Take Home Pediatrics

Here is what's happening in the world of kids:

• Talking ➡️ more brain power

• More Tummy aches! 🧒 🍟🍰

• Climate change affecting our health? 🥵 🥤 

• Possibly no 💉 epipen shot 💉for allergic reaction?

Conversations are always thought provoking. Talking to your toddler helps their brain development. A recent study showed that there was more myelin production on MRI in those toddlers who heard more talking!

More GI problems? Ask most physicians and they will say they see more and more visits involving stomach issues. Now a study shows us that risk factors are the Western diet, early antibiotic use, and early second hand smoke exposure. Protective factors include healthy diet with vegetables, having pets, breastfeeding and even sharing bathrooms (increased microbe exposure).

Climate change is making our children sicker! Studies show children exposed to toxins and endocrine altering chemicals may have increased risk of diabetes, obesity, and cancers. This includes toxins in our foods that seep through containers and food additives. Endocrine altering chemicals are in clothes, furniture and toys also.

Epipen alternative in sight!  Recent development to bring approval for an intranasal epinephrine for allergic reaction could be a tremendous help for parents and kids.

🚨RECALLS AND ALERTS🚨

• Peleton Bike

• Golf Carts

• Infant Formula

• Thermometer

Dear Dr. Bhumi, I have 3 kids ages 2,6 and 9 yrs old. Bedtime is chaos, and I am unsure how much sleep each child needs and how can I get everyone to bed on time? I know there will be many ways to do this but maybe even few suggestions will help us!

Dear Reader, bedtime can be chaotic for many households when ideally it should be the quiet wind-down time! It is difficult to coordinate bedtime when the youngest always wants to act like the older ones and stay up later! Let’s see how much sleep they need: 1-2 year old’s should get 11-14 hours of sleep including naps so lets say 10 hours at night as minimum. Our 6-13 year old’s should get 9-11 hours of sleep. This being said, you can set the bedtime at the same time for all three or have the youngest sleep first then 30-60 min later the other two, really depending on what time they have to wake up. First, set rules as a family. Basic rules such as no TV after 7 pm if the youngest child is going to bed by 8 pm. At 7 pm while you may be doing night time routine for the 2 yr old- bath, reading and maybe a quiet fine motor activity, the older ones can be picking clothes for the next day, getting backpack ready, finishing up homework. You can even alternate having the older ones either read or do a quiet activity with the 2 yr old at bedtime. This gives them one on one time. Be consistent and firm, so at 8pm, good night kiss and lights out for the 2 year old! Then you can have some one on one time with the older ones, possibly 30 min each and can opt to alternate with the other parent if present. Also be consistent with their bedtimes placing 9 pm as the latest. Things to make evening more calm is focusing on eliminating screens 1-2 hours before bedtime, playing games with the kids prior to the bedtime routine and then sticking with a consistent routine. Have your children help you in setting this routine during a family meeting so they feel involved in the decisions, as children struggle with feeling of independence. Of course, you are there to set the limits but they feel like the decision makers. For example, in my family we had decided on 3 short bedtime stories when my kids were young. That meant I honored the 3 stories but they also had consequences of losing the 3 if they procrastinated bedtime and asked for more. Melatonin is a popular “natural” sleep aid but it does have side effects and I rather you work on their bodies naturally having the melatonin levels with the calm, quiet routine with low light, helping increase the levels. However, if you chose to use melatonin, please talk to your doctor on dosing and using only short term.

MORE VIRAL RASHES 😷 🦠 🤒

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