Blogs
Need help getting milk? Reliable information on do’s and don’ts during the formula shortage.
The media is covering the formula shortage with great zeal! Parents are contacting me, wondering what to do? what are their options? Should they make their own formulas? Should they order from ebay and stash it? Should they get breast milk through a sharing site? Or purchase donor milk from a Milk Bank? What about goat’s milk? Read on to learn answers…
To Mask or Not to Mask — Revisited.
The CDC announced that as of February 25, 2022, indoor masking is no longer required in communities where hospitals aren’t highly strained -- which means that there are adequate hospital beds for COVID 19 patients. All members, including children, can stop wearing masks indoors in low and medium risk counties. A majority of counties in Maine remain high risk, so these updated guidelines do not yet apply. Families have been seeking guidance about having their children continue to mask in school. Here are my thoughts…
Teaching Obedience to Kids…?
Obedience is such a loaded word these days. As I am contemplating teaching my puppy to be obedient, I find myself pondering the role of obedience with children. Should we be teaching children to be more obedient? These days, we talk about teaching children to be themselves – not necessarily to be obedient. I am going to argue, however controversially, that obedience is key to raising children, as well as puppies.
Expert FDA Panel recommends COVID vaccine in children 5-11.
An expert panel of the FDA recommended that the Pfizer vaccine be approved for children ages 5 to 11 on October 26th. As early as November 4th, children could be vaccinated against COVID!
What is the data supporting vaccinating children? This blog is an attempt to help parents make an educated decision around vaccinating their children against COVID, and to sift through the hard to understand the known and unknowns, and rumors floating around the web.
How often do children get sick?
It seems like young children are always sick! Is this normal? What is normal? When should parents worry? Are there ways to prevent illnesses? These are all brilliant questions that new parents should ask.
New Maine School Vaccine Requirements.
In May 2019, the Maine Legislature passed LD 798, a law prohibiting immunization exemptions for philosophical and/or religious reasons for all students attending any public OR private school in the state of Maine. This law takes effect on September 1, 2021. People are wondering what the law states, and how to meet the requirements — hence this quick review of what is needed, broken into pre-K, kindergarten, 7th grade and 12th grade.
Pooled COVID Testing: Questions and Answers
School systems in Maine and many other states will be using “pooled testing” as one strategy for keeping schools safe during COVID. This begs the questions - what is pooled testing — testing done in a pool? This blog is dedicated to elucidating answers to questions around pooled testing, and pooled testings use in schools.
COVID Update: The Delta Variant and Children
There is so much confusion about COVID-19 these days - and parents with unvaccinated children often don’t know what to think. How worried should parents be? Should parents follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines or the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines around masking? This blog will provide clarification about the current knowns and unknowns to the above questions.
To Mask or not to Mask?
To mask or not to mask — that is the question! The new CDC guidelines released May 13 stating that anyone fully vaccinated no longer needs to wear a mask in most settings has led to a lot of confusion about wearing masks and social distancing.
The COVID vaccine, Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Everyone is questioning what is safe and what isn’t safe —and wisely so. There are few times that a parent feels more sensitive than during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. COVID amplifies these fears, because much is unknown both about the disease and about the vaccines to counteract the disease. Moms — pregnant and postpartum — are wondering which is the greater harm versus the greater good: to get vaccinated or not to get vaccinated? Here is the data you need to make an informed decision.
COVID Vaccinations: your questions answered!
This week, the FDA announced exciting news: children, ages 12 and up, can now receive the COVID vaccine. There is a lot of information about the vaccines out there, so here is the Cliff Notes version.
Traveling to Maine? Latest guidelines on testing and quarantining.
The rules for who needs to get tested for COVID 19 and stay quarantined while awaiting results keep shifting. Here is the latest update! These rules apply both to Mainers who have traveled out of state and are returning home, and to visitors to the state.
Breastfeeding and Alcohol: facts and fiction
Is it ok to drink if I am breastfeeding? Do I need to pump and dump my milk if I have had an alcoholic beverage? Is stout beer good for breastfeeding? These are the questions that I am frequently asked. There is a huge amount of false information about alcohol and breastfeeding on the internet. Here are some truths.
Jaundice: Cause and treatments
Jaundice is the word used to describe the yellow color babies can turn within a few days of their birth. Jaundice is due to high levels of bilirubin in the blood. High levels occur because a baby’s liver is too immature to process bilirubin initially. All babies should be checked for jaundice because very high levels of bilirubin can lead to irreversible brain damage.
A Prescription for Play
It turns out that Play — all that time children spend having fun playing with each over and their families — is actually crucial to their development! A burgeoning load of research defines the importance of Play in children’s lives. I’d go as far as saying that Play is one of the key elements in a child’s development.
Trampolines: Heaven or Hell?
Let’s face it: trampolines are NOT safe. But they are so much fun! Trampolines allow children to exercise, learn how to position their bodies in space, be entertained and self-soothe! Parents ask me all the time if it is safe to get a trampoline for their kids — here’s what I tell them.
The New Three Feet Guidelines: an explanation
The Center for Disease Control, on March 19, 2021, recommended that it is okay for K-12 schools to keep appropriately masked students three feet apart. This seems to fly in the face of the standard “six feet recommendations” that many of us have been following for the past year. Here is an explanation of the change.
Understanding COVID, Your Children, and School/Childcare Return
When should I call my doctor about COVID concerns…
New CDC Guidelines: DOUBLE MASK
The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones is to double mask — per the newest CDC guidelines. Tests done on tightly fitting surgical masks and cloth masks worn over surgical masks showed that 96.5% of COVID spread could be prevented, along with the other now routine precautions (social distancing, good handwashing, etc).
Let Them Play! Covid and Outdoor Play
One of the most frequent questions I have been asked as a pediatrician this year is, “Is it possible for my children to play with other kids?”