The economic crisis, strife around the world, natural disasters and the latest celebrity scandal may feature big in the daily news but eavesdrop on any group of parents of preschoolers and one of the top topics under discussion will probably be – potty training! Questions abound from when you should start training to the best way to go about it. The most important thing for parents to know is that much like crawling or walking, potty training readiness is a developmental milestone. According to Iris Kaddis Hanna, M.D., a pediatrician at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, every child will reach this step at a different age, when they are physically and emotionally ready to ditch the diapers and take the trip to the toilet. In this blog post, Dr. Hanna answers some commonly asked questions.
“I get to be in people’s lives,” says Pediatrician Melissa Braveman, M.D. “Whether it’s in trying to continue in good health, or in illness trying to provide support and make sure that kids get the treatment they need. I also get to interact with parents and help parents find their way – no matter how little or much experience they have in parenting – or in life.”
Dr. Braveman looks forward to Halloween, where she occasionally shows up at the hospital as a ladybug. She creates stickers for the children, tells jokes and enjoys role playing. “It gets me up in the morning – I get excited to come and to learn about kids and be a part of their lives as they grow. I actually imagine myself here until the very end. If this is the last job as a primary care pediatrician, I’ll be thrilled.”
Ongoing Project Provides Insights into Best Breastfeeding Support for New Mothers
Knowing that breastfeeding is the healthiest choice for you and your baby is one thing – but what motivates moms to start and continue breastfeeding and what makes them stop? To learn just that and tailor our support for new mothers and their families, PAMF’s Education Division is conducting a large, ongoing survey of breastfeeding mothers called the Bay Area Breastfeeding Experience Survey (BABES).
The project, which follows BABES participants until they stop breastfeeding, has now been underway for two years. You’ll find the most recent highlights from the survey on our BABES website. Data is updated regularly by the team.
Lauren Brave, M.D., Pediatrician, Palo Alto Medical Foundation Pediatric Urgent Care
A bump on the head is one of those painful yet common childhood experiences that can happen at any age – whether it’s the newly mobile baby rolling off the bed, the elementary school kid falling off the jungle gym, or the teenage athlete colliding with an opposing team member during a high school football game. Pretty scary stuff for parents – should you rush straight to the emergency room? If your child loses consciousness, even briefly, you should seek immediate medical attention. For many minor head bumps, however, careful observation of your child for the first 36 to 48 hours is the most important thing you can do. If you are at all in doubt, don’t hesitate to follow your instincts and consult your doctor.
In this video, Dr. Glinder, speaks about the importance of caring for children, especially when they are in pain. “Sometimes kids are so stoic, that by the time we actually know they have pain, it’s way beyond what we as adults could tolerate.”
PAMF Santa Cruz Pediatrician Jackie Busse, M.D., draws from her own childhood experience with doctors when treating her patients.
“I had good doctors and bad doctors, and I learned as much about being a good doctor from that experience as I did from my formal training,” says Dr. Busse.
A favorite part of her job is connecting and building trust with her patients and their families, she says. “I enjoy interacting with the kids – they’re entertaining and resilient. They make it easy to come to work every day.”
For Nancy Andre, a busy mother of three lively young children, My Health Online takes the stress out of managing her children’s health care needs.
In this video, Andre shares her experience with one of My Health Online’s many features – being able to complete well-child questionnaires for all her children online from the comfort of her own home.
Pediatrician Nancy Barnett, M.D., Palo Alto Medical Foundation
None of us want our children to be sick, but it’s important to remember that fever can be our friend. The American Academy of Pediatrics describes fever as “a positive sign that the body is fighting infection.” In this blog post, Dr. Nancy Barnett, a pediatrician at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, answers commonly asked questions about fever in children.
There is a lot of discussion in the press about the safety of vaccines in children, says Kellen Glinder, M.D., a pediatrician at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. And the question often comes up in his practice. “In the United States vaccines are very well studied and very safe,” the doctor advises in this video on the topic.
“One thing is very clear: When we don’t vaccinate our children, the diseases we are protecting against reappear,” he says.
At first glance, having your teen join a year-round competitive sports team may seem like the perfect way to kill two birds with one stone – he or she has no time to turn into a couch potato hooked on texting and Facebook, and also has the opportunity to excel in a sport he or she loves. But before your teen signs up, you should know that teenagers’ bodies are particularly vulnerable to injury as their bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints are going through their most rapid period of growth. The intensity and “no pain, no gain” philosophy of many competitive, year-round sports teams can result in your teen sustaining serious injuries, some with lasting effects.
Welcome! This blog is designed as a forum for engaging patients, their families and the community in conversations about health care, and to help promote health education and wellness with articles and tips from our doctors and staff from different departments. We welcome your comments and insight, however, please remember that this blog does not address specific patient medical issues or provide personalized medical advice. If you have a specific medical question, please contact your doctor directly.Thank you for visiting our blog.
