http://www.pediatrichousecallsolutions.com/

Pediatric House Call Solutions, Milford, CT (2025)

08/07/2025

Backpack Shopping For Kids

Many backpacks come with multiple compartments that help students stay organized while they tote their books and papers from home to school and back again. Compared with shoulder bags, messenger bags, or purses, backpacks are better because strong muscles — the back and the abdominal muscles — support the weight of the packs.

When worn correctly, the weight in a backpack is evenly distributed across the body, and shoulder and neck injuries are less common than if someone carried a briefcase or purse.

As practical as backpacks are, though, they can strain muscles and joints and may cause back pain if they're too heavy or are used incorrectly.

Here's how to help kids find — and use — the right backpack.

Problems Backpacks Can Pose
Many things can lead to back pain — like playing sports or exercising a lot, poor posture while sitting, and long periods of inactivity. But some kids have backaches because they're lugging around their entire locker's worth of books, school supplies, and personal items all day long.

Healthcare clincians and physical therapists recommend that kids carry no more than 10% to 15% of their body weight in their packs. But many carry a lot more than that. When a heavy backpack is incorrectly placed on the shoulders, the weight's force can pull a child backward. To compensate, the child might bend forward at the hips or arch the back. This can make the spine compress unnaturally, leading to shoulder, neck, and back pain.

Kids who wear their backpacks over just one shoulder — as many do, because they think it looks better or just feels easier — may end up leaning to one side to offset the extra weight. They might develop lower and upper back pain and strain their shoulders and neck.

Improper backpack use can also lead to bad posture. Girls and younger kids may be especially at risk for backpack-related injuries because they're smaller and may carry loads that are heavier in proportion to their body weight.

Also, backpacks with tight, narrow straps that dig into the shoulders can interfere with circulation and nerves. These types of straps can lead to tingling, numbness, and weakness in the arms and hands.

And bulky or heavy backpacks don't just cause back injuries. Other safety issues to consider:

Kids who carry large packs often aren't aware of how much space the packs take up and can hit others with their packs when turning around or moving through tight spaces, such as the aisles of a school bus.
Students can be injured if they trip over large packs or a pack falls on them.
Carrying a heavy pack changes the way kids walk and puts them at risk of falling, particularly on stairs or other places where a backpack puts a student off balance.
Finding a Safe Pack
Despite their potential problems, backpacks are great when used properly. Before you buy one, though, consider a backpack's construction.

Look for the following to choose the right backpack:

a lightweight pack: get one that doesn't add a lot of weight to your child's load; for example, leather packs look cool, but they weigh more than canvas backpacks
two wide, padded shoulder straps: straps that are too narrow can dig into shoulders
a padded back: it not only provides increased comfort, but also protects kids from being poked by sharp objects or edges (pencils, rulers, notebooks, etc.) inside the pack
a waist belt: this helps to distribute the weight more evenly across the body
multiple compartments: to help distribute the weight throughout the pack
Although packs on wheels (which look like small, overhead luggage bags) may be good options for students who have to lug around really heavy loads, they're very hard to pull up stairs and to roll through snow. Check with the school before buying a rolling pack; many don't allow them because they can be a tripping hazard in the hallways.

The Pediatric Office Comes To You!
Our service lets you avoid the germy office. Avoid the inconvenient and awkward appointment times. Avoid dragging well children with your sick child so they get exposed to germs. Avoid the long waits and short visits. We stay until ALL of your questions are answered and you understand the situation. Pediatric House Call Solutions comes to you, respecting your busy schedule. Your child stays in bed, resting, watching TV, whatever. We bring the entire pediatric office to your home. Most insurances, Husky accepted. No extra charge. Give us a call at (203) 893-5394.

07/10/2025

Poison Ivy

The fancy medical name for poison ivy is a Rhus Dermatitis. It is usually characterized by a red, itchy and sometimes bubbly rash. Poison ivy looks like poison oak which looks like poison sumac which looks like a lot of other plant allergies. It is very often difficult, if not impossible to tell the difference. Developing a rash to poison ivy is just like any other allergic reaction. Some people can just graze the plant and break out in a horrific rash and others can garden in it with only minor inconvenience. It is just like a peanut allergy: some people can wolf down PB&J's day after day, others, if they are in a room where a jar of peanut butter is opened, they need to go to the Emergency Room.

It is the oil from the plant that causes the reaction. The rash itself is not at all contagious. If I, for example, was to w**d an area in the yard that has poison ivy and then touched you, I can give you the oil and thus the rash. If I w**d, then wash my hands in warm soapy water and develop the rash, I cannot give it to you.

Although there are many "natural" and "folk" treaments out there: Things like antiperspirants, white vinegar, calamine lotion, banana peels and many others, the best treatment is hydrocortisone cream. Hydrocortisone cream calms the itch, reduces the reddness and generally eases the entire rash. An over the counter hydrocortisone cream (like Cortaid) is a good place to start. For rashes that do not respond to over the counter treatments or are wide spread, a prescription cortisone (creams and orally) treatment may be neccessary. Your healthcare clincian would recognize and determine that.

A classic story of poison ivy goes like this. Claire is in the back yard playing catch with her friend. Back and forth goes the ball. Occassionally Claire misses the ball and she runs to the back of the yard to get it. A little while later Claire's mom shouts "Claire, come in. Dinner is ready." Claire goes inside, eats dinner, then goes upstairs to get ready for bed. She kicks her sneakers off with her feet and goes to bed. The next morning the family is going to New York City. Claire wakes up. Gets dressed. Puts her shoes on. Brushes her hair and teeth and off the family goes. That afternoon I get a call from dad who says 'My daughter broke out in this rash that looks just like poison ivy but it can't be because we've been in New York City all day checking out the city." The poison ivy was in the backyard. The plant oil got on Claire's shoes. She put her shoes on in the morning then got ready for the day and spread the oil all over her. Claire has poison ivy.

This post is just some general guidelines for issue of poison ivy. If you have any in depht questions or your child is in distress, please call myself of your healthcare clinician.

07/03/2025

First Aid For Kids
With the summer in full swing and a zillion holiday parties this weekend, I posted a “read worthy” blog about first aid for kids on my website, www.pediatrichousecallsolutions.com.
Go check it out. Hopefully, you’ll never use any of the information, but it’s there just in case.

07/02/2025

4th of July Safety Tips
The National Safety Council has deemed the 4th of July the most dangerous holiday of the year. So before going outside to celebrate, be sure to look over these safety tips for the Fourth of July.
Ear safety
According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, one in five American teens suffer some type of hearing loss from various causes. Noise from fireworks can reach levels higher than 155 decibels. To limit dangers of hearing loss, fear and panic from the blasts, ensure that you and your family:
Sit more than 500 feet from where fireworks are launched. If your child tells you his/her ears are buzzing or ringing, it’s a sign that you should move farther away.
Bring earplugs for every family member over 7 years old, and use child-sized ear muffs for your smaller children and babies. Earmuffs are known to effectively reduce dangerous levels of noise on babies as young as six weeks old.
Comfort and reassure your frightened child, and be prepared to make a quick getaway if that doesn’t work. Alternatively, plan to watch the show from your car or a rooftop deck so that a scared little one has somewhere safe to go inside.
Food safety
The 4th of July and grilling go hand in hand. Here are some food safety tips to keep in mind:
Use soap and water to clean all surfaces, utensils, and hands.
Use different plates for raw vs. cooked foods – do not put that perfectly grilled burger back on the same platter where you prepped before cooking.
Use a food thermometer to be sure you have cooked your food to a safe temperature. Burgers should be cooked to 160° Fahrenheit.
Bring plenty of ice or cold packs for your cooler. Do not leave food at room temperature for longer than two hours (one hour if outdoor temperatures spike above 90° Fahrenheit).
Crowd safety
If you plan on attending a fireworks show or other crowded event:
Talk to your children about stranger safety.
Make a plan to meet up or stay put throughout the event.
If lost, teach your children to find a security or police officer, or if they cannot spot someone immediately, to find another parent who has children with them, and ask her for help.
Tag your children using a temporary tattoo, a bracelet, or a sharpie with your emergency contact information.
Eye safety
Thousands of people, many of them children, suffer eye injuries from fireworks each year. The best way to avoid injury is by attending a professional public fireworks show rather than putting on your own fireworks show.
Fireworks safety
Try to attend professional fireworks displays in communities surrounding the shows:
Respect safety barriers and view fireworks from at least 500 feet away.
Do not touch unexploded fireworks; instead, immediately contact local fire or police departments to help.
If you decide to purchase your own fireworks, follow these safety tips to prevent eye injuries:
Never let young children play with fireworks of any type, even sparklers.
People who handle fireworks should always wear protective eyewear that meets the parameters set by the American National Standards Institute and ensure that all bystanders are also wearing eye protection.
Leave the lighting of professional-grade fireworks to trained pyrotechnicians and adults.
If an eye injury from fireworks occurs:
Seek medical attention immediately.
Do not rub your eyes.
Do not rinse your eyes.
Do not apply pressure.
Do not remove any objects that are stuck in the eye.
Do not apply ointments or take any blood-thinning pain medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen.
Have a safe and happy 4th of July!
The Pediatric Office Comes To You!
Our service lets you avoid the germy office. Avoid the inconvenient and awkward appointment times. Avoid dragging well children with your sick child so they get exposed to germs. Avoid the long waits and short visits. We stay until ALL of your questions are answered and you understand the situation. Pediatric House Call Solutions comes to you, respecting your busy schedule. Your child stays in bed, resting, watching TV, whatever. We bring the entire pediatric office to your home. Most insurances, Husky accepted. No extra charge. Give us a call at (203) 893-5394.

06/23/2025

Parents,
Summer and warm weather are synonomous with swimmer's ear. The medical term for swimmer's ear is otitis externa (OE). Although it is an ear infection it is completely unrelated to the ear infection that a child gets with a cold.
OE is an infection of the skin in the ear canal. Nearly all of us have experienced the mechanics that cause OE. When one spends an extended period of time in a pool or bathtub the skin of their fingers become wrinkled or "pruney". The same thing happens when water sits on the skin in the ear canal.
The skin in the ear becomes fragile. It breaks open easily and becomes inflammed and infected. One's ear is exquisitely sensitive. The slightest insult causes severe pain.
The treatment for OE usually involves the application of antibiotic drops with a mixture of a hydrocortisone soothing solution. Infrequently, oral antibiotics are used as well as a "wick" which is inserted into the ear to aid in the delivery of the medicine. The insertion of the wick is usually a painful procedure.
The ear often becomes swollen, the child has difficulty hearing from the ear, yellow/green fluid seeps from the ear, the child is very uncomfortable and sometimes developes a fever. Rarer still, the child's face can become swollen on the affected side.
Many times parents try to use "ear plugs" to prevent water from entering the ear. In general, these plugs infrequently work, are painful and can be very exspensive.
Here is a better solution. Go to the store and purchase a bottle of rubbing alcohol and white vinegar. Mix the fluids together 50/50. Every time the child exits the water for the day (pool, lake, ocean) apply a "splash" of the concoction to each ear (about 1 teaspoon). The alcohol dries the ear out and the vinegar creates an acidic environment that prevents the growth of bacteria. Do not apply this concoction to a child with an acute case of OE! The alcohol will sting and cause intense pain.
The mixture of alcohol and vinegar can be stored on a shelf at room temperature and used all summer long.

The Pediatric Office Comes To You!
Our service lets you avoid the germy office. Avoid the inconvenient and awkward appointment times. Avoid dragging well children with your sick child so they get exposed to germs. Avoid the long waits and short visits. We stay until ALL of your questions are answered and you understand the situation. Pediatric House Call Solutions comes to you, respecting your busy schedule. Your child stays in bed, resting, watching TV, whatever. We bring the entire pediatric office to your home. Most insurances, Husky accepted. No extra charge. Give us a call at (203) 893-5394.

05/22/2025

I can’t get this out of my head. “Please kill my child for me. Just be nice, nice about it.” WTF!!! The greatest trick the Devil ever did was convincing the world he does not exist.
This refers to post from 5/20/2025

05/21/2025

I, by no means, purport to know the intricate details of this issue. However, the simple fact that MAiD (Medical Assistance in Dying) is under consideration for children in Canada is obscene.

05/10/2025

Four things you can take to the bank:

1) The measles vaccine does not cause autism.

2) Everyone on the planet gets RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus). In fact, many times.

3) There is no such thing as “Dry Drowning.”

4) The height of your fever does not indicate how sick your child is, although you should always contact your child’s healthcare provider if their fever is 100.4F or higher and they are under 3 months old.

02/11/2025

Valentine's Day Stress In Kids

Valentine’s Day is supposed to be a fun and festive holiday filled with giving and receiving gestures of appreciation and love. However, sometimes it has the opposite effect and makes us feel lonely or unappreciated. This is especially true for kids and teenagers who are particularly sensitive to what others think of them. As a parent, there are a few things you can do to help alleviate some of your kid’s Valentine’s Day anxiety.

For children and teens, Valentine’s Day celebrations may be filled with dread, as they worry about not receiving positive feedback from friends or peers. Teenagers in particular may become stressed around this time, either because they would like to be the recipient of a grand gesture but worry they won’t, or because they want to avoid such public displays.

Alleviating a child’s anxiety
Listen to their concerns: Talk to children or teenagers to get a sense of how they are feeling about Valentine’s Day. If you sense they are anxious or concerned about whether or not they will receive cards from their peers, or if they are hoping for a gesture from someone in particular, ask them about it and listen without passing judgment or trying to solve the problem for them.

Offer moral support: The next best thing you can do is to try to normalize their feelings. Let children know that it is okay to feel worried, anxious, or to even want to avoid the whole day altogether. Help them think about the situation more positively by reminding them that it is one day, and the events of that day are often quickly forgotten.

Check in with your child’s school: For younger kids, touch base with a teacher to find out if there is a classroom rule that each student gives and receives cards so there are no hurt feelings. With older kids or teenagers, try not to get too involved aside from providing moral support. Encourage teens to set an example and be inclusive with their own gestures, whether it be cards or treats.
Be sensitive: When children come home from school on Valentine’s Day, try to read their mood and demeanor before you decide how to react. Be supportive, understanding and ready with a listening ear and fun distraction if the day did not turn out how they expected.

Give your child a Valentine: Make sure to give your children a Valentine, even if that just means an extra hug to let them know they are loved at home. Also, remind children that every day is an opportunity to show how you feel.

12/30/2024

Parents, influenza, pneumonia, strept as well as other nasty illnesses are in full swing.

House calls for sick kids! No extra fee. Most insurances and Husky accepted. The pediatric office comes to the house. All testing done right there. Your child stays in bed, watching TV, whatever. No more germy offices, long waits, in and out visits. Call (203) 893-5394. Charles Wetmore APRN with over 30 years of pediatric experience comes to the house. We test for the Flu, Strept, RSV, Mono, UTI's, and much more. Give us a call if we can help out.

12/26/2024

🎼Mom and Dad could hardly wait for school to start again🎼

Christmas is an exciting time for children and parents but once the gifts are unwrapped, the company and visiting is over, there is still a week of holiday school vacation to occupy your kid’s time. Here are some suggestions to make that time a little more enjoyable and productive for the children:

Encourage kids to read every day. Encourage reading on their devices by asking them to find out about current events, research holiday traditions, or take a deeper dive into their favorite hobbies. Introduce family favorites related to the holidays.

Involve them in after the holiday shopping. Teach children the importance of a budget and how to stick to it. How do sale prices affect the budget? Let them help with online shopping to sharpen those research and computer skills.

Keep kids active and introduce the idea of “earning” screen time. Exercising daily and getting outdoors when the weather allows will help to keep them off the electronics.

Ask them to find a fun activity you can all do together, like visiting the aquarium or a museum.

Encourage healthy eating habits. ‘Tis the season of sweets – maintaining a healthy and balanced diet with occasional treats will help kids stay healthy during a time when many treats are offered and the regular meal routines may be off.

Write “thank you” notes to friends and family. Keep writing and spelling skills fresh and check something off the to-do list at the same time.

Engage children in cooking and baking. Measuring and following a recipe is great practice for both math and time management skills and kids are more likely to try new things if they’ve been involved in the cooking or baking.

Don’t forget to get some rest. Set students up for success upon returning to school by imposing a regular bedtime/sleep schedule the last few days of vacation.

THE PEDIATRIC OFFICE COMES TO YOU!
Charles Wetmore APRN
Our service lets you avoid the germy office. Avoid the inconvenient and awkward appointment times. Avoid dragging well children with your sick child so they get exposed to germs. Avoid the long waits and short visits. Pediatric House Call Solutions comes to you, respecting your busy schedule. Your child stays in bed, resting, watching TV, whatever. We bring the entire pediatric office to your home. Most insurances, Husky accepted. No extra charge. Give us a call at (203) 893-5394 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if we can help you out.

12/23/2024

Parents, Wednesday is the big day. Kids will be tearing through toys: a lot of them with button batteries. If you suspect your child swallowed a button battery, you are going to the ER. If your child swallowed a button battery, your child is going to the OR.

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