Mount Sinai Queens Pediatrics

09/21/2017

Couldn't ask for better colleagues!
Thank you so so much for the surprise shower.
April Resnick and Lana Ruth
Thank you too!

07/28/2017

The Birth of a Mother

“Giving birth to a new identity can be as demanding as giving birth to a baby.
Becoming a mother is an identity shift, and one of the most significant physical and psychological changes a woman will ever experience.
Of course, this transition is also significant for fathers and partners, but women who go through the hormonal changes of pregnancy may have a specific neurobiological experience.
Consider the Instagram image of the pregnant and postpartum supermom: a nurturing, organized, sexy-but-modest multitasker who glows during prenatal yoga and seems unfazed by the challenges of leaking breasts, dirty laundry and sleep training. This woman is a fiction. She’s an unrealistic example of perfection that makes other women feel inadequate when they pursue and can’t achieve that impossible standard.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/08/well/family/the-birth-of-a-mother.html?_r=0

The New York Times - Well - Health
Mother Mind

Becoming a mother is one of the most significant physical and psychological changes a woman will ever experience.

07/26/2017

New AAP Guidelines Say Children Under One Year Old Should Not Be Given Fruit Juice.

Encourage whole fruits, which are more filling.

Which is why I tell my families, “EAT THE FRUIT, DON’T DRINK IT”

From The AAP report:
Fruit juice and fruit drinks are easily overconsumed by toddlers and young children because they taste good. Although kids and adults alike need plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, juice is not the best way to get that nutrition.

Image Inspired by: KC Kids Doc

07/24/2017

Bare & Boring = no crib bumpers, blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, older siblings, family pets,
Every Time = Every Time
A helpful mnemonic...The ABCs
"A" is for Alone: Always let the baby sleep alone, never in a bed with another person where the baby could be smothered.
"B" is for on the baby's Back: An infant should be placed to sleep on his or her back, not on his or her side or stomach.
"C" is for Crib: Always put your child to sleep in a crib with only a firm mattress and tight-fitting sheet.

07/21/2017

Listen to your children

When they are having a hard time, just being present with your child and listening to her can make a world of difference.

Tosha Schore notes,
“When you can [listen] then the upset goes away and it doesn’t get stored. I like to think of it kind of like sedimentary rock. You see the rock kind of on the ocean side, right? And there are just layers and layers and layers and layers. So if we’re not able to release our feelings to let them out over our lifetime … then these layers build up and at some point they start cracking and seeping and crumbling and all sorts of behaviors we don’t really like start happening.”

07/19/2017

Pesticide exposure correlates with prematurity!

Demand a safer food supply chain for you, your children and your neighbors.
“In a recent study of pregnant women in Indiana, Dr. Paul Wi******er and team found glyphosate (or Roundup) in the urine of more than 90% of the women tested. And, consistent with previous pesticide and prematurity research, they found higher levels of pesticide were linked with shorter pregnancies. Not all exposures were equal.
On some days it might sound appealing to some for pregnancy to be shorter – but it’s not what you want for your baby!” DrGreene.com

http://cehn-healthykids.org/

07/17/2017

Timeline photos

07/14/2017

The sun is out



Your sunscreen should be too


The Mount Sinai Parenting Center and pediatric dermatologist Dr. Lauren Geller have great tips on staying safe in the sun this spring and summer.





http://parenting.mountsinai.org/blog/staying-safe-in-the-sun/

07/13/2017

The ear canal DOES NOT require regular cleaning.
I repeat, the ear canal DOES NOT require regular cleaning.
Cotton applicator tip related injuries occur in children at a rate of 34 times per day. More than 263,0000 children in the US had to be treated in EDs for ear injuries from 1990-2010.
Most of the injuries occurred while using cotton swabs to clean the ears (73 percent), while the rest occurred while playing with cotton swabs (10 percent), or with children falling when they had cotton swabs in their ear (9 percent). Approximately two-thirds of patients were younger than 8, and children under 3 accounted for 40 percent of all injuries.



LINK: http://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(17)30461-4/fulltext

07/12/2017

Stressed?
All you need is love


Parenting isn’t always hugs and kisses and cupcakes and ponies and smiles and laughter and endless joy and wonder and amazement…
Sometimes our kids our stressed out.
Sometimes we are stressed out

Lori Lite of Stress Free Kids offers some helpful advice.


“Love is probably the most powerful stress-buster in the world! When children feel loved they feel safe and they feel secure, which then turns out anxiety. So love is a very simple thing parents can give to their children. And of course hugs are part of that. Hugs are a proven stress-buster! So lots of hugs for children!”

Stress Free Kids: children’s books, CDs, and curriculums.


https://stressfreekids.com/

06/30/2017

While Medicaid is best known as a health care program for poor people, more than 80 percent of its budget goes to care for the elderly, the disabled and children, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation Only 15 percent goes to health care for able-bodied adults.

06/28/2017

Antibiotic resistance is a serious problem.

Always ask your pediatrician or healthcare provider if they are really necessary,
especially if you are seeking medical care in an Emergency Department, Urgent Care Center, or Walk-In Clinic.

The aims of antimicrobial stewardship are to

1. Contain Antibiotic Resistance
2. Optimize Antibiotic Treatment
3. Preserve “Last Resort” Antibiotics

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2017/06/06/who-creates-controversial-reserve-list-of-antibiotics-in-new-response-to-superbug-threats/?utm_term=.3420a3c5ccd2



Washington Post World Health Organization (WHO)

06/26/2017

Potty training success is possible!
Start at 20-30 months of age
Read this book
Commit!
Oh Crap! Potty Training

06/23/2017

You may notice your little one developing a slightly flattened head
You may wondering what this is and why?
Positional plagiocephaly (flat heads in babies)
Babies are born with soft heads to allow for the amazing brain growth that occurs in the first year of life
·
Passage through the birth canal can cause a newborn's head to look pointy or too long. So it's normal for a baby's skull, which is made up of several bones that eventually fuse together, to be a bit oddly shaped during the few days or weeks after birth.
This usually happens when a baby sleeps in the same position most of the time or because of problems with the neck muscles
This problem DOES NOT HARM BRAIN DEVELOPMENT or cause any lasting appearance problems.
And, fortunately, it does not require surgery.
Simple practices like changing a baby's sleep position, holding your baby, and providing lots of "tummy time" can help.
Prevention:
·
Back to Sleep - ALWAYS
·
To reduce the risk of SIDS, infants should ALWAYS be placed on their backs to sleep
Change the head position while your baby sleeps.
Alternate positions in the crib.
Hold your baby more often
Practice tummy time
A Word on Helmets
Never purchase or use any devices like these without first having your child seen by a doctor.
Prognosis?
Excellent.

06/22/2017

Celebrating 18 Years as Mount Sinai Queens
And recognizing out OUTSTANDING EMS and New York City Fire Department (FDNY) Partners

06/21/2017

What breast problems can happen with weaning? — Different breast problems can happen with weaning. These include:
●Engorgement, which is when the breasts become too full of milk – This can cause the breasts to be swollen, hard, warm, and painful.
●Blocked milk duct – This can cause a red and painful breast lump (picture 1).
●Breast infection – This can cause a fever and a hard, red, and swollen area of the breast.

These problems are especially likely to happen if you stop breastfeeding all at once. If you need to wean all at once, there are things that you can do to prevent these problems. For example, you can use a breast pump or your hand to release some milk from your breasts. You can do this a few times a day for a few days until your breasts stop hurting.

Breast problems from weaning are treated in different ways, depending on the problem. If you have any of the above symptoms or problems, let your doctor or nurse know.
How might my breasts change after weaning? — Many women find that their breasts feel emptier and get smaller after weaning. Some women have stretch marks on their breasts. But stretch marks usually fade over time.
After you stop breastfeeding, your breasts will stop making milk. But it can be normal to still have some milk in your breasts for months or years after weaning.
What if I feel sad or guilty when I wean? — It is normal for women to feel sad or guilty when they wean. Weaning can also be hard for babies. Your baby might need extra love during this time, so hold her, rock her, sing to her.
What if I have questions? — If you have any questions about breastfeeding or weaning, ask your doctor or nurse. Some women also find it helpful to work with a breastfeeding expert, called a “lactation consultant.”

http://kellymom.com/category/ages/weaning/wean-how/
KellyMom.com
Image: Meijer de Haan

06/20/2017

Mindfulness session with Archimedes! Today at 1:30pm, live,

06/19/2017

My wife loves to brag that she was reading Judy Blume at age 3.

And the summer we first met, she was reading Infinite Jest - yeah that book everyone has on their shelves, but few have actually read (our Ulysses I say).
Anyway, reading is so CRITICAL to your child’s development. You need to help her learn to love reading

Mount Sinai Parenting Center in conjunction with Child's Play NY offers some tips to make reading easy and fun for the littlest people in your life.

Infants

Try a few lines of a book every day. Babies love to hear voices and watch faces – any book will do!
Keep it simple. There should be no pressure to finish a story or get your infant to focus through it. Let them hold, play with or even chew on their books. It all counts.
Rhyme and sing. Infants love hearing a sing-song voice and identifying patterns. This will help to lay a foundation for future singing and rhyming throughout toddlerhood!
Toddlers:
Create a cozy spot for reading. Try putting a few books near a soft chair or pillow and let your toddler sit and play there. Having a special and calm spot (especially in a crowded apartment) can help encourage a love of special reading time.
Find books with pictures of kids. Looking at familiar faces and activities is attractive to young children.
Lift-the-flap books make for excellent games and entertainment. Toddlers love repetition!
Read books about feelings. Toddlers are learning to manage all of their emotions. Helping to teach them to label those feelings (and showing them what they look like) can be done easily with books about emotions.

https://parenting.mountsinai.org/blog/reading-at-every-age/

06/16/2017

I have a secret to share - breastfeeding can be challenging and difficult. And chances are, your friends and family are probably misremembering the ease with which they successfully fed their children at the breast.

Relax.

Take a deep breath (or two, or three).

And remember, provide, love, a strong attachment, and a safe home.

Then, breastfeed.

And a time will come, months and months later, when you will need to wean your little bundle from the breast.

So here are some answers to common questions

1. When should I wean? — Women choose to stop breastfeeding at different times and for different reasons. Most of the time, the mother chooses when to wean. But sometimes, weaning happens because a baby no longer wants to breastfeed. Some babies wean quickly. Other babies can take months to wean.

2. How do I wean? — When you decide to wean, do not stop breastfeeding all at once. Instead, try to reduce your breastfeeding slowly. To do this, you can:
●Drop 1 breastfeeding session every 2 to 5 days
●Shorten each breastfeeding session
●Increase the time between breastfeeding sessions

Some women start to wean by stopping the daytime feedings first. They might still breastfeed at night or before bedtime. The night or bedtime feedings are usually the last feedings to be stopped.

3. Should I give my baby a bottle or cup when I wean? — You can give your baby a bottle or a cup. Most babies younger than 6 months old are weaned to a bottle. Most babies older than 1 year are weaned to a cup. Babies between 6 months old and 1 year old can be weaned to a bottle or a cup.

To help your baby’s first bottle or cup feedings go smoothly, you can:
●Have someone else give your baby the bottle or cup
●Give the bottle or cup before your baby gets too hungry
●Put breast milk in the bottle or cup
●Use a cup with 2 handles and a snap-on lid (if you use a cup)

Image: Sleeping Should Be Easy

06/14/2017

I dread the day when my daughter starts surfing the web.

As a parent, I know that I must be vigilant about protecting her.

However, new research from University of Oxford , demonstrates that internet filters, widely used in homes, schools and libraries, protect young people from unpleasant online experiences are not as effective as we presume.

The findings show that the use of internet filtering in the home did not appear to mitigate the risk of young people having unpleasant online experiences and that technical ability to bypass these filters had no observed effect on the likelihood of such experiences. The paper says the findings are unexpected as they do not support the clear presumption that internet filters in the home effectively protect teenagers.

One suggestion in this paper is that our resources would be better spent trying to develop the resilience of teenagers to such experiences

Another suggestion, OPEN COMMUNICATION

It’s really important to talk to your kids about how to keep themselves and their information safe online

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022347617301737

06/12/2017

Take Time To Meditate

I will be live streaming a weekly mindfulness session with the amazing Archimedes Bibiano.

Tune in every Tuesday from 1:30-2:30pm.

06/12/2017

I have a 2 year old little girl at home and let me tell you, she loves to play!
So, here’s a list of some developmentally appropriate play ideas for your 2 year old
1. Freestyle Play
• Balls (all different kinds and sizes)
• Farm set
• Blocks (wooden)
• Books
• Bubbles (adult supervised)
• Cars and trucks
• Doll and doll accessories
• Giant Legos

2. Busy Body Toddler Play
• Plastic grocery cart and grocery props
• Dress-up clothes
• Blocks
• Kitchen sets
• Toy tools and tool set
• Trains, cars, trucks
• Dolls and doll accessories
• Stuffed animals and props (tea set, wagon)
• Farm animals and people
• Puzzles
• Doctor’s kit
• Art supplies
• Puzzles
• Pull-toys
• Ride-on toys
• Toddler-size clean up toys

3. Household Items
• Dress-up clothes
• Muffin tins
• Tupperware
• Plastic plates
• Socks, scarves, etc.
4. Arts and Crafts
• Cardboard, paper
• Crayons
• Glue sticks

Remember, anything can be used as a toy and the best play comes from being creative and open to your child’s interests.