Dr Aleksandra Gajecka - Pediatrician in Malta, Sliema (2026)

05/03/2026

⚠️👶 Foreign Bodies in Children — A Common but Preventable Problem

Young children explore the world with curiosity — often using their hands and mouths. Because of this, foreign bodies in the nose, ears, throat, or airways are a fairly common reason for pediatric visits.

📊 How common is it?
These incidents occur most often in children 1–4 years old, when curiosity is high but awareness of danger is still limited. Common objects include small toys, beads, buttons, coins, food pieces (nuts, popcorn, grapes), and occasionally batteries or magnets, which are particularly dangerous.

⚠️ Possible symptoms
Symptoms depend on where the object is located:
• Nose: one-sided discharge (often foul-smelling), bleeding, blockage
• Ear: ear pain, hearing problems, discharge
• Airways: sudden coughing, choking, wheezing, breathing difficulty

🩺 When to see a doctor?
Seek medical help immediately if the child has breathing difficulties, persistent coughing, or if a battery or magnet may have been swallowed. Do not try to remove deep objects yourself, as this may push them further in.

🛡️ Prevention
Keep small objects out of reach, follow toy age recommendations, cut food into small pieces, avoid nuts and hard candies for toddlers, and supervise play.

✨ Awareness and prevention greatly reduce the risk.

Yours,
Dr Aleksandra 🦋

02/03/2026

Dear Parents,
Today's a quick reminder to kick off the week 😊

Sometimes one sentence can change everything in a parent's mind ✨

🌡️ "Not every child with a fever is sick."
😢 "Crying does NOT always mean pain."
💧 "If a child is drinking and peeing, that's very good news."
🌸 "Not every rash in a child is an allergy – it often goes away on its own and doesn't require medication."
🤸‍♂️ "A child can be active and happy, even if they have a slightly elevated temperature."

In pediatrics, it's often not the symptom itself that matters most, but the child's overall well-being 🌿

Pay attention to your child – not just the thermometer or a single symptom. A parent's peace of mind is also part of the treatment 💚

Trust yourself and your parental intuition 🍃
And of course, if you have any doubts, meet with your trusted pediatrician. We're here to help and support you 🩷
Yours,
Dr Aleksandra 🦋

27/02/2026

💛🧠 Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Newborns — What Does It Mean?

You may have heard the term “vagus nerve stimulation” in discussions about calming babies. Let’s explain what it really means — in a simple and practical way.

🌿 What is the vagus nerve?
The vagus nerve is one of the most important nerves in the body.
It connects the brain to the heart, lungs, and digestive system.

It plays a key role in the parasympathetic nervous system — the system responsible for:
• calming the body
• slowing the heart rate
• supporting digestion
• regulating breathing
• promoting a sense of safety

In newborns, this system is still immature and developing.

👶 Why stimulate the vagus nerve in a newborn?

The goal is not “medical stimulation,” but supporting natural regulation.
Healthy vagal activation helps:
• calm crying and distress
• improve sleep
• support digestion (colic, gas discomfort)
• stabilize heart rate and breathing
• strengthen emotional regulation foundations
Newborns cannot regulate themselves — they regulate through their caregivers.

🏡 Gentle home ways to support vagal regulation

💛 Skin-to-skin contact
One of the most powerful natural stimulators of the vagus nerve. It stabilizes heart rate, breathing, and temperature.

🎶 Soft singing or humming
The vagus nerve is connected to the vocal cords and inner ear. Gentle rhythmic sounds help calm the nervous system.

🤲 Slow rocking and rhythmic movement
Repetitive, predictable motion supports parasympathetic activation.

🫁 Calm breathing — yours, not the baby’s
When you slow your own breathing while holding your baby, their nervous system synchronizes with yours.

👁️ Warm eye contact and a soft facial expression
Safety cues from a caregiver directly influence a newborn’s nervous system.

✨ The key message:
You don’t need special devices or techniques.
Your touch, your voice, and your calm presence are the most powerful “vagus nerve stimulation” tools your baby has.

Regulation begins with relationship

24/02/2026

💛🧠 What Actually Calms a Child’s Nervous System?

When a child is overwhelmed, crying, or melting down, many adults focus on stopping the behavior.
But neuroscience tells us something different:

👉 Before a child can calm their behavior, their nervous system must feel safe.

So what truly helps?

🤲 1. Touch

Gentle, predictable touch (a hug, holding hands, sitting close) activates the parasympathetic nervous system — the body’s “rest and regulate” system.
It lowers heart rate, reduces cortisol (stress hormone), and increases oxytocin (bonding hormone).

For young children especially, physical closeness is biological regulation.

🎶 2. Voice

A calm, warm tone of voice directly influences a child’s vagus nerve — the pathway that connects emotional safety with the body.
Soft speech helps slow breathing and heart rate.

It’s not just what we say — it’s how we say it.

👀 3. Presence

A regulated adult is the most powerful calming tool.
When you stay steady, your child’s nervous system “borrows” your stability.

Children do not self-regulate first.
They co-regulate — through you.

⸻

✨ The key message:
Time-outs, lectures, or raised voices don’t calm the nervous system.
Connection does.

Your calm presence is not “spoiling.”
It is brain development in action.

Yours,
Dr Aleksandra 🦋

18/02/2026

💉🌿 Local Reaction After BCG (Tuberculosis) Vaccination — What Parents Should Know

The BCG vaccine (given to protect against severe forms of tuberculosis) often causes a local skin reaction — and this is usually completely normal.

Many parents worry when they notice changes at the injection site. Let’s explain what typically happens 👇

📍 What is a normal local reaction?

After BCG vaccination (usually given in the upper arm):

🗓️ 2–3 weeks later
A small red bump appears at the injection site.

🗓️ Over the next weeks
The bump may turn into a small blister or pustule.

🗓️ Later
It may open slightly, form a small ulcer, and then heal gradually.

🗓️ Final stage
A small, round scar remains — this is expected and confirms a proper immune response.

This entire process may take 2–4 months, sometimes longer.

🌡️ Is it painful?

Usually not. Mild redness or minimal discharge can occur, but the child generally feels well.

❗ What should parents NOT do?

🚫 Do not squeeze the lesion
🚫 Do not apply ointments unless advised
🚫 Do not cover tightly with bandages
🚫 Do not disinfect repeatedly

The area should be kept clean and dry, and allowed to heal naturally.

⚠️ When should you consult a doctor?
• If the swelling is very large (over 1 cm and growing significantly)
• If there is marked redness spreading around the site
• If fever or general illness appears
• If nearby lymph nodes become very enlarged or painful

Severe complications are rare — most local reactions are part of a normal immune response.

💙 A small scar today means protection against severe tuberculosis tomorrow.

Yours,
Dr Aleksandra 🦋

16/02/2026

🦠👶 Viral Respiratory Infection in a Child? Wait Before Starting Antibiotics!

Cough, runny nose, fever — these are among the most common reasons parents visit a pediatrician. But here’s something very important to remember:

👉 Most respiratory infections in children are caused by viruses — not bacteria.
And antibiotics do not work against viruses.

❓ Why not start antibiotics “just in case”?

Because unnecessary or too-early antibiotic use can do more harm than good.

⚠️ Consequences of premature antibiotic therapy:

🧬 Antibiotic resistance
Overuse contributes to bacteria becoming resistant, making future infections harder to treat.

🦠 Disruption of the gut microbiome
Antibiotics affect beneficial bacteria in the intestines, which play a key role in immunity, digestion, and even long-term metabolic health.

🤢 Side effects
Diarrhea, abdominal pain, allergic reactions, skin rashes — these are not rare.

📉 Weakened natural immune training
The immune system learns by fighting infections. Interrupting viral illnesses with unnecessary antibiotics doesn’t speed recovery.

💊 False sense of security
If symptoms improve, it is often due to the natural course of the viral infection — not the antibiotic.

🩺 When are antibiotics truly needed?

Only when there is clear evidence of a bacterial infection, such as:
• bacterial pneumonia
• streptococcal tonsillitis
• certain ear or sinus infections

Your pediatrician evaluates symptoms, examination findings, and sometimes test results before making this decision.

✨ The key message:
Not every fever or cough needs an antibiotic.
Sometimes the best medicine is time, supportive care, hydration, rest — and close observation.

Trust the process. Trust evidence-based medicine. And always ask if you’re unsure 💙

Yours,
Dr Aleksandra 🦋

11/02/2026

👶🩺 5 Things You Should NEVER Do to Your Child 🚫

As a paediatrician, I often see well-intentioned actions that can actually do more harm than good. Here are 5 important things to avoid 👇

1️⃣ Don’t give antibiotics on your own 💊
Most childhood infections are viral 🦠, not bacterial. Unnecessary antibiotics won’t help — and they can cause side effects ⚠️ and increase antibiotic resistance 📈.

2️⃣ Don’t treat every fever immediately 🌡️
Fever is a natural defense mechanism 💪. If your child feels relatively well, is drinking fluids 🥤 and playing a little 🎨, medication is not always needed.
👉 Treat the child, not the number on the thermometer.

3️⃣ Don’t overdress your child during a fever 🧥🔥
Too many layers or heavy blankets make it harder for the body to release heat and may actually worsen the fever.

4️⃣ Don’t put cotton swabs in your child’s ears 👂🚫
Cotton swabs push earwax deeper and increase the risk of injury. The ear is self-cleaning — it usually doesn’t need extra help.

5️⃣ Don’t force your child to eat when sick 🍽️❌
Loss of appetite during illness is normal. Fluids 💧 and rest 😴 are more important than food in the short term.

💛 When in doubt, always consult your paediatrician.
Sometimes the best care is knowing when not to interfere.

Yours,
Dr Aleksandra 🦋

04/02/2026

🧠🦠 What Does “Immune Memory” Really Mean?

You may hear doctors say that the immune system “remembers” infections or vaccines — but what does that actually mean?

🛡️ Immune memory is the body’s learning system
When the immune system first meets a virus or bacteria, it needs time to recognize and fight it. During this process, it creates special memory cells that store information about that specific pathogen.

🧬 What happens next time?
If the same germ appears again, the immune system doesn’t start from zero.
Thanks to immune memory, it reacts faster, stronger, and more precisely — often stopping the infection before symptoms even appear.

💉 Why vaccines rely on immune memory
Vaccines safely “train” the immune system by exposing it to a harmless form or piece of a pathogen. This allows the body to build immune memory without the risks of the real disease.

👶 In children, immune memory develops over time
Young children are constantly “learning” immunologically. This is why early childhood involves many infections — and why vaccinations are so important during this period.

✨ The key message
Immune memory doesn’t mean your child will never meet germs again.
It means their immune system will recognize them — and respond more effectively.

Building immune memory safely is one of the greatest achievements of modern medicine 💙

Yours,
Dr Aleksandra 🦋

30/01/2026

🩸 Blood strands in a baby's stool – what does it mean?

Parents are often very concerned when they see blood strands in their diaper. It's understandable. But... blood in a baby's stool ≠ an immediate cow's milk protein allergy.

👉 Step 1: Stay calm. In infants (especially breastfed ones), the most common causes are: ▪️ minor tearing of the a**l lining ▪️ immaturity of the digestive tract ▪️ temporary intestinal irritation

👉 Step 2: Observe your baby, not just the diaper. Besides blood, look for: ▪️ severe pain, persistent crying ▪️ diarrhea, mucus in the stool ▪️ poor weight gain ▪️ severe regurgitation, vomiting ▪️ skin lesions

👉 Step 3: Don't eliminate your diet "just in case" ❌ Routinely eliminating milk and dairy products for breastfeeding mothers is not recommended without consultation ✔️ An elimination diet is sometimes used as a diagnostic test when symptoms truly suggest an allergy.

👉 Step 4: Consult your pediatrician. Your doctor will assess whether: ▪️ Further observation ▪️ A short trial of an elimination diet ▪️ Or just topical treatment and time

📌 Important:

In most breastfed infants, small amounts of blood in the stool resolve spontaneously and are not related to an allergy.

Yours,
Dr Aleksandra 🦋

28/01/2026

😅 Why Does Your Child Listen to Grandma… but Not to You?
(And why this is actually normal!)

Many parents ask this with a mix of frustration and disbelief:
“Why does my child behave perfectly for grandma but ignores me completely?”

Here’s the reassuring truth — this is very common and completely normal 💛

🧠 It’s about emotional safety
Children are most themselves with the people they feel safest with. With parents, they can release all the emotions they’ve been holding in — tiredness, frustration, overstimulation. Grandma often gets the best version of the child because the emotional load is lighter.

👵 Different roles, different expectations
Grandparents usually have fewer daily responsibilities, less pressure, and more patience in the moment. Rules may feel less intense, and children sense that.

❤️ Attachment, not disrespect
When your child “tests” limits with you, it’s not defiance — it’s attachment.
Your child trusts that your relationship can handle big emotions.

💡 What can help at home
• Keep boundaries calm and consistent
• Avoid comparisons (“Why can’t you behave like with grandma?”)
• Remember: connection comes before cooperation

✨ The takeaway
If your child listens better to grandma, it doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong.
It means you are their safe place — and that’s a powerful role to hold 💙

Yours,
Dr Aleksandra 🦋

22/01/2026

💡Dear Parents, today a short reminder about child psychology...

Things your child definitely won't remember:

🔥They won't remember

❌HOW they were dressed.
❌Did they have perfectly matched socks?
❌Was the sweatshirt polka dots or princesses?
❌Did their hairstyle last all day?
❌Was everything perfectly planned and on time?
❌Did they meet someone's expectations?

But they will remember something else.

🔥They will remember

✨Did they feel safe?
✨Did they get to be themselves?
✨Were they accepted even when they were loud, tired, or out of control?
✨Was someone there when emotions were really difficult?
✨Was they supported or embarrassed?
✨Did they have a say, or were they overly controlled?

Children don't just take away images from childhood.
They take away what they felt🌸

And these emotions stay for life🍀

Yours,
Dr Aleksandra🦋

20/01/2026

Why Do Toddlers Say “NO” to Everything? 🧠🤯
The neuroscience behind autonomy

Many parents notice that around 1–3 years of age, “NO” becomes a toddler’s favorite word. While exhausting, this is actually a healthy and important stage of brain development 🌱

🧠 What’s happening in the brain?
At this age, areas responsible for independence and self-identity are developing rapidly, while the prefrontal cortex (emotional control and impulse regulation) is still immature.

👉 Saying “NO” is often a child’s first way of expressing autonomy.
It’s not defiance — it’s the brain learning “I am my own person.”

💡 How parents can help
• Offer simple choices
• Stay calm and avoid power struggles
• Remember: toddlers borrow emotional regulation from adults ❤️

✨ The takeaway
A toddler who says “NO” isn’t being difficult — they are growing.
This phase supports healthy confidence and independence later in life.

Yours,
Dr Aleksandra 🦋

Dr Aleksandra Gajecka - Pediatrician in Malta

05/03/2026

02/03/2026

27/02/2026

24/02/2026

18/02/2026

16/02/2026

11/02/2026

04/02/2026

30/01/2026

28/01/2026

22/01/2026

20/01/2026

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