8 Commonly Missed Medical Problems in Babies

Ailing babies can't tell you where it hurts, when it started, what would make them feel better, or what makes them feel worse.  In short, a sick baby is a blank slate for diagnosis.  And getting the diagnosis wrong - missing a possibley serious condition, or treating it improperly - is potentially more dangerous for little patients than it is for older kids.  Even garden-variety childhood illnesses, the kind pediatricians see every day, often manifest themselves very differently in babies than in older kids.  Here are some of the most common and commonly missed, medical conditions that affect children under age 2, and how to make sure you and your doctor get the diagnosis right.

More About Breastfeeding and H1N1 Swine Flu

The bottom line is keep breastfeeding. Read more from the CDC.

Breastfeeding Is Priceless

There is no substitute for human milk. The World Health Organization (WHO), health care associations and government health agencies affirm the scientific evidence of the clear superiority of human milk and of the hazards of artificial milk products. The WHO and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that mothers exclusively breastfeed their infants for the first six months and continue for at least a year and as long thereafter as mother and baby wish. Read the complete article.

Baby Jogger City Mini Strollers Recalled

Yikes! The restraint buckle could break or unlatch allowing the baby to fall out! No injuries have been reported but now is a great time to check your equipment whether or not you use this particular brand. Inspect your jogger from time to time to make sure everything is secure and working as it should.

Support From the Start: Increasing Breastfeeding in El Paso, Texas

Look what El Paso, Texas is doing for babies! The Breastfeeding Cafe is a community effort to support breastfeeding moms and increase breastfeeding frequency and duration. I love to see the community getting behind this effort to promote better health among it's citizens - it pays now and far into the future. Texas knows breastmilk is the perfect food for optimizing infant growth and development and they are doing what it takes to increase and support breastfeeding.

Handwashing VS Germs

Washing your hands well and often is your best defense against disease.

Safe Sleep? Car Seat or Crib?

Oxygen saturation levels of infants taking long naps in the car seat fall below the oxygen saturation levels of infants sleeping on their backs in the crib. The recommendation now is that babies who are sleeping for an extended period of time sleep safest on their back in the crib - not in the car seat. See the video by clicking here.

H1N1 Swine Flu and Pregnancy

From The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: "We know that pregnant women are more likely to get sick than others and have more serious problems with seasonal flu. These problems may include early labor or severe pneumonia. We don't know if this virus will do the same, but it should be taken very seriously." Follow this link to the CDC website for up to date, correct information on how to protect yourself and your family from the H1N1 Swine Flu.

CDC's Priority Groups for Vaccination Against H1N1

All people 6 months through 24 years of age

People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age

All pregnant women

Healthcare and emergency services sector personnel

People aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza

Hyperthermia Deaths of Children in Cars

Two tragic hyperthermia deaths in Indian River County in two months. Two babies left in hot cars. One 16 months old, one 5 months old, both boys. The heartbreak and sadness of their families and this community is beyond words.

In 2009 22 children in the US have died as a result of being left in a hot car. Please follow the link to "Hyperthermia Deaths of Children in Cars" by Jan Null, Adjunct Professor of Meteorology at SFSU. Ms. Null writes an excellent piece on the facts of this most preventable of occurrences as well as offers very helpful ways you can remind yourself the baby is in the car. It's a "must read" for everyone who has children.

Play Yard Recall

Oh my goodness! Another baby play yard recall. Please check this link. With 1 million play yards being recalled, the chances are quite high that you own one of them.

Recession Survival Guide

The United Way of Indian River County Florida has very kindly provided us with a Recession Survival Guide for use by community residents in these uncertain economic times. Take a moment to see the "helping agencies" of the United Way available to help in times of stress and need. And if you don't need the help right now, maybe you can volunteer to help one of these worthy agencies.

The first Recession Survival Workshop will be held Wednesday, June 3, 5:15 pm at the Gifford Youth Activity Center, 4875 43rd Avenue. The workshop is free and open to the public. Snacks and child care provided.

http://www.unitedwayirc.org/documents/workshop.pdf

When Breastfeeding is Accepted, It Won't Be Noticed

An interesting campaign in Marin County California.

Could we do it in Indian River County Florida?  Click here to learn more.

Breastfeeding and Swine Flu

Just one more of the many advantages of breastfeeding - protection from Swine Flu. Read the United States Breastfeeding Committee's stance in this May 1, 2009 release. You now know to click on the title of this post to go to the whole piece right? I love the internet!

Crib Recall

JARDINE has expanded its crib recall to include seven more models that pose entrapment and strangulation hazards. The cribs were sold between September 2005 and April 2009 at Toys R Us, Babies R Us, KidsWorld and Geoffrey Stores. Click on the title of this post to go to cpsc.gov for the complete details.

The cpsc.gov site also provides information on Bassinet, Crib and Play Yard recalls which have occurred over the last two years. Parents should always be vigilant about baby's safety. Get into the habit of looking at toys and baby equipment beyond how cute it looks and consider how it's going to hold up to daily use by your active, exploring, grabbing, reaching, mouthing, climbing, bouncing, jumping little one. Periodically inspect your baby gear to make sure nothing is loose, broken, frayed, coming apart or missing and regularly check the recalls - they seem to be happening with frightening frequency these days.