Geard Pharmacy at Spar

02/04/2026

02/04/2026

01/04/2026

🚗💥 Car Seat & Seat Belt Safety: This Could Save Your Child’s Life

Every day, I see parents doing their best to keep their children safe, but car safety is one area where small mistakes can have very serious consequences.

The reality is simple:
👉 The correct car seat or seatbelt can be the difference between life and death in an accident.

👶 Car seats are not optional

Holding your child on your lap or “just for a short trip” is not safe.

In a crash:
• Your body cannot hold onto your child
• Even at low speeds, the force is too strong
• Airbags can cause serious injury to small children

👉 Every child should be in an age-appropriate car seat, every trip, every time.

🪑 Are you using the right car seat?

👶 Babies (0–12 months)

✔ Rear-facing car seat
✔ As long as possible (ideally beyond 1 year)

👧 Toddlers (1–4 years)

✔ Forward-facing car seat with harness
✔ Secure and tightly fitted

🧒 Older children (4–10 years)

✔ Booster seat
✔ Until the seatbelt fits properly

🔒 When can a child use a normal seatbelt?

A child is only ready when:

• The belt sits across the shoulder (not neck)
• The lap belt lies across the hips (not tummy)
• Knees bend comfortably over the seat edge

👉 This usually happens around 10–12 years of age.

⚠️ Common mistakes I see

•Turning forward-facing too early
• Car seat not properly installed
• Straps too loose
• Moving children out of car seats too early
• Allowing children to sit in the front seat
• Seatbelt across the neck or stomach

🧠 A simple rule to remember

👉 If the seatbelt doesn’t fit properly — your child still needs a booster seat.

💡 Important reminders

• Short trips are not safer most accidents happen close to home
• Never let a child sit on your lap in a moving car
• Always buckle up, even if your child resists
• Children copy what they see, wear your own seatbelt

🛠️ Need help installing your car seat?

https://www.preciouscargo.co.za

Correct installation is just as important as having the right seat.

🤍 As parents, we can’t control everything, but this is one thing we can control.

Make it a non-negotiable.

Dr Willem Smit
Paediatrician

30/03/2026

🦷 ORAL HEALTH IN KIDS, START SMALL, SMILE BIG 🦷

Good oral health starts long before the first wobbly tooth! Taking care of your child’s teeth early on sets the foundation for a lifetime of healthy smiles 😊

👶 From baby to big kid ,here’s what parents should know:

✨ Start early
Even before teeth appear, gently wipe your baby’s gums with a clean, damp cloth after feeds.

🪥 First tooth = first brush
As soon as that first tooth appears, start brushing twice a day with a soft toothbrush and a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste.

🪥 Choose the right brush
Use a good quality toothbrush made for small mouths and new teeth (soft bristles are key!).

🍭 Watch the sugar
Frequent snacking and sugary drinks (even juice) increase the risk of tooth decay.

🍼 Bottles at bedtime? Be careful
Milk or juice at night can lead to tooth decay, rather offer water.

😁 Make brushing fun
Let your toddler brush your teeth while you brush theirs, it turns it into a game and reduces resistance!

🛒 Good kids toothpaste & toothbrush brands (SA):

Toothpaste:
• Colgate Kids
• Aquafresh Little Teeth
• Jordan Kids
• Curaprox Kids

Toothbrushes:
• Jordan Kids
• Aquafresh Little Teeth
• Curaprox

(Available at Clicks, Dis-Chem & most pharmacies)

👶 Baby-friendly options (great for starting early):

• Finger toothbrushes (silicone)
• Nuby baby toothpaste & brush sets
• Pigeon training toothbrush (Lesson 1)
• Curaprox baby toothbrush (ultra-soft)

👩‍⚕️We are lucky to have Many Great kid-friendly dentists in Durbanville:
(Phone the practice if you'd like recommendations.)

⚠️ Why oral health matters for your child’s overall health:

• Healthy teeth = better eating and nutrition
• Poor oral health can lead to pain, infections, and sleep problems
• Dental issues can affect speech development
• Tooth decay is one of the most common chronic childhood conditions
• Healthy habits early on reduce anxiety around doctors and dentists later
• A healthy mouth supports overall growth, confidence, and wellbeing

⚠️ Signs to look out for:
• White or brown spots on teeth
• Bad breath
• Pain when eating
• Swollen or bleeding gums

💬 Healthy teeth aren’t just about smiles,they affect your child’s eating, speech, confidence, and overall health.

Let’s protect those little smiles together 💙

Dr Willem Smit
Paediatrician

26/03/2026

AWARENESS – WOMEN’S WELLNESS: STRESS & EVERYDAY HORMONAL BALANCE:
Stress hormones, such as cortisol, can affect energy, sleep, and mood.
Busy routines and ongoing stress can make these changes more noticeable.
Tip: Keeping regular sleep times and not skipping meals can help support everyday hormonal balance.

24/03/2026

🪱 DEWORMING: DO OUR KIDS REALLY NEED IT?

It’s one of the most common questions parents ask… and the answer might surprise you.

Deworming isn’t just something we do “just in case”, it actually plays an important role in your child’s health, especially in growing bodies.

👶 Why is deworming important?
Worm infections can:
• Affect your child’s growth
• Cause tummy pain, bloating, or diarrhoea
• Lead to poor appetite
• Contribute to iron deficiency (and even anaemia)
• Impact concentration and energy levels

🦠 How do children get worms?
It’s easier than you think!
• Playing in soil or sand
• Not washing hands properly
• Nail biting or thumb sucking
• Sharing contaminated toys with other kids
• Eating undercooked meat , especially pork

💊 How often should you deworm?
In most cases, we recommend every 6 months, but this can vary depending on your child’s symptoms and environment. Start at 12 months of age generally.

⚠️ Signs your child might have worms:
• Itchy bottom (especially at night)
• Restless sleep
• Unexplained tummy issues
• Loss of appetite
• Grinding teeth

👨‍⚕️ Important:
Always use the correct medication and dosage for your child’s age, chat to your doctor or pharmacist if you’re unsure.

💛 A simple step like deworming can make a big difference in your child’s overall wellbeing.

📩 If you’re unsure when your child was last dewormed, feel free to reach out, we’re here to help!

Dr Willem Smit
Paediatrician

21/03/2026

🤧🦷 Runny Nose & Teething: Are They Really Related?

One of the most common things I hear from parents is:
"It’s just teething… that’s why my child has a runny nose and fever."

Let’s clear this up 👇

🦠 A viral “snotty nose”

If your child has:

• A runny or blocked nose
• Thick yellow/green mucus
• Fever
• Cough
• Irritability
• Reduced appetite

👉 This is most likely a viral infection, not teething.

Viruses are extremely common in babies and toddlers, especially in crèche or school settings.

🦷 What teething actually causes

Teething can cause:

• Drooling
• Chewing on everything
• Mild irritability
• Gum discomfort
• Maybe a very slight temperature increase

👉 But teething does NOT cause:
• High fever
• Persistent runny nose
• Thick green mucus
• Cough
• A sick child

⚠️ Why this matters

If we assume everything is “just teething,” we may miss an actual illness that needs attention.

It also has an impact on others 👇

🏫 A quick note for parents

If your child has a viral infection, they are contagious.

Sending a sick child to school or crèche:
• Spreads infection to other children
• Leads to repeated illness cycles
• Affects vulnerable children more severely

👉 If your child is unwell, it’s always best to keep them at home until they improve.

🧠 A simple way to think about it:

👉 Teething = local symptoms (mouth & gums)
👉 Viruses = whole-body symptoms (fever, snot, cough)

🚨 When to take your child seriously

Don’t ignore symptoms if your child has:

• Fever
• Thick nasal discharge
• Cough
• Poor feeding
• Lethargy

These are signs of illness — not teething.

Teething can make babies uncomfortable, but it does not make them sick.

If your child seems unwell, trust your instinct and have them checked.

Dr Willem Smit
Paediatrician

19/03/2026

💉❄️ Winter Prep: 2 Vaccines Parents Should Know About

Winter brings the usual wave of coughs, colds, flu and chest infections and while we can’t prevent everything, we can reduce the risk of severe illness and hospitalization.

Here are two VERY important vaccines to consider this season 👇

🫁 1. RSV Protection (New Option Available)

RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) is a very common winter virus, but in babies and young children it can cause serious illness like bronchiolitis and pneumonia.

👶 Babies under 1 year are at the highest risk.

There is now a new preventative option (Beyfortus) available for infants entering their first RSV season.

✔ Helps protect against severe RSV illness
✔ Especially important for young babies
✔ Protection lasts for the peak RSV season which is mid March until mid August in the Western Cape and April until September in some other regions.

🤧 2. Flu Vaccine against Influenza
including Swine Flu.

Influenza (Flu) is more than just a bad cold , it can lead to high fevers, sinusitis , chest infections like bronchitis and pneumonia and other complications, especially in young children and senior citizens.

✔ Recommended yearly for children from 6 months and older
✔ Reduces severity and complications
✔ Helps prevent hospitalisation

You can’t prevent every illness this winter, but you can reduce the risk of your child becoming seriously unwell.

If you’re unsure whether these vaccines are appropriate for your child, have a discussion with your doctor.

Dr Willem Smit
Paediatrician