previously published in KC Parent magazine January 2012 issue
Yes, once again we have hit the cold and flu season like a bag of bricks, and it’s a challenge to avoid catching these nasty germs. But if you follow a simple rule, you have a better chance of saving yourself some misery—not to mention some cash on the tissues and cough drops.
People often find it difficult to tell the difference between the two most common winter illnesses. Consider this information:
Common Cold Signs and Symptoms (American Academy of Pediatrics)
Sneezing
Stuffy/ runny nose
Coughing
Sore throat
Watery eyes
Mild headache
People generally contract a cold from a cough or sneeze or direct contact with infected persons. Colds normally resolve within 7 days, but some can last up to 2 weeks. Symptoms appear 2-3 days after exposure.
Flu Signs and Symptoms (AAP)
Sudden fever and chills (normally >101°F)
Head and body aches
Extreme fatigue (more than usual)
Sore throat
Dry cough
Stuffy or runny nose
Usually after a week or two, most symptoms have disappeared. “However, it’s important to treat the flu seriously,” reports the Nemours Foundation, “because it can lead to pneumonia and other life-threatening complications, particularly in infants, senior citizens and people with long-term health problems.”
Hand Washing vs. Hand Sanitizer: Proper hand washing often is the best method to prevent common winter maladies.
Using soap and warm water and rubbing thoroughly for at least 20 seconds is recommended—which just happens to be the duration of the “Happy Birthday Song” repeated twice. “An alcohol-based hand cleanser or sanitizer works well, too,” says the AAP. “Put enough on your hands to make them all wet, then rub them together until dry.”
Hand Washing Facts:
Use warm water.
Use whatever soap you like. Antibacterial soaps are popular, but regular soap works fine. If you suspect that your hands have come into contact with someone with an infection, think about using an alcohol hand sanitizer.
In public restrooms, consider using a paper towel to flush the toilet and open the door, because toilet and door handles harbor germs. Throw the towel away after you leave.
(Nemours Foundation)
Final Words to the Winter Wise: While washing your hands more frequently and exposing them to the colder elements, use mild soaps with warm water to avoid chapping. Blot hands dry and, finally, apply a moisturizing lotion with no added fragrances or dyes.
Stacey Hatton is a pediatric RN and freelance writer.
previously published in KC Baby magazine Winter issue 2011-12
Your infant cries more than usual, refuses feedings, has a discolored runny nose and tugs at her ear all morning long…what is your first thought? Colic? Not hungry? Coming down with a cold? These are common signs of an ear infection, and you DON’T want to ignore these symptoms. Call your pediatrician right away.
“Next to the common cold, ear infections are the most commonly diagnosed childhood illness in the United States,” reports the Nemours Foundation. So it is a good idea that parents become familiar with these symptoms and prepare for what to do.
What Is an Ear Infection (Otitis Media)?
Basically, the middle ear (the space behind the eardrum), which happens to be shorter and more horizontal in younger children than adults, gets full of fluid from either a common cold or allergies; and without proper drainage, a secondary infection can occur, causing a fever, ear pain and a red, bulging ear drum. Ear infections usually start on the third day of a cold. Otitis media peaks at the ages of 6 months to 2 years; however, the infections can remain a problem up until 8 years of age, according to the American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP).
Dr. Scott Dattel, a pediatrician at Kansas City Pediatrics, says, “When a young patient presents with clear nasal drainage, no fever and the pediatrician has ruled out all signs of a bacterial infection, they will have the parent watch the child carefully for 3-5 days. However, if the child isn’t getting better, the clear mucus turns green and a fever goes higher than 101 degrees, the child needs to be rechecked, and a course of antibiotics will probably be required.”
“I find antibiotics a necessary evil for an infant with an ear infection,” says Heidi Prentice, an Overland Park mother of two girls. “I don’t think it is fair to let the baby suffer with the pain, fever and sleeplessness that my baby gets with her recurring ear infections. I also don’t want to chance hearing loss. However, I found that using saline rinses at the first sign of the sniffles can oftentimes prevent an ear infection altogether.”
Preventing Recurrent Infections
Stay Away from Tobacco Smoke – Make sure that no one smokes in your home, the car or at the daycare where your child stays. Exposure to secondhand smoke can increase the frequency and the severity of your child’s ear infections.
Breastfeed Infants for at Least 6 Months – This can actually prevent early ear infections. With bottle-feeding, babies tend to lie down to drink their bottles, causing fluid to pool in that middle ear. Try to keep them more upright for better results.
Fewer Exposures to Large Groups of Kids – More kids to breathe on, more colds, more risk of turning into ear infection…the circle of ear infection life!
Good Handwashing – Do I need to explain this one again? Let’s all try to do better, right?!
Keep Immunizations Up-to-Date – Certain vaccines, such as the pneumococcal, flu and Hib can keep your child from getting sick and progressing into an ear infection.
Ear Tube Surgery
“Ventilation tubes are tiny plastic tubes that are inserted through the eardrum by an ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) surgeon, which allow fluid to drain out of the middle ear space and allow air to re-enter,” reports the AAP. “This reduces the risk of recurrent ear infections and returns the hearing to normal.”
Parents often debate whether or not to treat their infant with antibiotics for ear infections; but it is imperative your child be seen by a medical provider who can fully assess the situation and determine what is best for your baby. If the infection is severe enough and left untreated, further complications can arise. Please let your doctor advise you closely in these decisions!
Stacey Hatton is a pediatric RN, mother of two girls (one with ear tubes, one without) and a freelance writer in Overland Park, who is so glad the days of monthly ear infections are over!
previously published in SimplyKC magazine in December 2011 issue
by Stacey Hatton
PARENTING
Caffeine, which unfortunately is my middle name and comprises 58% of my blood fluid, may not be the healthiest choice for adults – but you can bet your bottom dollar it certainly is NOT for your child! If you think caffeine is found only in pick-me-up adult beverages, you would be mistaken. It lurks everywhere. Caffeine is a powerful stimulant, which not only can be found in coffee and soda pop, but chocolate, cold medicines, diet pills and some pain relievers.
Caffeine is a Drug
The Nemours Foundation reports caffeine may be fine for adults, but can have ill health effects on kids, especially younger children. Some of these symptoms may be a jumpy or twitchy feeling, anxiety, or an increase in heart rate and blood pressure. Nausea, headaches, depression, and difficulty sleeping or concentrating in school can also be related to children consuming caffeine. “The United States hasn’t developed guidelines for caffeine intake and kids, but Canadian guidelines recommend that preschoolers get no more than 45 milligrams of caffeine a day. That’s equivalent to the average amount of caffeine found in a 12-ounce (355-milliliter) can of soda or four 1.5-ounce (43-gram) milk chocolate bars,” states Nemours Foundation. Caffeine is labeled a stimulant, or drug, since it stimulates the central nervous system. The adrenalin rush for an adult is similar to what children experience. The problem is it takes quite a bit less caffeine for a child to feel these effects than adults.
Research Findings (Source: The Nemour Foundation)
Children are 60% more likely to be obese if they drink one or more 12-ounce sweetened soft- drinks every day.
Children who drink these caffeinated beverages do not get enough calcium from milk, which is necessary for healthy teeth and bones. (It can even decrease bone mass density, by interfering with the ability to absorb calcium correctly, eventually leading to osteoporosis.)
Caffeine may lead to fibrocystic breasts, or worsen lumpy and painful breasts.
Replacing water and milk with sweetened caffeinated drinks is also damaging to your child’s teeth. The high amount of sugar from these beverages is shocking and incredibly acidic, which erodes tooth enamel. This can lead to dental cavities (caries).
Caffeine acts as a diuretic by eliminating excess water from the body via the kidneys. If too much caffeine is consumed, dehydration can occur.
In regards to the wives tale of caffeine stunting your growth, it is a fallacy. There is no research to support this; however, I like to tell my kids that it does since I am 5 feet tall. Puts the fear in them!
Normally caffeine will pass out of the body within a couple of hours; but if a child is sensitive to it, they could feel the stimulant up to 6 hours.
Withdrawal Symptoms
Stopping caffeine abruptly, even with children or young adults, can cause the body to experience uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. It is important to decrease the amount slowly so that the child’s body doesn’t miss the “drug” and have feelings of: tiredness, irritability, severe headaches, nausea and/or vomiting.
Replacing Caffeine
“Caffeine may have a negative effect on a child’s nutrition if caffeinated drinks replace healthy drinks such as milk. A child who consumes caffeine may also eat less, because caffeine reduces the appetite,” reports the National Institute of Health. Offering water, low-fat milk, and small quantities of 100% fruit juice are better substitutes for sugary, caffeinated drinks. Older children can have an occasional soda, but if sugary drinks were the only beverages available when they were younger, they probably will reach for it as a teen.
Finally, just because chocolate has trace amounts of caffeine in it, don’t insist your child pass on every hot fudge sundae. Moderation is always key for everything you put in your body! Just don’t pour yourself a cup of Joe and then fill up your kids’ sippy cups to give them their morning preschool boost. Kids have enough battles to fight throughout their lives. Please don’t get them started early on the caffeine rollercoaster!
Every year during the holiday season, a surge of nausea and a tight ball creeps from my lower abdomen and parks itself somewhere between my upper chest and throat.
Sometimes it rears its sappy head when I hear an old song that reminds me of relatives who have passed away or my children ask a question about giving a toy to orphans. Or some Hallmark Cards or silly coffee TV commercial will turn me into a blubbering fool. Why is it that I am the Queen of Laughter for the remaining 11 months, and then, BAM! — Black Friday is done and I’m a mess?
I’m sure genetics has a lot to do with it, but I’ve wanted all of mankind to experience a special holiday season for as long as I can remember. Chuck Dickens nailed it on the head: “God bless us every one!” Love that guy.
As a pediatric nurse, there is a special section of my heart carved out for every Tiny Tim. When kids are sick I want to give everything to help them and their families feel better physically, mentally and spiritually. When I first became a nurse, the first job I received was a pediatric cancer nurse.
I know it sounds awful, but it was truly a gift! I was so excited to get a job working with children that I didn’t really process what I was going to experience. What these kids endured was horrific, and furthermore, I had to be part of the process of implementing their pain. Surgery was a blessing for them. Chemotherapy was treasured. It was their medicine of hope — and I had to remind myself of that every night on my drive alone back to my home, while tears poured down my face.
After I learned the medical side of my job, I decided I had to make drastic changes in order to mentally survive. Laughter and fun needed to enter the workplace for sheer survival. I started with the staff. We would go out after work to support each other and focus on the love and light in our jobs. This released tension and made it easier to return to work to provide positive care to our beloved patients.
Some of the seasoned nurses had already been bonding with patients in a humorous manner. There were tickle fights with stuffed animals and bedside water fights — staff versus parents using huge medicine syringes. The children, families and staff started to release some of the pain, anxiety and nausea — and all were laughing together. Miraculous medicine!
So I added my own brand of fun: wacky puppet shows, costume parades, bedside song and tap dance productions. Not only did the kids request more songs and fewer nausea and pain meds, but I wasn’t crying as much on my rides home — a big improvement for all.
Even though I am no longer working with these beautiful children, it’s at this time of year when I think of them most, remembering the year I worked Christmas morning and watched them open their gifts Santa had hand-delivered to the floor. The joy on their faces was unmatched at any other Christmas I have witnessed since — true appreciation of the spirit of giving! Honestly, it was my favorite Christmas, too.
With the economy the way it has been lately, this holiday season isn’t going to be joyous for many persons around Kansas City. Even in Johnson County, there are numerous families going without and not able to provide food and gifts for loved ones. I hope other families who have a surplus will share some of their gifts with those in need. Food, clothing, money, toys are all in great demand.
And for those of you who are struggling this season, many blessings to you, and try to focus on this: laughter is a wonderful gift, good health is another and spending quality time with your family is truly immeasurable. Some of those families in the hospital I took care of aren’t able to do that anymore. Priceless are those laughs together, and may you and yours have many to add to your memory bank!
Stacey Hatton is a pediatric registered nurse, writer and public speaker. Her humor blog can be found at http://nursemommylaughs.com.
Once again Bloomingdales and Child’s Mind Institute are partnering to raise funds for these special children. Please check out these gifts if you can’t think of something to give to a friend or loved one during the holidays. A percentage of the proceeds will go to this campaign. ~ Nurse Mommy
The Child Mind Institute has partnered with Bloomingdale’s again this year for a wonderful selection of gifts that give back. A portion of proceeds from sales of these Good Deeds holiday gifts – and 100% of net proceeds from the Bloomingdale’s Bid for a Dream Holiday charity auction – will be donated to help support our mission to transform mental health care for children everywhere.
Bloomingdale’s has been an extraordinary partner, sharing our dedication to children’s mental health and making a significant contribution to the Child Mind Institute through many special in-store promotions and online initiatives. We’re grateful for their continued support, and we’re proud to present the 2011 Good Deeds holiday collection. STAR-STUDDED HOLIDAY ORNAMENTS BY RADKO Celebrity-designed ornaments crafted by Christopher Radko, exclusively for Bloomingdale’s. $40 each $5 of every sale goes to benefit the Child Mind Institute Ornaments available in-store as well as online at bloomingdales.com.
Bloomingdale’s has gathered an exclusive network of celebrities and fashion designers to light up the holidays with one-of-a-kind holiday ornaments handmade in Poland. These Christopher Radko ornaments will be sold exclusively at Bloomingdale’s during the 2011 holiday season and are sure to become collectibles.
BLOOMINGDALE’S LITTLE BROWN BEAR
Bloomingdale’s signature holiday teddy bear by Gund. $18 SHOP NOW
$5 of every sale benefits the Child Mind Institute
BLOOMINGDALE’S LITTLE BROWN BEAR 2011 HOLIDAY ECARD
Send bear-y merry greetings to friends and family with this fun ecard. Free SEND ECARD NOW Bloomingdale’s will donate $1 to the Child Mind Institute for every ecard sent this holiday season
THEODORA & CALLUM EXCLUSIVE BLANKET SCARF
Exclusively at Bloomingdale’s—warm, earthy tones add worldly style to this patterned scarf from Theodora & Callum. SHOP NOW 15% of sales will be donated to the Child Mind Institute
BID FOR A DREAM CHARITY AUCTION
The Bloomingdale’s “Bid for a Dream Holiday Auction” lineup is full of spectacular travel options that will also benefit the Child Mind Institute. The auction is live now and runs through December 12. All net proceeds will help us accomplish our mission.
previously published in KC Parent magazine December 2011 issue
From fireplace wood to doors and splinters, read here for tips on keeping your kids safe and healthy this month.
Fireplace Safety
When temperatures dip into the freezing range, cuddling with your family in front of the fire hits the spot. However, the beautiful flames can be like a magnet, drawing your tike to those glass doors which can burn your child’s hands in seconds. Jonathan Kelly, manager at Fireplace & Bar-B-Q Center in Overland Park, says, “We carry Spark Guards that come in a wide range of sizes and prices. These will keep kids 8 inches away from the hot glass.”
Kelly states manufacturers are trying to make the glass itself safer, but until a product like that is on the market, these guards are instrumental in preventing serious burns.
Splinters
Q: How do I safely remove a splinter from my child?
A: Depending on how deep the splinter is in the skin, you might have to wash it with soap and water and let the body get rid of it on its own. If you think you can remove it with tweezers, first ice the area to numb it. Then take a pair of tweezers, which have been cleaned with rubbing alcohol, and, holding the afflicted area, firmly grab the splinter’s end and gently remove. If the splinter breaks in half, you are out of luck. Don’t go digging for it. You will only make the area irritated. Wash with soap and water and apply an antibiotic ointment and bandage. Keep an eye for signs of infection, like redness at site, red streaking from the area, pus or continual pain. Report these findings to the child’s medical provider.
Stranger Danger Knocking on the Door
Quick quiz: Answer each of the below with yes or no.
If your children are left with a babysitter and someone comes to the door, should the babysitter answer the door?
If your mother-in-law is watching the kids and someone rings the bell, should she open the door to a stranger?
Your 13-year-old is watching her siblings while you run back to the store. Should she open the door to an unknown salesperson?
(ANSWERS: 1: N 2: N 3: N)
The caretaker should flash lights or elevate the TV or music so the person at the door knows someone is in the house, but unlocking the door is inviting trouble. No one needs to know your children are home with a babysitter or alone. Make sure this is clear to your children and every babysitter.
Stacey Hatton is a pediatric registered nurse and freelance writer.
From Thanksgiving to New Years, it seems that every year gets more stressful. I know I said I was going to get the holiday cards out early this year like my one friend who I am totally jealous of because she is brilliant with time management and has her cards all signed and stamped by the time the red button on the turkey pops out.
This year, I yelled at the turkey button, jimmy-ed it with a sharp knife hoping that it was stuck so I could take the “stupid bird” out of the ONE oven which I intentionally decided to have (last house had 2…little spoiled, and regretting the decision to act like the rest of the free world). Note to self: Don’t invite 15 family members over 2 hours before meal is being served. They will ALL want to use your ONE stupid little tiny oven that you chose to have and that is where the turkey the size of the country by the same name is housed. But enough of that…
So how is your holiday shopping going? (pause) You’re done, are you?! How NICE for you! I am taking a 15 minute pause from my Christmas-ball-busting online shopping trip extravaganza to relax and vent!! No waiting in line for me. No shipping costs. No one trying to grab my purse in the parking lot at the mall…no sirree!!! I’m living large on Paypal and plastic. Can’t wait for that bill next month, but this way I am getting absolutely NO exercise and carpal tunnel in one fell swoop! I. Love. America.
I am also looking forward to when my children will actually tell people what they want for Christmas presents. Don’t most kids do this? I know I could rattle off a list to anyone who asked. In the grocery store, a nice elderly woman asked me, “Is Santa coming to your house this year, little girl?” “Yes, he is bringing me a Grow-up Skipper, a Baby Pees a Lot, an Easy Bake Oven….” That’s how it’s DONE!!!
How can my kids not know what they want? You’re probably thinking, “They have too much.” Which wouldn’t be too far off because it goes hand-in-hand with children who have birthdays right before Christmas. When my kid says, “Oh, Grandma doesn’t haven’t to give me anything. I can’t really think of anything I want.” Oh, yeah…let me tell Grandma that she can punt on Christmas this year. That will go over well!!
Well, my fifteen minutes are up, so I have to get back to shopping to make my December 18th delivery deadline!
Moment of reflection…I am a big whining schmoe. Sorry for the pity party when there are people out there who are robbing donut stores to get money to pay for food, heat and a roof over their heads. This actually happened here in town and guess what happened, the police that were in the parking lot, jumped the guy. If it weren’t so terribly sad, irony of the situation would be fodder for oh, so many jokes. Blessings to all those out there in need!!
This article published earlier this month was released by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Interesting study mainly b/c consistency with asthma treatment is essential to maintaining happy lungs…~Nurse Mommy
Children from single-parent homes were more likely to be readmitted to hospital, study finds
By Robert Preidt
SATURDAY, Nov. 5 (HealthDay News) — Children with asthma who live in single-parent homes are 50 percent more likely to return to the hospital for treatment within a year than those who live in two-parent homes, a new study finds.
Kids from families whose annual income was less than $60,000 a year were also more likely to be readmitted, as were kids from homes with “time constraints.”
The findings suggest that financial strain and competing priorities in single-parent homes are major issues, the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center researchers said.
The study was to be presented Saturday at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology annual meeting in Boston.
“Parents play an important role in controlling their child’s asthma and it takes time, energy and resources to follow their physician’s treatment plan, including reducing triggers and consistently giving medicines,” Dr. Terri Moncrief said in a college news release.
“That’s why it’s important to understand the constraints on single parents and identify innovative interventions to help these parents better manage their child’s symptoms and ultimately keep asthma under control,” Moncrief added.
Because this study was presented at a medical meeting, the data and conclusions should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Each year in the United States, uncontrolled asthma results in about 500,000 hospitalizations, 1.8 million emergency room visits and 10.5 million physician office visits, according to the ACAAI. In children, asthma accounts for nearly 13 million missed school days a year.
SOURCE: American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, news release, Nov. 5, 2011
previously published in SimplyKC magazine November 2011 issue
by Stacey Hatton
Have you ever checked online to see what your child is eating at the school cafeteria? Do you have a GPS tracking system on your kid’s cell phone? Or have you ever called your college-aged son’s professor and debated test scores or grades? Well, then you JUST might be a helicopter parent!
Now don’t get defensive, because let me tell you, you are not alone. Society and media sure squeeze the pressure on parents to be perfect and raise mutantly-impossible-ideal children; and if parents don’t control every move of their child’s life, the poor kid won’t develop to have a perfect life. Right?! Sound familiar? Do you know someone like this, or am I hitting a nerve?
What is a Helicopter Parent?
Margaret K. Nelson, a sociology professor at Middlebury College and author of Parenting out of Control: Anxious Parents in Uncertain Times says,“Parents are carefully guiding, shaping, and determining the contours of their children’s actions. The new parenting style consumes the lives of the parents who adopt it, often at the expense of other meaningful relationships.” She also suggests, “Parenting has gotten out of control.” Here are a few areas where parents usually display this hovercraft behavior:
Hovering Over Homework:
Interference with your child’s homework may seem necessary to some. How is my child to learn if I don’t answer their questions? They can’t simply get enough knowledge in class when the teacher/professor has her attention divided by so many students.
Of course if your child has an occasional question, you can direct them to the proper place to find the answer (if they are older), or help them problem solve if they are younger. But do you truly want your child to come to you for all the answers? It’s an easy way for the kid to get the facts (only if you actually know the correct answers).
The problem arises when the child begins to expect a parent to always help them do their homework, to keep on task, to finish it, and heaven forbid, proofread and change all errors before the teacher sees the child’s work. Zoiks! Whose work is it then? You might as well scratch off your kids name at the top of the paper and replace it with your “John Hancock!”
This is such destructive behavior by the “hovering” parent and oodles of parents have done this. We want our kids to succeed! No one wants to see their children fail, but how else will they learn what is right and wrong? They need to learn how it feels to make mistakes, learn from them and move forward. I will always remember seeing a junior in high school crying hysterically in the hallways when she received her first A minus (EVER) on a test. No coping skills for failing is not healthy. Not that an A minus is even close to failing!!
Hovering Over Teachers:
Dr. Charles Fay, co-founder of Love and Logic, says, “One of the toughest challenges faced by today’s teachers involves working with Helicopter Parents. While they do it out of great love, these parents cripple their children by hovering over them and rescuing them from the consequences of their actions. Unwittingly, they also sabotage their children’s learning by criticizing teachers for expecting too much out of their kids.”
Another problem occurs with parents communicating directly with their child’s teacher/s, when the child should be capable of doing so. Grade schoolers through high school ought to be able to talk to their teachers about tests or grades.
Educate your child how to communicate with teachers. Build up their self-esteem, so they feel their questions are important. Plus, effective communication is a life skill which can’t be emphasized early enough.
Hovering Leading to Child Obesity:
A North Carolina State University journal titled, Helicopter Parents Can Hinder Kids Exercise (September 8, 2011), suggests this generation’s method of parenting may also be leading to the increase of overweight children in our country.
Researcher Jason Bocarro, Ph.D. from the research team reports, “Hovering is keeping kids from running around and playing with their friends and neighbors, and instead maybe sitting in front of the computer or television.” If parents are afraid of letting their children roam free through the neighborhoods and parks, then these kids will stay close to home and that usually means complacency and sedentary behaviors – unless the parents insist on more physical activity.
In past generations, kids hopped on their bikes and played until the dinner bell rang out or the street lights came on. You rarely see this anymore. I’m not suggesting let them run wild, but there has to be a happy-medium. In today’s world, parents need to be cognoscente of how helicopter parenting isn’t working.
Our children are like balloons. When we lighten our grasp, our children will soar higher. Let us all work together and remind ourselves not to tether our precious “balloons.”
Stacey Hatton, is a pediatric nurse, mother of two and freelance writer. You can find her humor blog at http://nursemommylaughs.com
Yes, once again we have hit the cold and flu season like a bag of bricks, and it’s a challenge to avoid catching these nasty germs. But if you follow a simple rule, you have a better chance of saving yourself some misery—not to mention some cash on the tissues and cough drops.
