Top Toddler Health Concerns

From potty-training and playdates to toddler teeth and watching TV, we asked some of the nation's leading pediatricians to address some of your biggest worries.

 

 

 

Head Bumps

Q: My 15-month-old son is still learning to walk, so he's bumped his head a few times. Should I be worried about long-term damage?

A: All toddlers fall as they learn to walk, run, climb, and jump. Most of the bumps are mild, and there is no need to worry. So when should you worry? If there is any loss of consciousness, call your doctor immediately. If not, but the fall is big, watch for signs of head injury. Signs include: vomiting in the first six to eight hours after a bump is detected, disorientation, excessive sleepiness, pupils that don't look equal or normally responsive, slurred speech, or dizziness. Noticing any of these signs is reason to call your doctor immediately.



Preventing Ear Infections

Q: My daughter gets so many ear infections that my pediatrician recommends putting tubes in. How do I know it's the right decision?

A: Whether tube placement is right depends on a handful of factors. Determine the goal of tube placement. If it is solely to reduce infections, tube placement is probably not right for your child. Tubes will not prevent infections but only allow them to happen less painfully, as the infection drains without pressure buildup. However, if your child has had fluid persistently behind her eardrum(s) for more than four months and is either developing impaired hearing, is already behind in language development, or has impaired cognition, then discussing ear tubes with your pediatrician and an otolaryngologist is a reasonable option.



Social Skills

Q: During playdates, my 18-month-old likes to mostly play by himself, and I'm worried he's antisocial.

A: Don't expect your child to play with another child until he is 3 years old. Before that age, children will play beside each other, but they usually do not play together. While you might notice your child watching the others in play, you shouldn't expect much interaction. And some kids are slower to warm up in a group setting, or they simply prefer independent play rather than jumping into the mix. As long he is playing purposefully, he is fine.



A Little Lisp

Q: My child is 2-1/2 and speaks with a slight lisp. When is it time to call a speech therapist?

A: For a child that age, it is fine to wait to see if she will grow out of it. Many children will lose their lisp; however, if your daughter hasn't by age 4-1/2, it is time to see a speech therapist. And remember: If your child has a lisp, you shouldn't call attention to it -- that can damage her self-esteem. Instead, simply repeat the word back to her with the proper pronunciation. Hopefully, she will pick up on that and correct the problem.



Egg Allergy = No Flu Shot

Q: My daughter is allergic to eggs and can't get the flu shot. Is there anything else I can do to protect her from getting sick this winter?

A: First, check with your child's allergist. If your child has only a mild allergy, an allergist might be willing to give her the shot (possibly in two halves) and observe her closely. However, if it's a severe allergy, try to keep her healthy in these other ways:
* Encourage good hand-washing (or using antibacterial gels when washing isn't an option) after using the restroom, after sneezing, before eating, etc.
* Keep her away from sick friends (of course you can't avoid school, but you can avoid playdates with kids you know aren't well).
* Make sure she stays rested, nourished, and hydrated.
* A vitamin C supplement can also help, but check with your doctor first.



Toddlers & the TV

Q: Is it OK to let my child watch TV?

A: The American Academy of Pediatrics states that children under 2 don't need to watch television, and the recent publicity surrounding the Baby Einstein videos is proof that even so-called educational programs don't really have an impact on a child's development. The official recommendation for children over 2 years of age is that they should not watch more than two hours of TV per day -- that includes DVDs, computer games, video games, etc.



Playing Nice

Q: My son is into hitting, and reprimanding doesn't seem to work. What should I do to get him to stop?

A: When he does hit, you need to address it right away -- not when you get home. Get down to his eye level and tell him, "No hitting." Then give him a time-out, and also ask him to apologize to the other child. While he might not quite understand what he's saying, you still need to reinforce that it's wrong to hurt someone. If he's continually hitting other kids during playdates, he might not be ready for them yet. Some toddlers find that being with a large group of kids is overwhelming.




Posted by: Georgie


Credit:parents.com