Fact Friday: RSV is here

We wanted you to be aware that we are seeing an increase of RSV in our office.  Always remember that the best prevention is hand washing! Here are two past "post" with great information about RSV.

• Willow Creek Blog post : RSV is here
• Willow Creek Blog post: RSV be prepared

Remember-- we do have after hours at our office and we are happy to see your child if you need.  Please call if you have any questions. Have a great weekend !

What are the healthy foods in 2012

January always comes with a new commitment to good nutrition. Dr Jopling found this great article by Elizabeth Ward in USA today. It list several "HEALTHY FOODS" that can help in 2012. Read part of the article here and click below for the full article.

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Why not take a more positive approach to changing eating habits for the better in 2012 and beyond? Instead of concentrating on what you can't eat, plan your eating pattern to include more nutrient-rich choices.
I reached out to my colleagues, some of the country's top health experts, and here's what they recommend you put on the menu in 2012 and every year.

Pumpkin. It's packed with antioxidants as well as immuneboosting vitamin A , and it's simple to incorporate into your everyday diet. Use canned pure pumpkin to work this super-nutritious vegetable onto the table any time of the day. Stir a cup into your favorite bean chili recipe; use 1/4 to 1/2 cup canned to replace some of the solid fat, such as margarine and butter, in recipes for baked goods; or add a few tablespoons of pureed pumpkin to fruit smoothies.

- Janice Newell Bissex, MS, RD, and Liz Weiss, MS, RD, aka The Meal Makeover Moms (authors of No Whine With Dinner: 150 Kid-Tested Recipes from the Meal Makeover Moms)
Beans. Whether purchased in a can or bag, beans provide more nutritional and culinary versatility than any other food I know. They are one of the best natural sources of fiber you can bring to the table with an average of seven grams of fiber in every 1/2 cup serving of cooked beans. Beans are also a good-to-excellent source of six other vitamins and minerals including folate, potassium and iron.
When trying to meet the ChooseMyPlate recommendation to fill half your plate with produce, beans can help because they are vegetables. When you have plenty of other vegetables on your plate, your beans can count as a protein source instead. Now that's versatile!
-Robyn Flipse, MS, RD (co-author of The Wedding Dress Diet)

 

 

To read the other suggestions click HERE
**info from USATODAY

Fact Friday : Chillin' With Winter Safety From AAP

One day we may get snow?...Maybe?...But this is a great reminder put out by the AAP. To read the full article click on the link below.  We always love the safety tips and they are great reminders to start the winter season.

What should you do to help them prepare? It may be cold outside, but it’s just as important for children to get physical activity during the winter as it is during the warmer months. Physical activity should be a healthy part of your family’s routine throughout the year. And safety should always be a central part of your children’s recreational fun.

Fun in the Winter Sun

It’s true that many safety concerns are the same regardless of season, says Holly Benjamin, M.D., FACSM, FAAP, the director of primary care sports medicine program at the University of Chicago Student Care Center. For starters, parents still need to remember sunscreen, for example. “People come back from ski trips and we actually treat a fair number of sunburns,” she says.  Even though it might seem odd, you can get sunburn in the winter.  The sunlight reflects off snow and ice. Wear sunscreen with an SPF 15 minimum and cover exposed areas of the body. You should wear protective eyewear and an SPF lip balm, Benjamin says. 

Safety in Layers

When thinking about outside activity, think about clothing, too.  Layering is a good idea; so are moisture-wicking

“I think with winter sports safety, especially with kids, the temperature and the environment are near the top of the list in importance.  And I think that parents have to be really proactive and responsible about dressing them appropriately in layers, covering their heads and necks.” 

Watch out for fashion trends that could land you in the ER. Long scarves and cords can get caught in sled blades, and hoods can block peripheral vision, she says. “Some people believe that it’s safer to just have a hat, neck warmer, a warm jacket and gloves,” she says. As long as the exposed skin is covered and the jacket can be zipped, your child should be ready for winter play.

Stay Alert

Injuries can happen anywhere, anytime. Dr. Benjamin’s advice follows that of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): Be aware and use caution. Children should always wear helmets while sledding, skiing, snowboarding, and playing ice hockey, for example. 

“If you’re talking about sledding or tobogganing, especially with young kids, they’re not always looking for trees or rocks, so you have to scope out the environment and make sure they have a clear path,” she says. 

Parents should also make sure that the hill your children are sledding down doesn’t empty onto a pond that might not be frozen solid, she says. 

Older children should play it safe, too, she says. Don’t load up the sled with multiple riders; take turns. “Reckless play — actively trying to crash into each other or knock people off is obviously a setup for injury.” 

“It’s fun for kids to enjoy winter sports,” Benjamin says, “and we’re fully supportive of kids participating in winter activities as long as they follow safety guidelines.” 

Equipment Check

If you’re planning a skiing or snowboarding trip, have the equipment fitted by a professional. A child in too-large boots can trip and fall. A child in skis that aren’t the right size can fall, too. And keep in mind that wrist fractures — commonplace in snowboarding — can be prevented by simply using wrist guards.

Safety is key in ice hockey or sports involving equipment, Dr. Benjamin says. “The biggest challenge with kids is fit, making sure everything fits properly and is the right size. And that changes. No one wants to buy new skates every year, but it may be necessary as your child grows.”

Used equipment is fine, she says, but check it out before you buy it. Look at the laces, for broken blades and make sure the leather on hockey and ice skates isn’t too broken down around the ankles. Follow the team guidelines, too. If you need a mouth guard, wear one.

“A piece of used equipment that fits well and is in good condition is better than something new that doesn’t fit properly,” Dr. Benjamin says.

You have to check all equipment, new and old, to see that it fits. You need to check it to make sure it’s still safe or not broken. If it gets used a lot, it may not hold up. Make sure helmets and boots are sized correctly. Make sure the equipment is in good shape. If you’re concerned, ask a sales person at a ski shop, she says.    

Skills Assessment

If it’s a new activity, work to master your skills, she says. Play it safe by starting with a snowboarding lesson before you hit the slopes.
It’s recommended, appropriate and safe, she says, to start slow or on a more gentle slope. Practice with your equipment and gradually build up to a steeper slope or faster speed. Be patient and resist pressure to take on more than you’re ready for.
By taking a few precautions, you can make sure that your children get the healthy benefits ts of winter exercise without taking unnecessary risks.
This article was featured in Healthy Children Magazine. To view the full issue, click here.
**info from HEALTHY CHILDREN MAGAZINE...click upbove for full article

20 Healthy New Year's Resolutions for Kids

The following New Year tips are from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). We look forward to these coming out each year! Great ideas and this year they broke it down by age group. For the full article click on the bottom and thank you to the AAP for putting great articles out like this...Happy New Year

Preschoolers

• I will clean up my toys and put them where they belong.
• I will brush my teeth twice a day, and wash my hands after going to the bathroom and before eating.
• I won’t tease dogs or other pets – even friendly ones. I will avoid being bitten by keeping my fingers and face away from their mouths.

Kids, 5- to 12-years-old

• I will drink reduced-fat milk and water every day, and drink soda and fruit drinks only on special occasions. 
• I will apply sunscreen before I go outdoors on bright sunny days. I will try to stay in the shade whenever possible and wear a hat and sunglasses, especially when I’m playing sports.
• I will try to find a sport (like basketball or soccer) or an activity (like playing tag, jumping rope, dancing or riding my bike) that I like and do it at least three times a week!
• I will always wear a helmet when bicycling.
• I will wear my seat belt every time I get in a car. I’ll sit in the back seat and use a booster seat until I am tall enough to use a lap/shoulder seat belt.
• I’ll be nice to other kids. I’ll be friendly to kids who need friends – like someone who is shy, or is new to my school.
• I’ll never give out personal information such as my name, home address, school name or telephone number on the Internet. Also, I’ll never send a picture of myself to someone I chat with on the computer without my parent’s permission.

Kids, 13-years-old and up

• I will try to eat two servings of fruit and two servings of vegetables every day, and I will drink sodas only on special occasions. 
• I will take care of my body through physical activity and nutrition.
• I will choose non-violent television shows and video games, and I will spend only one to two hours each day – at the most – on these activities.
• I will help out in my community – through volunteering, working with community groups or by joining a group that helps people in need.
• When I feel angry or stressed out, I will take a break and find constructive ways to deal with the stress, such as exercising, reading, writing in a journal or discussing my problem with a parent or friend.
• When faced with a difficult decision, I will talk about my choices with an adult whom I can trust.
• When I notice my friends are struggling or engaging in risky behaviors, I will talk with a trusted adult and attempt to find a way that I can help them.
• I will be careful about whom I choose to date, and always treat the other person with respect and without coercion or violence. I will expect the same good behavior in return.
• I will resist peer pressure to try drugs and alcohol.
• I agree not to use a cell phone or text message while driving and to always use a seat belt.

**info from Healthychildren.org
for full article click here

Happy New Years and Holiday Hours

We want to wish you a very HAPPY and HEALTHY New Years. We will be in the office all weekend for those kiddos who love to get sick over the holiday weekends! We will be in the office on Saturday New Year's Eve with our phones starting at 8:30--we will be seeing sick patients only and book in order. Sunday New Years Day will be also be there for sick only and our phones will turn on at 9:30 with one doctor to see SICK only. Monday we observe the holiday and have one doctor to see SICK only with urgent medical problems! Our phones on Monday Jan. 2nd will be on at 8:30 and we will stay in the office until our latest scheduled appointment.(for sick only).  Tuesday Jan 3rd we start 2012 as a "normal" day and our phones will be on 8:00 to book with any of our pediatricians.

The doctors and staff of Willow Creek Pediatrics would like to wish all of our patients and their families a very happy and healthy 2012!

Build-A-Bear Recall

Here is a breaking news Large TOY recall--Thanks to Dr Lynch for providing us with this info from CNN:

(CNN) -- The Build-A-Bear Workshop company is recalling nearly 300,000 Colorful Hearts Teddy Bears sold in the United States and Canada due to risks of choking, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced.
The agency warned that while no injuries have been reported, the "teddy bear's eyes could loosen and fall out, posing a choking hazard to children," according to a statement.
"Consumers should immediately take the recalled teddy bear from children and return it to any Build-A-Bear store to receive a coupon for any available stuffed animal from Build-A-Bear," the statement said, advising buyers to contact the firm at 866-236-5683 with additional questions.
The Chinese-made toy is a stuffed animal, roughly 16 inches tall with black plastic eyes, that is sold in the United States for $18.
The bears were sold at Build-A-Bear Workshops and through the firm's website from April through December.

Happy Holidays and Holiday Hours!

We wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! We hope you have a wonderful holiday season. Just a reminder, for your convenience, the Willow Creek office does have holiday hours! We will have a doctor available on Christmas Eve (Saturday) for sick patients.  Our phones will turn on at 8:30 for you to schedule an appointment or to speak to a nurse for medical advice. We will book appointments in order and stay until our latest scheduled appointment. We will be closed on Christmas day (there will be a doctor available for phone calls for urgent medical advice) and we will reopen on Monday, December 26th for SICK only. The phones will turn on at 9:00 and we will book in order and again stay until our latest scheduled appointment. We will have a nurse available for medical advice. Our normal regular schedule will resume on Tuesday Dec 27th with our phones turning on at 8:00 AM. We hope you have a very safe and healthy Holiday season from everyone here at Willow Creek Pediatrics.