Protecting a young child’s delicate skin is a year-round responsibility for parents, but it’s especially important in the summer months when so much skin is uncovered and vulnerable to a host of warm-weather rash inducers. “There are definitely some types of skin rashes that we see a lot more of in the summer months, like sunburn and insect bites and stings,” says Dr. Kelly McClean, a dermatologist...
What are mornings like at your house? If you’re like most moms, it’s probably the busiest part of your day. After all, you’ve got to get yourself and your kids out of bed, dressed, fed and out the door with all the necessary stuff in time for school, work and other activities. And this time of year, if your schedule is shifting weekly due to different summer camps or activities, it can make...
It’s cold and flu season, which means plenty of moms are facing that age-old parenting dilemma: Do I send my coughing, sniffly child to school? And if I make the wrong choice, will the school nurse call a few hours later asking me to take him back home? Figuring out when to keep your child home from school and when he’s well enough to go back isn’t always easy, says Dr. Loraine Stern, associate...
No mom enjoys hearing a child cough, even though pediatricians often remind parents that coughing is actually a good thing — it’s the body’s way of keeping the lungs clear and preventing pneumonia. But that doesn’t make the problem any easier for you or your child, especially when your little one can’t get a good night’s sleep because of a nagging cough. Figuring out the cause of your...
Finding the right day-care center requires a balance of many practical issues: location, cost, hours of operation. And you of course also want a nurturing staff. “But bottom line, your child’s health and safety is what matters the most,” says Patricia Skinner, executive director of the Capital District Child Care Council, a resource and referral agency serving six counties in the Albany, N.Y.,...
You’ve heard the saying so many times it seems trite: “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” But even though it may be cliche, nutritionists will tell you this tidbit is absolutely true. “Not only is skipping breakfast bad for a child’s metabolism, but it also means they’ll be so hungry later that they’re much more likely to make poor food choices throughout the day,” says...
