Over the river and through the woods…we all have somewhere to be during the busy holiday season. But traveling by plane can always pose challenges, especially for the breastfeeding mom. Adequate preparation and a good understanding of one’s rights are the keys to a hassle-free trip. Here’s what you need to know. Can I take breast milk on the plane? You can carry on your breast milk in any reasonable quantity, whether it is thawed or frozen. It’s likely the breast milk will be screened, but calmly escalate the matter if a Transportation Security Administration begins to open your container or wants to dispose of the breast milk. You are within your rights to insist that your “liquid gold” be permitted on board the plane, uncorrupted. Other tests can be run that do not require opening the container. Do airports have accommodations for breastfeeding mothers? Airports must furnish accommodations, primarily […]

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently released new blood pressure assessment guidelines for children, endorsed by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association. The guidelines were last issued in 2004 and restated in 2011. Similar to prior guidelines, children are placed into four groups with regard to blood pressure: normal elevated – to be managed by lifestyle changes including diet and exercise stage 1 hypertension – to be followed by the provider and which may or may not require treatment stage 2 hypertension – which requires further workup and medication What’s Different? A difference from previous guidelines is the development of new normal blood pressure tables. In the older tables, overweight children’s blood pressure measurements were included. Now the tables are based only on children who are not overweight or obese. As a result, the new blood pressure numbers are slightly lower, leading to slightly lower thresholds […]

With the popularity of NFL football and the current controversy over “taking a knee,” it’s likely this week your children may ask questions or have already expressed opinions about this form of protest. I often recommend that parents respond to tough questions from their kids with questions of their own. If your child asks, “What is ‘taking a knee’ all about?” I suggest you ask what he’s heard, what he thinks about it, or what his friends are saying. Rather than trying to explain the whole history of race relations and athletic activism in America, you want to provide the simplest answer or explanation at a level appropriate to the child’s development. Offer Facts Try to help your child understand the topic better or correct misconceptions by offering facts. For example, you might say:  “Normally, players stand for the playing of our national anthem at football games. These players are […]

The school year is well underway, and many students are facing nightly homework assignments. With after school activities and other commitments, getting it all done can be stressful. Here are some tips to make getting homework get done stress-free and manageable for everyone. Set up a Routine and Good Space Whether your child likes to take a break after school before starting homework or wants to get right to work and have downtime later, try to stick to the same daily routine. Make sure your child works in an organized, quiet space that’s free from electronics or noisy family activities that can be distracting. Be Involved Helping your kids plan and organize their homework is a great way to be involved without actually doing the work for them. If they have questions, help them figure out how to look for solutions. Some kids like to start with easy tasks first, […]

It’s actually not a matter of age when a child can wear contact lenses. What families need to consider is whether the child can practice good hygiene and take responsibility to care for the lenses. There may be 9-year-olds who can responsibly handle contacts and 16-year-olds who cannot. Virtually all contacts nowadays are “soft,” meaning they don’t require a long adaptation period in order to wear them easily. How the patient handles the contacts is what really matters. Many families start to think about contact lenses when their kids are involved in sports. This is understandable since glasses may be cumbersome and offer less-than-perfect vision on the field of play. Parents shouldn’t push for kids to wear contacts, but ask themselves instead: Is the child motivated and capable of caring for contact lenses conscientiously? That is key. Here are some other general questions that I get from parents: Are kids […]

It’s back to school time, and for some families, this may mean the start of a new sports season as well. The challenge with young athletes is meeting their nutritional needs for growth, while fueling them with the right types and amounts of food for lasting energy during practice and games. The goal is to eat in preparation for exercise, rather than from a depletion in nutrients after exercise. Here are a few tips for fueling your growing athlete. Carbohydrates Carbohydrates are found in foods like pasta, rice, bread, cereal, fruits, vegetables, and dairy. They are the body’s preferred source of energy during a workout. During digestion, carbohydrates are broken down into sugar and used immediately for energy, while some of this sugar is stored in the muscles or liver for later use. Carbohydrates should provide about half of your child’s caloric intake. Limit simple carbohydrates like chips and sweets, […]