We are up to the one month visit – and this is a great time to explain the phrase you often hear us refer to: GROWTH PERCENTILES. From birth through the time they transition to an adult provider, we regularly monitor your child’s growth; height and weight, and during early childhood we also measure and…
Read moreFor the next installation in my series focusing on “check-ups”, we will move on to the 2 week evaluation. As we discussed in my posts about the newborn visit – most babies lose weight in the 1st few days of life, and there is frequently an adjustment period as they learn to feed. When we…
Read moreDespite the April cold temperatures, it is technically spring! We soon get to enjoy warmer weather, which unfortunately also brings spring allergies. 1 in 5 Americans have allergies, and the most common is hay fever, also known as seasonal allergies. After being cooped up for most of the winter, children cannot wait to get outside,…
Read moreMumps has been in the news recently after outbreaks at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and at a high school in Barrington, and more recently dozens of cases at Illinois State University. At Kids First Pediatrics, we like to keep our families informed and up to speed. Mumps is a viral infectious disease that…
Read moreI am REALLY excited about the opportunity to draw back the curtains so to speak so that families will have a better grasp on some of the many things we assess during check ups. We will start with the newborn visit and in the coming weeks and months work our way through the pre college visits. …
Read moreThe holidays are an exciting time of year for kids, and to help ensure they have a safe holiday season, here are some tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Trees When purchasing an artificial tree, look for “Fire Resistant” on the label. When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green,…
Read moreThe holidays are a time when parents can get distracted and kids are excited, which is one reason that emergency rooms report being very busy this season. One of the big risks is choking. Food is one of the most responsible reasons for choking accidents in kids under the age of 5. According to KidsHealth.org,…
Read moreThe cold weather has arrived (too soon for many of us), so it is a good time to review winter safety. While this time of year brings lots of outdoor fun – from skiing to sledding and skating – there is the ever present risk of frostbite and hypothermia. Proper preparation is critical to keep…
Read moreMore than 3,500 babies in the U.S. die suddenly and unexpectedly every year while sleeping, often due to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or accidental deaths from suffocation or strangulation. In an effort to reduce the risk of all sleep-related infant deaths, the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) updated policy statement and technical report includes…
Read moreIf you are celebrating your little one’s first, second, or third Halloween this year, it is important to know how to make the night safe and fun for even the tiniest monsters! Following are 8 Tips for a Smooth and Safe Halloween with Little Ones: 1. Allow for plenty of time to fright-prep. As a parent, you know…
Read moreHand washing and keeping things clean are your best defenses from getting ill with a stomach bug. Not surprisingly, this is particularly true after touching or supporting your child and when preparing food and eating. Some viruses will survive on surfaces for days. And some viruses like Norovirus can even survive hand sanitizer. You have…
Read moreAs parents, we’ve all heard our kids complain about boredom, and thought, now what?! Below are a few ideas that might help beat the boredom blues! Create a City Blue painters tape, Legos, match box cars etc. Take the blue painters tape and make a road map on the carpet. Next, have them build homes,…
Read more