Children's Health

Recently Answered

• QHow does tackle football affect cognitive function in kids?

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  A Baptist Health South Florida answered

  A study has found that kids who play tackle football at or before the age of 12 could be more susceptible to long-term cognitive or brain-related health issues as a result of repetitive impacts to the head—even those that don’t rise to the level of concussions.

  Research is raising concerns among parents of boys and girls who play contact sports before high school, especially those who take part in tackle football.

  Because their brains are not fully developed, high-school and middle-school student athletes, and especially younger kids in pee-wee leagues, are more susceptible to concussions—or long-term effects of repetitive hits to the head that may not show signs of a concussion.

  Researchers found those who played tackle football before age 12 had, on average, cognitive issues arise 13.39 years earlier, and behavioral and mood problems 13.28 years earlier than those who began to play at 12 or older. Additionally, the onset of cognitive problems occurred 2.4 years earlier and behavioral and mood problems 2.5 years earlier for every one year younger participants began to play tackle football.

• QWhat should I do if I think my child is depressed?

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  A Intermountain Healthcare answered

  If you're worried that your child or teen has depression, here are a few tips:

  • Watch for symptoms of depression. For the most part, symptoms in kids are the same as those in adults. But in younger kids, you're more likely to notice behavior changes like bedwetting, tearfulness, or self-destructive actions (like head banging). Your child might complain about stomachaches or headaches, or say things like "I never do anything right." A teen might become overly secretive, sullen, or sleepy. These things don't always mean a child is depressed, but you should monitor them nevertheless. Severe or ongoing symptoms are a particular concern.
  • Check in with a doctor if you notice any mental, behavioral, or emotional changes that worry you. It's hard to tell the difference between growing pains and depression. So when in doubt, seek professional help. Depression is serious and highly treatable for children.
  • If your child is diagnosed with depression, learn as much as you can. Good information will help you make good decisions for your child's treatment. Should you see a specialist in childhood mental health? Should medication be part of treatment? When is the right time for therapy? What can you and your family do to help your child recover? Talk to your child's doctor.
  • Parents and caregivers should monitor depressed children carefully—especially in the first few months of treatment, and especially if medication is used. Children with depression need to be watched for irritability, agitation, or suicidal thinking or behavior.

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• QWhat are some safety tips for kids carrying backpacks to school?

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  A Baptist Health South Florida answered

  Following are some tips to keep kids safe while carrying backpacks to school:

  • Choose the right backpack, one with two shoulder straps, a padded back and a waist strap. The backpack itself should not add much weight to the load.
  • Pack it light and tighten the straps.
  • Wear it right. Wearing a backpack on one shoulder may increase curvature of the spine. The straps should hold the pack two inches above the waist. The backpack should never weigh more than 10 to 20 percent of the student's total body weight. Pack heavier items closest to the center of the pack.
  • Encourage the child to tell about pain, do not ignore any back pain in a child.
  • Consider buying a second set of textbooks for the student to keep at home.
• QHow much weight is safe for a student to carry in a backpack?

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  A Dr. Agueda Q. Hernandez, MD , Family Medicine, answered on behalf of Baptist Health South Florida

  No child lugging around school books and supplies should be carrying more than 20 percent of his or her body weight. And that ratio should go down if the child complains of discomfort. 
  Children should secure their backpacks properly over both shoulders. Habitually carrying backpacks over one shoulder will make muscles strain, stressing the middle back, ribs and lower back—more on one side than the other.

  A backpack that’s too heavy can pull on the neck muscles, contributing to headaches, shoulder and neck pain and lower back pain. If your child’s school allows them, pulling a backpack on wheels is the best option for kids with too much to carry.

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• QCan exercising help calm down kids with behavioral issues?

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  A Dr. Daniel R. Spogen, MD , Family Medicine, answered on behalf of Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine

  Exercise can play an important role in behavioral therapy for kids with behavioral issues. It can be used in conjunction with other behavioral interventions to provide a hobby or sport that the child can be succesful at. This, with other behavioral modifications, can provide a positive outlet for children with behavioral problems.

• QHow can I help my child develop a healthy lifestyle?

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  A Eastside Medical Center answered

  The best way to help a child develop a healthy lifestyle is for the parents to set a good example. Consumption of a healthy diet and emphasis on regular physical activity should be an important part of normal family activities. In addition, parents should insist that these healthy habits be emphasized at school as well.

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• QHow do I choose a backpack for my child?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  You should choose a backpack for your child that will not hurt her back and will help her stay organized. Some specific things to look for when choosing a child's backpack:
  

  • lightweight material
  • a pack that's proportional to your child's size
  • wide, padded shoulder straps
  • a padded back
  • a waist belt, which can help distribute the weight more easily
  • multiple compartments for organizing stuff

  Many backpacks today have wheels, but check with your child's school before choosing one, as some don't allow backpacks with wheels; these can also be tough to pull in snow or up stairs.
  

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• QWhat raises the risk for SIDS in my baby after discharge from the NICU?

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  A Intermountain Registered Dietitians , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Intermountain Healthcare

  NICU babies have a higher risk of sleep-related accidents such as SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). The list below provides some tips to help you create a safer sleep environment. Follow these guidelines -- and make sure your baby’s caregivers do, too:

  • Don't place your baby to sleep on any soft, loosely filled surface, such as comforters, pillows, sheepskins, or cushions filled with polystyrene beads. These surfaces can mold to your baby’s face and interfere with breathing.
  • Don't use bumper pads in your baby's crib. They don't prevent injuries -- and they do pose a risk to your baby, who could suffocate or get caught in the pads.
  • Don't allow hanging crib toys (mobiles, crib gyms) within your baby’s reach. Remove any hanging crib toy when your baby begins to push up on her hands and knees or when she is 5 months old, whichever comes first. These toys can strangle your baby.
  • Don't let your baby sleep on a waterbed. Babies can become trapped and suffocate.
  • Don't use an infant sleep positioner. Positioners are mats with soft, wedge-like sides meant to keep a baby on his back during sleep. Tragically, positioners have caused several deaths. Government and consumer agencies warn against the use of infant sleep positioners.
  • Don't use thin plastic wrapping materials such as cleaning bags or trash bags as mattress covers. Do not allow these things near your baby. The baby may suffocate if these items are near the face.
  • Don't allow your baby’s head to become covered during sleep.
  • Don't allow cords from drapes or window blinds near the crib. Do not place any items with strings or small parts near the crib. These things can strangle or choke the baby.
  • Don't leave the baby alone on a couch or a bed.
  • Don't use a car seat or bouncy chair as your baby’s crib. Too much time in these seats can flatten your baby’s head. Always put your newborn to sleep on his back (unless he has special needs and your doctor has advised against this). Alternate which side of the head your baby lies on each time. When your baby can roll over on his own, he can choose his own sleeping position.

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• QHow can my child's behavior change during a hospital stay?

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  A Intermountain Registered Dietitians , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Intermountain Healthcare

  Some common behavior changes that you might notice in your child during or after a hospital stay are:

  • increased demand for attention
  • desire to repeat themes during play involving illness, injury, or the hospital
  • regression -- returning to earlier levels of development (wanting help with eating, dressing, or bathing; demanding a bottle; returning to thumb-sucking or using a pacifier; throwing temper tantrums; whining; losing control of bladder or bowel)
  • increased startle response
  • hypervigilance -- being on alert at all times out of fear that something scary or painful will happen or that you or other loved ones will leave
  • sleep disturbances (resisting bedtime, waking up during the night, fear of sleeping alone, greater fear of the dark, nightmares or night terrors)
  • greater fear and distress regarding separations from caregivers
  • greater fear of strangers
  • nervous responses, such as scratching, picking, and biting nails
  • a change in eating patterns
  • increased crying and clinging
  • bed-wetting
  • frequent angry responses
  • acting out -- behaving in a way that is against the rules
  • fear of physicians or other health team members
  • greater concern about the body and its functions
  • fears or greater curiosity about death

  It is normal for any, or several, of these behavior changes to occur while your child is in the hospital or after going home. This is true even if your child has only been in the hospital for a few hours or a day.

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