Car seats--Have you checked your car lately?

One of the most important jobs you have as a parent is keeping your child safe when riding in a vehicle. Each year thousands of young children are killed or injured in car crashes. Proper use of car seats helps keep children safe. But with so many different car seats on the market, it’s no wonder many parents find this overwhelming. The APP has a great new article about car seats. CLICK HERE for the full story. Here is a few key points:

The type of seat your child needs depends on several things, including your child’s age, size and the type of vehicle you have. Note: The “Types of car seats at a glance” chart is a quick guide on where to start your search. It’s important to continue reading more about the features and how to use your car seat. Additional safety tips are at the end of this article.
To see a list of car seats and safety seat manufacturers, click here.

Types of car seats at a glance

Age Group	Type of Seat	General Guidelines
Infants/toddlers	Rear-facing only seats and rear-facing convertible seats	All infants and toddlers should ride in a Rear-Facing Car Seat until they are 2 years of age or until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car seat's manufacturer.
Toddler/preschoolers	Convertible seats and forward-facing seats with harness	Any child 2 years or older who has outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit for their car seat, should use a Forward-Facing Car Seat with a harness for as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height allowed their car seat’s manufacturer. This also applies to any child younger than 2 years who has outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit of their seat.
School-aged children	Booster seats	All children whose weight or height is above the forward-facing limit for their car seat should use a Belt-Positioning Booster Seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly, typically when they have reached 4 feet 9 inches in height and are between 8 and 12 years of age.
Older children	Seat belts	When children are old enough and large enough to use the vehicle seat belt alone, they should always use Lap and Shoulder Seat Belts for optimal protection. All children younger than 13 years should be restrained in the rear seats of vehicles for optimal protection.

Important reminders

1. Be a good role model. Make sure you always wear your seat belt. This will help your child form a lifelong habit of buckling up.
2. Make sure that everyone who transports your child uses the correct car seat or seat belt on every trip, every time. Being consistent with car safety seat use is good parenting, reduces fussing and complaints, and is safest for your child.
3. Never leave your child alone in or around cars. Any of the following can happen when a child is left alone in or around a vehicle. A child can
• Die of heat stroke because temperatures can reach deadly levels in minutes.
• Be strangled by power windows, retracting seat belts, sunroofs, or accessories.
• Knock the vehicle into gear, setting it in motion.
• Be backed over when the vehicle backs up.
• Become trapped in the trunk of the vehicle.
4. Always read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. If you do not have the manufacturer’s instructions for your car seat, write or call the company’s customer service department. They will ask you for the model number, name of seat, and date of manufacture. The manufacturer’s address and phone number are on the label on the seat. Also be sure to follow the instructions in your vehicle owner’s manual about using car seats. Some manufacturers’ instructions may be available on their Web sites.

-- Info from AAP and Healthychildren.org Link to the full story above

Spring Break Safety Tips

Article Body

Spring break is a great time for the family to get away from the cold, dark days of winter and have some fun in the sun. Every year the AAP post a list of safety reminders for Spring Break---Here they are and have a safe and fun Spring Break this year! 

Sun Safety for Babies

• Babies under 6 months of age should be kept out of direct sunlight. Move your baby to the shade under a tree, umbrella or stroller canopy. It is okay to apply a small amount of sunscreen on infants under 6 months if there is no way to avoid the sun.
• Dress babies in lightweight clothing that covers the arms and legs, and use brimmed hats.

Sun Safety for Kids

• Choose sunscreen that is made for children, preferably waterproof. Before covering your child, test the sunscreen on your child’s back for an allergic reaction. Apply carefully around the eyes, avoiding eyelids. If a rash develops, talk with your pediatrician.
• Select clothes made of tightly woven fabrics. Cotton clothing is both cool and protective.
• When using a cap with a bill, make sure the bill is facing forward to shield your child’s face. Sunglasses with UV protection are also a good idea for protecting your child’s eyes.
• If your child gets sunburn that results in blistering, pain or fever, contact your pediatrician.

Sun Safety for the Family

• The sun’s rays are the strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Try to keep out of the sun during those hours.
• The sun’s damaging UV rays can bounce back from sand, snow or concrete; so be particularly careful of these areas.
• Most of the sun’s rays can come through the clouds on an overcast day; so use sun protection even on cloudy days.
• When choosing a sunscreen, look for the words "broad-spectrum" on the label - it means that the sunscreen will screen out both ultraviolet B (UVB) and ultraviolet A (UVA) rays. Choose a water-resistant or waterproof sunscreen and reapply every two hours.
• Zinc oxide, a very effective sunblock, can be used as extra protection on the nose, cheeks, tops of the ears and on the shoulders.
• Use a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15.
• Rub sunscreen in well, making sure to cover all exposed areas, especially the face, nose, ears, feet and hands, and even the backs of the knees.
• Put on sunscreen 15-30 minutes before going outdoors - it needs time to work on the skin.
• Sunscreens should be used for sun protection and not as a reason to stay in the sun longer.

Beach Tips*

• Drink plenty of water, non-carbonated and non-alcoholic drinks, even if you do not feel thirsty.
• Stay within the designated swimming area and ideally within the visibility of a lifeguard.
• Never swim alone.
• Be aware of rip currents. If you should get caught in a current, don’t try to swim against it. Swim parallel to shore until clear of the current.
• Seek shelter in case of storm. Get out of the water. Get off the beach in case of lightning.
• Watch out for traffic – some beaches allow cars. .

--Info from AAP.org and links to healthychildren.org

Save the Date: CPR Class for Parents!

Announcing CPR Courses for Parents! Such a huge hit every time and so many of you keep asking for it!

Saturday, May 11th 2013 at 2:00 pm

The class will last approximately 1 hour

$15 per person

15-20 spots available

To sign up, please speak with our office coordinator, Margie. You can contact her by calling the office or email her at margiet@wasatchpeds.net.

Spots will be offered on a first come first serve basis!

This is only a CPR class, NOT certification. It will be taught by Christine Keddington, who is certified to teach CPR.

Hiring Energetic and Friendly MA

Our office is looking for an energetic and friendly MA for one of our amazing, busy pediatricians. This is a full time position with insurance and benefits provided. Requirements for this position require someone that is high energy, pleasant and loves to work with children.

Please send your resume to margiet@wasatchpeds.net

Daylight savings alters sleep patterns

Did day light savings alter your sleeping patterns at home? It seems to take most families a few weeks to get back in the routine. If you are lacking sleep with this day light savings, read below for some great tips on how to help you and your child's sleep!

Sleeping Environment

• Get comfy. Make sure your bed and bedding are comfortable.
• Remove distractions. Get the TV out of the bedroom. Avoid watching or listening to upsetting, violent, or scary materials within 2 hours of bedtime. That includes the news, conflict-filled talk shows, and high-anxiety dramas. Use the bed only for sleep and intimacy, not for TV, reading, working, talking on the phone, or playing electronic games.
• Soothing sounds. Listen to relaxing music, sound from nature, or the sound of silence. Keep the noise level down. Consider earplugs if you can’t control the environment.
• Security and safety. Before you head for bed, make sure your doors are locked, the stove is off, the iron in unplugged, the water taps are turned off, and there are no bogeymen under bed (just kidding on this last one, but it does help to go through a routine to ensure you’ve done what you can to ensure your personal safety).
• Darker is better. Turn the light off. Darkness promotes sleep and healthy levels of melatonin, an important hormone that regulates sleep and wakefulness.
• Keep it cool. Cool room temperatures promote sleep and minimize interfering itchy sensations.
• Smell the roses, or better yet, lavender or chamomile. Soothing scents such as lavender have proven effective in helping people fall asleep, even in noisy intensive care units.
• Warm it up. A person warmed passively by a hot bath or sauna (not from intense exercise) falls asleep more quickly than someone who is cold. Even just a hot foot bath has proven helpful to ensuring good night’s sleep in a scientific study; so even if for some reason you can’t soak your entire body, consider a warm foot bath before bed to help you drift into dreamland. Keep the body warm and the room cool

Sleeping Routines

• Consider eating a light snack containing a protein (eg, seeds, nuts, low-fat milk, hard-boiled eggs) and a complex carbohydrate (eg, whole grain cracker or toast, slices of fruit or vegetables) within 2 hours before bed.
• Take a warm bath or shower within an hour before bedtime.
• Make it routine. Head to bed at the same time daily.
• Read something soothing, reassuring, or inspiring. Save the action/adventure stories, headline news, and murder mysteries for daytime reading.
• Manage your stress constructively. Practice mediation, autogenic training, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, prayer, counting your blessings, extending good will to others, or other relaxing stress management techniques.
• Keep a journal. Write down or record any worries, anger, irritations, or other negative perceptions. Get them out of your head, set them aside, and let them wait until tomorrow. Write down or record a list of things you appreciate or for which you are grateful. Make notes about little kindnesses you have observed in others or offered to others. Did someone smile at you today? Offer a handshake? Ask how you were? Open a door? Let you go first? Just noting small acts of kindness can help us feel better and more connected to other people. This helps us feel more positive and secure.

During the Day

• Limit daytime naps to 45 minutes, maximum.
• Expose yourself to bright light in the morning; this helps set your biological clock so you’ll be tired in the evening. Avoid bright lights before bed.
• Exercise during the day; yoga or other slow, meditative exercises may be helpful in the afternoon or evening.
• Check with your doctor. Make sure you can breathe easily at night; congestions and obstructions to breathing reduce restful sleep. If you snore, ask your doctor to check for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. If you have a painful or itchy condition, discuss optimal management with your health professionals. Review your medications (if any) to make sure they aren’t the culprit.

What Else Can You Do?

• Consider a cup of calming herbal tea such as chamomile, lemon balm, hops, or passion flower.
• Talk with your clinician about trying valerian, melatonin, tryptophan, or 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) supplements.
• Get a massage or at least a hand, foot, shoulder, or back rub from someone you trust.
• Consider trying acupuncture, especially if pain makes it hard for you to sleep. (Sleepiness and a sense of calm and relaxation are side effects of acupuncture.)
• Ask your clinician about cranial electrotherapy stimulation or electrosleep.

What to Avoid

• Avoid alcohol within 4 hours before bedtime (alcohol use just before bed can lead to rebound wakefulness 2-4 hours later).
• Avoid caffeine 4 to 6 hours before bedtime.
• Avoid heavy or spicy foods 4 hours before bedtime.
• Avoid strenuous exercise within 2 hours of bedtime.
• Avoid stimulating TV, electronic games, and arguments within an hour of bedtime

If you can’t fall asleep within 20 minutes, get out of bed, leave the bedroom, and try one of these strategies – snack, warm bath, soothing music, inspiring book, making a list or jotting in a diary.

--TIPS from the AAP

Time to schedule Sport and Yearly Physicals

It is that time of year again where your child may need a physical to play sports or to attend a scouting event for this summer/spring. Also, remember if you have a child going into Kindergarten or junior high they need to come in for a physical and updates on immunizations before registration. Our doctors will try to fit every child in but please call as soon as possible to get those scheduled.

We do recommend the following schedule for Well Child Check ups.

Schedule of Well-Child Care Visits

Visits can include physical measurements, patient history, sensory screenings, behavioral assessments, and planned procedures (immunizations, screenings and other tests) at the following suggested intervals:

• 2 weeks
• 2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 9 months
• 12 months
• 15 months
• 18 months
• 24 months
• 3 years
• 4 years
• And once every year thereafter for an annual health supervision visit that includes a physical exam as well as a developmental, behavioral, and learning assessment.

See you soon!

We need your suggestions!

We need your help! In the next few months our company website is going to have a whole new look! We are asking for help to see what you would find helpful. Is there something you would like to see on that website?

You can check out the website at www.wasatchpeds.net

 

Take a look around and let us know what you would like to see. This is your chance to have a great resource at your fingertips. Thank you for your suggestions, we really appreciate it~!