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Asthma in the Child Care Setting

admin — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:48:25 +0000

Asthma is a chronic breathing disorder and is the most common chronic health problem among children. Children with asthma have attacks of coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath, which may be very serious. These symptoms are caused by spasms of the air passages in the lungs. The air passages swell, become inflamed, and fill with mucus, making breathing difficult. Many asthma attacks occur when children get respiratory infections, including infections caused by common cold viruses. Attacks can also be caused by:

exposure to cigarette smoke,
stress,
strenuous exercise,
weather conditions, including cold, windy, or rainy days,
allergies to animals, dust, pollen, or mold,
indoor air pollutants, such as paint, cleaning materials, chemicals, or perfumes, or
outdoor air pollutants, such as ozone.

As with any child with a chronic condition, the child care provider and parents should discuss specific needs of the child and whether they can be sufficiently met by the provider. Some people believe that smaller-sized child care centers or family child care home environments may be more beneficial to a child with asthma because exposure to common respiratory viruses may be reduced. However, this has not been proven to be true.

Children with asthma may be prescribed medications to relax the small air passages and/or to prevent passages from becoming inflamed. These medications may need to be administered every day or only during attacks. Asthma medication is available in several forms, including liquid, powder, and pill, or it can be breathed in from an inhaler or compressor. The child care provider should be given clear instructions on how and when to administer all medications and the name and telephone number of the child’s doctor.

The child care provider should be provided with and keep on file an asthma action plan for each child with asthma. An asthma action plan lists emergency information, activities or conditions likely to trigger an asthma attack, current medications being taken, medications to be administered by the child care provider, and steps to be followed if the child has an acute asthma attack. Additional support from the child’s health care providers should be available to the child care provider as needed.

Most children with asthma can lead a normal life, but may often have to restrict their activity. Some preventive measures for reducing asthma attacks include:

Avoiding allergic agents such as dust, plush carpets, feather pillows, and dog and cat dander.
Installing low-pile carpets, vacuuming daily, and dusting frequently can help to reduce allergic agents. A child who is allergic to dogs or cats may need to be placed in a facility without pets.
Stopping exercise if the child begins to breathe with difficulty or starts to wheeze.
Avoiding strenuous exercise.
Avoiding cold, damp weather. A child with asthma may need to be kept inside on cold, damp days or taken inside immediately if cold air triggers an attack.

If a child with asthma has trouble breathing:

Stop the child’s activity and remove whatever is causing the allergic reaction, if you know what it is.
Calm the child; give medication prescribed, if any, for an attack.
Contact the parents.
If the child does not improve very quickly, and the parents are unavailable, call the child’s doctor.
If the child is unable to breathe, call 911.
Record the asthma attack in the child’s file. Describe the symptoms, how the child acted during the attack, what medicine was given, and what caused the attack, if known.

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Disagreeing With Your Pediatrician?

admin — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:25:50 +0000

Your pediatrician is an important part of your support network, especially during those first years of your baby’s life when parenting is new and uncertain. Questions about vaccinations and growth curves alone are enough to keep any mom and dad up at night.

Parents should feel confident handing over some of this concern to their child’s doctor. But what happens when parents and pediatricians disagree? Should you follow your instincts or simply trust your doctor to know what’s best for your child?

Meeting of the Minds
Hilary Eriksen, a mother of two in San Jose, Calif., felt uncomfortable when her first child’s pediatrician recommended nursing her 6-month-old less and giving her more solids. “Our daughter was very averse to solids and extremely happy nursing,” says Eriksen. “But the doctor said nursing wasn’t enough and [that] she needed solids soon.”

Meanwhile, Eriksen’s daughter was thriving, above average in size and learning something new every day. Unhappy with the advice, Eriksen sought out another doctor.

When her son was born, Eriksen decided to “stretch the truth” and tell her new doctor that her son was eating solids even when he wasn’t. “I didn’t want to have a similar experience with my son that I had with my daughter, even though I now had a different doctor,” says Eriksen.

Like Eriksen, Clare Gordiski, a mother of twin boys who lives in Ansonia, Conn., is not opposed to stretching the truth here and there when it comes to hot-button issues about her children’s health. When her doctor asks about her sleeping arrangements, for example, Gordiski leaves out key details about her family bed situation. She says she lies a little because she would rather make those kinds of decisions, such as where her babies sleep, by herself.

Truth of the Matter
Some “little white lies” aren’t a big deal when it comes to a disagreement with your pediatrician. Where parenting styles are concerned, keeping the details about sleep habits and feeding schedules to yourself may not be a life-or-death decision.

Dr. Paul Dvorak, a pediatrician in Madison, Wis., doesn’t worry much about issues like when to start solid foods or when to change from formula to milk. “We give the generally accepted recommendations, but if [parents] want to do otherwise, it is usually of no significance to the baby,” he says.

Likewise, Dr. Moshe Adler, a pediatrician in West Palm Beach, Fla., tends to pick his battles, so to speak. “If it is something minor, like delaying an immunization until the next visit, I’ll let [parents] have their way,” he says.

“When it comes to whether or not to do screening studies like vision testing or routine blood tests, I generally will spend more time and try to educate the parent as to why I think it is important,” says Dr. Dvorak. “However, the parent has to make the final decision, and I will support it regardless of what it may be.”

But what happens when doctor and patient disagree about more serious issues such as when medication is appropriate? “If they insist on treatment I think is either unnecessary or contraindicated, I’ll explain and refuse to treat,” says Dr. Adler. “Some parents think any fever or cold should be treated with antibiotics,” he says, as an example. But, according to Dr. Adler, viruses, in fact, don’t respond to such treatment.

On the other hand, some parents may not want to medicate their children as readily as their doctor might. For instance, some pediatricians prescribe low-dose daily antibiotics in cases of recurrent ear or urinary tract infections, but not all parents agree with this treatment. So how can those parents make their case without offending their pediatrician?

“Let me know what you disagree with and why,” suggests Dr. Adler. “If you have data or research, bring it to the office so I can see what you are referring to. That way, I can better see your reasoning.” If your doctor still doesn’t agree with you, she can at least give you more specific reasoning and the benefit of his education and experience on the topic.

Building a Bond
The only way to build a satisfying relationship with your doctor is to communicate. Don’t be afraid to speak up, but at the same time, be open to your doctor’s advice.

“I would suggest that parents not be hesitant to question, but if their doctor is following accepted recommendations (like those from the American Academy of Pediatrics), parents should be very careful and thoughtful before [ignoring him],” says Dr. Dvorak.

And when you do speak up, Dr. Adler requests that parents stay calm. “Don’t scream and yell,” he says. “And please don’t yell at my office staff.” Rather, schedule a time with your doctor when you can rationally discuss your disagreement and decide what’s best for your child.

If you find yourself questioning everything your pediatrician advises, it’s probably time to find a new doctor. Avoid more conflict by choosing your child’s doctor with certain factors in mind. “The first step is knowing what your needs are,” suggests Eriksen. “For example, I didn’t appreciate unsolicited advice [about my parenting style]. I also was offended when my daughter’s first pediatrician brushed off our concern that she cried a lot.” A new doctor who was more sympathetic to the Eriksens’ needs changed their experience at the doctor’s office significantly.

Gordiski thought it was important to find a doctor who talks to her as if she’s a friend. “I also like that there are other twins in her practice,” she says. “It is important to me – and should be to other mothers of twins – that the babies are seen by a provider who knows that twins are not the same as singletons.”

No matter how much experience your doctor may have, remember that a parent’s instincts are usually worth listening to. “Switch physicians as soon as you feel uncomfortable,” says Eriksen. “Trust yourself. The right doctor is out there.”

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How to care for your baby’s gums and emerging teeth

admin — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:37:10 +0000

Should I start cleaning my baby’s gums even before his teeth come in?

Yes. Even before your baby sports his first tooth, it’s a good idea to get into the habit of wiping his gums with gauze or a soft wet washcloth during bath time. You don’t need to use any toothpaste yet. Simply wrap the cloth or gauze around your index finger and rub it gently over the gums.

Bacteria in the mouth usually can’t harm the gums before the teeth emerge, but it can be hard to tell when the teeth are starting to push through, so you’ll want to start early. Getting your baby used to having his mouth cleaned as part of his daily routine should make it easier to transition into toothbrushing later on.
What’s the best way to brush my baby’s teeth after they start coming in?

As your child’s teeth start to appear (generally around 6 months), look for a baby toothbrush with a small bristle head and larger grip suitable for your hand. (If your child is healthy and still hasn’t sprouted his first tooth by the end of his first year, don’t worry — some children don’t start getting them until 15 to 18 months.)

As long as you’re cleaning your child’s teeth regularly, you don’t need to use any toothpaste yet. Just brush the teeth gently on both the outside and inside surfaces twice a day. Brush his tongue as well (if he’ll let you) to dislodge the bacteria that can cause bad breath. One quick swipe is enough. Replace the toothbrush as soon as the bristles start to look worn or splayed out.

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Problems in new born babies

admin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:36:31 +0000

Recently, experts conducted a small survey among kids in kindergarten: “What hurts you most?” The answers, in general, did not surprise – most children complained to their bellies.

Unfortunately, kids cannot say exactly what they are concerned – the intestines, pancreas, or something else, so parents should carefully examine problems in new born babies and respond quickly to the situation.

Problems in new born babies

Colic

After two or three weeks after discharge from the hospital, in addition to all existing concerns, you may receive another one – baby colic.

They display themselves as follows – during feeding or shortly after it a baby suddenly starts shrinking feet to the tummy, worries, and then abruptly turns red and screams.

Do not be strongly frustrated, in most cases, colic is not a disease, just your baby’s gastrointestinal tract adapts to new circumstances and learns working independently.

To avoid such problems, remember that during breastfeeding you should pay attention to what you eat, and renounce the use of products that enhance gas formation, such as cabbage and grapes.

Be sure to latch a baby to breast the right way and let him sucking as long as he wants, because “front” milk (first portions) is over-saturated with carbohydrates, which can contribute to gas formation.

If your baby still suffers from colic, put something warm to baby’s tummy or simply change his position in the crib to ease pain.

Food poisoning

Your baby is asking for a pot all the time and complains he has a stomach ache? One of possible causes – food poisoning. It occurs after eating low-quality products and causes sporadic general malaise, nausea, vomiting, spasmodic pain in the abdomen, frequent (more than 6-7 times a day) loose stool with undigested food particles or mucus, with greenish veins. In this case child’s pulse becomes more frequent, skin grows pale, temperature rises.

In this case you should wash a baby’s stomach: give him to drink several glasses of warm water and irritate the tongue’s root until vomiting. In case if diarrhea lasts for several hours, immediately call your doctor.

Infectious diarrhea

Any stool disorder is called diarrhea. It can be simple and infectious. Simple diarrhea in children is caused by overeating, violations of terms or rules of complementary foods introduction, often a reaction to unfamiliar products. Infectious diarrhea appears due to toxins or microbes in gastrointestinal tract. Poisons that give birth to organisms and damages of digestive tract cause the disease. Infectious diarrhea begins 6-48 hours after microbes getting in the body.

Intestinal poisoning can occur if you drink water from the tap or fresh unboiled milk. Poor quality kefir or yogurt, stale eggs, cakes and sausages, poorly cleaned or washed vegetables and greens – all these products are dangerous.

Pay attention to the symptoms that accompany diarrhea. First, your child may become listless, he no longer sits or lies, refuses to eat, then his temperature can raise and a few hours later diarrhea or vomiting begins.

When you notice such problems in new born babies, you should call a pediatrician as quickly as possible, so that he would appreciate the condition. A baby with a slight poisoning is left at home and prescribed a treatment. The most important thing in the acute period of illness – replenishment of fluid loss from vomiting and diarrhea. The main thing – in any case do not give a lot of fluid at once (it can cause vomiting). Give a teaspoonful every 5-10 minutes.

“Acute abdomen”

Often pain in stomach is a sign of the disease requiring immediate diagnosis and emergency intervention. This state is called “acute abdomen”. It is accompanied by bouts of severe pain, which can be either constant or spasmodic, “spilled” or local. The cause may be ileus, acute appendicitis, peritonitis, perforated ulcers of stomach and intestines. “Acute abdomen” requires immediate hospitalization and surgery, as it represents a danger to a child’s life.

Acute abdominal disease also causes dizziness, growing abdominal distension, marked weakness, lethargy, pallor, cold sweat. In case of “acute abdomen” it is absolutely contraindicated to give your child pain relievers, because it “erases” clinical symptoms and complicates the diagnosis, massaging the abdomen, applying heat to the abdomen, force-feed a child, do an enema.

To avoid problems in new born babies associated with tummy diseases, observe the following rules: – Children under 3 years should not stay long in the sun – food must be neutral, that is, excluding exotic food and ethnic dishes. Fruits and vegetables should be washed well before use, use only bottled water.

Abdominal pain – a symptom of various diseases of the abdominal cavity. The causes of many unpleasant sensations are numerous. Some of the most frequent: food poisoning, acute gastritis, parasitic infestation, dysentery, biliary dyskinesia, acute appendicitis. Unfortunately, young children cannot precisely determine the place of pain, and it is difficult to diagnose it. In acute abdominal pain one should not be given painkillers, because when arresting unpleasant sensations further differential diagnosis is hampered. Thermal procedures (hot-water bottles, baths, etc.) are strictly forbidden.

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Pertussis in the Child Care Setting

admin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:06:46 +0000

Pertussis (whooping cough) is a very contagious and dangerous infection of the respiratory tract caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. Whooping cough gets its name from the whooping sound the child makes when trying to draw breath after a coughing spell. Not all children with whooping cough make this sound; very young children may not be strong enough. Symptoms generally include those of a cold, such as runny nose and a cough that gradually worsens. Violent coughing spells frequently end with vomiting. Once the whooping stage begins, antibiotics are of no use.

Pertussis is spread from person to person through the air. A person who is not immune to pertussis becomes infected by inhaling air that has been contaminated with the respiratory secretions of an infected person who has coughed.

Before vaccines and antibiotics were developed, pertussis was a common cause of death in young children. Today, it is vaccine preventable. Children in the United States are now immunized with the pertussis vaccine beginning at 2 months of age and again at 4 months, 6 months, 15 months, and 4 to 6 years. All children attending a child care facility should be up to date on vaccinations.

If a child or adult in your facility is diagnosed with pertussis:

Immediately notify the local health department.
Exclude the infected person from the facility until that person has been on antibiotics for at least 5 days or for 4 weeks after onset of intense coughing.
Make sure that all children and staff observe careful hand washing technique.
In large facilities, follow appropriate group separation as discussed in the chapter, “Following Protective Practices to Reduce Disease and Injury.”
Require up-to-date immunization certificates for all children in your care.
Carefully monitor all children and staff for coughs. Anyone developing a persistent cough should be immediately referred to his or her physician.

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Common Eye Infections – Signs and Treatment

admin — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:05:14 +0000

Is your child in daycare? Then it’s probably just a matter of time before she comes home with a case of the highly contagious, pink eye.

If your child comes home from school or daycare with an itchy, red eye, then beware. She likely has the common, and very contagious eye infection, conjunctivitis. Also known as pink eye, it is usually accompanied by a thick, yellow discharge, often crusting the eyes shut in the morning. Pink eye can be viral or bacterial in nature. Viral infections are self-limiting and need to run their course, whereas bacterial infections require antibiotic eye-drops. The only way to know for certain whether your child’s eye infection is bacterial or viral is to have her seen by her doctor.

The good news is that while pink eye is uncomfortable, it is rarely serious. Pediatric ophthalmologist Dr. Roy Cline elaborates. “Conjunctivitis is an infection of the eye surface. Normally it should be nice and white. But if it’s red and swollen with discharge, it’s usually caused by the same type of virus that causes an upper-respiratory condition. And when it comes in that combination then you have pink eye.”

If your child has pink eye then you may want to keep your child away from school or daycare until the infection has cleared, so as not to pass it around to other children. Also it’s advisable to avoid sharing towels, and avoid touching the eye area. As Dr. Cline explains “it’s a very contagious disorder and really requires children to be meticulous about hand-washing. It’s spread by tear drops so you don’t want a child touching back and forth.”

Overall, it is wise to have any problems with eyes or vision assessed by a doctor. Finally, if your child’s eye infection is accompanied by a fever, swelling and a general sense of malaise, do have your child seen by a physician immediately, as this may require prompt treatment

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Is Yoga Good for Your Baby?

admin — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:22:12 +0000

Catherine Uden coos at her 5-month-old, Jack, as they sit quietly in the yoga studio.

The instructor enters and taps on a bell. Jack looks up. Class has begun at Yoga One studio in Hollywood, Florida.

For the next 25 minutes, they follow instructor Darlene Feinzig’s lead. Uden sings to Jack. She cradles his face and runs her hands down to his feet. She pulls his heels together, to stretch his hips and thighs.

They are practicing Itsy Bitsy Yoga.

“I think yoga is good for everybody,” says Uden, a Hollywood, Florida, elementary schoolteacher who has played yoga tapes to her students to help them focus.

Yoga has come a long way, with everything from Tantra Yoga to Laughter Yoga to Dog Yoga. “Baby yoga” has grown in recent years, and several “iterations” are taught across the country, according to Yoga Journal senior editor Diane Anderson in San Francisco.

“As yoga itself has become more popular, people want to extend the benefits of yoga to people they love, and their children would be among the first,” she says.

Itsy Bitsy Yoga was created 10 years ago by Helen Garabedian, a yoga and massage instructor in Boston. Garabedian says she studied babies’ movement, reflexes and equilibrium responses before creating the program, and has seen it grow since adding a certification course and publishing a book about it in 2004.

She has trained about a dozen Florida instructors to teach newborns through 24-month-olds, including a weeklong Orlando seminar last year.

Garabedian argues that Itsy Bitsy Yoga is more child-focused than, say, Mommy and Me classes, although others say it isn’t that much different. But the greater point is that in baby yoga, parental exertion is minimal.

Feinzig says: “These classes are all about the babies. It’s not for mom to get a tight butt.”

Time for babies
If you’re questioning how much yoga a baby can take in — ever throw a birthday party for a 1-year-old? — you might have a point.

But fans of yoga for infants and toddlers say it’s a way to a) bond with their children; b) keep babies relaxed and happy; and c) socialize with other moms.

“I personally don’t have a problem with it,” says Dr. Stephen Swirsky, of the Miami Children’s Hospital pediatric and adolescent sports medicine and orthopaedic surgery center. “If nothing else, it is bonding and physical contact time with the mother, which we all know is very important.

“How much actual benefit they get from it physically I think is very hard to quantify,” he adds. “That being said, I agree that floor activities for young kids are very important for head and trunk control as well as flexibility and coordination.”

Not to mention, it can help with your baby’s sleep and gas issues, Garabedian says.

The way Staci Sukphisit, of Fort Lauderdale, sees it, taking the class could set a pattern of fitness for the future.

“I grew up in a family where shopping was our competitive sport,” says the mom of 6-month-old Bergen. “I want to do everything I can to encourage my child to be healthy.”

Final relaxation
Because moms usually enroll in the class for only a few months, classes pop up often and the teachers find venues to suit the moms, says Kayla Willson, who teaches Itsy Bitsy Yoga in the West Palm Beach area.

Teachers also are encouraged to give the class their own spin.

Feinzig has found blowing bubbles to be a good trick. The babies are silent as they follow the bubbles with their eyes, and laugh when one lands on them and breaks.

“It increases their body awareness,” Feinzig says.

Then she tells parents to lie prone and place their babies on top of them, face-to-face for a final relaxation, similar to what happens in adult yoga classes.

“Unclench your jaws,” she tells the moms. “Breathe away any tension and stress.”

But Jack is squirmy, and Uden takes him off to the side. Sukphisit closes her eyes, but having Bergen on her belly gives her the giggles.

So Feinzig gives up. Gotta know when to adjust.

Instead, everyone just sits in a circle and talks quietly. Bergen is out cold, breathing heavy on mom’s shoulder.

And Jack will be in dreamland by the time Uden starts the car, she says.

“That’s the other great part of it,” Uden says. “They have the best naps.”

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Health Tips Due to Early Influenza Season

admin — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:36:23 +0000

With the influenza season upon us, it’s important to know your child’s main symptoms and know when you should call your local health care provider. Influenza is a viral infection of the nose, throat, windpipe, and bronchi. The main symptoms are a fever, achiness, stuffy nose, sore throat, and nagging cough.

For most children and adults, influenza is a just a bad cold with a mild headache and some muscle aches, which can last up to seven to 10 days. There are medications that can be given to treat the infection if they are taken within the first 48-72 hours of symptoms. These can be prescribed by your health care provider if needed.

So as a caregiver with a child experiencing the flu bug, when should you call your local health care provider? According to Dr. Craig Rubens, Division of Infectious Diseases, Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center, “It’s important to call your local health care provider if your child is experiencing muscle aches, headaches, fever and chills, to make sure of what the child may be sick with and what to do.”

“Other warning signs include children who are lethargic, not drinking fluids, or having difficulty breathing. It’s especially important to seek medical care if these children are under one year of age or have chronic health conditions such as asthma or heart disease, which makes their systems more susceptible to severe influenza disease or complications of the infection.”

The treatment of influenza is no different from that given for other coughs and colds. Here’s what you can do:

For a runny nose with a clear discharge, blow or suction the nose gently.
For a dry or stuffy nose with little discharge, use saline nose drops followed by blowing or suctioning.
For fevers or aches, use acetaminophen every four to six hours (Avoid aspirin because of the increased risk of Reyes’s syndrome.)
Encourage fluid intake to prevent dehydration.
For mild cough, hoarseness, or sore throat, encourage your child to drink clear liquids. Also, warm liquids may be soothing to the throat.
Running a humidifier in the child’s room may also be helpful.

Be sure to seek medical attention if the treatments described above do not appear to be helping and your child is getting worse.

If you have additional concerns, please call your local health care provider. You may also call Children’s Resource Line, locally at 206-526-2500 or toll-free, 877-526-2500 to speak confidentially to a nurse. The line is always available daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center provides health care appropriate for the special needs of children regardless of race, sex, creed, ethnicity or disability. Financial assistance is provided based upon family need and hospital resources.

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Foods Allergies – Signs and Symptoms

admin — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:21:55 +0000

If your child has trouble breathing or gets hives after eating, then she may have a life threatening food allergy.

In children, particularly young ones, intolerance to certain foods is fairly common. But actual food allergies, when the body’s immune system reacts to certain foods, are rare, effecting only one to three percent of the population. Nonetheless, food allergies can be dangerous and even life threatening.

Allergist Dr. John Dean explains some of the signs of a true food allergy. “Possible signs of a food allergy are severe eczema, swelling around the mouth, in the mouth, vomiting, maybe coughing & wheezing. (It occurs) often with certain foods particularly peanuts, raw eggs, sometimes milk, soya, shellfish and nuts, when these children ingest the food.”

If your child has a food allergy, there are two main concerns. First and foremost is that the child avoids the food that he or she is allergic to. The second concern is that parents work closely with a specialist to ensure that their child has an adequate diet explains allergy specialist, Dr. Edward Hein. “For children with food allergies, it’s a very good idea to work with a physician and to also talk to a dietitian or nutritionist in order to make sure that the diet is adequate so that the child will grow and develop normally.”

Once your child has been tested and the food allergy is confirmed, then it’s vital that he or she is well informed of what food he or she is allergic to and that this food is avoided without exception says Dr. Dean. “If your child has been identified as having a specific food allergy, it’s absolute avoidance. You cannot smuggle food, so any food that contains that food product such as milk solids in a hot dog has to be avoided.”

Dr. Dean hastens to add that it’s imperative anyone in regular contact with your child such as teachers and caregivers know just what to do if your child ingests the wrong stuff. Part of that game plan may include adrenalin. “If anyone has any major problem in their throat, difficulty swallowing or speaking, adrenalin is the only safe drug to use, and obviously you go straight to hospital,” says Dean. It’s recommended that children with food allergies carry a special emergency kit that contains a shot of adrenalin.

If you suspect your child has a true food allergy, then have her seen by a physician so testing can be arranged. Food allergies can be life threatening and therefore, must be taken seriously.

This luxurious 100% cotton “woven” sheet features the one and only Whistlestop Bunny print. Our sheets are made of the highest quality fabric that’s measured at a 280 tc. That means these sheets are soft and durable. Sheets are made with deep pockets and are elasticized around the entire edge which prevents it from slipping off the mattress, thereby keeping your baby safe. These sheets are so durable that they will last all through your baby’s growing years. We’re called sheetworld because we produce the highest grade sheets on the market today.

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Why Kids Get Sicker at Night

admin — Fri, 22 May 2009 15:36:25 +0000

It started around 1 A.M. My son, Liam, was 14 months old, and the noises coming from his room didn’t seem completely human: There was a sort of honking bark followed by a whistle-y kind of breathing. I ran into his room, my heart racing with worry, and I found him sitting up in his crib, looking scared and tired. I picked him up, took his temperature — no fever — and called the doctor. “It sounds like croup,” the doctor said. “Wrap him up in a warm blanket, sit outside with him, and call me back if his cough and breathing don’t improve in ten minutes.” Huh? This was early spring in New Hampshire. Sit outside?It had to be worth a shot. I wrapped Liam up so that only his frightened little face was exposed, put on my winter coat, and stepped onto our screened-in porch. We sat on the rocking chair, moving back and forth, looking at the stars, and listening to the croaking tree frogs. Within 15 minutes his throat gradually, miraculously cleared. The coughing stopped, his breathing sounded normal, and believe it or not, he had fallen back to sleep.

In the meantime, my husband had set up a modern version of outdoor night air — a cool-mist humidifier — in Liam’s room. I put him back in his crib, and he slept through the night. I, on the other hand, kept checking in on him every hour or so, but that’s what mothers do.

Sickness never comes at a convenient time, but when your child awakens in the middle of the night with distressing symptoms, chaos often follows. Everyone is half asleep and not thinking clearly. The doctor’s office is closed, and you don’t know whether you should call and wake him or try to deal with the ailment yourself. Let’s relieve some of the stress of that decision right now: Anytime you think your child’s health may be in serious danger — for instance, he has a high fever and is acting poorly, has trouble breathing, has a strange rash, or is having a seizure — call your doctor (or 911) immediately. And almost any symptom in a baby under 4 months old merits an immediate call to the doctor, no matter the time.

So what are you supposed to do the other 97 percent of the time when your child wakes up at 2 A.M. worse off than when he went to bed? Symptoms of many children’s illnesses routinely worsen at night, and though there’s nothing life-threatening about them, they can make your child miserable. Fortunately, with a little planning and the help of our middle-of-the-night health guide, you’ll have what you need to get your kid (and you!) feeling better by morning.

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