Healthy Children

Learn about the dangers of JUUL e-cigarettes and how you can protect children from them.The American Academy of Pediatrics joined five other health groups in urging the FDA to take immediate action to address the rising use of JUUL e-cigarettes among young people. They requested the JUUL e-cigarettes be removed from the market, eliminate internet sales, and that stronger measures be put in place to prevent underage JUUL sales in stores. Care.com is the world’s largest digital marketplace for finding and managing family care. Click here get 30% off a care.com membership and use code healthychildren. - sponsor JUUL e-cigarettes are considered an electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS). They may be called vaping pens, e-cigars or e-hookah. The device has a heating element that warms a liquid concoction of nicotine and flavors, creating a vapor for the user to inhale. JUUL e-cigs are marketed to the younger set. They look sleek and have flavors. They are charged via USB ports, making them a little more inconspicuous. One pod contains as much nicotine as a full pack of cigarettes. Fight colds and flu with Hydralyte. Rapid and complete hydration, suitable for all ages and doctor recommended. Use code “hydrakid” to save 30% - sponsor E-cigarettes are becoming preferred to traditional cigarettes. Young e-cig users tend to add traditional tobacco consumption over time. Advocacy starts at home. Take action to alert the FDA about your concerns. Visit Public Health Law Center to find out the e-cig laws for your state. Listen as Dr. Margaret Stager joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss regulation of JUUL e-cigarettes. Sponsor: Care.com is the world’s largest digital marketplace for finding and managing family care. Click here get 30% off a care.com membership and use code healthychildren. Fight colds and flu with Hydralyte. Rapid and complete hydration, suitable for all ages and doctor recommended. Use code “hydrakid” to save 30%

Share a love of reading with your entire family.It’s imperative to encourage reading in your family. Fight colds and flu with Hydralyte. Rapid and complete hydration, suitable for all ages and doctor recommended. Use code “hydrakid” to save 30% - sponsor Reading to your young child can boost vocabulary and reading skills before entering school. Cultivating a love of reading in your older children can open up a world of imagination and opportunity. Time spent reading with your infant is actually conversation time. You can still read the words in the board book, but interact with your child by talking about the pictures. Make time to read as a family. Younger children will enjoy the tale. Look up information about topics with older children to learn more about the story. Build excitement for reading by taking your child to get a library card. Encourage older children to belong to a book club. Share books that are meaningful to you so you can discuss them. Make reading important in your home. Listen as Dr. Corinn Cross joins Melanie Cole, MS, to share how you can create lifelong readers. Book recommendations from Dr. Cross: Picture books The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba (teenager from Malawi who makes a windmill and helps save his village) Trombone Shorty by Troy Andrews (famous musician as a child) The Little Piano Girl by Mary Lou Williams (Jazz legend as a child) Salt in His Shoes (Michael Jordan as a child ) Goodnight Gorilla Sam’s Sandwich Young Readers The Rickshaw Girl  Anne of Green Gables  Little Women  Little House in the Big Woods (the Little House on the Prairie series) Fudge series and Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers Pippi Longstocking Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda by Roald Dahl Chronicles of Narnia A Wrinkle in Time Secret Garden Wolves of Willougby Chase The Little Princess Harry Potter series  Rebecca Wonder by RJ Palacio (about a boy with facial anomalies -- going to be a movie soon) Sponsor: Fight colds and flu with Hydralyte. Rapid and complete hydration, suitable for all ages and doctor recommended. Use code “hydrakid” to save 30%

Protect your child from predators while still encouraging activity participation.Extracurricular activities are great for kids. But, it’s difficult to encourage them to participate in these activities with the abuse stories that are prevalent in the news. Fight colds and flu with Hydralyte. Rapid and complete hydration, suitable for all ages and doctor recommended. Use code “hydrakid” to save 30% - sponsor You must prepare your children to talk about tough topics. Let them know they won’t get in trouble if they share with you. Explain that sometimes people do inappropriate things with children and you want to be the protector. Communication is the key. Breathe easier with Molekule, the world’s first Molecular Air Purifier. Use code “healthychildren” at checkout to save $75! - sponsor Perpetrators try to confuse kids so they’re in a jam. They use the camaraderie and participation to groom children into silence. They threaten or justify what they’re doing is okay. You have to assure the kids that they aren’t being disloyal by sharing secrets. If behavior is appropriate, there should be no secrets. Ask about policies and safety measures for activity participation. What are the overnight policies? What preventatives are in place to keep your child safe? Show the officials that you are scrutinizing what is happening.  You also have the right to drop in unannounced to practices and training sessions. Unpredictable parents are scary to perpetrators. Listen as Dr. Angelo Giardino joins Melanie Cole, MS, to advise on how to protect your kids from predators while still encouraging participation in extracurricular activities. Sponsors: Fight colds and flu with Hydralyte. Rapid and complete hydration, suitable for all ages and doctor recommended. Use code “hydrakid” to save 30% Breathe easier with Molekule, the world’s first Molecular Air Purifier. Use code “healthychildren” at checkout to save $75!

Simple tips to show your children that you love them on Valentine's Day and beyond.It seems straightforward to show love to your kids. But, every parent and every child is different. Fight colds and flu with Hydralyte. Rapid and complete hydration, suitable for all ages and doctor recommended. Use code “hydrakid” to save 30% - sponsor First, your words have an impact. Sarcasm and mocking can be upsetting to your child. Be positive and find kinder ways to communicate that don’t make your child feel inferior. Second, express gratitude and respect for your child. “Please,” “thank you” and “you’re welcome” are important phrases for communication. They may just help you get that smart device set aside for family time by respectfully making requests. Additionally, hugging is important. They’re great for expressing love and encourage physical closeness. Hugs can be calming for parent and child alike. Schedule family times and be sure to keep them. Give your children the time they need. You’re cultivating the way they succeed in their future relationships. Listen as Dr. Naveen Mehrotra joins Melanie Cole, MS, to share how you can demonstrate your love for your child. Sponsor: Fight colds and flu with Hydralyte. Rapid and complete hydration, suitable for all ages and doctor recommended. Use code “hydrakid” to save 30%

It's time to choose a summer camp for your child.It’s time to pick a summer camp. How can you find the best fit for your kid? Fight colds and flu with Hydralyte. Rapid and complete hydration, suitable for all ages and doctor recommended. Use code “hydrakid” to save 30% - sponsor First, there are lots of camps that are suitable for your child. Your first choice may not work out. Just keep looking. Follow these tips: Speak with your spouse and child for a preference between day camp and overnight camp. Ask other parents for their recommendations. Seek camps online that fit your kid’s interests. Pay attention to reviews. Have a conversation with the camp director to get a better feel for a new camp. Ask if you can reach out to parents of attendees to get their thoughts about the camp. Visit camp if you’re searching for a new camp for next year. Are the kids happy? Know how far outside of your kid’s comfort zone they’re willing to go. Push them to that point (but no further) with camp adventures. Camp is great for giving your child a break from electronics. It allows them to form new bonds with different children from their usual circle. Make sure your child knows that you trust the camp as a parent. Reassure them if this is a new camp experience. Listen as Dr. Alison Tothy joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss how to find the right summer camp for your child. Sponsor: Fight colds and flu with Hydralyte. Rapid and complete hydration, suitable for all ages and doctor recommended. Use code “hydrakid” to save 30%

Learn about the dangers of JUUL e-cigarettes and how you can protect children from them.The American Academy of Pediatrics joined five other health groups in urging the FDA to take immediate action to address the rising use of JUUL e-cigarettes among young people. They requested the JUUL e-cigarettes be removed from the market, eliminate internet sales, and that stronger measures be put in place to prevent underage JUUL sales in stores. Fight colds and flu with Hydralyte. Rapid and complete hydration, suitable for all ages and doctor recommended. Use code “hydrakid” to save 30% - sponsor JUUL e-cigarettes are considered an electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS). They may be called vaping pens, e-cigars or e-hookah. The device has a heating element that warms a liquid concoction of nicotine and flavors, creating a vapor for the user to inhale. JUUL e-cigs are marketed to the younger set. They look sleek and have flavors. They are charged via USB ports, making them a little more inconspicuous. One pod contains as much nicotine as a full pack of cigarettes. E-cigarettes are becoming preferred to traditional cigarettes. Young e-cig users tend to add traditional tobacco consumption over time. Advocacy starts at home. Take action to alert the FDA about your concerns. Visit Public Health Law Center to find out the e-cig laws for your state. Listen as Dr. Margaret Stager joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss regulation of JUUL e-cigarettes. Sponsor: Fight colds and flu with Hydralyte. Rapid and complete hydration, suitable for all ages and doctor recommended. Use code “hydrakid” to save 30%

Do you need over-the-counter medication for your child's condition?Your first stop when your child has health complaints is typically the drugstore. You want to alleviate her distress as rapidly as you can. Fight colds and flu with Hydralyte. Rapid and complete hydration, suitable for all ages and doctor recommended. Use code “hydrakid” to save 30% - sponsor What should you know about over-the-counter medications? Fevers While they may be scary, fevers don’t need treatment unless they are over 101.5 degrees. If your child is uncomfortable, you can treat the fever. Never use aspirin on children. Keep a written record of when and how much you dose your child. Ibuprofen works well for fevers, pain and swelling. You can administer every eight hours. Acetaminophen works well for fevers. You can administer every four to six hours. Stuffiness & Congestion Multi-symptom medications often contain fever medications. Read the active ingredients to be sure you aren’t doubling up on ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Don’t give cold medications to children under age four. Check age appropriateness against the recommendations on the box. Consider natural treatments like honey for children over age one as a cough suppressant. Use a humidifier or safely help your child breathe steam. Clear nasal passages with nose blowing or a mucus bulb. Check with your pediatrician if a condition is present for more than a few days. Skin Rashes Hydrocortisone cream available without a prescription is very mild. It works on rashes, insect bites, poison ivy and eczema. Anti-fungal creams work on ringworm and athlete’s foot. Hydrocortisone only makes fungi worse. Be sure you know the skin condition before selecting an ointment for treatment. Upset Stomach If your baby is gassy, feed her slower and burp her more. Infant tummy problems should be discussed with your pediatrician. Occasional gas drops may help. Upset stomach for older children usually stems from constipation or stress. If diarrhea and vomiting are absent, call your pediatrician to discuss what’s happening. Laxatives can be given for a few days to reduce cyclical constipation. Storage Consider all the places you keep pills— pill cases in your handbag, stashes in your glovebox, prescription bottles in the medicine cabinet. Keep everything out of reach, even the over-the-counter medications. Older kids may want to experiment with your prescription medications. Lock them up in a tackle box and keep a written inventory of the pills you take or administer. Listen as Dr. Corinn Cross joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss over-the-counter medications and their safe storage. Sponsor: Fight colds and flu with Hydralyte. Rapid and complete hydration, suitable for all ages and doctor recommended. Use code “hydrakid” to save 30%

How do you know when it's just a tummy ache or when you should call the doctor?Tummy aches are common complaints for young children. How do you know when to call your pediatrician? What’s Normal? Infants spit up food and get constipated in early life. Make sure the child eats, wets plenty of diapers, and is growing. Symptoms should improve after three or four months of age. Constipation is normal when you introduce solid foods around six months. Transitioning to whole milk at one year also leads to constipation. It should even out soon after your baby is used to digesting whole milk. Potty training time can bring some constipation as toddlers learn muscle control. You can always put the diapers back on to relieve pressure and see if the pain goes away. If your child has hard stool, be sure he’s getting plenty of fiber and drinking water. Bowel movements at night, blood mixed into the stool, or vomiting with constipation are reasons to see a pediatrician. Keeping a symptom diary with notes on diet can help diagnose what may cause digestive issues in your child. This is a great way to pinpoint food intolerance. Dairy consumption, greasy foods and acidic diets can be altered to reduce digestive problems. If stomach pain lasts more than three months, it’s time to be concerned. Watch for rashes and weight loss. Keep family history in mind. Where Does it Hurt? Pain in the upper right area of the stomach may indicate gall bladder issues or gall stones. Diffused pain could be related to stress. Note when it is happening in your child’s life. Appendicitis typically starts with pain around the belly button. The pain is so intense the child will likely refuse food. There may be some vomiting. Pain will move to the lower right side that is tender to the touch. Light physical shaking can cause pain. Call your pediatrician or head to the ER right away. Easing the Pain There are physical activities that can ease tummy pain. Pulling the knees into the chest or doing bicycle exercises on the back may move gas.  Gentle abdominal massages are good for the digestive tract. Start on the lower right part of the belly with light pressure. Work your way up the right side of the stomach. Turn at the rib cage and continue with pressure at the top of the tummy as you massage your way to the left side of the body. Finish by moving your hands down the left side of the body. This should help release gas from the colon. Probiotics for Kids Probiotics can be beneficial for children. They can help reduce antibiotic-associated diarrhea when your child is prescribed antibiotics. They’ve also helped decrease the duration and frequency of diarrhea from stomach bugs. Listen as Dr. Anthony Porto joins Melanie Cole, MS, to guide you through your child’s tummy troubles.

Find out why your child needs the HPV vaccine.Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. It is most common in men and women in their late teens and early twenties. Because there are no symptoms for many types of HPV, it's easily transmitted. HPV can lead to cervical, mouth and throat cancer. Gardasil, the HPV vaccine, is given to children as young as nine. Stimulating the immune response through the vaccine can protect kids before they commence sexual activity. Boys and girls who are 11 or 12 should be vaccinated twice, six months apart. If your child isn’t vaccinated until age 15, three vaccines are needed at six months apart. It can be given as late as 23 years old, but will not cure any earlier exposure to HPV. A Pap smear is a test to look for early signs of cervical cancer. It is recommended that the first Pap now be done at 21. Based on individual health and sexual activity, Pap tests should be performed every two to three years. Adults who have not been vaccinated are likely to test positive for HPV due to unprotected sexual intercourse. The type of HPV exposure (low or high risk) is undetermined with a positive result. Talking to Your Child About HPV Taking every opportunity you can to talk about health, wellness or safety with your child goes a long way. It can be a short chat during an activity. Start talking to your child as early as you can to normalize discussions. Listen as Dr. Margaret Stager joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss the importance of the HPV vaccine.

Back-to-school means school sports are back in gear. Find out what your coach should know, how to keep your child safe and how to encourage good sportsmanship.School is back in session and it's time to think about keeping your child safe and happy during athletic activity. Fight colds and flu with Hydralyte. Rapid and complete hydration, suitable for all ages and doctor recommended. Use code “hydrakid” to save 30% - sponsor Coach's Role in Your Child's Safety Your child wants to play a team sport. You're so thrilled about the voluntary urge for physical activity, that you sign the permission slip, pay the dues and expect the coach to take care of the rest. The coach will keep junior safe, right? Coaches have the enthusiasm and organizational skills to coordinate a rowdy group of sporty youth. But, now all coaches have the training to prevent and treat many injuries that occur in team sports. Great training for your child's sports coach to have includes basic first aid and CPR training and certification. Ideally, your child's coach will have access to and know how to use a portable defibrillator (AED). Having access to a child-size back board, neck braces, EpiPens, rescue inhalers and first aid supplies is very important in a team sports situation. Your child's coach should be able to instruct child players on how to prevent injuries. Inspecting equipment before, during and after practice and games can help prevent injury. Educating children on overuse injuries can help them prevent further suffering. Explaining that playing through the pain is a bad idea can help protect young bodies. Winning and losing can seem like everything to a child.  Winners get ice cream, while losers continue to mull over how they failed and let everyone down. Sports outcomes can be pretty black and white to kids. You probably remember the time you nailed it and saved the day. You probably also remember the time you felt terrible and still had to tell the winner, "good game." As you grow older, you usually learn to respect the game, opposition and officials. You discover it's about the love of the game and playing your best. It's not about trash talking the other team, and it's not about ice cream. Encouraging Good Sportsmanship Why didn't someone mention that when you were a kid? You might have enjoyed the game a little more. Children look to adults for their examples of good sportsmanship. Here's what you can do: Don't heckle, especially at your child's games. Discourage your child from trash talking the other team. Without opponents there would be no game. Support equal playing time. In order to learn game playing skill, everyone needs a chance to play. Kids can't improve if they're always benched. Teach your child to follow the rules and respect judgment calls. Sometimes officials make errors, such as missing calls or incorrectly calling penalties. That also happens in real life. Encourage your child to be a good teammate both on and off the field. Being part of a team means supporting other players. Maintain self control and an even temper. Educate your child on doing the same. Games are no fun when there are tantrums in the stands or on the field. When watching professional sports with your child, point out good sportsmanship. Many professional sports have exhibition games where players from many teams get to play together, forgetting their team allegiances. Show your child that players may be on different teams but they can still be friends and work with each other. Dr. David Hill joins Melanie Cole, MS to share how you can help your child have a safe school sports season. Sponsor: Fight colds and flu with Hydralyte. Rapid and complete hydration, suitable for all ages and doctor recommended. Use code “hydrakid” to save 30%