PEDIATRIC TIPS

Cool Bath for Fever Reduction
A cool bath can help reduce a fever. Make sure the water is not too cold as a sudden drop in body temperature, especially in children, can cause a seizure.

Definition of a Fever
A fever is defined as a rise in body temperature to 100 degrees or more orally. Do not administer fever reducing medications for temperatures of less than 100 degrees.

Fever and Teething - It's a Myth
A common myth is that a baby will run a fever when teething. (Keep in mind that a fever is a temperature of 101 degrees or more rectally.)

Fever Relief
When children are achy and fussy with fevers, besides giving them an over-the-counter medicine, there are other ways you can help them feel better.

Give your child plenty to drink to prevent dehydration and help the body cool itself.
Keep the room temperature at about 70 to 74 degrees.
Dress your child in light cotton pajamas so that body heat can escape.
If your child is chilled, add an extra blanket, but remove it when the chill stops.

Ibuprofen as Fever Reducer
Ibuprofen (Motrin) is a better fever reducer than acetaminophen (Tylenol). Only administer for oral temperatures over 100 degrees.

No Aspirin for Fever
DO NOT give children aspirin products as a fever reducer. The use of aspirin in children is associated with the often fatal condition Reye's Syndrome.

Baking Soda as Powder Replacement
Baking soda is better than talcum powder to use on babies. It keeps them drier.

BRAT Diet
If your child has diarrhea, try the BRAT diet to prevent dehydration and help solidify bodily waste. BRAT stands for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and Toast.

Burp the Colicky Baby
Some colicky babies have more than the usual amount of gas and may be more difficult to burp. Feed the baby in an upright position and burp after every ounce, if bottle-feeding. You can also experiment with different nipple types.

Children with Motion Restrictions
Adapt the environment to meet the needs of a disabled child. Consider the texture and fabric to avoid buying clothes that further restrict movements. Try using an inflatable baby pool with towels stacked as pillows for support. This can provide your child with freedom and independence.

Children's Eyes Need Protection from Sun's Rays
Nearly half of American parents don't regularly provide their children with sunglasses that protect their eyes from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. And that oversight is setting the kids up for potential vision problems later in life. The sun is as much a threat to your eyes as it is to your skin. Sunburned corneas, cancer of the eyelid, cataracts and macular degeneration are among the eye problems caused or aggravated by too much UV exposure.

Colic and Allergies/Asthma
All babies fuss and cry from time to time, but some babies cry excessively. Maybe they have gas, maybe they are in pain, maybe they are hungry. Or maybe they are developing allergies and/or asthma.

Colic Carry
If your baby has colic, try the colic carry. Extend your forearm with your palm up. Then place the baby, chest down, on your arm with his head in your hand and his legs on either side of your elbow. Support the baby with your other hand and walk around to help soothe him.

Diaper Rash Tips
Give the baby's bottom as much air as possible.
Don't dry the affected area with a towel. It can irritate the skin even more. Blow dry your baby's bottom with a blow dryer set on low. Be very careful!
Use superabsorbent diapers.
If you use cloth diapers, add vinegar to the final rinse - 1 ounce of vinegar to 1 gallon of water.
For older babies, give 2 to 3 ounces of cranberry juice which will lower urinary pH and reduce irritation.

Hospitalization Can Traumatize a Child
A stint in the hospital can traumatize a child for months. Caretakers need to focus more attention on the psychological impact of hospitalization. Psychological support services are essential.

Infant Walkers Delay Movement Milestones
A new study adds to growing evidence that baby walkers can slow infants' motor skill development, delaying such milestones as crawling, standing alone and walking.
Infant walkers are wheeled seats that allow a baby's feet to touch the floor and move the walker around. The seat is surrounded by a frame, and many parents have seen the walkers as a safe way for infants to develop movement skills.
But recent research has indicated the devices are neither safe nor useful for encouraging walking and other skills. In fact, serious injuries--usually due to falls down stairs--have been reported, and studies have suggested walkers actually hinder babies' motor skill development. Last year, the American Academy of Pediatrics called for a ban on mobile infant walkers in the US.

Pacifier Safety
1. To prevent strangulation, no ribbon, string, cord, or yarn should be attached to a pacifier.
2. The shield should be large enough and firm enough to not fit in a child's mouth.
3. The guard or shield should have ventilation holes so the baby can breath if the shield does get into the mouth.
4. The pacifier nipple should have no holes or tears that might cause it to break off in baby's mouth.

Pediatric Nursing Information
Need info about pediatric care? I'd suggest contacting the following organizations:

American Academy of Pediatrics
P.O. Box 927
141 N.W. Point Boulevard
Elk Grove, IL 60007
1-800-433-9016 in Illinois: 1-800-421-0589
http://www.aap.org

The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates and Practitioners (NAPNAP)

NAPNAP
1101 Kings Highway, N., Suite 206
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034-1912
tel: (856) 667-1773
fax: (856) 667-7187
toll free: 1-877-662-7627
e-mail: info@napnap.org
http://www.napnap.org/

Rash Prevention
Visitor tip: When my son was a baby he got heat rash on his little face, my doctor told me to sprinkle baking soda on his sheets because it would keep him from lying in his drool. It worked!

Smelly Feet
Sprinkle a little baking soda into the sleeper feet of children’s pajamas after they come out of the dryer to avoid "smelly feet."

Spanking Does More Harm Than Good
While spanking may make children more compliant, it can also lead to very negative behaviors including aggression, defiance and isolationism.

Sunburned Kids
Put sunburned kids (or yourself) in a cool (not cold) baking soda bath for half an hour. This also works well for chicken pox and mosquito bites.

Tasty Teether
Wrap a piece of cold apple in a moistened, baby-size washcloth and use this as a substitute for the usual teething ring. Your baby is more likely to chew on the apple than a tasteless teether.

Too Few U.S. Schools Protect Kids From Sun's Harm
Only a small fraction of US schools have implemented policies that protect students from over-exposure to the sun, and few provide shade, sunscreen, or other ways to avoid ultraviolet rays. Severe sunburns that occur during childhood may promote melanoma later.

What Parents Can Do to Prevent Sports Injuries
Since the majority of youth sports coaches are not required by their club or league to have any type of safety training, you should:

Learn about the safety risks of the sport your child plays. You may have heard the ad slogan "An educated consumer is our best customer." It applies to sports programs as much as to buying clothes or furniture. Parents who are aware of the risks of the sport their child plays can do a lot to minimize its hazards.

Lobby local youth sports groups to make training available and require that all coaches participate and complete the programs in order to coach.

Insist that the training for all youth coaches cover three areas: sport-specific first aid, CPR, and skill development, with an emphasis on coaching safe playing techniques (such as the proper way to head a soccer ball).

What to Do When You're Overwhelmed with Child Care
When you're overwhelmed with child care, make sure the child is safe, then try one or more of the following:

Call a friend, family member or babysitter to watch your child so that you can have some time to yourself.
Take several deep breaths.
Close your eyes and put yourself in your child's place.
Slowly count to 100.
Splash water on your face.
Call a help line such as Parents Anonymous.
Hug a pillow.
Get a drink of water.
Go for a walk.
Write down as many helpful, positive words as you can think of. Save the list.
Try to remember all the times you have been proud of this child.
Change the situation: do a different activity with the child.
After calming down, compliment yourself on being a great parent.