Pediatrician in Massapequa

Pediatrician in Massapequa That Accept your Insurance

The Importance of Creating a Healthy Diet For Your Kids

How Can I Improve My Child’s Diet?

• Keep healthy snacks readily available – Keeping healthy snacks in the house will make it easier to enforce healthy eating habits. If this is the only option available it makes it easier for children to avoid unhealthy snacks.
• Serve good protein sources – Lean meats, fish, eggs, nuts, and beans are all good sources of protein to keep your child healthy and satisfied.
• Limit fat – Reducing fried foods and opting for grilling, broiling, steaming, and roasting can make for a diet lower in fat. Low-fat and nonfat products are also good options.
• Decrease sugar intake – Soda and fruity drinks are huge sources of sugar. Opt for water or low-fat milk to reduce your child’s sugar intake.
• Incorporate fruits and veggies – Although your child may not love them, fruits and vegetables are integral for a balanced diet. Your child should be having at least five servings of fruits and veggies per day and they should be served at every meal.
• Cut out fast food and unhealthy snacks – Instead of giving your child chips that lack any nutritional value as a snack, try carrots with hummus! Of course, keep everything in moderation, so you don’t have to cut out their favorite snacks altogether.
• Set the example – Your kids look up to you, so whatever you do, they’re going to want to follow a similar suite. Be a role model and eat as healthy as you can so that your kids will be more inclined to opt for the same foods that you consume.

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Pediatrician in Massapequa Recommends Sunburn Tips for Parents

Now that summer is here, what better way to enjoy than by spending time outside by the pool or at the beach? Both are great ways to spend time with your family, while also keeping the kids entertained all day long. With all those hours in the sun though, it is important to routinely apply sunscreen as well as encourage your children to wear sun-protective clothing. Anyone, especially children, can become sunburned after just 15 minutes of being out in the sun. You might be thinking, it definitely takes longer than 15 minutes, but the side effects of sunburn, like redness or discomfort don’t always surface until hours later.

Sunburn Symptoms

• Skin redness and blistering
• Pain
• Tingling
• Swelling
• Headache
• Nausea
• Fever
• Chills
• Dizziness

Sunburn Treatments

• Regularly applying cooling lotions with aloe vera.
• Have them take a cool (not cold) shower or bath.
• Apply cold compresses to the skin that was burned.
• Make sure they are getting proper amounts of fluids so they do not get dehydrated.
• Give them Tylenol or Advil to reduce their pain.

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Does My Child Need To Be Tested For ADHD?

Children can be quite fidgety, impulsive, and inattentive at times. Often, this behavior may be written off as “normal” for children. But hyperactivity, impulsive behaviors, and lack of attention can be the initial symptoms of ADHD. With this condition, it can be hard to differentiate between normal childish behavior in children from a true case of ADHD that requires professional help. If you notice any of these odd behaviors in your child, they should probably be tested for ADHD. Pediatric Associates of Plainview, our center for Pediatricians in Massapequa, conducts extensive screenings for ADHD that can help give you peace of mind when it comes to your child. 

What Is ADHD?

• Hyperactivity, fidgeting, squirming, or constant moving.
• Inattention, difficulty listening or paying attention, or getting distracted easily.
• Appearing to be spacy or unmotivated, and having trouble maintaining focus on tasks.
• Talking excessively, impulsively creating noise, or having trouble playing quietly.
• Self-focused behavior, such as trouble waiting for their turn or sharing with others.

Testing For ADHD

• What symptoms your child displays. 
• How long the symptoms have been present.
• How often the symptoms show up and affect your child.
• How these behaviors affect you, your child, teachers, and caregivers.

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About Massapequa, New York

Medical Ear Piercing Care

Ear Piercing Infections

Why Medical Ear Piercing? 

Common Questions For Pediatricians

Common Questions Asked to Pediatricians 

Are allergies hereditary?

• ANSWER: Not exactly. Just because you have allergies does not mean that your child will for sure have them. If your spouse also has allergies, your child has an increased chance to have them. 

What should I do if my child has a fever? 

• ANSWER: Most fevers are harmless and go away on their own in a few days. In the case that your child is suffering from a fever, try giving them acetaminophen or ibuprofen, but avoid giving them aspirin. Use a cool compress on their head and keep their room temperature moderate. Make sure they drink lots of fluids. Call your pediatrician if your child has a temperature of 100.4 F or higher, has a fever that lasts for more than 72 hours (or more than 24 hours if your child is under two years old), or seems very sick or unresponsive. 

Should I wake my child to feed him/her? 

• ANSWER: It depends on the baby’s age, weight, and overall health. 

How can I know if my child ate enough? 

• ANSWER: Some signs that your baby is full are pulling away from the breast or bottle, they fall asleep during a feeding, shaking their head, or keeping their mouth closed. 

How should I take my child’s temperature? 

• ANSWER: There are several methods for taking a child’s temperature. Depending on their age, there are different types of thermometers and ways to do so. 

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Helping Your Child With Allergy Illness

Common Symptoms:

1. Runny/stuffy nose – Can range from mild to extremely annoying. Typically, children have this when they begin to sniff a lot (to stop a mucus drip).
2. Itchy eyes – The eyes are typically red and irritated. It can be itchy, painful, or both. The eye can also create a lot of crust due to this.
3. Throat pain – Typically comes from a mucus drip from the sinuses into the throat.
4. Asthma – The body responds to breathing in pollen particles by closing the lungs. This can be life-threatening if not treated. It also makes athletics difficult unless properly treated.

Treatments

1. Allergy shots – Essentially, allergy shots are when a person is injected with whatever they are allergic to build immunity. This is a mixture of an oak tree, grass, or pet serums in many cases. Allergy shots could be multiple shots rather than just one of the patients allergic to a lot. They can provide relief to allergies without medication. These are prescription-based and administered at our Pediatrician in Massapequa office.
2. Albuterol – is used often to treat asthma. Usually, it is administered via an inhaler or nebulizer (basically a powered inhaler). It works by forcing open the lungs and could save lives. However, albuterol could be used as a daily treatment to increase the quality of life. These are prescription-based.
3. Lung steroids – typically corticosteroids are an inhaler that distributes powder to be breathed in. Similar to albuterol, it opens up the airways. However, common forms like Advair cannot be used in an emergency. These are prescription-based.
4. Nasal Sprays – These can be prescription-based or OTC (over-the-counter). They are intended to be squirted into the nose (both nasal cavities) to combat runny nose and excess mucus production. Name brand versions like Flonase or Nasacort are mild to very effective for treatment.
5. Eye drops – These can be prescription-based or OTC. The medication is dropped into the eye (normally once or twice, twice a day). They can be very effective at treating eye pain issues from allergies.

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Common Warts to Look Out For

What are common warts to look out for 

• Plantar warts
• These are warts that usually grow on the soles of the feet and may feel like you have tiny pebbles in your shoe. It should not cause much harm in most cases, but if the feeling is unpleasant, removal can be an option.
• Flat warts
• These warts are smaller and less obtrusive in size. They usually occur in much higher numbers and usually form on people’s faces. 
• Filiform Warts 
• These are usually spikey and larger in size; they tend to grow on the face, such as areas around your mouth, eyes, and nose.
• Genital warts 
• Warts that may form through having sex with someone who has them. It is important to note that genital warts are usually the hardest to treat and can spread to the mouth and anus. Medical help may be required from your local Pediatrician in Massapequa.

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