Children's Clinic

07/07/2025

02/18/2025

A beautiful young soul taken way to soon from us! You will be missed dearly Kadance. Watching you grow up over these years has been a great privilege. Fly high our beautiful Angel 😇 🤍 We know you will make a difference up there also 💜

02/08/2025

When you seek out medical care multiple times throughout a given illness, you may eventually receive more than one opinion. 🩺 Just because the final provider gives you a new/different diagnosis does not necessarily mean that the prior providers were wrong. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the final diagnosis is correct, either. 🫣

Let me illustrate an example.

Say little Jimmy has developed a runny nose, cough, and congestion. 🤧 You bring him in right away. The doctor rightfully diagnoses him with a viral respiratory infection (aka the common cold) and sends him home to rest. The next day, he spikes a fever to 103°F. You bring him to the urgent care center. They do a quick physical exam, check his vital signs, maybe run a rapid test for influenza or COVID-19, and once again send him on his way home.

The next day, poor Jimmy has a full-blown febrile seizure. 😳 You call 911 and he is brought to the nearby emergency room. The doctors run a myriad of tests including a chest x-ray, which shows a patchy area of consolidation in the right middle lung. The doctor diagnoses Jimmy with pneumonia and starts him on antibiotics.

I can understand how confusing and frustrating the above scenario must feel. How did the first two doctors miss this? Were they wrong to send him home? Could they have prevented the febrile seizure from the very beginning? Is the ER a better place to seek out care when a child is sick?

The first two doctors didn’t “miss” the diagnosis of febrile seizures nor pneumonia because neither one had presented itself yet. It’s nearly impossible to prevent a first-time febrile seizure. Furthermore, the “pneumonia” likely wouldn’t have shown up on day #1 or 2 chest x-ray because sufficient pus and inflammation likely hadn’t accumulated yet. In fact, the diagnosis of “pneumonia” in this particular scenario might not even be accurate! Even skilled emergency room doctors over-diagnose pneumonia on chest x-ray when really the patient has excessive mucus build-up leading to atelectasis (small areas of lung collapse and fluid accumulation within the lung).

The first two doctors also were not wrong to send Jimmy home. 🏡 There’s no way to predict a febrile seizure. There’s no prophylactic medication that a child should be taking to prevent it, either. The appropriate course of action (assuming lack of red flag symptoms such as dehydration and respiratory distress) is to go home, rest, hydrate, and let the body do its thing. The development of fever doesn’t change anything – it just confirms the fact that the body is fighting off an infection. Running additional labs and tests at Jimmy’s urgent care visit would’ve been highly unlikely to change the treatment plan. Starting antibiotics “just to be safe” when the history and physical is consistent with a viral illness is irresponsible because it leads to unnecessary side effects and promotes bacterial resistance.

Parents will often say “well I know that the antibiotics were necessary because within a couple days of taking them, the illness went away!” I can see how tempting this logic may be. However, a viral illness ALSO starts to spontaneously resolve after 3-7 days of symptoms (ie, a couple of days after parents typically seek out medical care), so who’s to say that the antibiotic deserves the credit? I like to call this the confirmation bias virus: a parent begs for a tangible solution (ie, antibiotic) to their child’s viral illness, and the child finally starts to feel better while taking said antibiotic, so the parent’s suspicion for bacterial infection is falsely “confirmed.” 😩 This line of thinking perpetuates the inaccurate perception that antibiotics cure viral illness.

I like to remind people that illness exists on a continuum… as in, you don’t just go from perfectly healthy to full-blown sickness. There are stages in between, each with their own constellation of signs and symptoms. If you are seen too early in the course of a given illness, the signs and symptoms necessary to determine the appropriate diagnosis may not be present yet. This is why I love empowering parents to learn the basics of if and when a child needs to be seen. Often times, the best course of action early on is to take a “watchful waiting” approach (aka let the body do it’s thing). This should be accompanied by clear return precautions, which include things to look out for with a list of reasons to return to medical care. The vast majority of minor childhood illnesses will resolve on their own with a bit of time.

Lastly, the ER is NOT the appropriate place to go when your child is mildly sick. The ER is for emergencies. They see an incredibly large volume of patients and need to turn the rooms around quickly. This may unfortunately leave the providers with less time to give appropriate education, reassurance, and return precautions. If you’ve already been seen multiple times for the exact same illness, they might even cave in and prescribe the antibiotic for the sake of time, simplicity, revenue, and/or patient satisfaction. It’s not the right thing to do, but it happens. Just because the last provider gave you a different diagnosis does not necessarily mean that it was the correct one. 😬

As always, please remember that this information does not replace parental judgment nor a medical assessment by your provider.

Parenting is hard, but I'm going to try my best to make it easier on you. ❤️

09/13/2024

Good fever info as we go into cold and flu season. This is a discussion I have with parents a lot. Please remember not to give babies under 6 months Motrin/ibuprofen. ~Jan

11/17/2023

When you seek out medical care multiple times throughout a given illness, you may eventually receive more than one opinion. 🩺 Just because the final provider gives you a new/different diagnosis does not necessarily mean that the prior providers were wrong. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the final diagnosis is correct, either. 🫣

Let me illustrate an example.

Say little Jimmy has developed a runny nose, cough, and congestion. 🤧 You bring him in right away. The doctor rightfully diagnoses him with a viral respiratory infection (aka the common cold) and sends him home to rest. The next day, he spikes a fever to 103°F. You bring him to the urgent care center. They do a quick physical exam, check his vital signs, maybe run a rapid test for influenza or COVID-19, and once again send him on his way home.

The next day, poor Jimmy has a full-blown febrile seizure. 😳 You call 911 and he is brought to the nearby emergency room. The doctors run a myriad of tests including a chest x-ray, which shows a patchy area of consolidation in the right middle lung. The doctor diagnoses Jimmy with pneumonia and starts him on antibiotics.

I can understand how confusing and frustrating the above scenario must feel. How did the first two doctors miss this? Were they wrong to send him home? Could they have prevented the febrile seizure from the very beginning? Is the ER a better place to seek out care when a child is sick?

The first two doctors didn’t “miss” the diagnosis of febrile seizures nor pneumonia because neither one had presented itself yet. It’s nearly impossible to prevent a first-time febrile seizure. Furthermore, the “pneumonia” likely wouldn’t have shown up on day #1 or 2 chest x-ray because sufficient pus and inflammation likely hadn’t accumulated yet. In fact, the diagnosis of “pneumonia” in this particular scenario might not even be accurate! Even skilled emergency room doctors over-diagnose pneumonia on chest x-ray when really the patient has excessive mucus build-up leading to atelectasis (small areas of lung collapse and fluid accumulation within the lung).

The first two doctors also were not wrong to send Jimmy home. 🏡 There’s no way to predict a febrile seizure. There’s no prophylactic medication that a child should be taking to prevent it, either. The appropriate course of action (assuming lack of red flag symptoms such as dehydration and respiratory distress) is to go home, rest, hydrate, and let the body do its thing. The development of fever doesn’t change anything – it just confirms the fact that the body is fighting off an infection. Running additional labs and tests at Jimmy’s urgent care visit would’ve been highly unlikely to change the treatment plan. Starting antibiotics “just to be safe” when the history and physical is consistent with a viral illness is irresponsible because it leads to unnecessary side effects and promotes bacterial resistance.

Parents will often say “well I know that the antibiotics were necessary because within a couple days of taking them, the illness went away!” I can see how tempting this logic may be. However, a viral illness ALSO starts to spontaneously resolve after 3-7 days of symptoms (ie, a couple of days after parents typically seek out medical care), so who’s to say that the antibiotic deserves the credit? I like to call this the confirmation bias virus: a parent begs for a tangible solution (ie, antibiotic) to their child’s viral illness, and the child finally starts to feel better while taking said antibiotic, so the parent’s suspicion for bacterial infection is falsely “confirmed.” 😩 This line of thinking perpetuates the inaccurate perception that antibiotics cure viral illness.

I like to remind people that illness exists on a continuum… as in, you don’t just go from perfectly healthy to full-blown sickness. There are stages in between, each with their own constellation of signs and symptoms. If you are seen too early in the course of a given illness, the signs and symptoms necessary to determine the appropriate diagnosis may not be present yet. This is why I love empowering parents to learn the basics of if and when a child needs to be seen. Often times, the best course of action early on is to take a “watchful waiting” approach (aka let the body do it’s thing). This should be accompanied by clear return precautions, which include things to look out for with a list of reasons to return to medical care. The vast majority of minor childhood illnesses will resolve on their own with a bit of time.

Lastly, the ER is NOT the appropriate place to go when your child is mildly sick. The ER is for emergencies. They see an incredibly large volume of patients and need to turn the rooms around quickly. This may unfortunately leave the providers with less time to give appropriate education, reassurance, and return precautions. If you’ve already been seen multiple times for the exact same illness, they might even cave in and prescribe the antibiotic for the sake of time, simplicity, revenue, and/or patient satisfaction. It’s not the right thing to do, but it happens. Just because the last provider gave you a different diagnosis does not necessarily mean that it was the correct one. 😬

As always, please remember that this information does not replace parental judgment nor a medical assessment by your provider.

Parenting is hard, but I'm going to try my best to make it easier on you. ❤️ Comment below if you learned something new!

12/14/2022

Do you need to treat a fever? What if it doesn't completely resolve with Tylenol or Motrin? Should you rush to the ER? For my devoted parents out there suffering from a hint of fever phobia, I’m here to offer a cure.

A true fever is 100.4°F and above. 🤒 Babies less than 3 months old should be measured rectally to get an accurate temperature. After 3 months, you can measure at the ear, forehead, or armpit for a decent temperature estimation... But before you rush out to buy a thermometer, hear me out:

Fevers are the body’s HEALTHY, natural way of ramping up the immune system to fight off infections. By far, most fevers are due to pesky viral illnesses (common colds) presenting as cough, congestion, runny nose, and fever. Viruses usually go away within a week or two WITHOUT any prescription medicine, so you can safely keep your peanut at home to rest. 🛌 Antibiotics will not make a virus go away any faster because they ONLY work on bacteria.

A doctor’s visit is not necessary under most fever circumstances, but there are some VERY important exceptions that I need to mention. Seek urgent medical care if your child is less than 3 months old, has chronic medical conditions such as sickle cell or heart disease, or has any of the following 🚩 RED FLAG SIGNS: Bulging soft spot, inconsolable crying, bright green vomit, confusion, disorientation, difficult to arouse, poor urine output, stiff neck, new seizures, difficult or rapid breathing, refusal to move an arm or leg as normal, widespread peeling/blistering/bruising of skin, or simply appearing very ill.

The common cold can lead to secondary infections, so schedule an office visit for persistent ear pain or fever lasting greater than 4 days. If your intuition is overall telling you that your child is really sick, by all means, please bring them in.

Otherwise, there is no set temperature at which you need to give Tylenol or Motrin to your little one. 💊 There is no need to wake a sleeping child to give these medications. If your child’s fever is making them UNCOMFORTABLE, then go ahead and offer Tylenol (for all ages) or Motrin (6 months and up). Notice how the decision to treat is based on the way that they feel/act – no numbers involved. Try to use the WEIGHT-based chart for the most accurate dosing.

Remember that fever medications only knock the temp down by 1-3 degrees at the most. The fever WILL likely come back after several hours. That's okay. Again, the body is doing this to fight off the infection. Be careful if you choose to alternate between Tylenol and Motrin, as this can lead to dosing errors. Do NOT give aspirin to children - it is potentially toxic to little livers.

Some children tolerate fevers to 104°F without problem while others become cranky right at 100.4°F. Some kids get so fussy that they refuse to eat, sleep, or drink enough fluids. 💦 It’s actually fine if your child won’t eat solid food for a few days, but they need to stay HYDRATED enough to urinate roughly every 8 hours. Encourage breast milk, formula, Pedialyte, or any other age-appropriate fluids that you can. Having less than 3 wet diapers a day is a sign of dehydration, and dehydration is a reason to bring your child in.

Again, any sign of respiratory distress (sucking in between the ribs or flaring nostrils to breathe, rapid breathing, head bobbing, turning blue or pale) is another reason to bring them in as soon as possible.

Febrile seizures are a common concern. They occur among roughly 2-5% of all children. A seizure is terribly frightening for parents to watch, but I have good news: only rarely is it dangerous. There is no evidence that routine Tylenol or Motrin use will prevent first-time febrile seizures in general, so I do not typically recommend using them for that specific purpose. Unfortunately, the seizure itself often happens before anyone is aware that a fever even exists.

The fear of “brain damage” is another common fear, but I have more good news: No study suggests that fever itself poses a threat to an otherwise healthy brain except in the rare event that body temp exceeds 107°F - but these kids likely had hyperthermia due to dehydration on top of their high fevers. 🧠

I get passionate about fever because it is a HUGE source of anxiety, time, money, and resources for so many families. The next time that your child feels warm, no need to rush to the nearest ER. If they require testing for school or daycare, call your provider's office for further instructions.

Fever is not the enemy; dehydration and respiratory distress are the enemies. Those are what you need to look out for.

Remember, this information does NOT replace parental judgment nor a medical assessment by your provider. Stay healthy, everyone.

09/18/2022

Let's discuss SCREEN TIME. 📱

What impact do electronic screens have on child development? Does media exposure affect the way that children learn, think, and behave? The AAP recommends nearly zero screen time for children younger than 18 months. Let me explain why.

The first 3 years of life are when the most critical brain development takes place – up to 80% of it. 🧠 Your baby’s brain is like a super-absorbent sponge that is constantly taking in information and trying to make sense of it all. What they need to learn most is how to interact with the world around them. They need to touch, shake, throw, smell, and taste things. They need to see faces, hear voices, and experience human emotion. Those first 3 years go by extremely fast.

Electronic colors, motion, and sounds are super exciting -- of course babies love them! However, baby’s brains are incapable of making sense or meaning out of all those bizarre pictures until they’ve developed a strong understanding of the real world. We have evidence to suggest that screen time prior to 18 months of age has lasting negative effects on language development, reading skills, and short-term memory. It may also contribute to problems with sleep, behavior, and attention.

Video entertainment is like mental junk food for babies. 🍕 The infant brain is programmed to learn from human interaction. The interplay of facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language between a toddler and parent is so beautiful and complex. When attention is diverted to a TV screen, this exchange comes to a squealing halt.

Even having the TV on in the background is shown to delay language development. 📺 One study showed that a parent normally speaks roughly 940 words per hour when their toddler is in the room. Once the TV was turned on, that number fell to 170 words per hour. Fewer words = less interaction = less learning.

Forming an attention span is crucial to doing well in school, work, and society. We have found that toddlers who watch more TV are more likely to have attention difficulties by age 7. The theory is that video/TV programming offers a constant stream of interesting, captivating material – never forcing a child to experience the concepts of delayed gratification, patience, or boredom. How can we nurture creative minds if we are constantly filing them with artificial colors and sounds? Every moment spent staring at a screen is a lost opportunity to experience the world in real-time. 🌳

The good news: The effects of screen time seem to change a bit after the age of 2. At this age, well-designed shows can in fact teach kids literacy, math, science, problem-solving, and social behavior – especially among children whose homes are less intellectually stimulating to begin with. Interactive programs that encourage kids to answer questions are best such as Dora the Explorer, Little Einsteins, Blippi, and Sesame Street.

Don’t be fooled by “educational” apps and digital books. When they lack human interaction, they often prove ineffective. Many apps target rote skills such as ABCs and shapes, which is only one tiny component of school readiness. Success in school requires impulse control, managing of emotions, creativity, and flexible thinking – skills that are best learned through unstructured social play with family and friends.

Digital eBooks often have so many exciting sounds and effects that kids miss the underlying story and aren’t able to learn as well as they would from a printed book. If you do use eBooks, avoid those with too many fancy special effects, and make sure to read them together to foster parent-child interaction.

Even school-aged kids can be negatively impacted by overuse of digital media. We know that having a TV, computer, or cell phone in the bedroom can lead to less sleep at night. Heavy media use in preschool years is linked to risk of childhood obesity – not only because TV time is sedentary but also due to increased snacking and exposure to food advertisements. 🍿 Violent media content (including video games) can contribute to behavioral problems. Without proper guidance, the line between Hollywood and reality can become blurred. Monitor your child’s media. Try to keep bedrooms, meal times, and play time free of screens.

What else can you do to combat the era of technology overload? Try to put a 1-hour cap on screen time from the ages of 2-5 years and no more than 2 hours for kids older than 5. Whenever possible, make the use of media interactive by experiencing it together rather than letting them watch alone.

Foster healthy communication skills by teaching nursery rhymes such as peek-a-boo, pat-a-cake, Itsy Bitsy Spider, etc. Teach toddlers to blow kisses, wave bye-bye, and clap their hands. Read books together. Share toys. Go look at dogs in the park. When two people focus on the same thing at the same time, they are strengthening their “joint attention” skills, which is vital to communication and social skill development.

Choose age-appropriate toys such as dolls, animals, action figures, food utensils, cars, plans, blocks, shapes, puzzles, trains, coloring books, crayons, markers, clay, play-dough, stickers, board games, balls, push/pull toys, and tricycles. No need to fall victim to race or gender-based stereotypes when making your toy selections! 🚒

Set limits and enforce technology-free zones like around the kitchen table. Go on tech-free outings to the park, pool, zoo, museum, age-appropriate concert, orchestra, theater, or sports event. ⚾️ Snap a few pictures to capture the moment – but don’t forget to live in it as well.

Finally, make sure that YOU aren’t over-indulging in screen time. 😬 When you are on your smartphone, non-verbal signals such as eye contact, facial expressions, gestures, and body language are often reduced or eliminated completely. These non-verbal cues teach children to recognize emotions and understand the intent of what is being said.

I know that cutting down on screen time is tough. I’m not suggesting that we need to put down our smartphones and tablets completely, as they still hold purpose and reason. Just remember that every minute spent focused on a screen could be a missed opportunity to interact and learn with your little ones. We're all doing our best. ❤️

09/11/2022

Do you need to treat a fever? What if it doesn't completely resolve with Tylenol or Motrin? Should you rush to the ER? For my devoted parents out there suffering from a hint of fever phobia, I’m here to offer a cure.

A true fever is 100.4°F and above. 🤒 Babies less than 3 months old should be measured rectally to get an accurate temperature. After 3 months, you can measure at the ear, forehead, or armpit for a decent temperature estimation... But before you rush out to buy a thermometer, hear me out:

Fevers are the body’s HEALTHY, natural way of ramping up the immune system to fight off infections. By far, most fevers are due to pesky viral illnesses (common colds) presenting as cough, congestion, runny nose, and fever. Viruses usually go away within a week or two WITHOUT any prescription medicine, so you can safely keep your peanut at home to rest. 🛌 Antibiotics will not make a virus go away any faster because they ONLY work on bacteria.

A doctor’s visit is not necessary under most fever circumstances, but there are some VERY important exceptions that I need to mention. Seek urgent medical care if your child is less than 3 months old, has chronic medical conditions such as sickle cell or heart disease, or has any of the following 🚩 RED FLAG SIGNS: Bulging soft spot, inconsolable crying, bright green vomit, confusion, disorientation, difficult to arouse, poor urine output, stiff neck, new seizures, difficult or rapid breathing, refusal to move an arm or leg as normal, or simply appearing very ill.

The common cold can lead to secondary infections, so schedule an office visit for persistent ear pain or fever lasting greater than 4 days. If your intuition is overall telling you that your child is really sick, by all means, please bring them in.

Otherwise, there is no set temperature at which you need to give Tylenol or Motrin to your little one. 💊 There is no need to wake a sleeping child to give these medications. If your child’s fever is making them UNCOMFORTABLE, then go ahead and offer Tylenol (for all ages) or Motrin (6 months and up). Notice how the decision to treat is based on the way that they feel/act – no numbers involved. Try to use the WEIGHT-based chart for the most accurate dosing.

Remember that fever medications only knock the temp down by 1-3 degrees at the most. The fever WILL likely come back after several hours. That's okay. Again, the body is doing this to fight off the infection. Be careful if you choose to alternate between Tylenol and Motrin, as this can lead to dosing errors. Do NOT give aspirin to children - it is potentially toxic to little livers.

Some children tolerate fevers to 104°F without problem while others become cranky right at 100.4°F. Some kids get so fussy that they refuse to eat, sleep, or drink enough fluids. 💦 It’s actually fine if your child won’t eat solid food for a few days, but they need to stay HYDRATED enough to urinate roughly every 8 hours. Encourage breast milk, formula, Pedialyte, or any other age-appropriate fluids that you can. Having less than 3 wet diapers a day is a sign of dehydration, and dehydration is a reason to bring your child in.

Again, any sign of respiratory distress (sucking in between the ribs or flaring nostrils to breathe, rapid breathing, head bobbing, turning blue or pale) is another reason to bring them in as soon as possible.

Febrile seizures are a common concern. They occur among roughly 2-5% of all children. A seizure is terribly frightening for parents to watch, but I have good news: only rarely is it dangerous. There is no evidence that routine Tylenol or Motrin use will prevent first-time febrile seizures in general, so I do not typically recommend using them for that specific purpose. Plus, it's thought to be an abrupt RISE in temperature that causes the brain to seize, so the seizure itself often happens before anyone is aware that a fever even exists.

The fear of “brain damage” is another common fear, but I have more good news: No study suggests that fever itself poses a threat to an otherwise healthy brain except in the rare event that body temp exceeds 107°F -- but these kids likely had hyperthermia due to dehydration on top of their high fevers. 🧠

I get passionate about fever because it is a HUGE source of anxiety, time, money, and resources for so many families. The next time that your child feels warm, no need to rush to the nearest ER. If they require testing for school or daycare, call your provider's office for further instructions.

Fever is not the enemy; dehydration and respiratory distress are the enemies. Those are what you need to look out for.

Remember, this information does NOT replace parental judgment nor a medical assessment by your provider. Stay healthy, everyone.

05/06/2022

Most infant reflux is a laundry problem, not a medical problem! 🧼

Almost ALL babies have some degree of normal reflux or ”spitting up." A baby’s esophagus is not strong enough to hold down all of the milk or formula that fills their belly during a feed, which is why they often spit up a large portion of it. Reflux typically peaks around the age of 4 months and resolves by 1 year of age.

Two ounces of milk can look like a LOT when it splatters on a flat surface. Parents often worry that their baby is spitting up “everything"... but is he making good wet diapers roughly every 3-4 hours? Is he gaining weight and following his growth chart? 📈 If so, you likely have a happy spitter on your hands.

Red flag signs to look out for when it comes to spitting up: Poor weight gain, refusing to eat, and screaming or arching of the back during feeds. 🚩These babies may actually benefit from antacid treatment. Also beware of spit-up that is green or persistently forceful. Normal reflux does NOT come with difficulty breathing, chronic cough, or turning blue. These are all signs of a more worrisome problem that deserves medical attention.

Also, note that antacid medications only reduce the acidity of stomach secretions in effort to make reflux less painful... They do NOT typically decrease the amount of spit-up! I repeat, antacid medications will NOT make your baby stop spitting up.

To reduce spit up, avoid overfeeding. While an adult stomach can hold up to 4 liters of fluid at a time, a newborn’s stomach is only about the size of ping-pong ball. 🏓 An average 1-month old is unable to hold down more than about 3-4 ounces. There’s no need to re-feed your baby after he or she has spit up unless your provider tells you otherwise.

Burp your baby after every couple of ounces if he/she has a tendency to spit up. Keep them upright for at least 30 minutes after meals, and try not to place them in a car seat during this time. Avoid tight diapers and elastic waistbands as well.

I don’t typically encourage parents to switch formulas since infant reflux is 1.) normal and 2.) typically gets better with time, but there’s no harm in trying a hypoallergenic formula if your formula-fed baby is having digestive issues (notable gas, bloating, rash, loose stools) in addition to the spitting up. 🍼 Hope this helps!

📸 Jay Phina Photography

04/16/2022

Feeding your baby peanut products early in life may actually prevent peanut allergies! 🥜 A baby’s early nutrition has a big impact on the development of eczema, asthma, and food allergies down the road.

For healthy babies, experts now recommend starting peanut products around 6 months of age! You cannot prevent your child from developing allergies by waiting until they are older to try peanuts, eggs, or fish. 🐟

In fact, experts recommend giving peanut products as young as 4 months of age for infants at high risk for peanut allergy (ie those with severe eczema and/or egg allergy), but only under the testing and supervision of their healthcare provider. ⚠️

Remember, whole peanuts are a choking hazard to children under 4 years. 🚫 Instead, babies and toddlers should be given ground products such as peanut butter smeared on something easy to swallow like bananas or eggs.

There are 8 major groups of foods that cause roughly 90% of all food allergies in the United States. These include cow milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybean. If your child has severe or difficult-to-treat eczema, it may be worth a visit to an allergist to find out if food allergies are playing a role. 👶

Let’s talk breast milk. 🙌 A diet of breast milk only (exclusive breastfeeding) for the first 3-4 months of your baby’s life may decrease their risk of eczema during the first 2 years of life. Breastfeeding beyond that is protective against wheezing in the first 2 years of life (even if you start adding other foods to the diet). It also protects against the development of asthma in later childhood. There is currently no known link between duration of breastfeeding and the development of food allergies.

What about Mother’s diet? One study found that a mother can possibly decrease the likelihood of allergic disease by eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, fish, and foods containing vitamin D throughout her pregnancy and lactation. 🍊 She does NOT need to limit her diet otherwise.

Lastly, specialized formulas do not appear to prevent the development of eczema as we once believed to be the case.

Primary Source: https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/…/…/15/peds.2019-0281