What to Consider Before Welcoming a New Pet into the Family
With COVID-19 keeping people at home, many people are considering bringing a new pet into the household. Pets can provide so many benefits for children and families: companionship reduced levels of anxiety and depression the opportunity to teach children about responsibility increased exercise and time spent outdoors a decreased risk of developing asthma and certain […]
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
With all the information available about the current coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, South Lake Pediatrics would like to provide our families with straightforward facts about the virus and what you can do to keep your family healthy. The absolute best resource for up-to-date COVID-19 information is the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html The CDC […]
Warts
Warts of the hands and feet are common in children. Over 25% of children will have at least one wart of the hands or feet during childhood. These childhood warts are caused by viruses and are benign (non- cancerous). About 50% of childhood warts will resolve without treatment within one year. While warts are not […]
Sun Safety
I was just at a conference where a pediatric dermatologist spoke about sun safety and sunscreen. He shared several bits of information I found interesting. A recent hot topic has been the safety and effectiveness of traditional chemical sunscreens vs mineral based sunscreens (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide). When asked what the best sunscreen is, […]
Insect Bites: Prevention and Management
Minnesota is currently experiencing an overabundance of gnats due to a very wet May and high river levels. Typically, the state introduces naturally-occurring soil bacteria into our rivers in mid-May to kill off the larval gnats while they are still in the water, but it was not possible this year. Currently, a species known as […]
How Much Sleep Does My Child Need?
Sleep is one of the most commonly discussed topics in our well child visits. We all know how vital sleep is for our bodies to function well but, how much sleep do children really need? The following age-based recommendations are from the American Academy of Pediatrics: Infants 4 months to 12 months should sleep 12 […]
Common Sense Eating
As the new year comes and goes, I hear so many people talking about resolutions, often related to “diet”. I also read about different fad diets- restricting this, avoiding that, eliminating entire food groups. As a pediatrician, these “diets” really frustrate me. Decades of research and thousands of years of human existence have proven again […]
Is Caffeine Safe for Children and Teenagers?
In recent years, soda consumption in the United States has been dropping. Unfortunately, many other sugary and caffeinated drinks have taken the place of soda. We have seen a proliferation of energy drinks, fancy coffees, “healthy” teas and even caffeine supplements over the past few years. Many parents ask me how much caffeine is considered […]
Healthy Breakfast Ideas
1. Homemade Oatmeal Oatmeal is a great choice for breakfast. Your children will love the comforting flavors of this staple. Skip the heavily processed oatmeal that comes in individual portions. Cooking oatmeal from scratch is quick and simple. Steel cut oatmeal is the healthiest choice because it’s the least processed. However, it takes the longest […]
How much sugar should my child be eating?
How much sugar should my child be eating? It seems like everyone is talking about carbohydrates and diet these days. We all know that we should watch our sugar intake, but what are the actual guidelines for children and sugar intake? According to the American Heart Association, children should be consuming less than 6 teaspoons […]