Stay Safe this 4th of July
From the American Academy of Pediatrics;
On any other day of the year, would you hand your child matches or a flaming candle to play with? Probably, a hard no.
You work so hard all year long to keep your child safe.
Don’t let the 4th of July mess with your common sense.
With many 4th of July fireworks shows cancelled because of COVID-19 this year, there’s been a big jump in consumer fireworks sold. Lighting fireworks in the backyard or nearby field might seem like a festive and fun way to entertain the kids. However, thousands of people, most often children and teens, are injured each year while using fireworks.
Most of these injuries happen in the month around the 4th of July. In fact, an average of 180 people go to the emergency room with fireworks-related injuries every day during this time!
| The AAP is part of the Alliance to Stop Consumer Fireworks, a group of health and safety organizations that urges the public to avoid the use of consumer fireworks and to only enjoy displays of fireworks conducted by trained professionals. |
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Fireworks were involved at least 12 deaths and more than 10,000 injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments in 2019, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
Children under 15 accounted for more than a third of the injuries, which included burns and wounds to the hands, fingers and arms, the head and face, and eyes. Some of the most severe and fatal injuries happened when lit fireworks seemed not to work correctly and were being held by the victim when they exploded.
Safer ways to celebrate
View from a distance. While there are fewer community firework displays this year, some are going forward with firm social distancing rules in place. Some communities will be launching the fireworks higher so they can be seen from farther distances. Others are being held in parking lots so families can stay in their cars to view them. In addition, some displays will be televised for home viewing.
Wave a flag instead of a sparkler. Sparklers may seem relatively harmless, as fireworks go. But according to the CPSC, nearly half of fireworks injuries to children under age 5 are related to sparklers. Surprising? Consider this:
- Sparklers burn at an extremely high heat: 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit—hot enough to melt some metals.
- Sparks can ignite clothing on fire and cause eye injuries.
- Touching a lit sparkler to skin can result in third degree burns.
There were about 900 emergency department-treated injuries associated with sparklers in 2019. Roughly 800 more injuries were related to firecrackers, and 400 more to bottle rockets.
Even if fireworks are legal to purchase and use in your community, they are not safe around children.
Keep the 4th of July fun, and leave the fireworks to the professionals.
Sun Safety and Protection Tips
From the American Academy of Pediatrics;
Spending time outdoors is a common activity on spring breaks or summer vacations, but remember to protect against the sun’s rays. Everyone is at risk for sunburn. Children especially need to be protected from the sun’s burning rays, since most sun damage occurs in childhood. Like other burns, sunburn will leave the skin red, warm, and painful. In severe cases, it may cause blistering, fever, chills, headache, and a general feeling of illness. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers tips to keep children safe in the sun.
Sun Safety and Protection under 6 Months
- Babies under 6 months of age should be kept out of direct sunlight. Move your baby to the shade under a tree, umbrella or stroller canopy. Dress babies in lightweight clothing that covers the arms and legs, and use brimmed hats that shade the neck to prevent sunburn.
- When adequate clothing and shade are not available, parents can apply a minimal amount of sunscreen with at least 15 SPF It is okay to apply a small amount of sunscreen on infants under 6 months if there is no way to avoid the sun SPF (sun protection factor) to small areas, such as the infant’s face and the back of the hands. Remember it takes 30 minutes to be effective.
- If an infant gets sunburn, apply cool compresses to the affected area.
Sun Safety for Kids
- The first, and best, line of defense against harmful ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure is covering up. Stay in the shade whenever possible, and limit sun exposure during the peak intensity hours – between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Select clothes made of tightly woven fabrics. Cotton clothing is both cool and protective. Try to find a wide-brimmed hat that can shade the cheeks, chin, ears and back of the neck. Sunglasses with ultraviolet (UV) protection are also a good idea for protecting your child’s eyes.
- Apply sunscreen with an SPF 15 or greater to areas of your child’s skin that aren’t covered by clothing. Before applying, test the sunscreen on your child’s back for an allergic reaction. Apply carefully around the eyes, avoiding eyelids. If a rash develops, talk with your pediatrician.
- Be sure to apply enough sunscreen — about one ounce per sitting for a young adult.
- Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or after swimming or sweating.
- If your child gets sunburn that results in blistering, pain or fever, contact your pediatrician.
Sun Safety for the Family
- The sun’s rays are the strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Try to keep out of the sun during those hours.
- The sun’s damaging UV rays can bounce back from sand, water, snow or concrete; so be particularly careful of these areas.
- Wear commercially available sun-protective clothing, like swim shirts.
- Most of the sun’s rays can come through the clouds on an overcast day; so use sun protection even on cloudy days.
- When choosing a sunscreen, look for the words “broad-spectrum” on the label – it means that the sunscreen will protect against both ultraviolet B (UVB) and ultraviolet A (UVA) rays. Choose a water-resistant sunscreen and reapply every two hours or after swimming, sweating or towel drying. You may want to select a sunscreen that does not contain the ingredient oxybenzone, a sunscreen chemical that may have hormonal properties.
- Zinc oxide, a very effective sunscreen, can be used as extra protection on the nose, cheeks, top of the ears and on the shoulders.
- Use a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. The additional benefits of using sunscreen with SPF 50+ are limited.
- Rub sunscreen in well, making sure to cover all exposed areas, especially the face, nose, ears, feet and hands, and even the backs of the knees.
- Put on sunscreen 30 minutes before going outdoors – it needs time to work on the skin.
- Sunscreens should be used for sun protection and not as a reason to stay in the sun longer.
Choose Water for Healthy Hydration
From the American Academy of Pediatrics;
All living things need water to survive. Along with milk, plain water is the best drink choice for kids. Why? It’s super healthy with zero calories & no added sugar. It good for the body – keeps joints, bones and teeth healthy, helps the blood circulate, and can help kids maintain a healthy weight into adulthood. Being well hydrated improves mood, memory and attention in children . And it’s economical – tap water is much less expensive than sports drinks, sodas and juice.
Here are some tips on how to help your family choose water.
How much water do children need?
At around 6 months, babies can be introduced to water. They only need about 4-8 ounces per day until they are a year old because the rest of their liquids are coming from breastmilk or formula.
To stay well hydrated, children ages 1-3 years need approximately 4 cups of beverages per day, including water or milk. This increases for older kids to around 5 cups for 4-8 year olds, and 7-8 cups for older children.
It should be noted that these amounts vary by individual and may need to be adjusted depending on levels of activity and environmental conditions like heat and humidity.
How to help your family choose water
Water doesn’t have to be boring! There are plenty of ways to entice everyone in the family to drink healthy and stay hydrated throughout the day. Being a good role model yourself is a great way to help make water part of your children’s routine and gets them in the habit of drinking water before they’re thirsty. Here are a few twists to add some fun:
- Infuse water with lemons, berries, cucumber or mint for some added flavor. This is an easy way to keep the whole family coming back for refills.
- Keep fruits and vegetables that are high in water content handy – and there are plenty of them. Some of the best vegetables to choose from are cucumber, zucchini, iceberg lettuce, celery, and tomato. Top fruits include watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, blueberries, and grapefruit.
- Freeze fruit inside ice cubes. It dresses up the drinks at any table, and young children can help fill the trays.
- Delight kids with special water bottles or cups. Whether it is a personalized sports bottle or a fancy cup with an umbrella or swirly straw, adding a festive touch can go a long way.
- Make your own popsicles with pureed fruit for an afternoon cool-down. Make it a fun family activity by using small paper cups. Let your kids decorate them before filling or look for popsicle molds in fun shapes and colors.
Drinks to limit
Water and milk are all the drinks kids need. So don’t believe all the hype surrounding many of the other drinks marketed to kids. These usually contain way more sugar than children need in a day and can contribute to poor health. Here’s what to avoid:
- Sugary drinks: Make a rule: no sugar-sweetened beverages for your children who are less than 2 years of age. And try to limit them for your older children as much as possible. This includes sports drinks, juice cocktails, sodas, lemonade, and sweetened water. These drinks discourage a habit of drinking plain water, and can add extra “empty calories” to the diet. They can also leave your kids less hungry for the nutritious foods they really need. Added sugars can lead to excess weight gain, dental cavities, diabetes, and more.
- Juice: Even 100% juice should be strictly limited. While it can contain some vitamins, these drinks are high in sugar and calories and low in the healthy fiber found in whole fruit. Because of its sweet taste, once children are offered juice, it can be difficult to get them to drink plain water. Keep these amounts in mind:
- Children less than a year should not drink any juice at all.
- Children 1-3 years of age should have no more than 4 oz per day.
- For older children, juice is only recommended if whole fruits are not available. Children ages 4–6 years, no more than 4–6 oz per day, and for children ages 7–18, no more than 8 oz per day.
- Flavored milk: Even though you get the benefits of the calcium and vitamins found in milk, flavored milk can be much higher in sugar. These added sugars should be avoided to discourage a preference for sweet flavors, which can make it difficult to have success when offering regular milk.
- Stevia- or artificially-sweetened drinks: Because health risks for children from stevia and artificial sweeteners are not well understood, it is best to avoid these drinks. Instead, make water readily available to encourage healthy hydration.
Signs of dehydration
Even with the best habits and intentions, trouble can arise. It is important to know the signs of dehydration so you can address them quickly.
Infants 0-6 months should only be drinking breast milk or formula. Additional water is not recommended at this age. Around 6 months, complementary foods and small amounts of water can be added. If you are worried that your infant is not getting enough to drink, call your pediatrician immediately. The most noticeable symptoms of dehydration in this age are:
- Fewer wet diapers, with the typical range being from 6 to 8
- Overly sleepy
- Sunken soft spot (fontanelle) on the baby’s head
- No tears when crying
As children get older, they are better able to tell you how they are feeling. However, it is still necessary to keep an eye on them since children at play often have a hard time stopping. Symptoms in older children include:
- Dry lips or sticky mouth
- Less urination or dark-colored urine – remember urine should be very light yellow, almost clear
- Sleepy and irritable
- Flushed skin
In teens, dehydration is a big risk especially if they do high-intensity workouts or heavy team practices. Most common signs for this age group are:
- Dry lips or mouth
- Lightheadedness
- Cramps
- Thirst
- Dark or less urine
- Headache
- Rapid pulse
- Flushed skin
- Feeling excessively hot or cold
Staying hydrated during sports, exercise or heat
Being active is an important lifestyle choice for every member of the family. But during sports or other physical activities, your child may need additional water to prevent dehydration. For example, when taking part in sports, make sure your child drinks water before, during and after practices or games.
When exercising vigorously or sweating, children from 9-12 years of age generally need to drink about 3–8 ounces of water every 20 minutes to stay hydrated. Teens need to drink about 34–50 ounces per hour. It is helpful to stay well hydrated in the days and hours before activity begins. While playing at the park may not bring the same level of intensity, if your child is sweating, make sure they are adequately replacing fluids.
If vigorous exercise extends beyond 1 hour in a day or your child is sweating a lot, electrolyte-supplemented beverages may be necessary.
Heat-related illnesses
If your children do become dehydrated or overwhelmed in the heat, they are at risk for heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Here’s how you can tell the difference.
- Heat exhaustion occurs from excessive sweating, causing dehydration and for the core body temperature to rise. If this happens, move your child out of sunlight to a cool place, rehydrate with cool water, wear light, cool clothes and use cold towels or ice packs to lower your child’s body temperature. To be safe, if your child’s symptoms are concerning or last more than an hour, talk with your pediatrician.
- Heat stroke. Sometimes called sun stroke, heat stroke is the most serious. It is when the body overheats to a point where it begins to shut down. If your child is confused or unresponsive, has a rapid pulse, or a temperature over 103 degrees, immediate medical treatment is needed.
| When to seek medical assistanceIf you have any concerns about dehydration or a heat-related illness, don’t hesitate to call your pediatrician. If your child becomes extremely lethargic or unresponsive, vomits, stops sweating, or complains of severe abdominal pain, head to your local emergency room or call 911. While these cases are less common, getting help quickly can make all the difference. |
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Remember
Staying properly hydrated keeps the body and mind running efficiently and feeling strong. Serve water with meals and snacks, and take those extra few minutes to pack the water bottles before your family heads out the door. Helping your children choose water first, and modeling this choice yourself, builds healthy habits that will pay dividends for a lifetime!
Physical Activity = Better Health
From the American Academy of Pediatrics;
Pediatricians continue to be disturbed by the trends they’re seeing in the levels of physical activity of children, which appear to be headed in the wrong direction. One survey concluded that less than 25% of children in grades 4 through 12 participate in 20 minutes of vigorous activity or 30 minutes of any physical activity per day. Particularly with weight management as a goal, those numbers aren’t good enough.
Not only will regular physical activity help your child lose weight and maintain that weight loss, but it has many other benefits. For example, if your child exercises regularly, he’ll have
- Stronger bones and joints
- Greater muscle strength
- A decrease in body fat
- Improved flexibility
- A healthier cardiovascular system (thus reducing his risk of developing heart disease and high blood pressure)
- A reduced likelihood of developing diabetes
- More energy
- A greater ability to handle stress
- Improvements in self-confidence and self-esteem
- Greater social acceptance by physically active peers
- Opportunities to make new friends
- Better concentration at school
Getting Started
You should have a clear picture of your child’s activity level—and whether he needs to change course. Is he watching too much TV? Is he spending too little time playing outdoors after school or on weekends?
As a parent, you need to help your overweight child get moving. To repeat, he should be doing some physical activity every day. In fact, it should become as routine a part of his life as brushing his teeth and sleeping.
So where should you begin? How much time does your child need to spend being active and how intense does this activity need to be?
The answers to these questions may be different for your child than it is for another boy or girl. If your overweight youngster has been completely sedentary, with no PE classes at school, no outdoor play, no extracurricular physical activities, and hours of TV watching every day, his starting point should be different than that of a fairly active youngster. There are plenty of activities that he can choose from, and he should begin to slowly and gradually pick up the pace.
Let’s say that your child decides to try getting his physical activity by taking walks or hikes with an older sibling through a nearby park. If he is really out of shape or if he has trouble imagining doing any walking at all, encourage him to set a goal of walking for only 1 minute at a time (“Can you walk for just 60 seconds?”). Once he realizes that 1 minute is an attainable target, have him increase his walking sessions progressively, to 2 minutes each time, then 3 minutes, and so on, until he’s walking for 30 minutes or more. If your youngster is already in better shape, he may want to start with a 15-minute walk and then increase it in 5-minute increments to 20 minutes, 25 minutes, and beyond. The ultimate goal is to have him spend an hour being active each day.
To most of us, a minute or two of walking doesn’t sound like much. In fact, many adolescents and adults think that exercise doesn’t really count unless it’s intense and even hurts (as the cliché goes, “No pain, no gain”). But for a child trying to lose weight, every little bit of activity helps, whether it’s a short walk to the school bus stop or a climb up a flight of stairs at school. Ultimately, once your child gets into better shape, you can encourage him to increase the duration and intensity of his activity, but the most important thing is that he just get moving and do it regularly.
How to Get Your Child to Eat More Fruits & Veggies
From the American Academy of Pediatrics;
We all know that eating fruits and vegetables is important. But how do you get kids to eat more of these foods?
Tips for Parents:
- Provide fruits and vegetables as snacks. Keep fruit washed, cut up and in plain sight in the refrigerator.
- Serve salads more often. Get prewashed, bagged salad at the grocery store. Teach your child what an appropriate amount of salad dressing is and how it can be ordered on the side at restaurants.
- Try out vegetarian recipes for spaghetti, lasagna, chili, or other foods using vegetables instead of meat.
- Include at least one leafy green or yellow vegetable for vitamin A such as spinach, broccoli, winter squash, greens, or carrots each day.
- Include at least one vitamin C–rich fruit or vegetable, such as oranges, grapefruit, strawberries, melon, tomato, and broccoli each day.
- Add a fruit or vegetable as part of every meal or snack. For example, you could put fruit on cereal, add a piece of fruit or small salad to your child’s lunch, use vegetables and dip for an after-school snack, or add a vegetable or two you want to try to the family’s dinner.
- Be a role model—eat more fruits and vegetables yourself.
More Things You Can Do:
- Be sure your child is getting the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables each day. Visit choosemyplate.gov to find out how much of each food group your child should be getting.
- When shopping for food, start in the area of the store where they keep fresh fruits and vegetables. Stock up. That way you know you always have some on hand to serve your child.
- Avoid buying high-calorie foods such as chips, cookies, and candy bars. Your child may not ask for these treats if they are not in sight.
- Limit or eliminate how much fruit juice you give your child and make sure it is 100% juice, not juice “drinks.”
- Eat as a family whenever possible. Research shows that kids eat more vegetables and fruits and less fried foods and sugary drinks when they eat with the entire family.
Remember…
By choosing health-promoting foods, you can establish good nutritional habits in your child that will last for the rest of his or her life.
Kindness: How a Simple Act Can Make a Big Difference
From the American Academy of Pediatrics;
We’ve all been that kid at one time or another: the new kid in class, the shy or uneasy child reaching out to make new friends, the new kid in the neighborhood. And as parents, we all hope our child will be the one to offer up a smile and welcoming hello to break the ice.
| Teaching and modeling kindness gives children a life skill they will take with them forever. In a world where media bombard us and our children with talk of dislike, impatience and intolerance, teaching kindness to children is an important part of their healthy development―and their role in our communities. And the first lessons on this skill start at home. |
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Be a good role model.
- Children learn to be kind by watching, so be sure you are setting a good example on how to treat others. Think about what words you use when talking about people of a different race, religion or culture. Talk with your children about helpful ways to respond to intolerant speech or acts with kindness and support instead of anger. Think about how you respond to others in your life from the letter carrier, to your child’s teachers, to family elders.
- Create a culture of kindness in your home. Be sure everyone in the family is treated with respect and fairness and that your home is a place where everyone can share ideas and ask questions freely without criticism. Remind your children that people come from many different backgrounds, beliefs and family styles―even within your own family―and how those qualities make us unique. Encourage them to learn more about different races, religions and countries.
Get involved.
- Kindness comes out of respect for others. Being active in your child’s school and in your community activities are great ways for kids to get to know other people from different cultures, beliefs and families. Talk together about groups they can join or activities they can participate in that are designed to bring people together for a common goal.
Step up.
- Give your children some ideas for how simple acts of kindness can really make a difference. Younger children can learn to share toys, while older children can learn to support those being singled out or bullied. Encourage your children to step into a “caring and courage zone,” by comforting a classmate who is being teased or reaching out to a new student. If they are not sure how to do this, ask them, if they were new in school, what would make them feel more comfortable? The answer could be anything from a companion for lunch, help finding a locker or a classroom, or something as simple as a smile and hello to make that person feel more welcome.
Now more than ever, learning to be kind to others is an important lesson and an ongoing process that should take place throughout your child’s life.
Teaching children to be kind creates a supportive, positive environment, making children―and those around them―feel better about themselves and others.
AAP Schedule of Well-Child Care Visits
From the American Academy of Pediatrics;
Parents know who they should go to when their child is sick. But pediatrician visits are just as important for healthy children.
The Bright Futures/American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) developed a set of comprehensive health guidelines for well-child care, known as the “periodicity schedule.” It is a schedule of screenings and assessments recommended at each well-child visit from infancy through adolescence.
Schedule of Well-Child Visits:
- The first week visit (3 to 5 days old)
- 1 month old
- 2 months old
- 4 months old
- 6 months old
- 9 months old
- 12 months old
- 15 months old
- 18 months old
- 2 years old (24 months)
- 2 ½ years old (30 months)
- 3 years old
- 4 years old
- 5 years old
- 6 years old
- 7 years old
- 8 years old
- 9 years old
- 10 years old
- 11 years old
- 12 years old
- 13 years old
- 14 years old
- 15 years old
- 16 years old
- 17 years old
- 18 years old
- 19 years old
- 20 years old
- 21 years old
The Benefits of Well-Child Visits:
- Prevention. Your child gets scheduled immunizations to prevent illness. You also can ask your pediatrician about nutrition and safety in the home and at school.
- Tracking growth and development. See how much your child has grown in the time since your last visit, and talk with your doctor about your child’s development. You can discuss your child’s milestones, social behaviors and learning.
- Raising concerns. Make a list of topics you want to talk about with your child’s pediatrician such as development, behavior, sleep, eating or getting along with other family members. Bring your top three to five questions or concerns with you to talk with your pediatrician at the start of the visit.
- Team approach. Regular visits create strong, trustworthy relationships among pediatrician, parent and child. The AAP recommends well-child visits as a way for pediatricians and parents to serve the needs of children. This team approach helps develop optimal physical, mental and social health of a child.
Creating Positive Experiences for School-Age Children
From the American Academy of Pediatrics;
The first day of kindergarten begins a new stage in life. School-age children are curious and eager to learn, gain new skills, and make new friends.
Families can create positive experiences that support a child’s curiosity as they learn and grow. They also set children on course to be able to meet life’s challenges and problems.
Everyday ways to be positive
School can take up much of a child’s time, thought, and attention. It’s a place where your child will learn how to make sense of the world. In class, they learn the traditional reading, math, history and social studies. But in school, they also learn to dance, sing, play sports, create art, and make friends. Be part of their busy day. Here are a few ways:
Ask about the school day & homework. Talk about what your child did and learned in school each day. Set aside time and a quiet place for them to do any homework they may have. Some children want to do their work all on their own. Others may need some guidance. Remember, it’s OK if you don’t know the all the answers! No one does – except the teacher.
Talk about their friendships. Children this age are growing emotionally as well. Listen when they tell you about how they are getting along with their classmates. Help them learn to solve their own problems when they come up.
Have fun and play with your children. It’s good for both of you! Plus it helps with all aspects of their lives, including their schoolwork. As a child in the adult world, they often have very little control. So when possible, let your child choose what you do together. At this age, their abilities (like riding a bike or hiking in nature) give you all kinds of new ways to enjoy each other’s company. Following their lead and having fun doing it shows that you love and trust them.
Have them help out at home. At first, many parents find that the child’s “help” may take longer than doing it themselves! Even so, chores help children develop the sense that they matter to others. These experiences teach them lessons that will last when they become older and more responsible.
Help them set goals. Children at this age build confidence when they finish a project, learn a new skill, do well in school, or help grandma every weekend. The sense of mastery that comes from reaching a goal that they set will serve them well for a lifetime.
Your pediatrician is here to help
Many children struggle with schoolwork. Some have trouble with friendships. If you sense that things aren’t going well for your child, speak with your pediatrician. Your child’s doctor can help figure out if they have any special learning needs or other needs.