Midtown Pediatrics and Primary Care

08/28/2022

Should I try to vaccinate my child against Monkeypox?

This is a question a lot of parents are asking.

✸ At this time, the CDC doesn't recommend vaccinating all children against Monkeypox.

✸ However, there is a vaccine available to children who have been exposed to Monkeypox.

08/27/2022

With the increasing number of Monkeypox cases, many are worried and wondering if they should get vaccinated against the virus.
..But who should get vaccinated?

The CDC recommends vaccines for people who have been exposed to monkeypox and those who are at higher risk.

This includes:

☞ If you’ve come in close contact with someone who has monkeypox.

☞ If you’ve had s*x with someone in the past 2 weeks who has tested positive for monkeypox.

☞ You’ve had multiple s*xual partners in the past 2 weeks in an area with a monkeypox outbreak.

☞ If you work in a lab and handle samples or animals with monkeypox (or related orthopoxvirus viruses).

And... when can you get the vaccine?

While it’s best to get the vaccine before you're exposed to monkeypox. Yet, getting vaccinated after exposure may still help prevent developing symptoms or it could make the symptoms milder.

08/26/2022

Classes are back in session, and sports practice and games are too.

Here are a few things to think about to keep your child safe.

🏆 WEAR PROTECTIVE GEAR. Depending on what sport your child plays, it is important that he/she uses the appropriate gear to keep him/her safe.

🏆 WARM UP. Before beginning an activity or sport, stretching is a crucial injury prevention strategy that everyone should practice regularly.

🏆 EMPHASIZE HYDRATION. Parents should make sure their kids have adequate water before, during, and after playing. This is because heat-related illnesses are common among athletes and players, especially during hot and humid days.

🏆 MAKE SURE THEY REST. Rest days are as important as active practice days. It's important to remind them to take breaks in between games and practices.

🏆 PROVIDE A HEALTHY DIET. Of course, it is very important that parents provide their young athletes with a healthy, balanced diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, and proteins.

🏆 DON'T PLAY WHEN INJURED. Inform teachers and coaches when injured to avoid complications.

08/25/2022

Separation anxiety can be common in school-aged children. Yet, the pandemic has complicated this as many children have had to readjust to in-person school after being homeschooled or virtually school for long periods of time.

Here are 6 tips to help with separation anxiety at the start of the school year:

1. Manage your own anxiety as an adult. A child will feed off the parent's anxiety. You want to present a calm, warm presence for your child.

2. Keep it positive. Project positivity into the transition and this may shape your child's perception of going back to school.

3. Prepare in advance. Talk to your child about the upcoming transition. Talk to them about the schedule, how the day will go, and what they can expect.

4. Try to stick to a routine. Routines can make transitions better when a child is anxious. A set morning routine can help set a good foundation for the day.

5. Create a healthy goodbye routine.

08/24/2022

The transition to college can be harder on parents than on the actual college student. :)

Watching your baby leave home and transition to college life can be painful for a parent. You spend 2 decades of your life trying to keep another human safe and loved, and then you're expected to just let them leave on their own?

If your "grown-up baby" can transition to college life, find their classes, actually go to their classes, make new friends and take care of themselves... your parenting was a success.

Here are 3 tips to help with the transition:

1. Give them space. Your baby is no longer a baby. They are transitioning into a new phase of life, and need the space to explore with the comfort of knowing that MamaBear or PapaBear is there when they need you. They may not text or call as much as you would like. No college student does. And it's normal. Don't read too much into it.

2. Show them "how", but don't "do" for them. In this phase of their life, you want to teach them how to do things, but you don't want to default to doing everything for them. Teach them how to contact their primary care doctor for the refill of allergy meds. Teach them about their health insurance. Give them a chance to learn and try before you jump in to help.

3. Provide them with the tools they need. Provide them with the resources they need to be successful and happy on campus. This could mean access to $$, reassurance, validation, a safe dorm or apartment, a primary care doctor, therapist, or tutoring.

If these tips were helpful, join our mailing list for more tips, updates, and access to our newsletter.

08/12/2022

School avoidance puts parents in a difficult position. School avoidance relates to the anxiety around school and the refusal to attend school. It can be common after the summer break, long vacations, or when transitioning to a new school.

Here are some pediatrician-approved ways to help manage school avoidance :

✍️ TALK TO YOUR CHILD. There may be an underlying issue as to why your child refuses to attend school. Talk to your child and ask them about HOW they feel about school, and WHY they are reluctant to go.

✍️ ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR CHILD'S FEELINGS. Let your child know that you want to understand their perspective. Provide validation and be compassionate. Yet, be firm in your stance that attending school is important and required.

✍️ DISCUSS YOUR CHILD'S AVOIDANCE WITH SCHOOL STAFF. Talking to school authorities, especially your child's teacher can be helpful in understanding the avoidance. There could be academic struggles, behavioral difficulties, or conflicts with other children.

✍️ SEEK HELP FROM YOUR PEDIATRICIAN. For persistent avoidance, contact your child's pediatrician or seek out a therapist or child psychiatrist for an evaluation and recommendations.

✍️ HELP YOUR CHILD DEVELOP AN INTEREST IN SCHOOL. Explore your child's strengths and interests, and encourage them to engage with similar activities at school. For example, joining the soccer team or the debate club may engage a child, provide socialization and make school seem less scary.

08/11/2022

Picky-eating is developmentally normal with toddlers. The toddler years are a time of rapid psychological growth and personality development. At this stage, toddlers are beginning to develop food preferences, and they learning how to say "no" and express these preferences.

Here's how you can manage picky eating in your toddlers:

▸ It’s essential to continue to expose children to new foods and to encourage them to try them.
▸ Don't force them to eat.
▸ Give them the power to choose. If it helps, the child is allowed to choose between eating the macaroni and the sandwich. This can give them a sense of control and make it more likely that they may cooperate.
▸ Relax. Most parents underestimate the amount of calories their toddlers are taking in. If your child is gaining weight appropriately, they are getting enough calories.

08/11/2022

Establishing healthy eating habits for your kids is essential for your child's health. By starting early, you can guide your kids toward a lifetime of making wise decisions regarding their health.

Regardless if you have a toddler or a teenager, these tips will be effective in enhancing their nutrition and encouraging healthy eating habits:

1. BE A ROLE MODEL. As parents, you should model what healthy eating habits look like.

2. AVOID BATTLES OVER FOOD. Avoid bargaining or bribing your kids so they would eat healthy foods. Instead, give them control and allow them to choose.

3. MAKE HEALTHY FOODS AVAILABLE. Stock up on healthy foods and snacks at home. Often, young kids will eat what is available.

4. GET KIDS INVOLVED. Allow them to plan what's for dinner or the next meal. If possible, let them help you prepare the meal. While doing so, talk to them about ingredients, nutrition, and a balanced diet.

5. AVOID DESCRIBING FOOD AS "GOOD" OR "BAD". Talk to your kids about the effects of healthy eating instead of imposing that this food is bad and this one is good. Also, have a list of healthy foods and "sometimes" foods.

08/10/2022

Can kids get depressed?

Yes. Just like adults, children can experience depression too.

Occasional feelings of sadness or short-lived bad moods are normal in kids as they are in adults. But when the sadness or irritability lasts for weeks and appears with other changes in behavior... it could be due to depression.

Here are some symptoms that you should watch out for:

☞ SLEEPING AND EATING CHANGES. Observe if there are any changes in a child's sleeping and eating habits. Some children will have a hard time sleeping while some will sleep excessively. Appetite can be altered by depression, and this may cause a child to eat less or eat more than usual.

☞ BEING SELF-CRITICAL. Notice any change in how a child talks about themself, their accomplishments, or their capabilities. Often, you may hear self-deprecating statements in kids with depression-like "I'm stupid" or "Nobody likes me".

☞ NOT ENJOYING THINGS.
If a child withdraws or does not enjoy doing things they used to love doing this may be a sign of depression. A child who loved playing basketball may seem uninterested and no longer show their usual excitement about playing.

☞ LACK OF ENERGY. When you notice your child is not performing well at home or at school, this may be a sign that she needs help. Often, parents take it as "being lazy" but it is actually the depression that is draining them.

☞ ACHES AND PAIN. Depression can "show up" in the physical body in the form of somatic complaints-- or physical body pain or discomfort. The physical manifestations of depression can sometimes be more pronounced in children. Depressed children may complain of stomach aches, nausea, and headaches often.

08/09/2022

School avoidance relates to the anxiety around school and the refusal to attend school.

🟡There can be a variety of factors that contribute to school avoidance.

🟡For example ,children with ADHD or learning disorders may avoid school because of the academic challenges the disorder may cause or the related hit to their self esteem.

08/09/2022

School is back in session, but your little one is refusing to go. Maybe they're expressing a lot of worry feelings about school, or maybe they won't even get out the car in the morning.

In the medical world, we call this "school avoidance".

It's helpful to understand school avoidance and its possible causes so you can reflect on the best approach for your child.

08/08/2022