The two most common chest wall problems that cause concern for children or their caregivers are pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum. Pectus excavatum is more common in boys and is caused by an abnormality of the cartilage that attaches the ribs to the sternum (or breastbone). The result is that the sternum is pushed backward,…
Summer vacation is winding down, and families have been busy preparing for another school year. Back to school can be anxiety provoking for parents and students alike. With a little preparation—packing bags and lunches the night before, meeting the teacher before the first day of class—getting back in the swing of things doesn’t have to…
Summer is here and is a great time to unleash the power of play with your children! Play is essential for child development and is an important way that children learn. There are many benefits of play such as gathering knowledge, social-emotional development, patience, problem-solving, reasoning skills, spatial awareness. Play provides children with the opportunity…
There are a variety of options when it comes to childcare – stay-at-home parent, babysitter, nanny, or daycare. Allowing anyone to watch your child comes with an immense amount of trust, especially if he/she is your first baby and an infant! Many parents worry about daycare for several reasons, the main one being recurrent illnesses. Most…
The 2022 – 2023 school year has seen an early surge in seasonal respiratory illnesses — the much publicized “tripledemic” of RSV, influenza, and COVID. Luckily, available public health data shows that as of early January, case rates of flu and RSV in Alabama and the Wiregrass Region are well below the peaks seen in…
Reading and language are crucial to a child’s development. My own mother read to me every night as a kid, and it fostered a life-long love of books and learning. Studies show that reading aloud to children, even infants, more than just talking to them increases their vocabulary, IQ, and educational skills when it is…
Growing up in south Alabama meant summertime pool parties and much anticipated trips to the lake and the beach. Since drowning is the leading cause of death for children one to four years of age, water safety awareness is critical for parents. For older children, water-related activities are the second most common cause of injury-related…
Mom and dad, you’ve been making appointments with the pediatrician for years – eighteen of them – and suddenly, it’s time to transition your child from pediatric medicine to adult medicine! This transition has proven to be a challenge for parents and patients alike. The parent can no longer make the appointments and request medical…
