Dr JW Robbetze Paediatrician

04/03/2026

3 March 2026

World hearing day
World birth defects day

02/03/2026

🌸 Rashes in Children – A Parent’s Guide to Understanding What’s Normal & What’s Not 🌸

Rashes are one of the most common reasons parents bring their children to the pediatrician. They can look alarming, spread quickly, and sometimes appear overnight. The reassuring news? Most childhood rashes are mild and self-limiting.
However, knowing what to look for can help you decide when to monitor at home and when to seek medical care.

🧸 Common Types of Rashes in Children

🦠Viral Rashes (Viral Exanthems)
Very common in babies and young children. Often appear with fever, runny nose, cough, or mild tummy symptoms.
• Usually pink or red spots
• Often start on the chest or back and spread
• Typically resolve within a few days

🌵 Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)
• Dry, itchy, red patches
• Common on cheeks (in babies), elbows, and behind knees
• Tends to flare with dry weather, illness, or irritants
• Chronic but manageable with proper skincare

🔥 Heat Rash (Prickly Heat)
• Small red bumps
• Common in hot weather or when overdressed
• Usually appears on neck, chest, or skin folds

🍓 Allergic Reactions / Hives
• Raised, itchy welts
• Can move around the body
• May be triggered by foods, medications, insect bites, or new products

🍼 Diaper Rash
• Red, irritated skin in the diaper area
• Often caused by moisture or yeast infection
• Improves with frequent changes and barrier creams

🧼 Contact Dermatitis
• Rash appears where skin touched something irritating
• Common triggers: new soap, detergent, sunscreen, grass, or pool chemicals

Give us a call when:
⚠️ The rash is accompanied by: • A high or persistent fever
• Severe headache or stiff neck
• Difficulty breathing
• Swelling of lips, tongue, or face
• Your child appears very drowsy, floppy, or unusually irritable
• Purple or bruise-like spots that don’t fade when pressed
• Blisters, peeling skin, or open sores
• Rapid spreading rash
If something doesn’t feel right as a parent — trust your instinct.

🏡 What You Can Safely Do at Home
✔️ Keep skin clean and dry
✔️ Use fragrance-free, gentle products
✔️ Moisturize dry skin regularly (especially for eczema)
✔️ Dress your child in loose, breathable clothing
✔️ Avoid scratching (keep nails trimmed short)
✔️ Avoid introducing multiple new products at once
Avoid applying strong medicated creams unless advised.

💙 Remember
Not every rash needs antibiotics.
Not every rash is contagious.
And not every rash is serious.
But every child is unique — and sometimes a quick examination provides peace of mind.

If you’re unsure, worried, or the rash isn’t improving, we’re here to help. Early assessment can make all the difference.

24/02/2026

🌱✨ Understanding Your Baby’s Development: ✨🌱

Babies grow and change SO quickly in the first year. One day they’re tiny and sleepy… the next they’re rolling, babbling, and running around!

👶 0–3 Months: Building the Basics
🧠 Brain development is rapid — millions of neural connections are forming daily.
👀 Begins to focus on faces and track moving objects.

😊 Social smiles appear around 6–8 weeks.
💪 Lifts head during tummy time (this builds neck and shoulder strength).
💬 Makes cooing sounds and responds to familiar voices.

👉 Tip: Talk, sing, and make eye contact often — you’re literally wiring their brain for language and connection.

👶 4–6 Months: Discovering the World
🤲 Reaches intentionally and brings objects to the mouth (exploring through senses).
🔄 Rolls from tummy to back (and sometimes back to tummy).
😂 Laughs and shows excitement.
🪞Recognizes familiar faces and may show stranger awareness.

👉 Tip: Floor play is powerful! It strengthens muscles needed for sitting and crawling.

👶 7–9 Months: On the Move
🪑 Sits without support.
🚼 May crawl, scoot, or army crawl. (All count!)
🗣 Responds to their name and understands “no.”
👋 Uses gestures like waving or reaching to be picked up.

👉 Tip: Baby-proof early — mobility can surprise you overnight!

👶 10–12 Months: Almost a Toddler!
🧍 Pulls to stand and may cruise along furniture.
👣 May take first independent steps.
🗨 Says simple words like “mama,” “dada,” or other meaningful sounds.
🧩 Understands simple instructions like “give me the toy.”

👉 Tip: Encourage independence but supervise closely — curiosity is at its peak!

💛 Important Reminder:
Milestones are guidelines, not deadlines. Some babies crawl at 7 months, others skip crawling completely. What matters most is steady progress over time.

If you notice:
• Loss of previously gained skills
• No social smile by 3 months
• Not sitting by 9 months
• No babbling by 9 months

It’s always best to give us a call.

Your baby’s development isn’t a race — it’s a beautiful journey. Celebrate every giggle, wobble, and tiny victory. 🥰

23/02/2026

🛡️ Baby’s Immune System: Small Human, Big Learning Curve 🛡️

Your baby’s immune system is basically a brand-new employee. No experience. No training 😅

Here’s what’s actually happening behind the scenes:

🧬Babies are born with some antibodies from mom (thanks, placenta 👏), but those start fading around 3–6 months. That’s when the “why is my baby always sick?!” season begins.

🤧It’s normal for babies and toddlers to get 6–8 colds a year (sometimes more in daycare). Yes a year.

🦠 Every virus is like a practice round. The immune system remembers germs so it can fight faster next time. (Tiny immune library being built daily 📚)

🤱Breast milk contains antibodies, immune cells, and enzymes that help fight infections — especially tummy bugs and respiratory viruses.

💉Vaccines don’t “weaken” immunity — they TRAIN it safely. Think of them as rehearsal without the full-blown disease.

🥦Once on solids, nutrients like:
• Vitamin C (fruit 🍊)
• Zinc (meat, legumes)
• Iron
• Vitamin A (orange veggies 🥕)
all support immune function.

😴Sleep is when growth hormone and immune repair happen. Overtired baby = cranky immune system.

🧼Handwashing reduces respiratory and tummy infections significantly. Boring but powerful.

Otherwise

Sniffles, mild fevers, and the occasional daycare plague are part of immune bootcamp. 💪

You’re not failing.
You’re raising a tiny human whose immune system is under construction — and doing exactly what it’s designed to do. 🛠️👶

19/02/2026

🌡️ FEVER IN KIDS

– When Should You Worry?

Fever can be scary… but it’s actually the body’s way of fighting infection 💪
Here’s when you should call us or seek medical care

🔴 Baby under 3 months with a temperature of 38°C or higher
🔴 Fever above 38.5°C
🔴 Fever lasting more than 3 days
🔴 Your child is very sleepy, difficult to wake, or not responding normally
🔴 Trouble breathing
🔴 Severe headache or stiff neck
🔴 Not drinking fluids or not urinating
🔴 A rash that doesn’t fade

It’s okay to monitor at home — but trust your instinct. 💙

18/02/2026

09/02/2026

Our team!

09/02/2026

International Epilepsy day - 9 Feb

04/02/2026

HPV vaccination 2 Feb - 27 Mar

- What you should know

30/01/2026

GREAT NEWS!!!
Our practise has a new team member together with Celeste, meet Carmen. We are so excited for 2026 ...

05/08/2025

Please take note of all the services rendered by Sr. Jarina...
NB: Online classes also available for parents who live outside of Kimberley...

27/05/2025

It's child protection week...

"The child is the beauty of God present in the world, that greatest gift to a family" - Mother Theresa