For Parents

You know to take your child to a healthcare provider when they’re sick. But, pediatric healthcare visits are just as important when your child is healthy.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests a schedule of well-child exams from birth through 21 years of age. Learn more about these visits and the Milestones that Matter to your child’s development.

It’s also worth familiarizing yourself with the Ages & Stages your child will progress through on their journey to adulthood. They are:

• Prenatal
• Baby (0–12 months)
• Toddler (1–3 years)
• Preschool (3–5 years)
• Grade School (5–12 years)
• Teen (12–18 years)
• Young Adult (18–21 years)

We also welcome visits with expecting parents—to see if our office will be a good fit for your family’s pediatric healthcare needs.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends breastfeeding as the sole source of nutrition for your baby for about six months. After that, as long as both mother and baby desire it, breastfeeding may be continued.

Learn more about how breastfeeding provides excellent nutrition, sets babies up for healthy growth and development, and benefits the mother.

If there is a medical reason you cannot breastfeed or you choose not to do so, you can still achieve similar feelings of closeness by rocking, cuddling, stroking, and gazing into your baby’s eyes during feeding—regardless of the milk source.

Before deciding on the issue, be sure you thoroughly understand the advantages and disadvantages of breastfeeding and bottle-feeding, and you are aware of all the options available to you.

Learn more about deciding to breastfeed or bottle-feed.

We are here to support you, too!

Your child probably will have more colds, or “upper respiratory infections,” than any other illness. Before the age of two, most children have eight to ten colds.

Colds are caused by viruses—which are much smaller than bacteria. A sneeze or a cough by someone with a virus can then be breathed in by another person, making them sick.

Signs and symptoms of a cold in children include:

• runny nose (first, a clear liquid coming out; later, a thicker, often colored mucus);
• sneezing;
• low fever (101–102 degrees Fahrenheit [38.3–38.9 degrees Celsius]), particularly at night;
• not wanting to eat;
• sore throat and, perhaps, difficulty swallowing;
• cough;
• fussiness on-and-off; and
• slightly swollen glands.

Note: Pus on the tonsils, especially in children three years and older, may mean your child has an infection called strep.

If your child has a typical cold without major problems, the symptoms should slowly disappear after seven to ten days.

Unfortunately, there’s no cure for the common cold. Antibiotics may be used to fight bacterial infections, but they do not affect viruses. 

The best you can do is to make your child comfortable. Make sure your child gets extra rest and drinks water or other liquids.

Learn more about children and colds. 

Learn more about caring for your child when they have a cold or the flu.

Learn more about how much fever and pain medicine to give your child.

The flu (short for influenza) is an illness caused by a respiratory virus, and it can spread rapidly through communities.

When someone with the flu coughs or sneezes, the virus becomes airborne and those nearby can inhale it through their nose or mouth. The virus can also be spread when one touches a contaminated hard surface, such as a door handle, and then places his hand or fingers in his nose or mouth or rubs his eye.

Flu season usually starts in the fall and ends in the spring and tends to be most frequently found in preschool or school-aged children.

Flu symptoms include:

• A sudden fever (usually above 101°F or 38.3°C)
• Chills and body shakes
• Headache, body aches, and being a lot more tired than usual
• Sore throat
• Dry, hacking cough
• Stuffy, runny nose
• Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea

After the first few days, a sore throat, stuffy nose, and continuing cough become most evident. The flu can last a week or even longer.

A child with a common cold usually has only a low-grade fever, a runny nose, and only a small amount of coughing. Those with the flu usually feel much sicker, achier, and more miserable.​

Learn more about the flu.

Learn more about caring for your child when they have a cold or the flu.

Learn more about how much fever and pain medicine to give your child.

Parents can help their children prepare for flu season with the Ready Wrigley Prepares for Flu Season coloring book (in English or en Español) by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).

Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis) is the inflammation (usually redness and/or swelling) of the thin tissue covering the white part of the eye and the inside of the eyelids.

There are several kinds of pinkeye, each with its own set of symptoms, including:

• Bacterial
• Red or pink, itchy, painful eye(s).
• More than a tiny amount of green or yellow discharge.
• Infected eyes may be crusted shut in the morning.
• May affect one or both eyes.
• Viral
• Pink, swollen, watering eye(s) sensitive to light.
• May affect only one eye.
• Allergic
• Itching, redness, and excessive tearing, usually of both eyes.
• Chemical
• Red, watery eyes, especially after swimming in chlorinated water.
• Immune-mediated, such as that related to a systemic disease, like Kawasaki disease.

It is helpful to think of pinkeye like the common cold. Both conditions may be passed on to other children but resolve without treatment. Pinkeye generally results in fewer symptoms of illness than the common cold.

The best method for preventing the spread of pinkeye is good hand hygiene.

Learn more about Conjunctivitis.

​The terms sore throat, strep throat, and tonsillitis often are used interchangeably.

However, they are not the same thing.

Tonsillitis refers to tonsils that are inflamed.

Strep throat is an infection caused by a specific type of bacteria, Streptococcus.

When your child has a strep throat, the tonsils are usually very inflamed, and the inflammation may affect the surrounding part of the throat as well.

To some extent, the symptoms of strep throat depend on the child’s age.

• Infants may have only a low fever and a thickened or bloody nasal discharge.
• Toddlers may also have a thickened or bloody nasal discharge with a fever. Such children are usually quite cranky, have no appetite, and often have swollen glands in the neck. Sometimes toddlers will complain of tummy pain instead of a sore throat.
• Children over age three are often more ill and may have a painful throat, fever over 102 degrees Fahrenheit (38.9 degrees Celsius), swollen glands in the neck, and pus on the tonsils.

It’s important to distinguish a strep throat from a viral sore throat because strep infections are treated with antibiotics.

Most pediatric offices perform rapid strep tests that provide findings within minutes. If the rapid strep test is negative, your doctor may confirm the result with a throat culture. A negative test means that the infection is presumed to be due to a virus.

Other causes of sore throats are viruses and may only cause inflammation of the throat around the tonsils and not the tonsils themselves.

In infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, the most frequent cause of a sore throat is a viral infection. No specific medicine is required when a virus is responsible, and the child should get better over a seven- to ten-day- period.

Often, children who have sore throats due to viruses also have a cold at the same time. They may develop a mild fever, too, but they generally aren’t very sick.

If your child has a sore throat that persists (not one that goes away after their first drink in the morning), whether or not it is accompanied by fever, headache, stomach ache, or extreme fatigue, you should call us.

That call should be made even more urgently if your child seems extremely ill or if they have difficulty breathing or extreme trouble swallowing (causing them to drool).

Learn more about sore throats.

Learn more about how much fever and pain medicine to give your child.

Typical ear infections in children begin with either a viral infection or unhealthy bacterial growth.

Children are more prone to these problems because the passages in their ears are narrower, shorter, and more horizontal than the adult versions. And, since it’s easier for germs to reach the middle ear, it’s also easier for fluid to get trapped there.

Symptoms of an ear infection may be hard to detect. A child who constantly tugs or pulls at their ear could be exploring, or self-soothing—even though that tops the list of signs. Other symptoms include more crying than usual, especially when lying down; trouble sleeping or hearing; fever or headache; and fluid coming discharge from the ears.

Learn more about ear infections.

Learn more about how much fever and pain medicine to give your child.

If your child has a fever, they may feel warm, appear flushed, or sweat more than usual. They may also be more thirsty than usual. Some children feel fine when they have a fever. However, most will be symptomatic of the illness that is causing the fever.

A fever is usually a sign that the body is fighting an illness or infection. While it is important to look for the cause of a fever, the main purpose for treating it is to help your child feel better if they are uncomfortable or in pain.

Normal body temperature varies with age, general health, activity level, and time of day. A fever is a body temperature that is higher than normal. While the average normal body temperature is 98.6°F (37°C), a normal temperature range is between 97.5°F (36.4°C) and 99.5°F (37.5°C).

Most consider a temperature above 100.4°F (38°C) as a sign of a fever. Call your child’s pediatric healthcare provider right away if your child has a fever and:

• looks very ill, is unusually drowsy, or is very fussy;
• has been in a very hot place, such as an overheated car;
• has other symptoms, such as a stiff neck, severe headache, severe sore throat, severe ear pain, an unexplained rash, or repeated vomiting or diarrhea;
• has immune system problems,
• has had a seizure;
• is younger than three months (12 weeks) and has a temperature of 100.4°F (38.0°C) or higher; or
• their fever rises above 104°F (40°C) repeatedly for a child of any age.

Also, call if:

• your child still “acts sick” once the fever is brought down;
• your child seems to be getting worse;
• their fever persists for more than 24 hours in a child younger than 2 years; or
• their fever persists for more than three days (72 hours) in a child 2 years of age or older.

Learn more about fever in children.

Learn more about how much fever and pain medicine to give your child.

If your child is sick, injured, or struggling developmentally or emotionally—please call!

Sometimes, it can be hard to tell how sick your child is. We can advise you if their symptoms warrant a visit to our office.

You can also use the KidsDoc Symptom Checker to help you decide.

Learn more about how much fever and pain medicine to give your child.

Published by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), these downloadable PDFs show the 2021 Recommended Immunizations for Children.

• Birth to 6 Years-of-Age
• 7 to 18 Years-of-Age

On-time vaccination throughout childhood is essential because it helps provide immunity before children are exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases. Vaccines are tested to ensure that they are safe and effective for children to receive at the recommended ages.

Learn more about:

• what to expect during your child’s vaccination visit, and
  
• how you can make shots less stressful.

Asthma is the most common chronic disease affecting children worldwide. About 1 in 12  children in the United States have asthma, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).

There is no cure for asthma, but there are ways to control it.

Learn more about asthma and common triggers for it, such as: 

• allergens,
• viral colds,
• insects,
• animals,
• pollutants,
• weather,
• exercise, and
• stress.

Allergies are reactions that are usually caused by an overactive immune system. These reactions can occur in a variety of organs in the body, resulting in diseases such as asthma, hay fever, and eczema.

In an allergic reaction, the immune system overreacts and goes into action against a normally harmless substance, such as pollen or animal dander. These allergy-provoking substances are called allergens.

Although allergies can trigger asthma, and asthma is often associated with allergies, they are actually two different things.

In simple terms, asthma is a chronic condition originating in the lungs, whereas allergies describe reactions that originate in the immune system and can affect many organs, including the lungs. 

Allergies can result in various types of conditions. Some are easy to identify by the pattern of symptoms that invariably follows exposure to a particular substance; others are more subtle and may masquerade as other conditions. 

Learn more about allergies. 

COVID-19

Doctors and researchers continue to learn more about COVID-19 every day. Safe and effective vaccines are now available, offering hope for an end to the pandemic. Until everyone is vaccinated, however, the virus continues to spread.

Symptoms of COVID-19 range from mild to severe and generally begin two to 14 days after being exposed to the virus. Someone with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

• fever and chills
• a cough
• shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• muscle or body aches
• headache
• sore throat
• new loss of taste or smell
• congestion or runny nose
• nausea or vomiting
• diarrhea

Although COVID-19 is a new disease, it belongs to a family of coronaviruses that usually cause illnesses like the common cold.

According to the CDC, children do not seem to be at higher risk for getting COVID-19 unless they have an underlying health condition such as obesity, diabetes, lung conditions, heart conditions, or conditions that weaken the immune system.

Learn more about what families need to know about COVID-19.

Learn more about how much fever and pain medicine to give your child.

MIS-C

You may have heard news reports about a possible connection between COVID-19 and a rare but serious health condition in children called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). Scientists worldwide, including pediatric specialists, are working together to understand MIS-C and how best to diagnose and treat it. 

Children with MIS-C are very ill with a fever for 24 hours or more, have inflammation in their bodies, and problems with many organs, such as the intestines, heart, brain, lungs, skin, and kidneys. Contact your child’s pediatric healthcare provider right away if you notice any of these symptoms:

• fever (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher) lasting 24 hours or more
• abdominal pain, diarrhea, or vomiting
• neck pain
• rash or changes in skin color
• bloodshot eyes
• seems extra tired
• shortness of breath
• pain or pressure in the chest that doesn’t go away
• becoming confused
• unable to wake up or stay awake
• bluish lips or face

While MIS-C sounds frightening and is serious, remember that it’s still rare.

Learn more about COVID-19 and MIS-C.

Help Children Cope with the COVID-19 Pandemic

The ongoing stress, fear, grief, isolation, and uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic can wear anyone down, but many children and teens have had a tough time coping. At the same time, many families have been separated from loved ones and caregivers, including grandparents, who may serve as vital sources of support.

As more people get COVID-19 vaccines, there is growing hope that the pressures of the pandemic will ease. But, the struggles and losses will likely continue to affect families for some time to come. Continue to check in with your child often and watch and listen for signs they are struggling. And, remember that your pediatric healthcare provider is available to help.

Invite your child to talk about how they are feeling. Feeling depressed, hopeless, anxious, and angry may be signs they could benefit from more support during this difficult time.

Learn more about how to help your child cope during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Almost all children will have a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) at least once before they are 2 years old. For most healthy children, RSV is like a cold. But, some children get very sick.

RSV is one of the many viruses that cause respiratory illness—illnesses of the nose, throat, and lungs. It occurs in the late fall through early spring months.

Typically, RSV causes a cold, which may be followed by bronchiolitis or pneumonia. Symptoms generally last an average of five to seven days. RSV symptoms are typically at their worst on days three through five.

Fortunately, almost all children recover from an RSV infection on their own. However, some children with RSV may be at increased risk of developing a bacterial infection, such as an ear infection.

RSV is contagious and spreads just like a common cold virus. It enters the body through the nose or eyes, usually from:

• direct person-to-person contact with saliva, mucus, or nasal discharge;
• unclean hands (RSV can survive 30 minutes or more on unwashed hands.); or
• unclean objects or surfaces (RSV can survive up to six hours on surfaces, toys, keyboards, doorknobs, etc.).

There is no cure for RSV, and medications, like steroids and antibiotics, do not help.

Learn more about RSV.

Learn more about how much fever and pain medicine to give your child.

Eczema (also called atopic dermatitis) is an ongoing skin problem that causes dry, red, itchy skin and is caused by problems with the skin barrier.

Both genetics and the environment play a role in eczema. It often runs in families and tends to occur with other allergic conditions, such as asthma and allergic rhinitis (hay fever and seasonal allergies). Many children with eczema also have food allergies, but foods themselves do not cause eczema.

Eczema rashes can be different for each child. They can be all over the body or in just a few spots. The eczema rash often worsens at times and then gets better. Where the rashes develop may change over time:

• In babies, eczema usually starts on the scalp and face. Red, dry rashes may show up on the cheeks, forehead, and around the mouth. Eczema usually does not develop in the diaper area.

• In young, school-aged children, the eczema rash is often in the elbow creases, on the backs of the knees, on the neck, and around the eyes.

Children with eczema are more prone to skin infections, but eczema is NOT contagious.

Learn more about eczema and how to treat and control it.

Protecting your child’s skin is a year-round concern, but it’s especially important in the summer months when so much skin is exposed and vulnerable.

Fortunately, many summertime rashes clear up quickly on their own. Be sure to talk with your pediatric healthcare provider about any rash that you’re unsure about—especially if:

• you don’t know what caused it,
• it’s making your child miserable,
• it doesn’t clear up quickly,
• it shows signs of infection, or
• it’s accompanied by any shortness of breath.

The following are 12 common summertime skin rashes seen in children:

1. Heat Rash
2. Poison Ivy & Other Plant Rashes
3. Eczema
4. Insect Bites & Stings
5. Impetigo
6. Swimmer’s Itch
7. Cutaneous Larva Migrans (Sandworms)
8. Folliculitis (Hot Tub Rash)
9. Molluscum Virus
10. Juvenile Plantar Dermatosis (Sweaty Sock Syndrome)
11. Tinea (Ringworm)
12. Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease

Learn more about how to prevent, identify, and soothe these skin problems.