Summer and Animal Bites: A Pediatrician’s Perspective Part II
Last updated on July 14th, 2025 at 12:22 pm
Let’s deal with animal bites, much more common in Summer than any other time of year. These summer tips can help keep your child safe. Of course the most common types of bites that are for the most part preventable are those due to cats and dogs. These are the most common animals known to children but they must understand that the cats and dogs in their own homes are different than the stranger animals they may encounter outside the home. They cannot just assume that these are as friendly as their own pets and just be taught the proper way to approach such animals. Always from the front and never from behind, and allow the cats or much more frequently dogs to “learn” who they are by first presenting the back of their hand to the animal in a slow movement. If the dog seems to back away or puts his ears and tail down, your child should know to back away also. (Here’s a great post by our Kids and Canine’s Expert on how to Recognize a Dog’s Body Language Before Your Child is Bitten)
Most dog bites in young children occur on the face and upper body making them far more significant than a bite on the arm or the leg. If a bite occurs from an animal that is unknown to your family and disappears from the scene, or the attack is totally unprovoked, you should bring your child to his/her Doctor for appropriate treatment and information. Because a cat bite is more like an “injection” through the skin because of needle like cat teeth, these tend to be more worrisome and might get infected more frequently than bites from dogs, but severe bites from either need to be seen by a Doctor and can result in permanent scarring, physically and emotionally.
Other bites should be totally avoidable if your child is taught never to approach a wild animal, anywhere! Remember that certain animals are nocturnal feeders and therefore are seldom seen during the day. If you see a raccoon or opossum wandering around during the day, stay away, this is not normal behavior and may signal disease in that particular animal (possibly rabies).
Snakebites can be a serious problem, but most species of snakes suburban families will encounter are non poisonous, although they can inflict a bite that can then become infected- so again, the best preventative is to steer clear of these animals. Contact with poisonous snakes does occur, however with such activities as hiking, etc. So hikers and their families should be educated about the likelihood of encountering snakes, bears, and mountain lions, and what to do under those circumstances. This does not mean that children should not take part in these outside activities but with parental guidance these are very important part of your child’s education and affords another active opportunity to enjoy mother nature.
FIRST AID for those encountering the previously mentioned contacts:
For snake bites of any kind, hold the extremity elevated above body level and resist the temptation to place a tourniquet on the extremity or to cut near the area and try to suck out the venom. These are not only ineffective but can actually make things worse. Things to do are to:
- Call 911 and place ice on the extremity if you have it, but remember NO ICE on small extremities; fingers toes, ears, nose, etc.
- If it is possible (and safe), try to kill the snake and bring with you to ER!!
- Try to keep your child calm (if you can yourself calm down).
As far as other wild animal bites, if they are large and bleeding heavily, place pressure over the area and hold tight until help arrives. And again if you can (safely) bring the animal carcass with you to ER it would be very helpful.
For smaller animal bites not bleeding very much, rinse well with soap and water and contact your child’s Doctor or local ER.
If you end up going to an ER, call ahead as you drive there to let them know what the problem is so they can be better prepared for your arrival.
Always follow up with your child’s pediatrician to let them know what has happened
Do toddlers really need to floss their teeth?
Last updated on July 6th, 2025 at 03:15 pm
Your 1-year-old may seem a little young for flossing, but cavities don’t know how old teeth are! Teeth can get cavities as soon as they erupt into the mouth. If your toddler’s teeth are touching one another, food and plaque can get stuck between them, and cavities can form.
The importance of flossing is one of the reasons that the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends taking your child for his first dental appointment at age 1. At this visit, the dentist can help determine if your child’s teeth are ready to be flossed, and she’ll show you how to properly brush and floss them. (This will be your job for a long time; most children aren’t ready to brush and floss on their own until they are 8 or 10 years old.)
Nighttime brushing and flossing are the most important, so make sure you do it every night before bed. And remember: Nothing to eat or drink except plain water after you’re finished!
Summertime Bugs, Bites and Burns: A Pediatrician’s Perpective
Last updated on July 6th, 2025 at 03:15 pm
The beginning of summer signals a time of spending more active hours outdoors. The weather is warming up, the days are longer and children are getting out of school and probably staying up longer than they did during the school year. It is a time to let loose and enjoy the sunshine and freedom that comes with the season.
Certain issues should be addressed and some summer safety tips followed in order to keep everyone as healthy as possible.
Burns: While exposure to sunlight is important to the innate production of vitamin D and hence calcium metabolism, there are dangers that our dermatology friends have been warning about for quite some time: too much sun can be as dangerous as too little. The highest rates of Melanoma (serious form of skin cancer) occur where there is an increased and constant exposure to sunshine, such as the southwestern part of this country. Why is this? It has been determined that both UVA and UVB light frequencies can at times alter the structure of DNA, that is the microscopic building blocks for forming all types of life forms. This is most prominent in the largest organ in our bodies, our skin. This can lead to the formations of all types of skin growths- melanoma being the most serious as it can shorten one’s life.
So avoiding sunlight would be the best way of avoiding this problem, but this is virtually impossible. Therefore try to avoid the maximum sunlight times of the day and spend more time outdoors before 10 AM and after 3PM, and cover up as much as is practical. At all times children should have a good sunblock on their skin- one that will block both UVA and UVB frequencies, and if continued exposure to sunlight is taking place or if one enters the water, this sunblock should be re-applied; the higher the SPF the less often it need be applied.
One blistering sunburn in a child can raise the chances of developing melanoma as an adult manifold. Once a sunburn is present there is practically nothing you can do except to keep your child comfortable with cool compresses and Tylenol if he/she is very uncomfortable.
Bug Bites and Stings: Not only are bugs a nuisance but some may carry diseases. Just as an example, the increase in concentration on the Zika virus in 2016 highlighted the need to be alert to insects (mosquitoes), as the Zika virus was not even recognized 5 years before. In 2024 we started to see a rise in West Nile virus in the United States, also caused by mosquito bites. There are other known illnesses that can be transmitted through the bites of insects, but as a rule these are not very common- it still makes sense to wear appropriate clothing and use insect repellent at appropriate times. These repellents should contain DEET in concentrations up to 30% for children and should not be used under the age of 6 months – use lower concentrations (10%) if kids will only be outside for an hour or two.
In general the ubiquitous honey bee usually will not be interested in stinging humans unless they are threatened- inadvertently sat on, or a child is actively trying to catch them. Even the large black and yellow bees seen buzzing around certain plants and flowers are not particularly aggressive.
This is not necessarily true of other stinging insects in the same family (hymenoptera). Hornets and wasps can be aggressive depending on the situation, and the fairly new “Africanized bee” population has grown in size- they tend to swarm and have been responsible for deaths in the past. So better off to avoid these creatures altogether. Of course if there is a known bee allergy present in your child certainly more stringent avoidance procedures should be undertaken as this can be a life threatening situation. Be sure to consult your pediatrican about what precautions you should take if you believe your child might be allergic to bees.
So summertime is a wonderful time for families and especially children; be sure to keep your child safe from the indigenous dangers that summer presents.
Other summer topics to be discussed in my next article include water hazards, plant contact (poison ivy, etc), heat exposure and dog and cat bites, not to mention animal safety in general.
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Editor’s Note:
We have also seen an increase in Lyme Disease here in the United States. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread to people through the bite of blacklegged ticks. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. If your child has come into contact with a tick (or if you think they may have, but are not sure) and they experience these symptoms or a characteristic rash, please contact a health-care professional as soon as possible.
Summer Camp for a Kid with Food Allergies? Absolutely!
Last updated on May 25th, 2025 at 05:02 pm
I know what you are thinking right now – me, send my allergic child away, to a camp? Are you out of your mind? How, where and what do you think I could do to stay sane while my child is away? I have some answers and (hopefully) you will find them helpful.
First, I would like to say that I understand the complexity of the entire scenario of sending your allergic child to a camp. I understand that it requires a lot of extra work and effort but what is it that is delaying the possibility- is it your fear of the unknown? If the answer is yes, that is ok and absolutely normal. With a few simple precautions, you could take the next step to having your child do what every other child without food allergies does.
The easiest way to start is something that Dr. Michael Pistiner of AllergyHome shared at the US Anaphylaxis Summit in Washington D.C.: “A.C.T. – Avoid, Communicate, Teach”. Be able to explain which foods must be avoided to ensure a safe environment for your child at camp as well as the others who may have food allergies. Communicate openly with the camp staff on all levels so that they feel comfortable working with you as much as possible. Teach them because many times, people are embarrassed to tell you that they are unsure of how food allergies should be handled. The more you make yourself approachable and willing to share your information, the easier it will be to begin to open up those doors for your child to enjoy that summertime rite of passage.
Searching for a camp that will be able to accommodate your child’s needs may be a bit tricky but I’m happy to say that there are more and more allergy-friendly camps that are becoming available to parents. These camps also include dairy free, asthma and children who have skin conditions that are excited to spend summertime with others in a fun environment. Not sure where to start the search? Here’s a sample of just a few of these camps right here:
Allergy-Friendly Summer Camps
Asthma Camps
Dairy Free
Skin Conditions
Now, one of the most important parts of what you need to remember may seem just a teeny bit selfish at first but just let the thought sink in for a bit. This will also be your time to relearn how to be your own person outside of being a food allergic parent. Let’s face it, when was the last time you did something that was for yourself? You – not the nut allergic child’s mom, not the protective parent and not the unconditional caretaker but you as your own person. I am not saying you have to go wild but I am reminding you that finding yourself and allowing you to find yourself is a very healthy and necessary thing to do. Even if you allow yourself ten minutes a day, you will find that it helps you to de-stress just a bit, can refocus you and it can even give you just enough space for you to sit back and watch your child impress you on how educated they are about their food allergies because of you.
We all choose how we want to handle our situations. The unknown can be extremely scary but small steps can lead to bigger steps, bigger steps to leaps and bounds. Be cautious (be VERY cautious) but also be willing to show your child that new things can be achieved. Show them that they are important enough for you to try. Show them that life is not built around fear but of the strength of what they can achieve, bumps in the road and all. Show them that food allergies are a part of them, not the end of them.
Improve Your Young Child’s Sleep
Last updated on May 3rd, 2025 at 06:02 pm
As parents know all too well, young children are notorious for resisting sleep. Just the mention of bedtime can sometimes set off a toddler tantrum.
Help your little bundle of energy head to dreamland and get the rest he needs with these toddler sleep tips.
Create a quiet routine
A game of chase or dancing around to music may seem like a surefire way to tire out your toddler, but a quiet, soothing routine before bed is a better choice for sleep success. Try reading a story together or giving your child a bath right before bedtime. Practice makes perfect, and repeating your bedtime ritual every night will help signal to your toddler that it’s time to get ready for sleep.
Be consistent
To establish a good sleep pattern, try to put your toddler to bed at the same time every night. Your tot may resist going to bed (can you blame him for not wanting to miss out on the after-hours fun?), but remaining firm about the rules will help a fuss-free bedtime become the norm instead of the exception.
Give your toddler a “lovey”
Letting your toddler sleep with her favorite blanket, teddy bear, or toy will help comfort her, especially if she wakes up in the middle of the night. Let her choose her lovey, but make sure what she picks is safe — avoid toys or stuffed animals with ribbons, buttons, or anything that could be considered a choking hazard.
Set up the bedroom for success
A room that’s quiet, dark, and set to a comfortable temperature will encourage your toddler to fall — and stay — asleep. Before you tuck your child in, check that she has everything she needs to get through the night. This will decrease the chance that she’ll call you back to her bedroom. If she does cry out for you, resist the urge to rush in immediately. Instead, wait 15 seconds before reentering the room. If she calls out multiple times, gradually increase the amount of time you wait to go in, giving her the chance to fall back asleep without your help.
Keep an eye on naptime
Most young children this age need between 12 and 14 hours of sleep each day, which can be split up between nighttime sleeping and daytime naps. But snoozing too late in the day can cause your toddler to have difficulty dozing off in the evening. If this is the case, slowly inch back the time of day she naps (a drastic change can completely throw off her schedule). If she goes to day care, try to have naptime there and at home be as consistent as possible.
Following these guidelines should help bedtime go more smoothly over time. Of course, life can sometimes get in the way, but if it does, just aim to get back on track the next evening.
Spend Wisely on Organics to Protect Your Family & Finances
Last updated on May 3rd, 2025 at 06:02 pm
You do a lot to keep your family healthy, including making smart choices about the food you buy. And chances are, you’d buy everything organic if you could. But for most parents, a totally organic kitchen isn’t realistic, considering the items can cost upward of 50 percent more than their conventional counterparts.
“We all need to prioritize our purchasing based on what’s important to us,” says eco-cuisine expert Jackie Newgent, a registered dietitian and the author of Big Green Cookbook. Your first priority may, obviously, be to provide your family with plenty of healthy fruit and vegetables, calcium-rich dairy, and whole grains – organic or not.
Beyond that, however, Newgent and other experts say that if and when you can budget for a few organic goods, certain picks are worth the cost. Check out this shopping guide to help you know where to allocate your organic dollars and where to save.
1. Fruits and Vegetables
When it comes to pesticides in produce, not all fruits and veggies are equal. Certain types are exposed to and retain more chemical residue than others, even after washing. The worst offenders – aptly nicknamed “the dirty dozen” – include peaches, apples, bell peppers, kale, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, green beans, spinach, grapes, blueberries and pears.
“If you want to buy organic but have a limited budget, spend it on these,” says Colleen Doyle, a registered dietitian and the nutrition and physical activity director for the American Cancer Society.
Produce that has thick skin, on the other hand, is usually the least tainted, says Christopher R. Mohr, Ph.D., R.D., a nutrition expert based in Louisville, Ky. The outer covering acts like a shield, protecting the edible portion from pesticides, so paying extra for organic isn’t necessarily worth it if you’re on a budget. In other words, much of the chemical residue that may be on foods like bananas, pineapple, melon, kiwi, mangoes or avocados likely ends up in the trash along with the peel anyway.
And despite not having thick peels, broccoli and cabbage also tend to retain among the lowest levels of pesticides, says Doyle.
2. Dairy
“Organic milk and other dairy products are worth the extra cost whenever possible,” says Dr. Christine Gerbstadt, an anesthesiologist and registered dietitian, and a Sarasota, Fla.-based spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. This is especially important for women and children who tend to eat and drink a lot of milk for its calcium.
The government’s organic stamp signals that milk-producing cows were not exposed to pesticides in feed, nor were they given antibiotics or artificial hormones.
Gerbstadt and others recommend organic because they’re concerned that the use of antibiotics in livestock could potentially contribute to strains of drug-resistant bacteria that may affect humans.
Equally worrisome is the hormone given to some cows to increase milk production – called recombinant bovine growth hormone, or rBGH. Although studies have found no significant difference between milk produced with rBGH and that without without, Gerbstadt and other experts recommend erring on the side of caution and avoiding it entirely. That way, there’s zero risk that any trace amounts of artificial hormones from milk will enter your – or your child’s – system.
If the cost of organic dairy is prohibitive, you can find non-organic milk without rBGH – the next best thing. Look for terms like “rBGH-free” on labels. Not all manufacturers put this information on their labels, however, so if you have a favorite brand, call the company’s customer service number or visit its Web site to check.
3. Eggs
With all the various terms that can appear on egg cartons, choosing what’s best for your family can be especially difficult. The bottom line: It’s OK to buy an inexpensive, non-organic option to save money. All eggs, organic or not, are rich in nutrients and high-quality protein, says Newgent.
For starters, you needn’t worry about growth hormones like those sometimes given to milk-producing cows. “Egg-laying hens in the U.S. are not given hormones, additives or preservatives,” she says. Furthermore, eggs produced by chickens that were raised on non-organic feed don’t pass on pesticides to you, she confirms. Finally, it’s also not necessary to pay extra for brown eggs; shell color has no impact on quality, nutritional value or flavor.
“Eggs are fantastic for you,” reiterates Mohr. “They can be one of the least expensive sources of protein in the whole grocery store.” And because organic cartons tend to be so much more expensive – often $2 or more above the cost of conventional – practicality trumps any potential benefit you’d get from organic, he says.
4. Other Grocery Items
Bread, cereal, pasta, cookies – you’re faced with a plethora of organic choices elsewhere in the grocery store too. But the majority is not worth paying extra for, since grains generally have low concentrations of pesticide residue to begin with. “They do not need as many pesticides [when growing] as other foods,” says Mohr.
One exception: rice. Buying organic makes sense since it can contain higher levels of pesticides. (Rice is grown in water, which carries more pesticide particles than soil.) Luckily, though, organic rice won’t bust your budget: It’s nearly as inexpensive as conventional, especially if you buy in bulk.
You’re used to budgeting for the things that benefit your family most. And buying organics only when those benefits outweigh the cost is the best way to keep both your family and your finances healthy.
