Growing Healthy
Tips for Raising Boys
As the saying goes, “boys will be boys.” Parents of boys know that raising a boy can have its challenges and is certainly different then raising a girl. Take a moment to read our tips for raising a happy, healthy boy. You’ll be glad you did. Tips for Raising Boys: Give him space to play. Boys have a tendency to be more rowdy and active than girls. Just make sure you provide your boys with productive ways to channel their …
Skin Cancer Prevention Tips
Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers and accounts for nearly half of all cancers in the United States. Fortunately, skin cancer is the most preventable type of skin cancer. Living in Florida, it can be almost impossible to avoid sun exposure completely, but there are steps you can take to protect your family’s skin from the sun. Tips to prevent skin cancer: Avoid sun exposure between the hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. when the sun …
Infant Feeding Guide for Birth to Year One
For a parent, it can be quite challenging to learn about feeding infants through their ever changing first year of life. In the time span of 1 year, babies go from drinking only breast milk or formula and to eventually eating all food groups for three meals a day and two snacks. But just how do you get to that point? Feeding an Infant At birth, you should either feed your baby breast milk or formula. You can tell if …
Vaccination: The Best Way to Prevent Disease in Children
Through vaccination, our children routinely are protected against 15 different diseases. It is important from time to time to reflect and remember how these vaccine preventable diseases previously plagued our population. Hepatitis B Hepatitis B is a blood born virus that affects the liver and can lead to liver cancer. Hepatitis B may also be transmitted from a pregnant mother to her baby, which is why this vaccine is routinely given to babies within the first few days of life. …
Planning for a Healthy Baby in 2013!
Preconception planning is often overlooked by expectant parents. Once the decision is made to have a baby, most people want to conceive immediately. The four months before a baby is conceived is a critical time to live a healthy lifestyle to ensure the healthiest baby possible. You can achieve this goal by improving your nutritional status, environmental exposures and life stressors. A deficit, or “malnutrition,” in any of these three areas, may have an effect on every aspect of the …
School Tips
Are you ready? …School Tips It should come as no surprise that success — or failure — at school starts at home. Studies have linked poor academic performance to factors such as a lack of sleep, poor nutrition, obesity, and a lack of parental support. Making the First Day Easier Remind your child that she is not the only student who is a bit uneasy about the first day of school. Teachers know that students are anxious and will make …
Recommended Immunization Schedule for Persons Aged 0 Through 6 Years United States
This schedule indicates the recommended ages for routine administration of currently licensed vaccines, as of December 1, 2008, for children aged 0 through 6 years. Any dose not administered at the recommended age should be administered at a subsequent visit, when indicated and feasible. Licensed combination vaccines may be used whenever any component of the combination is indicated and other components are not contraindicated and if approved by the Food and Drug Administration for that dose of the series. (Click …
Fight Flu Fear!
5 Points for Parents to Consider As things stand now, the vast majority of children who develop flu-like symptoms this Fall will have a few miserable days, and nothing more. And those days are best spent at home–not in the ER or a doctor’s office. If you are worried, call Dr. O first. Don’t take your child in to the ER without calling. Two reasons: Your child may not have H1N1 but could become exposed by being around sick children. …
Flu Update
As the school year shifts into high gear, many children are out sick with the FLU! According to the CDC records, Georgia is one of the hardest hit states. Jacksonville also has had its fair share with the Influenza H1N1 strain “The Swine Flu”. But don’t panic! Stay calm and just follow the universal precautions of infection control, such as frequent hand washing, not touching your mouth, eyes or nose, and avoiding crowded public places with infants under age 3 …
A.L.A.R.M. – An Autism Guide for Parents
Autism spectrum disorders are not rare. Many primary care pediatricians care for several autistic children. Your child’s pediatrician plays an important role in early recognition of autism spectrum disorders because they are usually the first point of contact for parents. Parents are now much more aware of the early signs of autism because of frequent coverage in the media. If your child demonstrates any of the published signs, please raise your concerns to your pediatric staff. It is important that …