1 of 7
David Hungate
baby health
It’s important to remember that children develop at different rates. Parents should not compare their child’s development with others.
2 of 7
David Hungate
Baby Health 2
It’s important to remember that children develop at different rates. Parents should not compare their child’s development with others.
3 of 7
David Hungate
Faith Christian School Motor Lab
Faith Christian School third grader Daniel Leyes does the Cocoon Crawl during Motor Lab. This exercise, named by the organization Ready Bodies, Learning Minds, improves locomotor coordination and increases upper arm and shoulder strength.
4 of 7
David Hungate
Dr. Hugh Craft
Dr. Hugh Craft: “Get all recommended vaccines for your children. Vaccines have significantly reduced or eliminated many serious diseases.”
5 of 7
David Hungate
Dr. John Bouldin
Children should have wellness visits once a month for the first six months of life.
6 of 7
David Hungate
Dr. John Bouldin 2
“It’s important to conduct frequent check-ups due to rapid growth and development.”
7 of 7
David Hungate
Dr. McBride
Dr. Mark McBride says wellness visits include a physical exam, development screening and review of family history.
What do little Johnny and Susie need to lead a healthy, well-rounded lifestyle? Local pediatricians share their advice on adolescent check-ups, growth, development, diet and exercise. Plus, area schools and a nonprofit organization strive to aid in brain development and early learning.
New and experienced parents alike have questions about how to keep their kids healthy. And the answers go much deeper than protecting them from illnesses through adolescence. Growth and development and the maintenance of good habits all play a role in overall healthcare.
The Pediatrician: Your New Best Friend
It may seem like you’re always at the doctor’s office during the first year of your baby’s life. But it’s important for a pediatrician to conduct frequent check-ups, beginning with birth, due to rapid growth and development, says Dr. John Bouldin with LewisGale.
Wellness visits – as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics –are once a month through the six-month mark, then every three months until 18 months, and annually from ages two to six, says Dr. Mark McBride with Physicians to Children. After birth, babies receive a complete exam and the pediatrician gathers information on family history and genetics.
“Newborn screening is a state requirement,” he adds. “We also do a hearing check before the baby is discharged from the hospital.”
Each subsequent visit includes a review of family history, a physical exam and a development (motor, speech and other skills) screening. Physicians to Children doctors give parents a worksheet to fill out for each visit, covering topics such as sleep habits, nutrition and the home environment.They also give parents literature on subjects related to a child’s age – solid foods, car seats, potty training, etc.
At LewisGale, “we survey interplay and how things are progressing at home,” says Bouldin. “We also look at the emotional climate of the family.”
Check-ups, of course, are not the only visits children will make to the pediatrician. Illnesses such as the common cold or flu may require examination by your child’s doctor.
“If a child is under six months and parents have even a slight worry about sickness, they should at least give us a call,” says Dr. Hugh Craft with Carilion Clinic Pediatrics. “Serious illness can start with minor symptoms in infants.”
Over six months of age, Craft says he offers the same advice, but parents may want to observe the child for 12 to 24 hours to see if symptoms or fevers subside.
“If the child’s temperature comes down and they perk up, it’s a sign that the fever was not serious,” he says. “But if the temperature is over 101 and the child is lethargic and irritable, it’s a good idea to call.
“There’s also no harm in calling about other symptoms, such as recurrent vomiting over a period of a few hours, particularly in younger children.”
Maintaining good communication with your child’s pediatrician is important, says Craft. Thanks to email and online records through Carilion, parents have easy access to information and can receive answers to questions quickly.
Adds McBride, “It’s important for us as pediatricians to be good listeners and to admit it when we don’t know something but assure parents we will do everything we can to get an answer.”
Don’t Wait…Vaccinate
Ah, the dreaded shots. You probably cringe at the thought of your child’s cries following a vaccination. Keep in mind, your child will be protected from many serious diseases.
According to Craft, children are vaccinated against 12 illnesses – 13 if the flu vaccine is included – in the first two years of life. These include polio, diphtheria, whooping cough, measles and mumps. One-year-olds receive the chicken pox vaccine; the booster for the illness is administered when a child turns four. Thanks to this vaccine, chicken pox cases have become rare.
“The most important thing to remember is young children get vaccines because their bodies usually respond well and boosters bring their immune system up to full levels,” says McBride.
Eat Well, Play Well
There are a tremendous number of obese or overweight children in the United States, says McBride. If a child over the age of three has a body mass index (BMI) in the 85th percentile or above, the child is considered overweight. At the 95th percentile or above, obesity becomes the diagnosis.
“We advise parents to watch their child’s caloric intake and portion sizes and to lower carbohydrate intake, if a child is overweight,” he adds.
Healthy eating has to begin at a young age, says Craft. And parents need to understand what good healthy eating habits are and how to encourage them.
“Both parents and physicians need to become better educated on proper diet,” he explains. “There are many resources for parents on appropriate dietary habits, foods to encourage and foods to stay away from.”
Most importantly, says Bouldin, parents need to set a good example of healthy eating.
“At any age – but especially toddlers and older – [kids] will do what they see the grownups in their life doing,” he says. “It’s hard to justify for a child the statement, ‘I’m eating this, but you can’t.’”
Bouldin recommends revamping bad eating habits, which includes dining in front of the television, early on so the whole family can lead a healthy lifestyle.
Physical activity goes hand in hand with proper diet. Bouldin says children have a natural tendency to be “up and moving around,” and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen time – television, computer or handheld devices – until the age of two.
“There’s nothing beneficial about screen time; it doesn’t compare to the ability to pick things up and move around,” he says.
McBride says he encourages 20 to 30 minutes of exercise at least four times a week.
“Children need time to play and just enjoy activities,” adds Craft. “Let kids play outside, explore, turn over rocks, play in creeks.”
He also believes parents should work to understand a child’s strengths, weaknesses and interests.
“Let kids get involved and see what they are talented at or interested in pursuing,” he advises. “There has never been more things for kids to do; there are so many choices these days.
Grow Baby, Grow
Growth and development happens so rapidly in young children, Bouldin reiterates. Therefore it is essential to schedule routine check-ups at the recommended times for the pediatrician to closely monitor such aspects as weight gain, brain development, social development and language.
“We ask key questions to see if things are on task,” he explains. “If development has become stagnant, that creates more concern.”
However, stresses each pediatrician, it’s important to remember that children develop at different rates. Parents should not compare their child’s development with others.
“I reassure parents at each visit that there is a range of age in which kids meet milestones, so if their child is not speaking as clearly as another of similar age, it may not mean that they are delayed,” says McBride.
Some parents immediately fear autism or Asperger’s Syndrome when development seems delayed, McBride adds. But he says these typically are not the problem.
“Things to look for around 15 months are lack of receptive language acquisition (following simple commands), lack of eye contact and repetitive behaviors,” he says.
If these symptoms are present, pediatricians will perform further testing for medical issues.
Autism is more common today, but Craft says there is no clear reason why. Some experts think environmental factors could be a trigger. Evidence continues to mount that vaccines have no role in causing autism.
What do little Johnny and Susie need to lead a healthy, well-rounded lifestyle? Local pediatricians share their advice on adolescent check-ups, growth, development, diet and exercise. Plus, area schools and a nonprofit organization strive to aid in brain development and early learning.
New and experienced parents alike have questions about how to keep their kids healthy. And the answers go much deeper than protecting them from illnesses through adolescence. Growth and development and the maintenance of good habits all play a role in overall healthcare.
The Pediatrician: Your New Best Friend
It may seem like you’re always at the doctor’s office during the first year of your baby’s life. But it’s important for a pediatrician to conduct frequent check-ups, beginning with birth, due to rapid growth and development, says Dr. John Bouldin with LewisGale.
Wellness visits – as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics –are once a month through the six-month mark, then every three months until 18 months, and annually from ages two to six, says Dr. Mark McBride with Physicians to Children. After birth, babies receive a complete exam and the pediatrician gathers information on family history and genetics.
“Newborn screening is a state requirement,” he adds. “We also do a hearing check before the baby is discharged from the hospital.”
Each subsequent visit includes a review of family history, a physical exam and a development (motor, speech and other skills) screening. Physicians to Children doctors give parents a worksheet to fill out for each visit, covering topics such as sleep habits, nutrition and the home environment.They also give parents literature on subjects related to a child’s age – solid foods, car seats, potty training, etc.
At LewisGale, “we survey interplay and how things are progressing at home,” says Bouldin. “We also look at the emotional climate of the family.”
Check-ups, of course, are not the only visits children will make to the pediatrician. Illnesses such as the common cold or flu may require examination by your child’s doctor.
“If a child is under six months and parents have even a slight worry about sickness, they should at least give us a call,” says Dr. Hugh Craft with Carilion Clinic Pediatrics. “Serious illness can start with minor symptoms in infants.”
Over six months of age, Craft says he offers the same advice, but parents may want to observe the child for 12 to 24 hours to see if symptoms or fevers subside.
“If the child’s temperature comes down and they perk up, it’s a sign that the fever was not serious,” he says. “But if the temperature is over 101 and the child is lethargic and irritable, it’s a good idea to call.
“There’s also no harm in calling about other symptoms, such as recurrent vomiting over a period of a few hours, particularly in younger children.”
Maintaining good communication with your child’s pediatrician is important, says Craft. Thanks to email and online records through Carilion, parents have easy access to information and can receive answers to questions quickly.
Adds McBride, “It’s important for us as pediatricians to be good listeners and to admit it when we don’t know something but assure parents we will do everything we can to get an answer.”
Don’t Wait…Vaccinate
Ah, the dreaded shots. You probably cringe at the thought of your child’s cries following a vaccination. Keep in mind, your child will be protected from many serious diseases.
According to Craft, children are vaccinated against 12 illnesses – 13 if the flu vaccine is included – in the first two years of life. These include polio, diphtheria, whooping cough, measles and mumps. One-year-olds receive the chicken pox vaccine; the booster for the illness is administered when a child turns four. Thanks to this vaccine, chicken pox cases have become rare.
“The most important thing to remember is young children get vaccines because their bodies usually respond well and boosters bring their immune system up to full levels,” says McBride.
Eat Well, Play Well
There are a tremendous number of obese or overweight children in the United States, says McBride. If a child over the age of three has a body mass index (BMI) in the 85th percentile or above, the child is considered overweight. At the 95th percentile or above, obesity becomes the diagnosis.
“We advise parents to watch their child’s caloric intake and portion sizes and to lower carbohydrate intake, if a child is overweight,” he adds.
Healthy eating has to begin at a young age, says Craft. And parents need to understand what good healthy eating habits are and how to encourage them.
“Both parents and physicians need to become better educated on proper diet,” he explains. “There are many resources for parents on appropriate dietary habits, foods to encourage and foods to stay away from.”
Most importantly, says Bouldin, parents need to set a good example of healthy eating.
“At any age – but especially toddlers and older – [kids] will do what they see the grownups in their life doing,” he says. “It’s hard to justify for a child the statement, ‘I’m eating this, but you can’t.’”
Bouldin recommends revamping bad eating habits, which includes dining in front of the television, early on so the whole family can lead a healthy lifestyle.
Physical activity goes hand in hand with proper diet. Bouldin says children have a natural tendency to be “up and moving around,” and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen time – television, computer or handheld devices – until the age of two.
“There’s nothing beneficial about screen time; it doesn’t compare to the ability to pick things up and move around,” he says.
McBride says he encourages 20 to 30 minutes of exercise at least four times a week.
“Children need time to play and just enjoy activities,” adds Craft. “Let kids play outside, explore, turn over rocks, play in creeks.”
He also believes parents should work to understand a child’s strengths, weaknesses and interests.
“Let kids get involved and see what they are talented at or interested in pursuing,” he advises. “There has never been more things for kids to do; there are so many choices these days.”
Grow Baby, Grow
Growth and development happens so rapidly in young children, Bouldin reiterates. Therefore it is essential to schedule routine check-ups at the recommended times for the pediatrician to closely monitor such aspects as weight gain, brain development, social development and language.
“We ask key questions to see if things are on task,” he explains. “If development has become stagnant, that creates more concern.”
However, stresses each pediatrician, it’s important to remember that children develop at different rates. Parents should not compare their child’s development with others.
“I reassure parents at each visit that there is a range of age in which kids meet milestones, so if their child is not speaking as clearly as another of similar age, it may not mean that they are delayed,” says McBride.
Some parents immediately fear autism or Asperger’s Syndrome when development seems delayed, McBride adds. But he says these typically are not the problem.
“Things to look for around 15 months are lack of receptive language acquisition (following simple commands), lack of eye contact and repetitive behaviors,” he says.
If these symptoms are present, pediatricians will perform further testing for medical issues.
Autism is more common today, but Craft says there is no clear reason why. Some experts think environmental factors could be a trigger. Evidence continues to mount that vaccines have no role in causing autism.