A baby is the best gift from the nature to parents. Every parent wants their baby to be in good health. This can be possible only if proper care of the baby is taken from first day. It does not only mean proper dressing or proper nourishment the baby but includes baby medical check-up. The health checkup is essential at periodic intervals after the birth of the baby. After giving birth to the baby, good hospitals provide a booklet to the parents that contain the details of necessary baby medical checkups, and also the required periodic vaccination for the baby from time to time to prevent the baby from contacting diseases. This would provide him a protective cover for entire life. It is necessary for parents to fallow the checkups and vaccination schedule.

To know the growth and general development of your baby it is necessary to contact the doctor. The baby needs to visit the visit the specialist after 3 months of the birth, Next visit would be after another 6 months.

The main purpose of these visits is to let the doctor examine the normal development. As the baby is not able to able to tell the annoyance himself, the baby health check up can give the clue about any deficiency requiring corrective action.

Baby health checkup includes measuring the weight and height of the baby in way to trace the anthropometric data. The specialists would provide an assessment of the mental development of the child, so do not worry if the physician questions whether the baby is cooing, smiling and whether he is trying to hold your hand.

Through these medical checkups doctors will be able to monitor the skills of your child according to his age. Physicians pay a particular attention to the circumference and size of the head; it would show the growth of the brain.

In the first 6 months of the birth, the circumference of the chest and head would be measured monthly, and then for every 9 months and once in a year.

For these checkups it is important that you need to locate the correct doctor. You can find this by local enquiry. Don’t fell shy to consult mother with babies about the physician whom they are visiting. Then visit his hospital and try to gather general information from the number of people availing his services and outlook of the hospital.

When you are taking your baby to the physician clearly observe how the physician talks to the baby and checks him from that you would be able to judge the professionalism extent that the physician has from the way he treats the baby. Once the baby has undergone check up, make sure to follow the all suggestions of the doctor.

As the parent, your top concern is your baby’s health. Although sexually your child may not be active now, however, you have the chance to protect the child from getting HPV diseases while she or he grows up. Same as other child vaccinations that your child may have received, the Gardasil would work when given prior there is a contact with relevant HPV kinds.

Boys and girls as young as 9 years of age can have the vaccine. Gardasil is a child vaccine, which has been used to prevent vulvar, vaginal cancer, cervical cancer, genital warts, and different precancerous genital diseases caused by some types of the human papillomavirus (HPV) in women and girls of age 9 years to 26 years. This child vaccine is also used to prevent the genital warts in men and boys of age 9 years to 26.

Recently, this vaccine was also approved to prevent the precancerous anal lesions in females and males age of 9 years to 26 years. This is the only child vaccine, which would be helpful in protecting against 4 kinds of HPV.

• In girls of age 9 years, Gardasil would be helpful in protecting against two types of HPV, which lead to 75% of cervical cancers, and two more types that lead to 90% of genital warts.

• In boys of age 9 years, this would be helpful in protecting against 90% of the genital warts. This is also protecting girls of age 9 years against 70% of the vaginal cancers and about 50% the vulvar cancers.

• This vaccine has been approved to treat the conditions that are caused due to some types of human papillomavirus. Especially in girls this is used to protect against following conditions that are caused by HPV:

• Vaginal and vulvar cancer.

• Anal Cancer.

• Cervical Cancer.

• Precancerous or abnormal cervical lesions.

• Precancerous or abnormal vaginal cancers.

• Precancerous or abnormal anal lesions.

• Precancerous or abnormal vulvar lesions.

• Genital warts.

A baby is the best gift from the nature to parents. Every parent wants their baby to be in good health. This can be possible only if proper care of the baby is taken from first day. It does not only mean proper dressing or proper nourishment the baby but includes baby medical check-up. The health checkup is essential at periodic intervals after the birth of the baby. After giving birth to the baby, good hospitals provide a booklet to the parents that contain the details of necessary baby medical checkups, and also the required periodic vaccination for the baby from time to time to prevent the baby from contacting diseases. This would provide him a protective cover for entire life. It is necessary for parents to fallow the checkups and vaccination schedule.

To know the growth and general development of your baby it is necessary to contact the doctor. The baby needs to visit the visit the specialist after 3 months of the birth, Next visit would be after another 6 months.

The main purpose of these visits is to let the doctor examine the normal development. As the baby is not able to able to tell the annoyance himself, the baby health check up can give the clue about any deficiency requiring corrective action.

Baby health checkup includes measuring the weight and height of the baby in way to trace the anthropometric data. The specialists would provide an assessment of the mental development of the child, so do not worry if the physician questions whether the baby is cooing, smiling and whether he is trying to hold your hand.

Through these medical checkups doctors will be able to monitor the skills of your child according to his age. Physicians pay a particular attention to the circumference and size of the head; it would show the growth of the brain.

In the first 6 months of the birth, the circumference of the chest and head would be measured monthly, and then for every 9 months and once in a year.

For these checkups it is important that you need to locate the correct doctor. You can find this by local enquiry. Don’t fell shy to consult mother with babies about the physician whom they are visiting. Then visit his hospital and try to gather general information from the number of people availing his services and outlook of the hospital.

When you are taking your baby to the physician clearly observe how the physician talks to the baby and checks him from that you would be able to judge the professionalism extent that the physician has from the way he treats the baby. Once the baby has undergone check up, make sure to follow the all suggestions of the doctor.

Nutrition is essential for everyone, especially it is very important for the children because proper nutrition would directly show effect on several aspects of their development and growth factors that would have direct relationship with the health levels of adults.

Every child requires appropriate amounts of proteins, calories, vitamins, and minerals to grow. People should eat enough amounts of vegetables, grains, dairy products, meats, beans, and fruits on daily basis. Children who are between the ages of 4 and 6 can usually have the serving sizes suggests for the adults, while the younger children, who are having small stomach and lesser nutritional requirements, require less amounts of food. Apart from consuming right quantity, as a parent you need to remember that exposure to several types of healthy foods in early stages of child’s life would set the stage for more better later. Since the child is often unwilling to try new type of foods and e will be happy to eat same food every dy. As a parent you need to guide your child towards a nutritional and healthy food lifestyle.

You can also provide the better quality life by instilling proper nutrition trends to your child. This would allow your children to partake in several activities with a greater enjoyment. Children with good health are consistently reporting that they are enjoying elevated feelings of wellbeing and wellness. As a part of this your child is able to fight against cold and coughs with an improved efficiency with the help of proper child nutrition. And this can be possible with proper communication with your child. Always you should be on the lookout for several ways to make the reliable communication with your child. Actually if you explain to the child that he won’t have to suffer from those colds as much if he maintain nutrient diet.

Try other types of cooking methods like steaming, blanching and boiling and less into the frying. Prepare the meals those contain important nutrients like carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals and vitamins. These are very important to the body. It gives energy, which would be helpful them to carry the activities for the entire day.

Another big reason why child nutrition is very important is because children don’t know that ability on their own to naturally select to eat properly. Unfortunately snacks and foods that taste best are normally the worst for your children, and a child who left to their on almost whim will always select junk food over vegetables and fruits. Provide them with proper nutrition now and they would learn at early stages of life that what is important to be healthy. This would also help them to set up for a life of right nutrition and eating, almost helping your children to live longer.

Addresses the issue of obesity and overweight in children comprises about 7% of the children’s population. We do recommend that you go on the website; choose “My Plate” which provides very good nutritional information as well as samples of meals, snacks, hand-outs and guides on calories, types of food, etc., very good choice on the website. Also Choose My Plate also has tips for vegetarians. You need to look at sources of vitamin B12, calcium and iron, so there are tips on that issue as well.

The other issue that is addressed on healthychildren.org website is some excellent information about picky eaters and very good information on how to get children who are picky eaters to eat.

A flu vaccine is still available. So far influenza has not been particularly common this year, but as of late we have been seeing some patients with it in our practice.

It is important relies that if a child develops influenza, it is usually starts with very high fever and within 48 hours child becomes very lethargic, stops eating and often become dehydrated from vomiting.

Tamiflu and antiviral medications may modify the severity of these symptoms. We still recommend that children who have not had their influenza vaccine still get it. This year the influenza has been relatively mild for several reasons. One is this year the strains of influenza are the same as last year. Many people have vaccinated last year and this year, they still have some lingering immunity.

The second reason for it is a mild winter and the viruses may be less active. In addition people are more outdoors, not crowded inside and less exposure to viruses. Outdoor play lessens the exposure to re-circulated air of indoor facilities. 

Please remember that we recommend strongly influenza vaccination every year, particularly for young children (six months of age), but also for all age groups.

Numerous studies have shown that influenza vaccination cuts down the number of hospitalizations, the number of pneumonia cases and also the number of any other illnesses.  AAP recommends vaccinations in September/October and sometimes we have availability until the end of August. To make it easier for you we provide very convenient flu clinics every year, please take advantage of it.

Currently bronchiolitis is prevalent in our community. Bronchiolitis is a viral disease that causes mucous swelling and mucous accumulation of the very smallest bronchial tubes in the lungs.

Bronchiolitis is usually caused by what is now called an RSD virus. It can also be caused by adenovirus and adeno pneumovirus. It is primarily a disease seen in children under 2 years of age. The peak incidence is among 3 to 6 month old children. The affects to the child are respiratory distress and can lead to hospitalization so be aware of this.  

This disease/virus starts off looking like an upper respiratory infection, with a lot of nasal congestion and 2-3 days later child develops a deep chesty cough, sometimes with what seems like wheezing or very rough sounds from the chest. Often children will breathe faster and we can see rib retractions.

If there is any question, they should be seen at the doctor's office, as they may have trouble maintaining their oxygen level. This virus causes a high incidence of admissions to the hospital during this time. It usually occurs during the winter months and can last all the way through March or April. So, please be aware of this and do not hesitate to visit your pediatrician. Early intervention usually prevents costly hospitalization and saves little person a lot siffering.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has issue policy statement regarding children and Media.  

That statement recognized that “Media” and today’s children are spending an average of 7 hours a day on entertainment media including television, computers, phones and other electronic devices. To help children make wise choices, the parents should monitor their media diet. Parents can make use of established ratings for movies and games meant to identify inappropriate content, such as violence, explicit sexual content, or glorifying use of tobacco and alcohol.  

Studies have shown that extensive media use can lead to attention problems, school difficulties, sleep and eating disorders and obesity. Use of the internet and cell phones can provide platforms for illicit and risky behavior. By eliminating this and offering educational media in non-electronic format, such as books, newspapers, board games and watching television with their children, parents can guide their childrens’ experiences. 

The AAP recommends that parents provide screen-free zones at home by making sure there are no televisions, computers or video games in childrens’ bedrooms and by turning off the TV during dinner and have children and teens engage watching entertainment with high quality programming for only 1 to 2 hrs per day.

I believe that it is very important for kids to spend time in outdoor play, reading, hobbies, using their imagination and free play. Television and other entertainment media should be totally avoided for infants and children under 2. The child’s brain develops rapidly during the first year and then children learn best by interacting with people, not with screens. 

We as parents are responsible to have their children become mature and respectful citizens and we know that “social media” can create issues as social status, bullying, taking drugs often leading to anxiety and depression. 

Almost all children vomit once in a while. Vomiting in children is very common; it is forcing the particles of the stomach up through the mouth. Vomiting can cause liquid and food to come out from the stomach and out of nose or mouth. This is best way to keep your child’s body safe from hazardous substances and germs. But sometimes it may become harmful, because due to vomiting your child can lose too much of salt and fluids from his body that may lead to dehydration. This is a dangerous condition for children. When your child experiences dehydration, some of his body organs like heart may not work properly.

There are so many causes for vomiting in children that include:

·         Food poisoning: Children may get vomiting, if they eat poisoned food that contains harmful germs or bacteria in it.

·         Issues with other organs of body: Children may vomit due to the infection in the lung or bladder. Bladder is one of the organs of the body, which holds urine of your child. Your child may experience vomiting sensation if he is suffering from appendicitis or head injury. Appendicitis may occur when child’s appendix get inflamed.

·         Sometimes vomit may also occur if your child has drunken or eaten too much and through vomiting that extra food can be forced out.

·         Children, who are under too much of stress at home, or school, may vomit occasionally. If it repeats, you should consult the doctor to seek proper treatment.

·         Gastroenteritis: This is the most common cause of vomiting in children and also in adults. This is also called as the stomach flu. If your child has suffering from gastroenteritis, a bacteria or germ infects and irritates the lining of his bowel or stomach. Gastroenteritis can be caused due to the germs like bacteria, parasites or viruses.

·         Sometimes you may not know the actual reason behind your child’s vomiting.

·         Diarrhea, stomach cramps, and fever may cause vomiting. Diarrhea may last more than two days, so proper treatment is required to treat children who are suffering from this type of vomiting.

Problems with stomach, intestines, or esophagus in children who are under 1 Year:

·         Pyloric stenosis: This is a most common problem in babies who are under 4 months. This condition occurs when a muscle between your child’s intestine and stomach grows too thick and large.

·         GERD: Esophagus is a tube, which connects the stomach to the mouth. Your baby may vomit often after feeding due to the problem of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). With GERD, some muscles do not work normally, and may cause stomach acids and food to leak in the esophagus.

So, when you observe continuous vomiting in your children for 24 hrs or more, you should immediately consult your pediatrician.

Sometimes it may be very difficult to find out what might be the cause for your child illness, because they cannot tell you what is happening to them. So many symptoms are associated with different medical conditions. Most of the childhood illnesses are preventable if you recognize the symptoms early. So the following signs and symptoms may be helpful for you in identifying the cause for childhood illnesses:

If you observe any of these symptoms, make sure to consult your pediatrician.

·         Bronchitis: It is an airway infection. Sometimes it may lead to pneumonia.

o   Signs and Symptoms: dry cough, mild chest pain, uncomfortable respiration, mild fever, and wheezing.

·         Cold sores: These are usual viral infections which cause childhood illness, and very contagious. Usually, mouth, lips, and sometimes genitals are also getting affected. In very rare cases, the eye cornea is also affected.

o   Signs and symptoms: Eruption of blisters is grouped together; Blisters would be surrounded by the reddened tissue, redness and pain at the affected area, If eye is affected, there is redness and pain with the eye, sensitivity and discomfort of eye to the light.

·         Chickenpox: This is too contagious. This is a viral disease, commonly mild in childhood.

o   Sign and symptoms: Mild fever, skin blisters or eruptions, which appear on the body sometimes they may also occur in mouth, penis, nose, head and the vagina, illness for 24 to 48 hours.

·         Cradle cap: This can be caused by overstimulation of the oil glands in children’s skin and causes yellow encrustation on child’s scalp.

o   Signs and symptoms: Yellowish, thick scales on child’s scalp, and associated redness and itching and discomfort in extreme cases.

·         Ear Blockage: This occurs due to the overproduction of wax by the glands in outer ear.

o   Signs and symptoms: Decreased visibility and hearing, decreased quantities of wax in the canal of ear, rarely pain in ear, and ringing in ear.

·         Infection in the middle ear: These are usually associated with either bacterial or viral infections that invade the ear from throat and nose.

o   Signs and symptoms: Pulling in the ear, earache, irritability, mild fever, and hearing loss, increased fever can lead to febrile convolution.

·         Intestinal worms: Usual intestinal worm causes childhood illnesses such as: threadworm, roundworm and tapeworm. Worms are the intestinal parasites, which have several bleeding cycles.

o   Signs and symptoms: weight loss, loss of appetite, irritation, nocturnal grinding of teeth, restless sleep, diarrhea, rarely abdominal cramps, and cough.

·         Tonsillitis or pharyngitis: This is the inflammation of lymph tissues that is at the back of throat. This is contagious and it would cased by either bacterial or viral infections.

o   Signs and symptoms:  Throat pain, fever, chills, difficulty in swallowing, earache, headache and rarely cough.