Resources

Knowing when and where to seek care for your little one in time of illness is very important for your child’s health and for your peace of mind.  Depending on the severity of your child’s illness and the time of day, you may actually need to make an ER visit rather than seeing us in the office.  Conversely, there are many conditions we handle in the office that can save you a trip to the ER.  As a rule of thumb, head straight to the ER if your child is less than 6 weeks old and has a fever (defined as a temperature 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees celsius) or higher, you suspect a broken bone and there is visible swelling (which is a sign that the broken bone is misaligned), your child hits his head and appears to pass out, your child has a seizure, your child has heavy, fast breathing or is gasping for air, has gaping cuts on the face with active bleeding, your child has any headache associated with blurry vision and vomiting or if your child has ingested a foreign body and has drooling or difficulty breathing.  Of course this is not an exhaustive list, and we are here to help you during emergencies.

There is really no magic right time or way to potty train.  As a rule of thumb, you want to start potty training when your child shows readiness signs and in accordance with your own beliefs and values.  Most children develop bowel and bladder control at 18 months, which is a necessary skill to physically learn to use the toilet.  However, how ready a child is emotionally to learn to use the potty depends on the individual child.  This is the area with the most variation.  Some children are ready at 19 months and others not until 3 or even closer to 4.  ‘Readiness signs’ include staying dry for at least two hours at a time or after naps, recognizing that he or she is urinating or having a bowel movement (some toddlers will go to the corner of a room or go under the table), being able to pull pants up and down and get onto and off of the potty, and being able follow simple instructions.  The most important readiness sign is that your child wants to use the potty (look carefully for this sign, not wanting to sit in a poopy diaper really can mean ‘I want to use the potty’). 

It is not a good idea to start potty training during a time of particular stress or transition. Also if your child clearly is not showing any readiness signs then take a short break.  Developmentally, toddlers have a natural and healthy desire for control and this can lead to power struggles.  If your toddler feels a lot of pressure to potty train, they will quickly figure out that one way to feel ‘in charge’ and win the power struggle is to refuse to potty train.  Also, DON’T COMPARE.  Children all develop at different speeds and in different areas.  It’s important to approach potty training calmly and not without a lot of emotion.

If your child is preschool age and still not interested in potty training then reach out to us so we can evaluate for any physical issues or developmental delay.  The gut is a tricky organ and your child may also need help with diet change or medications to help with constipation so please know there is not a ‘one size fits all’ way to potty training.  Most importantly, know that you are not alone in this and we are here to help.

Traveling with your child as a family requires extra planning but can be so fulfilling. We always recommend your child is up to date on current vaccines and is not overdue on checkups prior to travel. The CDC website is a great resource to look for location specific information to plan for long trips.

View: Well-Child Parent Handouts

• Varicella a.k.a ‘chicken-pox’
• Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP)
• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV)
• Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR)
• Meningococcal ACWY
• Pneumococcal Conjugate “prevnar”
• Polio
• Rotavirus
• Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (TdaP)