wants to play with your toy train.”

4. Use pretend play or stories to connect behaviours with feelings so that they understand cause and effect.

5. Help your child to name their feelings and validate their emotions. Sometimes when our child is sad or angry, we rush in to try fix it right away, to make the unpleasant feelings go away. However, these feelings are part of life and ones that children need to learn to manage. We should instead try labelling and validating these difficult feelings as it helps our children learn to cope with them. For example, “You are really angry when I turned off the TV and I understand why you feel that way as you love watching Peppa Pig. Once you are done being mad, you can come over and get a big hug from me.”

6. Read stories about feelings and kindness. Some of my favourites include ‘My Many Colored Days’ by Dr. Seuss, ‘The Invisible Boy’ by Trudy Ludwig, and ‘Have You Filled a Bucket Today?’ by Carol McCloud.

Last but not least, remember to be patient! After all, a large part of being a toddler is focusing on me, mine and I. Parents, teachers, and even siblings all play a powerful role in helping one another achieve this goal of fostering strong empathy skills.

::: My child is extremely shy. What can I do? :::Shy behaviour is normal in babies and children.A baby might cling to he...
30/06/2021

::: My child is extremely shy. What can I do? :::

Shy behaviour is normal in babies and children.

A baby might cling to her parents, cry, shut their eyes, or hide their head in social situations. A preschooler might not want to talk when unfamiliar people speak to him or might hide behind a parent. A school-age child might avoid answering questions in class, have trouble making friends, or avoid new activities.

Not all of us are extroverts, and the same goes for our children. It is just part of their temperament, which is the unique way they interact with the world around them.

Here are some tips on how we can help our child:
1. Role model confident social behaviour. E.g., when someone says hello to you, always say hello back.

2. Always stay with your child in social situations, while encouraging him or her to explore. As he or she gets more comfortable, you can gradually move away for short periods.

3. Encourage your child to take small social baby steps like saying hi to a neighbor or joining in a game for a few minutes. Try role-playing ahead of time to practice what she or he might say or do.

4. Create opportunities like playdates, and practice show-and-tell at home.

5. Acknowledge your child’s feeling and let him or her know you are there to help. E.g., "I can see that you feel anxious because you do not know who is at the party". Let your child know that his feelings are OK and that you will help him manage them. E.g., “I can see you feel a bit scared because you don’t know who is at the party. Let us look together before we walk in”.

6. If other people say your child is ‘shy’, gently correct them in front of your child. E.g., “Amy takes a little while to warm up. Once she is comfortable, she will join you to play”. This sends the message that you understand how your child feels and empowers him or her to deal with the situation when he or she is ready.

7. Avoid negative comparisons with siblings or friends.

Do bring your child to see me if your child’s shyness is causing him (or you) a lot of distress and/or getting in the way of his daily activities and school.

Address

Bukit Panjang Plaza, 1 Jelebu Road #04/03
Singapore
677743

Opening Hours

Monday 09:00 - 13:00
18:00 - 21:30
Tuesday 09:00 - 13:00
14:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 09:00 - 13:00
14:00 - 17:00
Thursday 09:00 - 13:00
18:00 - 21:30
Friday 09:00 - 13:00
14:00 - 17:00
Saturday 09:00 - 13:00

Telephone

+6567656140

Website

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Clinical services available: - Acute childhood illnesses - Newborn and well baby care - Childhood immunizations - Developmental, nutritional & growth assessment - Health screening - Asthma, eczema & allergy management - Travel medicine & vaccinations - Adolescent health Hospital services available: Hospital care for newborns and children at Mount Alvernia Hospital, Thomson Medical Hospital, Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital and Mount Elizabeth Orchard Hospital. * * * * As a proud father to a little girl, I know firsthand the concerns and challenges of caring for the physical and developmental wellbeing of our little ones. Thus, I am deeply dedicated to providing the best paediatric care for your children. My journey in paediatric care began in 2008, when I graduated on the Dean’s List from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore with my Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree. I attained my postgraduate qualifications with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (UK) in 2012. In 2014, I attained accreditation with the Specialist Accreditation Board as a Specialist in Paediatric Medicine, and was conferred Fellowship by the Academy of Medicine, Singapore in 2015. Over my 7 years tenure at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital and Singapore General Hospital, I trained in various departments including Paediatric Medicine, Neonatology, Intensive Care, Children’s Emergency, and Paediatric Subspecialities. In the domain of education and research, I was actively involved in the teaching of medical students and residents posted to the Department of Paediatrics, and have published several papers in various international peer-reviewed scientific journals. I was awarded the Outstanding House Officer Award in the Department of Paediatrics in 2008, the Singapore Health Quality Service Award (Silver Award) in 2012, and held the title of Chief Registrar for the Department of Paediatrics for the period from November 2012 to April 2013. Outside of work, I enjoy music, travelling and bowling, and am an active volunteer with the Children’s Special Needs Support Group in my church.