Blog - Pediatrics

Newborn Care

Posted on July 27, 2021
Author: Melanie Coombs-Bynum, MD, FAAP

So you just brought your new baby home from the hospital and you don’t know what to do. Well just remember that taking care of a newborn isn’t rocket science, let us not make it too complicated. Newborns have spent their entire existence in their mother’s womb in a tight small environment, that is warm (body temperature), dark and surrounded by the constant sounds of their mom’s blood flow and heartbeat. Once they are born, they have been suddenly disconnected from all they have known...

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Fever Treatment for Newborns and Infants

Posted on July 06, 2021
Author: R. Nathan Landefeld, MD, FAAP

Fevers in a newborn or infant child can be scary for parents. Recommendations for fever treatment have also changed, so it is difficult for parents to know what is right or wrong. We define fever as any temperature greater than 100.4°F. Anything less than this, even if elevated from a child’s normal, is not considered a fever. While fever is an indication of illness in a child, it is not an indication of how sick the child is. Very serious illness can occur with low-grade temperatures (101...

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Teething

Posted on June 14, 2021
Author: Sara Jo Foley, APRN

Teething in infants can be a stressful time for both parent and child. Although some infants have no symptoms at all as teeth are erupting, others can be uncomfortable while the teeth break the surface. The most common symptoms reported by parents are irritability, excessive drooling, and gum irritation. Many parents report their child feels warm, but true fever is not generally associated with teething and should be evaluated for a more serious source than tooth eruption. For teething relie...

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Sleep habit tips for infants and toddlers…

Posted on June 01, 2021
Author: Dana Crater, MD, FAAP

One of the biggest factors for overall health through all stages of childhood and even adult life is sleep. This is because the organ in your body most impacted by sleep is your brain. For young infants, the brain is still growing rapidly and even more so than adult brains developing trillions of those all-important connections within the brain for learning. For toddlers and older children, it affects mood and learning. Getting enough sleep is very important and even the quality of that sleep i...

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When do I need to worry about fever in my child?

Posted on May 29, 2021
Author: Dana Crater, MD, FAAP

As a pediatrician, I often get asked, “When is a fever too high?” The answer is that there is no magic number that makes a pediatrician concerned, but there are some important guidelines we adhere to and questions that need to be answered to determine the next step in a child with fever. First, what is a fever? Doctors define a fever as any temperature above or equal to 100.4. A temperature of 99 or 100 may be a slight elevation, but it is not a true fever. Any infant under the a...

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Is your child having anxiety?

Posted on April 17, 2021
Author: Dana Crater, MD, FAAP

Some degree of stress, worry, and anxiety are normal as part of the pre-adolescent and adolescent phases of life. In fact, it’s part of every phase of life, isn’t it? However, if you are noticing that your child seems burdened by their worries and anxieties, or that their daily life, interactions, and school or social success are being affected, it’s time to look into it a little more deeply. A great first place to start is a visit to your pediatrician. Pediatricians are accustomed to ...

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Reading to Your Child Benefits Both of You

Posted on April 02, 2021
Author: Kimberly Nicholson, MD, FAAP

Are you looking for a fun, rewarding, calming activity that can be done at home with your baby or young child? Read a book together. Reading aloud to children starting at birth has many documented benefits, including improved language development and school readiness, and is associated with better reading and spelling skills in elementary school. Children who are read to early and often even have less aggressive behavior and fewer problems with inattention. It i...

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Florida Water Activities and Child Safety

Posted on March 23, 2021
Author: David Butler, DO, FAAP

Florida provides ample opportunity to enjoy the water. It is a big reason my family decided to move to the state. No matter what water activity you enjoy, invest the time to teach your children about safety. Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

The most common water injury: sunburn! Keep infants under 6 months old in a cool shade and covered with cool clothing. Use an age-appropriate sunscreen when older and re-apply. Instill these ...

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Fussy Newborns

Posted on March 21, 2021
Author: Liliya Gerasymchuk, DO, FAAP

Previously, when babies would go through long periods of crying and resist soothing, it was known as colic. However, it is now known to be a normal part of newborn development that some babies cry for longer periods of time than others. The new term, Period of PURPLE Crying, helps remind us that this phase is normal, is temporary, and will pass. This can start from two weeks, and last until three or four months.

What does PURPLE stand for?