Tennessee Valley Pediatrics

01/27/2026

We love Reach Out and Read - Alabama! Together, we provide new age-appropriate books for every child at their check-ups from 6 months through age 6. Help us wish them a very happy 20th anniversary!

01/27/2026

All Clinics will open at 8am on Tuesday, except the Adolescent Clinic, which will remain closed until Wednesday. Please be safe driving. Less traveled roads are still icy in places!

01/26/2026

Are your kids stuck inside and bored? Are they driving you crazy? It's easy to turn to screens on days like this. However, our pediatric providers encourage hands-on activities that are fun and bring families together to make lasting memories. We found these creative winter activities online and tweaked them a little. We did include a movie day because sometimes a screen is okay with snuggles, especially if your family has one of the bugs going around. We'd love to hear what fun thing you're doing today!

01/26/2026

Please call on Tuesday, and we will get you rescheduled! We want to keep our patients and staff safe. Our after hours number is 256-381-9350 if you need to speak to a provider.

01/25/2026

Welcome to Alabama where the weather is all over the place!  Although the roads seem to be better this morning, we are worried about the rapidly dropping temperatures during clinic hours. Many of our staff and patients live in Russellville and Northern Laudadale County, and we want to make sure they can get home safely. Remember that we always have a provider on call. For after hours advice and care, please call us at 256-381-9350.

01/24/2026

01/23/2026

Dr. Maxie wants snow this weekend! Drop a winter emoji if you hope it snows too!

01/23/2026

Repost from last year! It's that time of year!

Let's talk cold and car seats. Winter coats and thick clothing should not be worn in car seats underneath the car seat harness because they leave the harness too loose to be effective in a crash.

For Babies: Keeping babies warm in the winter takes a little extra effort, from the tiny gloves and hats to blankets and layers. You can tuck a blanket around your child in their car seat, or purchase the cover, fitted blanket, or canopy designed and tested by your car seat manufacturer for your specific model.

Warm pajamas are an easy go-to for babies, especially the type with convertible footies that can be folded over. Just make sure there’s no bunched-up fabric that might prevent the buckle from fastening correctly.

For Toddlers and Older Children
The backward coat trick is a parenting hack. After securing them in the car seat, turn the coat around and put it on backward (with arms through the armholes), so the coat serves as a blanket resting on top of the harness.

Dress children in layers, such as a “base” layer with cold-proof gear, followed by a sweatshirt. You can also look for fleece zip-up jackets that offer warmth without bulk.

As always, make sure your car seat is installed in a backseat per the manufacturers directions. We want these babies to stay warm, but we also want them to stay safe!

(Picture is Parker, one of the Melvin-Somers grandchildren. This was the best face he was offering last night!)

01/22/2026

Some words of wisdom from Amanda Hill, CRNP who has taken care of children with ADHD for over a decade! As the school year winds down, we get many calls from parents worried about their child's grades. Don't wait until the last grading period. Call us today and let us help your family. Our providers at TVP can test, diagnose and follow up with medication and/or therapy.

01/19/2026

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly." -Martin Luther King, Jr.

01/16/2026

❕❗️ 𝗙𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦 ❗️❕

Hi friends! It’s that time of year, so there are a ton of questions about fevers. Parents, I promise you that fever isn’t a dirty “F” word!
It’s actually a good thing and means your kiddo’s immune system is doing exactly what it should! Let’s do a quick breakdown for a little more understanding..

• 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿?
- A fever is a measured body temperature of 100.4°F or higher.
- If 6 months or younger, use a re**al thermometer. After 6 months of age, you don’t have to use a re**al anymore. As a mom and pediatric provider, my favorite is the tympanic (ear) thermometers!

• 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗼 𝗜 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿?
- Treat the kiddo, not the number. Each kid handles them differently! If temp is 100.5°F but kiddo is laying pitiful on the couch, then treat it! If temp is 102.1°F but kiddo is happy and playful then it is okay to watch and wait!

• 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀?
- Majority of the time, no! Fevers are your body’s natural defense against infections. You will have been explicitly told by your medical provider if your kiddo falls in the “red flag” category.
- For example, if kiddo is less than 2 months old OR is immunocompromised, then you should immediately go to your pediatrician’s office or emergency department for the necessary work up.

• 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗜 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗥?
- Don’t expose them to more illnesses unless you absolutely have to! As long as you’re not in the red flag list, mentioned one point above, then it is perfectly safe to monitor and treat at home! As long as kiddo is hydrating, having good urine output, and acting normal/easily arousable treat as needed and keep at home. If fever persists after 2-3 days, consider bringing them into your pediatrician’s office to be evaluated. (Honestly, it can take swabs this long to be positive anyways so you’re saving yourself a visit!)

• 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗱𝗼 𝗜 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 __𝗹𝗯𝘀?
- I’ve attached a Tylenol (Acetaminophen) and an Ibuprofen (Motrin) chart below. Pediatric medications are always dosed by weight! If you’re ever unsure, call your pediatricians office.
- Tylenol can be given after 2 months of age. Infants' Tylenol and Children’s Tylenol are the SAME dosage. The only difference is infants' comes with a syringe and children’s comes with a cup. Save money and buy the Children’s then ask the pharmacy for a medicine syringe.
- Ibuprofen can be given after 6 months of age. The dosages for ibuprofen are different so make sure to pay attention there!
- NO ASPIRIN IN PEDIATRICS unless otherwise prescribed by another specialist for a different medical reason.

Overall, fevers are your friend! Treat the kiddo, not the number. And as always, if you ever have questions, just reach out to your pediatrician!

Happy Sick Season, Stay Well🤍
-Taylor Phillips, CRNP