Taking Time to Enjoy Summer

I remember that when I was a kid, summer seemed to last forever. I couldn't wait for the school year to end because I knew that those endless days were just around the corner. Those last few weeks of the school year were agony - the weather had already turned and we would sit in our desks perspiring (schools didn't have air conditioning in the stone age) and pretending that we were dutifully attending to our studies, but really we were dreaming of the summer's promise.

I recall afternoons spent shooting hoops on the Bauer's driveway or playing baseball with all the other neighborhood kids in the empty lot across the street - the ball diamond was a well worn path in the weedy grass. Sometimes we would cross the train tracks to go across the big highway (two lanes really, but to us it seemed tantamount to crossing a national border) to buy a few pieces of candy, some Zots, Pop Rocks, Root Beer Barrels, with the change we had managed to hoard from Dad's pockets. Aside from Little League and swimming lessons, my three brothers and I didn't really get a lot done over the summer. Or at least it seemed that way. I did manage to catch you-know-what from my Mom once when I went fishing all day and forgot about my piano lesson. But as I look back upon my childhood summers I do realize that they were a valuable component of my upbringing. I now appreciate that I was given the opportunity of free time, time that I could spend exploring, playing, engaging in what I found value in, even as a kid. I learned a lot about myself. And I learned a lot about how to occupy my free time without being told what to do.

I worry that we are depriving our children this same opportunity when we overschedule them. I hear ads on the radio offering academic day camps - so kids won't forget all the precious knowledge that has been pumped into them over the school year. (Not to disparage, but when's the last time you used the quadratic equation?) I think it's important to maintain a sense of balance in our childrens' summer schedules. They really do need some unscheduled time over the summer. Sometimes a kid just needs to be a kid.

So as summer approaches, I ask you to keep in mind, and think back to your own childhoods, what you remember most fondly about your summers growing up. And to give your kids some free time.

Dr. George Idarraga
Pediatrician
Meriter Pediatrics
2275 Deming Way, Suite 220
Middleton, WI 53562
608.417.8388
meriterkids.com

Get Rid of Your Unwanted Medications at MedDrop

With the recent voluntary recall on Infants’ and Children’s Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl, and Zyrtec, you may have some bottles sitting around in the cabinet gathering dust. (For more information about the recall and to get a refund or product coupon, please see http://www.mcneilproductrecall.com/.) Maybe there are some nearly empty vitamin drops, unfinished antibiotics, old inhalers, or even unused pain pills? Maybe there are medications that have expired, and you just haven’t gotten around to disposing them?

There’s no point in keeping them in the house. Expired medications can be ineffective. Leftover meds can be a safety risk with kids or pets in the house. But, throwing medications into the trash or flushing them down the toilet can harm the environment, affect our water supply, and in the end, come back to us in ways we don’t want.

MedDrop is a volunteer run program where you can drive through with your meds, answer some very basic questions (e.g., what is your zip code; is the drop-off place a good location for you), and feel good that the meds will be disposed of in a safe manner.

Saturday, June 5, from 9am to 1pm, volunteers will be at three locations: LaFollette HS, Middleton HS, and the Sun Prairie Recycling Center. You can bring prescription meds, over-the-counter meds, meds for pets, inhalers, vitamins, and even illegal drugs (which will be taken with no questions asked). If possible, please keep them in their original containers. The meds and their containers will be disposed of in a way that will maintain patient confidentiality, but feel free to cross off your name and other personal info if you like. Just leave the name of the medication visible, so the volunteers can properly dispose them.

For addresses, detailed instructions, background information on the program, volunteer opportunities, and lots more, please check out their Web site.

Dr. Tracy Lee
Pediatric Hospitalist
Meriter Hospital
meriterkids.com

Get in Shape this Summer

Looking to run a road race this fall? Preparing your son or daughter to join the cross-country team? Just want to shed a few of those hibernation pounds? Nothing like a good jog on the Lakeshore Path or a run through the Arboretum to get yourself ready for the upcoming year! Experienced runner or novice jogger can “shape up” in a matter of 6-8 weeks by following a couple of simple rules.

• Train a minimum of four days a week. If you’ve never run before, start by using a combination of walking/jogging for a couple of miles every other day. If you’re an experienced runner start at a daily mileage you feel comfortable with.

• Increase your distance by about 10% a week. (i.e., if you just ran 25 miles, move up to 28, then 31, etc.) For variety, add in a short temp run by increasing your pace to the point where it just becomes difficult to converse. Once a week, try to go “long and slow.” A good mid-preseason schedule might have two easy runs, one tempo run, one long run and one medium distance run.

• Vary the scenery and the terrain. Madison has so many wonderful places to enjoy. And don’t forget to keep yourself well-hydrated!

• Go for a family run! Baby joggers (for children up to four) and bicycles can be a great way to get everyone involved in the outing!

Dr. Ron Grant
Pediatric Hospitalist
Meriter Hospital
meriterkids.com

What is the Meriter Pediatric Center?

I am so excited! Not only is this my first opportunity to write a blog, but also the long-awaited opening of the Meriter Pediatric Center is only a day away! On Tuesday, May 18th, the hard work of so many over the past two years will finally come to life. A Pediatric Center is a new concept for many of us, so I thought I would take this opportunity to explain what you can expect of a visit to the Meriter Pediatric Center.

The Meriter Pediatric Center is an 8-bed unit, located adjacent to the Emergency Department, which is staffed by Nurses, Physician Assistants, Pediatricians, and Emergency Physicians, all of whom are trained to care for children. The Center was designed specifically with children and their families in mind, and will centralize care for the majority of children receiving emergency and inpatient services at Meriter Hospital. For children 17 years of age and younger who come to Meriter for non-life-threatening emergency visits, there are 5 exam rooms dedicated to their care, along with a pediatric-only waiting area. There are also three inpatient beds which will be reserved for children 15 years of age and younger who require hospital admission for observation, further treatment or post-surgical care.

Outside of the Pediatric Center, children will continue to be cared for across the entire hospital for a host of other services, including outpatient surgical procedures, medical imaging procedures, and therapy visits. In addition, patients with severe illness and injury will continue to be cared for in the main emergency department. Children ages 16 and 17 years who require hospitalization will be admitted to the appropriate specialty unit, but will be cared for by pediatricians, surgeons or family medicine physicians.

I hope that you and your child never need the services of the Meriter Pediatric Center. But if you do, know that your child will be in the excellent hands of caring and professional staff who are all dedicated to providing the best care possible for children.

Have a Happy and Healthy Summer!

Dr. Nicole Baumann-Blackmore
Medical Director, Pediatric Hospitalist Program
Meriter Hospital
meriterkids.com

Fears in Toddlers

I was recently asked about a toddler who was afraid of her own shadow. Fears are common in toddlers, so I have included my response on our blog.

Developmentally, toddlers are becoming much more aware of what is around them and becaue of this, parts of everyday life that they didn’t notice before can become terrifying. In addition, toddlers are starting to develop a wonderful sense of imagination. They often struggle to distinguish between what is real and make-believe and they are still learning the concept of cause and effect. As a result, fears are quite common and normal in the toddler and preschool years. They become abnormal only if they develop into persistent and irrational fears that interfere with the child's normal activities. Some common fears in toddlers include fear of being separated from their parents, the vacuum cleaner or other loud noises, the bathroom drain, the dark, and yes ... even their own shadow.

For most common toddler fears, it is gentle reassurance and basic, truthful information that most successfully assuages a toddler's anxiety. For example, if he or she is afraid of shadows, don't bend over backward to avoid going outside. Make sure you acknowledge your toddler’s fear by mirroring their emotions, e.g. “the shadow is scary for you." In the case of shadows, expose him/her slowly to what he/she fears; some contact with what shadows (in a controlled setting with you right next to him/her or holding her while providing lots of reassurance will probably help). Gradually increase his/her exposure to shadows. Talk about the shadows in simple terms. Read books about shadows. You could do puppet shows on the wall. Silliness often helps. For example, you could make your shadows do silly dances. As she starts feeling more comfortable, you could play a game of “shadow tag” trying to “tag” each others shadows.

Chances are that once you have acknowledged your toddler’s fear and once your toddler senses that you are not afraid, they will follow suit.

Dr. Sumita Ram
Pediatrician
Meriter Pediatrics
2275 Deming Way, Suite 220
Middleton, WI 53562
608.417.8388
meriterkids.com

Planting a garden with your child

Spring has sprung, and summer is on its way. This is a great time to plant something with your child. Flowers are fun, but vegetables can help a child learn that food doesn’t just come from the refrigerator. Even veggie-avoiding kids will sometimes try things that they grew themselves.

Many of the most delicious crops require full sun, but they don’t require a garden plot. Some can be grown in a pot! Every summer I grow five big tomato plants out in my main vegetable garden, but I also grow a cherry tomato in a half barrel that’s on our deck. I plant flowers all around the tomato and use a more decorative support structure since it’s visible right out the window. Last year my main task was trying to teach my two-year old that the tomatoes taste best if you wait until they are orange. (I planted Sun Gold, a very tasty variety that I highly recommend!)

Pole beans are green beans that grow on tall vines and taste delicious. If you have a sunny piece of ground, you can put up one 6 to 8 foot pole and bring strings down from a nail at the top to tent pegs in the ground in a circle that is 4 to 6 feet in diameter. Have the strings about a foot apart on the ground, and leave one area with at least two feet in-between strings for an opening. Then plant 4 beans at the base of each string. As the summer progresses, the vines will create a playhouse of leaves—a shady place with first flowers and then beans. If you have multiple poles available you can make a teepee of poles, tied together at the top. Then you could plant 6-8 seeds for each pole since they are further apart, as in this picture. Alternatively if there’s a window of your house with a southern or western exposure, you could set up strings in front of the window. By the hottest part of the summer, the beans will provide a nice leafy sun block.

Have fun with planting and add your suggestions as comments on our Meriter Facebook page. What have you grown with your kids in the past?

Dr. Julia Mason

Pediatric Hospitalist

Meriter Hospital

meriterkids.com

Bug Off!

It’s so exciting that spring is finally here after our long Wisconsin winter! Continuing on the summer theme, I’d like to talk about protecting kids from those pesky mosquitoes. Ordinarily, the bites of mosquitoes are just a nuisance. The bite may cause itching or swelling (a lot more swelling in some people than in others — and, yes mosquitoes definitely prefer some of us more than others).

Here are some tips to avoid mosquito bites when outdoors:
- Don't use scented soaps, perfumes or hair sprays on your child.
- Avoid areas where insects nest or congregate, such as stagnant pools of water, uncovered foods and gardens where flowers are in bloom.
- Avoid times when mosquitoes bite. Generally, the peak biting periods occur just before and after sunset and again just before dawn.
- Wear appropriate clothing. Long-sleeved tops and long pants made of tightly woven materials keep mosquitoes away from the skin. Be sure, too, that your clothing is light colored. Keep trouser legs tucked into boots or socks.

You will also need to use an insect repellant. DEET-containing products are the most effective mosquito repellents available. DEET has been used for over fifty years with a very good safety profile. Other products have not necessarily been as thoroughly studied as DEET, and may not be safer for use on children. The American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Environmental Health feels that products containing DEET up to concentrations of up to 30% are safe for use in children 2 months and above. In choosing the strength of DEET to use, keep in mind that the more DEET a product contains, the longer the repellant can protect against mosquito bites.

Products containing citronella, lavender, mineral oil and soybean oil generally do not last very long. Herbal products containing lemon eucalyptus oil as a repellant are the only ones found to have effectiveness similar to DEET containing products. Those are only recommended in children above the age of 3 years old.

When using DEET containing repellants in children, keep in mind the following safety tips:
- Select the lowest concentration effective for the amount of time spent outdoors. It is generally agreed that DEET should not be applied more than once a day.
- Apply the product to your own hands and then rub them on your child. Avoid children's eyes and mouth.
- Do not apply repellent to children's hands. (which often end up in their mouth)
- To make sure your child’s skin will not react to the repellent, apply the product to a small area of skin, arm or leg before general use.
- Use just enough repellent to cover exposed skin and/or clothing. Do not use under clothing.
- After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water. Wash treated clothing before wearing again.
- Do not apply over cuts, wounds or irritated skin.
- Do not spray DEET-containing products in enclosed areas. DEET products will NOT repel stinging insects such as wasps and bees.

Questions or comments? Please post them on our Meriter Facebook Page.

Enjoy your time outdoors,

Dr. Sumita Ram
Pediatrician
Meriter Pediatrics
2275 Deming Way, Suite 220
Middleton, WI 53562
608.417.8388
meriterkids.com