Tip Of The Day

The most popular medication used to prevent anaphylaxis in children with food allergies is called the Epi-Pen. Although the company that makes this device also makes an Epi-Pen Trainer, I have found that parents are better able to use an Epi-Pen if they practice with the real device. To accomplish this, I keep a supply of expired Epi-Pens on hand and give them to parents if … [Read more...] about An Effective Way to Learn About Epi-Pens

Most pediatricians order routine urine tests when children get to be around five years of age. Although it is easy to collect urine specimens from boys, girls often have difficulty placing the cup between their legs. You can make this task easier for your daughter by having her sit on the toilet backwards. When a girl sits in this position, the toilet seat not only … [Read more...] about A Backwards Way to Collect Urine Specimens

When a pet dies, parents often want to give the animal a funeral so their children can “memorialize” the pet as a member of the family. In many parts of the country, it is illegal to bury a pet because the body may attract scavengers such as rats. In these jurisdictions, the family’s veterinarian disposes of the body. Because I live in an area that prohibits animal … [Read more...] about A Practical Suggestion for Pet Funerals

Time Out is one of the most effective behavior techniques you can use with children. Although most doctors recommend Time Out for aggressive behaviors such as hitting or biting, parents sometimes overuse Time Out by choosing this punishment for just about any infraction their children commit. There are a number of behaviors that children exhibit during the day that are … [Read more...] about A Variation on Time-Out

Tantrums are a normal in toddlers. Although it is not always clear what sets them off, there are four circumstances that most commonly elicit outbursts in this age group. In order to help you remember these triggers, I came up with the following acronym, FACT. If you keep these “facts” in mind, you may be able to prevent tantrums before they begin. Frustration: … [Read more...] about Stop Tantrums Before They Start