Advocare West Englewood Pediatrics

07/30/2024

‼️Not everyone knows these are hazards‼️

My daughter asked me if we could have s’mores this weekend; it made me think fondly about how some of my own core summer memories center around travel, staying up late, & delicious treats.

But we also have a 3yo & marshmallows are a . I didn’t want to say no, so here is my favorite hack for toddlers.

‼️Also: here is your reminder that toddlers up to age 4y remain at high risk for (although choking can happen at any age)‼️

Read on for tips to modify some of the high risk choking hazards in the graphic.

🔸Whole nuts/seeds: Consider , chia seeds, or grinding down seeds or nuts.

🔸Hot dogs: cut into strips (quartered)

🔸Whole grapes, cherries, etc: quartered

🔸S’mores: Its pretty hard to go wrong with chocolate on a graham cracker with some whipped cream. Yes it is not actually a s’more but the toddler gets sufficiently distracted by working the whipped cream canister 😜

🔸Chunks of ice: This seems non-intuitive, because wouldn’t it just melt? But a chunk of ice can lodge in the airway & block off airflow for enough time that it becomes problematic before it melts. Ice is slippery, chunky & difficult to remove. If you have a drink with ice, make sure it is in a closed cup that is hard for your toddler to open & that they are drinking with a straw.

🔸Chunks of raw veg: prepare appropriately - either cooked or cut into matchsticks/ small pieces. Remove pits from cherries!

🔸String cheese: cut into strips. We are also big fans of cheese squares which come in individualized portions that travel well.

🔸Popcorn: try corn puffs, , rice cakes

🔸Gummies, hard candy, taffy, gum: avoid completely under 4y.

🔸Chunks of meat, jerky: cut into strips. Meat should not be tough, & is better if shredded, ground or cut into 1-2 inch pieces

🔸Balloons, water balloons: uninflated balloons + bits of latex can be aspirated (sometimes while kids are blowing them) can stretch & block airway & are hard to remove.

🔸avoid

🔸craft supplies: remember that even with GREAT supervision, toddlers are smart & quick. Be vigilant!

07/30/2024

Great safety reminders here!

‼️Not everyone knows these are hazards‼️

My daughter asked me if we could have s’mores this weekend; it made me think fondly about how some of my own core summer memories center around travel, staying up late, & delicious treats.

But we also have a 3yo & marshmallows are a . I didn’t want to say no, so here is my favorite hack for toddlers.

‼️Also: here is your reminder that toddlers up to age 4y remain at high risk for (although choking can happen at any age)‼️

Read on for tips to modify some of the high risk choking hazards in the graphic.

🔸Whole nuts/seeds: Consider , chia seeds, or grinding down seeds or nuts.

🔸Hot dogs: cut into strips (quartered)

🔸Whole grapes, cherries, etc: quartered

🔸S’mores: Its pretty hard to go wrong with chocolate on a graham cracker with some whipped cream. Yes it is not actually a s’more but the toddler gets sufficiently distracted by working the whipped cream canister 😜

🔸Chunks of ice: This seems non-intuitive, because wouldn’t it just melt? But a chunk of ice can lodge in the airway & block off airflow for enough time that it becomes problematic before it melts. Ice is slippery, chunky & difficult to remove. If you have a drink with ice, make sure it is in a closed cup that is hard for your toddler to open & that they are drinking with a straw.

🔸Chunks of raw veg: prepare appropriately - either cooked or cut into matchsticks/ small pieces. Remove pits from cherries!

🔸String cheese: cut into strips. We are also big fans of cheese squares which come in individualized portions that travel well.

🔸Popcorn: try corn puffs, , rice cakes

🔸Gummies, hard candy, taffy, gum: avoid completely under 4y.

🔸Chunks of meat, jerky: cut into strips. Meat should not be tough, & is better if shredded, ground or cut into 1-2 inch pieces

🔸Balloons, water balloons: uninflated balloons + bits of latex can be aspirated (sometimes while kids are blowing them) can stretch & block airway & are hard to remove.

🔸avoid

🔸craft supplies: remember that even with GREAT supervision, toddlers are smart & quick. Be vigilant!

05/21/2024

Nice sunscreen synopsis with links to some great products.

05/21/2024

Great synopsis about sunscreen with links to some great products!

12/05/2023

Symptoms from a cold can linger a lot longer than most parents realize. 2 weeks is not unusual and the cough can often linger for weeks. If your child is otherwise acting well, best to ride it out. Lots of fluids, saline spray to help congestion and honey at bedtime are all safe, easy, inexpensive and help reduce the symptoms.

12/05/2023

Always a good reminder at this time of year!!!

Symptoms from a cold can linger a lot longer than most parents realize. 2 weeks is not unusual and the cough can often linger for weeks. If your child is otherwise acting well, best to ride it out. Lots of fluids, saline spray to help congestion and honey at bedtime are all safe, easy, inexpensive and help reduce the symptoms.

12/05/2023

Always a good reminder. Upper respiratory symptoms can last from 5 days to 3 weeks for some! And still be normal...

Symptoms from a cold can linger a lot longer than most parents realize. 2 weeks is not unusual and the cough can often linger for weeks. If your child is otherwise acting well, best to ride it out. Lots of fluids, saline spray to help congestion and honey at bedtime are all safe, easy, inexpensive and help reduce the symptoms.

07/27/2023