Many people aren’t even sure what the tonsils do!  They actually help to prevent infection.  However, children with large tonsils can experience difficulty breathing at night, recurrent ear infections and sore throats.

Some experts feel that tonsillectomies are performed too often and are sometimes unnecessary.  If your Doctor has recommended this procedure, it doesn’t hurt to ask for a second opinion.  It is a minor surgery, but still a surgery where your child will be placed under general anesthesia. 

Generally, if your child has had 7 or more episodes of tonsillitis within a year, or five episodes over two years, they should probably have their tonsils removed.  Any reason is if the tonsils are enlarged to the point where they are interfering with the child’s breathing.  This will give you an idea of whether or not your child should have their tonsils removed, but it is something that you must discuss with your child’s pediatrician as each case is different.

Before the surgery, explain to your child what the Doctor is going to do.  Some children find it comforting to take a favorite toy to the hospital with them, and most Doctors will allow this.

During the surgery, the Doctor will hold the child’s mouth open and cut or burn away the tonsils.  Your child is under anesthesia and won’t feel any pain.  This kind of procedure will heal on its own and doesn’t require stitches, although your child will have a sore throat for a few days.   It could take up to 2 weeks for them to fully recover.  In most cases, the surgery is done as an outpatient procedure, allowing you to take your child home the same day.

Ice packs, eating ice cream and chewing ice cubes may all help to relieve the pain.  For the first few days, you should serve soft, easy to chew foods.  Try to avoid germs and illness for at least a week after the surgery, as your child may be more susceptible to an illness during this time.

Parents are often confused when a child seems to come down with the flu, after having received their flu shot for the season.  It is actually far more likely that the child is infected with the rotavirus, a common flu-like virus for which there is no vaccine.

Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness that causes symptoms such as fever, sore throat, headache and a dry cough.  Children must take in a lot of fluids to avoid dehydration when they are sick with the flu.

 The symptoms of a rotavirus infection are slightly different and include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever.  This type of infection is more common in six month to five year olds than the flu.

Although influenza and rotavirus are different types of infection, prevention and treatment is much the same.  Frequent hand washing, covering your nose when you cough or sneeze and avoiding people who are ill are all ways of preventing the spread of influenza or rotavirus. 

When treating your child’s flu or rotavirus illness, it is important to provide them with plenty of clear fluids.  Pop and other sweetened beverages can actually work against you; their high sugar content actually draws water into the intestines and away from the rest of the body.  Clear unsweetened juice, warm broth, water and electrolyte solutions such as Pedialyte should be given every hour to prevent dehydration. 

Every with hand washing and disinfecting, it is impossible to keep your child completely germ free, especially if they go to daycare.  Before flu season hits, stock your medicine cabinet with Pedialyte, Children’s Tylenol, a thermometer and Gravol.  If your child does become ill and has a temperature of 105 or above, call your Doctor immediately.  Otherwise, give them lots of hugs and fluids and hopefully it won’t last long!

Snack time isn’t just an opportunity for your child to fill their belly until dinnertime.  Nutritious snacks give kids more energy to be active throughout the day.  Have you ever eaten a doughnut mid-afternoon and been drifting off before dinner?  There’s a reason for that: eating sugar, while it gives you a boost at the time, actually causes you to feel more tired when the sugar wears off.  The effects of a sugary snack are even more pronounced in children… hyper highs followed by grouchy, irritable lows.  Try some of these healthy snack to give your children energy, without unnecessary fat or sugar content.

Frozen Banana Pops

Bananas are an excellent source of potassium; frozen, they feel great on sore gums.  Cut the banana in half and insert a popsicle stick in each half.  Spread peanut butter on the bananas, and roll in crushed nuts.  Wrap in waxed paper and freeze. Yum!

Veggies and Dip

There are so many different ways to serve up veggies and dip that your child should never get bored with this snack.  Cutting veggies into fun shapes, tinting the dip with food coloring or picking up something new at the grocery are all good ways of keeping your child’s interest.  Try: cherry tomatoes, broccoli ‘trees’, celery logs, radish roses, fresh peas in the pod, sliced cucumbers, quartered mushrooms and more.  Serve with a low fat yogurt or sour cream dip.

Mini Sandwiches

Use Ritz, Triscuits or whole wheat crackers with ham and cheddar or swiss cheese for a yummy afternoon snack.  Cut the ham and cheese and assemble the sandwiches on a plate… remember that it’s a snack sized portion and if you fill the entire plate, they may eat it all.

Mini Bagel Pizzas

Spread tomato sauce over the cut bagel.  Top with cheese and mushrooms, green pepper, pineapple, ham and cheese.  Bake until cheese is melted.

Some great snack ideas are healthy and require little to no preparation at all!

• Fruit with yogurt dip
• Frozen yogurt with fresh berries
• Baked tortillas with salsa
• Graham crackers and a glass of milk
• Fresh fruit salad
• Pear slices with cheese
• Breakfast bars
• Sunflower or pumpkin seeds
• Trail mix
• Celery logs with cottage cheese and raisins
• Muffins with bran or wheat germ

Try to limit snacks high in sugar and sodium, and avoid sweetened beverages altogether.  The best way to be sure you have a supply of healthy snacks on hand is to plan your snacks for the week before you go grocery shopping.  Running out of healthy snacks could mean reaching for a bag of chips! 

Obese children are more at risk than their thinner counterparts for depression and depressive illnesses.  What is not known is the manner in which the two conditions are connected; does depression in children cause obesity, or does obesity cause the depression?

Although many studies have been done in this area, the findings are often controversial and vary considerably.  So while it is unknown whether one condition is the actual cause of the other, it is clear that they are linked.  Obese children are more prone to depression, low self esteem and other mental health conditions.

Considering the social stigma of childhood obesity, it’s not hard to see why obese children miss more school, participate less in activities and are often unhappier with the overall quality of their lives than non-obese children.  It is important to treat your child’s obesity as a health issue, not a physical appearance issue.  Not all obesity is caused by overeating, and treatment can be a vicious cycle of setbacks if your child continues to feel berated or picked on.  Working with your child to develop a healthier lifestyle is key, to losing weight as well as fighting depression.

The good news is that there are measures to be taken that can not only help your child lose weight, but also help ward off depression and low self esteem.  Physical activity helps to burn fat, speed up the metabolism and tone muscle.  But it also releases chemicals in the brain that make your child feel happy (much like eating chocolate, without the expanding waistline!).

Being outdoors and getting natural sunshine also plays a role in depression prevention and treatment.  A lack of sunshine is proven to contribute to depressive illnesses, as is a lack of Vitamin D.  Eating a well balanced diet and playing in the sun could greatly improve your child’s depression. 

Now, that is not to say that “Obese children just need to get out more!”  That’s not my point at all.  While some depression or obesity can be attributed to lifestyle, environment or eating habits, many people suffer from imbalances that are best treated with antidepressants.  Since placing a child on antidepressants is controversial and often completely unnecessary, it is best to explore all of the ‘natural’ avenues of treatment first. 

Talk with your child’s pediatrician if your child is obese and you feel that they may be suffering from depression.  Some signs that may indicate your child is suffering from depression include:

• change in sleeping patterns; insomnia or excessive sleepiness
• changes in behavior
• lack of interest in activities
• frequent bouts of crying
• low energy
• feelings of hopelessness
• social isolation
• extreme sensitivity
• frequent complaints of physical illness
• poor concentration in school
• thoughts about running away from home

If you’re thinking “That sounds like any and every child”, bear in mind that most people will suffer some form of a depressive illness at some point throughout their life.  If you see warning signs in your child, discuss a course of action with their pediatrician.

While losing weight may be enough to cure your obese child of their depression, weight loss is by no means a guarantee that your child will be happier.  It is important to reinforce the fact that you do love your child, no matter what size they are (I know you know that, but make sure you tell them that every single day) and that you support their new healthy lifestyle, by leading by example!

If your child hasn’t received the Chickenpox (or Varicella) vaccine, it is something that you should seriously consider.  While many of us think that chickenpox is a harmless skin irritation, it can have serious and sometimes fatal complications.  3 in 4 American parents were unaware that death is a complication of chickenpox; 100 people die every year from chickenpox in the U.S.  

 The chickenpox vaccine was licensed by the FDA in 1995 and is now widely available.  As with other vaccines, there can be complications.  However, they are usually less severe and less frequent than the problems that may arise with the actual disease itself.  Most people who take the vaccine have no side effects.  It is much safer to be immunized than it is to contract chickenpox.

Chickenpox is more than a skin irritation.   A common childhood disease, it is usually mild but can be very serious in infants and adults.  The chickenpox virus can be transmitted through the air, or by coming in contact with fluids from a chickenpox blister.  Infection is characterized by an itching rash of blisters, fatigue and fever.  Even years after contracting chickenpox, some people experience a painful rash called shingles. Rare, but serious complications of chickenpox include: severe skin infection and scarring; brain damage; pneumonia; and even death.

 If your child has already had the chickenpox, they are immune to the virus and don’t need to be vaccinated.  All other children should be vaccinated (some states require that your child be immunized before they can enter school).  Teens/adults over the age of 13 who have not had chickenpox should be vaccinated twice, four to eight weeks apart.

Mild rash, fever and swelling at the injection site are all common side effects of the chickenpox vaccine, and should disappear within a few days.  Seizures and pneumonia are extremely rare side effects.  Monitor your child and report any unusual symptoms within 48 hours of their vaccination, such as dizziness, wheezing, weakness, hives, high fever or rapid heartbeat.

As with any vaccination, discuss the risks and benefits with your child’s Pediatrician, and keep accurate records of all immunizations.

Immunization is necessary to protect your child from serious illnesses.  Though you may have heard stories occasionally about the dangers of vaccines, the truth is that serious side effects are extremely rare.  The chance of your child developing serious complications after being vaccinated is so tiny that it really isn’t an argument at all to keep your child from being immunized.  Typically, the media only report on the cases with ‘sensational’ stories; they don’t mention the thousands of lives that are saved every year through vaccination.

The DTP vaccination is recommended at two, four, and six months; one and a half years; and again between four and six years to protect your child from Diptheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (whooping cough).  There are two types of DTP vaccine; the newer DTaP and the original DTP vaccine.  Either form is acceptable, although most parents are more comfortable with the new vaccine. 

Before the Doctor administers a DTP vaccine, make sure they have performed a thorough check-up.  Your child may experience one of these common reactions within 48 hours of vaccination:

• Loss of appetite
• Pain, redness or swelling at the injection site
• Irritability
• Drowsiness
• Vomiting
• Mild fever (under 104F rectally)

Baby Tylenol can help to treat a fever or pain that develops as a result of the immunization.  If you child is excessively sleepy or difficult to wake; cries persistently for three hours or longer; develops a high fever (105F rectally); convulses, or becomes unusually limp or pale, call your Doctor’s office immediately. 

To significantly reduce your child’s chances of experiencing one of the common side reactions to DTP, administer Baby Tylenol immediately after the injection.  A warm compress on the injection site may also help to relieve the pain.

All in all, the DTP vaccination is an important tool to help your child stay healthy.  As with all medications, you should discuss the benefits, side effects and risks of the vaccine with your child’s pediatrician until you are comfortable and confident that you are making the right choice for your child.

Parenting closely spaced children is a challenge under ordinary circumstances. When your kids get sick, life becomes even more interesting.

I have found one thing true… when one child gets sick the others usually do too. In my new guide,

Parenting CSK’s: The Common Sense Guide to Parenting Closely Spaced Kids

One of the challenges I talk about is parenting closely spaced siblings when sick or when your kids are sick. Children close in age share everything, including germs. Fortunately there are several steps you can take to preserve your sanity and your own health. Thus far I have managed to personally escape multiple flu bugs even when both kids and my husband were extremely ill with fevers, sore throats, intestinal trouble and more.

The number one prevention tip? Hand washing. Hand washing must become part of every day life when you parent closely spaced kids. Make a point to encourage your children to wash their hands after playing, being outdoors, picking up trash, picking their noses… it sounds funny, but realistically speaking hand washing IS the best way to avoid spreading germs.

You might also consider some disinfectant wipes to swab down doorknobs and other frequently ‘touched’ areas in the home once a day or so. While this will by no means prevent your kids from getting sick, it may lessen the severity of illness or prevent germs from ‘circling’ or your kids from re-infecting themselves once better.

If you are pregnant and caring for closely spaced kids, it is equally important you adopt a vigorous hand washing habit. This will help make things easier after you deliver. Hand washing will become so much of a habit you won’t have to think about it, and you’ll protect yourself and your baby from unecessary exposure to germs your other kids bring home.

Remember, getting sick is part of having kids, but it doesn’t have to rule your life!

Unfortunately, there comes a time in most children’s lives when they require over the counter or prescription medicine for an illness.  While medications can be a wonderful cure for some ailments, they can do more harm than good if they are used improperly.

If an over the counter medication has been recommended, ask the pharmacist for a list of signs to watch for that may indicate an allergic reaction.  Have them explain the method you should use to administer the medication, whether it is to be taken orally, topically or as a suppository.  Read the instructions very carefully, paying special attention to the recommended dosage.  Never give a baby under three months of age any medication, even over the counter, that has not been prescribed by their Doctor.

When your child’s pediatrician prescribes a medication, ask them to clearly explain the dosage and instructions.  If your child has a chronic medical condition, ask them how this new medication may affect the condition.  The pharmacist may also include an information sheet from the drug’s manufacturer, explaining the dosage, ingredients and contraindications; read this very carefully.  If the pharmacist’s instructions differ from the Doctor’s, call the Doctor before you begin treatment. 

 With over the counter and prescribed drugs alike, you need to know:

• What the drug is supposed to do
• How much your baby/child should take and when
• If the drug should be taken with food or drink
• The common side effects that could be expected
• Serious adverse reactions, and when to call the Doctor
• How soon you can expect to see an improvement
• What you should do if the condition persists

It seems like a lot of information, especially when you may only be administering cough syrup!  But you need to know these details, not only to prevent problems, but also to assist medical staff in providing the best possible treatment should a problem arise. 

Always give your child the full course of medication prescribed by the Doctor.  Even though they may be feeling better, not finishing a prescription can actually make your child immune to the treatment, making it harder to cure the next time they become ill.

Special care must be taken when giving medication to a baby:

1. Never give medicine to a baby while they are laying down.
2. Check the expiration date before you use the medication.
3. Measure the medication exactly, using a calibrated dropper or spoon.
4. Keep a record each time you medicate your baby; especially if two parents may be administering the drug.
5. Store the medication properly.

If you are unsure of how or when to administer a medication, always call your family Doctor or pharmacist BEFORE you give your child anything.