Ellenton Pediatrics

02/28/2026

Managing spring allergies doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By understanding what triggers your child’s symptoms and limiting exposure to pollen from trees, grasses, weeds, flowers, and mold, you can help them feel more comfortable throughout the season.
These simple steps can make a big difference:
Check pollen counts and weather forecasts. Plan outdoor time when counts are lower and avoid windy days.
Keep windows closed at home and in the car; use air conditioning and clean filters regularly.
Shower and change clothes after outdoor play to remove pollen.
Clean pets’ fur to prevent them from bringing pollen indoors.
Encourage handwashing and avoid tall grass, damp areas, and freshly mowed lawns.
Use saline nasal rinses to clear irritants.
Keep kids hydrated.
Wear hats and sunglasses outdoors to protect eyes.
Consider over-the-counter medications such as antihistamines, nasal sprays, or eye drops if needed.
Inform your child’s school and ensure an allergy action plan is in place.
If symptoms persist or you suspect allergies, consult your child’s pediatrician or a pediatric allergy specialist.

Wondering if your child has seasonal allergies? Learn the signs, causes and best treatments to help kids find relief from sneezing, congestion and itching.

02/27/2026

!!! Autism screening tomorrow!

We have multiple free Autism Screenings coming up in the community for children age birth to 5-years-old including one tomorrow, Saturday, February 28 from 9am-Noon at Easterseals Southwest Florida Main Campus.
Early identification opens the door to support, services, and hope.
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/dhmdfzs7

02/27/2026

Co-regulation can help kids learn to manage their emotions but also requires managing your own.

02/27/2026

Some days it’s messy and frustrating, but every tiny bite your toddler takes on their own is a little victory worth celebrating.

Want your baby or toddler to feed themselves? Follow these easy tips and get the best utensils to use to encourage your baby or toddler to self-feed!

02/26/2026

Sleep training isn’t a boot camp—it’s more of a gentle experiment. Every baby has their own rhythm, so it’s okay to move slowly and trust your instincts. Instead of chasing the “perfect” schedule, focus on your baby’s cues and build simple, calming routines. Healthy sleep habits grow over time—and what matters most is a loving environment where everyone feels supported.

You can’t take the sleepless nights anymore, and you’re thinking it might be time to sleep train your baby. But are they old enough? What techniques work best? And how long will it take? We’ve got answers.

02/26/2026

Why kids with ADHD have messy rooms and what parents can do to help them tackle the mess before it gets to be overwhelming.

02/26/2026

Every parent knows the heart-stopping moment when their baby slips or rolls unexpectedly. Your entire house is baby-proofed, and you are a careful, loving parent—but in just a single second, your little one can roll or wiggle right off the bed. A fall, even from a short height, can be terrifying and leave both baby and parent shaken. These accidents are more common than we’d like to admit—in fact, we received two calls about just such falls in the past 12 hours alone. Understanding how they happen—and how to prevent them—can help keep those tiny, precious lives safe.

Even with all of your best intentions, sometimes, babies fall. And rarely, it can cause a serious situation. Learn the difference between when to go to the ER and when you can wait it out.

02/24/2026

We are making measles a regular disease again.

https://www.nbcnews.com/data-graphics/track-measles-outbreak-cases-us-map-rcna198932

02/24/2026

Understanding Ear Infections in Children:
The Eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the back of the nose and throat. It helps equalize pressure and drain fluid. During a cold or upper respiratory infection, this tube can become swollen or blocked, causing fluid to build up behind the eardrum. If bacteria grow in that fluid, an ear infection can develop.
Infants and toddlers are more prone to ear infections because their Eustachian tubes are shorter, narrower, and more horizontal, making drainage less effective.

Acute Otitis Media (AOM):
A red eardrum alone does not mean there is an infection. Crying, fever, or irritation can temporarily make the eardrum look red.
A true acute ear infection typically includes:
A bulging eardrum
Clear fluid behind the eardrum
Significant redness with other findings
Pus draining from the ear
Ear infections are sometimes overdiagnosed - especially in urgent care settings - and antibiotics may be prescribed without clear evidence of bacterial infection.

Why Antibiotics Aren’t Always Needed:
About 80% of uncomplicated ear infections improve on their own. Serious complications are uncommon in otherwise healthy children.
Depending on the child’s age and symptoms, pediatricians may recommend observation for 48–72 hours before starting antibiotics. Pain control with acetaminophen or ibuprofen is important during this time.
Antibiotics are started right away for:
Babies under 6 months
Severe ear pain
High fever
Both ears infected in very young children
Children who appear significantly ill

Otitis Media with Effusion (OME):
This is fluid behind the eardrum without active infection. The eardrum is usually not bulging, and the fluid is often not infected.
OME commonly occurs during a cold or after an ear infection. It can temporarily affect hearing but usually resolves on its own within weeks to a few months.
If fluid persists longer than 3 months with hearing loss or speech delay, ENT referral may be recommended.

Bottom line: Not every red ear needs antibiotics, and many ear infections resolve safely with careful monitoring.

Why are ear infections so common in children, and what's the best way to prevent and treat them? Here are answers to the questions pediatricians hear most often, along with research findings that offer helpful guidance.​

02/24/2026

Nosebleeds in kids are incredibly common — many children experience them, especially in dry weather or with allergies — and while they can be scary to witness, most are not serious.
If you’re wondering why they happen, what you should do (and what you shouldn’t), and when it’s time to call schedule an appointment — this guide offers compassionate advice to help you stay calm and confident.

There are many causes of nosebleeds, most of which aren’t serious and are easily treated. If your child gets a lot of nosebleeds, ask your pediatrician about using salt-water (saline) nose drops every day.

02/23/2026

When a child has a seizure, it can be one of the most frightening moments in a parent’s life. The sudden stillness, the jerking movements, the unresponsiveness—time seems to stop.
Yet seizures in children are more common than many people realize. Some are brief and linked to fever, while others may be part of a condition like Epilepsy. Understanding the most common types—and when they tend to occur—can help replace fear with clarity.
Among the most frequent are febrile seizures, which occur in young children during a rapid rise in temperature. There are also absence seizures, which may look like brief staring spells and can easily be mistaken for daydreaming. Tonic-clonic seizures—often what people picture when they hear the word “seizure”—involve stiffening and rhythmic jerking of the body. Other children may experience focal seizures, which affect just one part of the brain and may cause unusual movements, sensations, or changes in awareness.
Seizures can happen during the day or at night, and the timing often adds to a parent’s fear. Nighttime seizures may go unnoticed, sometimes mistaken for nightmares or restless sleep. The most common epilepsy syndrome linked to sleep is Self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (formerly benign rolandic epilepsy), in which seizures typically occur during sleep or upon waking. Reassuringly, most children outgrow this condition by adolescence and go on to do very well.
And sometimes, a child may have a single seizure and never experience another one. Not every seizure means a lifelong diagnosis. With proper evaluation and guidance, many families find that what felt like the beginning of a long journey was, in fact, a single and isolated event.
By learning to recognize these patterns, parents and caregivers can respond more calmly and seek the right support. Knowledge does not take away the emotion of the moment—but it does bring reassurance, direction, and hope.
For more detailed information, please visit the link below and watch the attached video.
https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/health/s/seizures
https://youtu.be/BhyVvaqoRd8

Seizures are caused by sudden bursts of abnormal electrical activity in the brain and can manifest in various ways such as shaking, staring, or passing out. ...

02/21/2026

❤️

When a child is anxious, their behaviour is communication — not defiance.
So often, the things we’re told to do actually make anxiety louder, not quieter.

This visual shares 10 common don’ts when supporting an anxious child — not to shame or blame, but to gently reframe. Anxiety isn’t something children can logic their way out of. It’s something they need help feeling safe through.

If you’re supporting a child who worries, shuts down, melts down, or needs constant reassurance, you’re not doing anything wrong. You’re responding to a nervous system that’s working overtime — and with the right tools, that system can learn to settle.

If anxiety is taking over daily life, the When Worries Take Over Toolkit gives you practical, brain-based tools to help children understand their worries, calm their bodies, and build real coping skills — without pressure or punishment.
Link in comments below ⬇️ or via Linktree Shop in Bio.