Lifelines
Chances are, your child will get a cough this year. In fact, coughs are one of the most common reasons that children see a doctor. To make sure your child gets better and not worse, you must be knowledgeable and prepared. It’s important to know what to do, what not to...
Lifelines
Did well-meaning relatives shower your baby with holiday gifts that could be dangerous? Fuzzy baby blankets, cute stuffed animals and cheerful bumper pads can pose a serious risk to babies if parents don’t know about recent safe sleep recommendations. Placing these...
Lifelines
Stomach viruses are common in childhood. Usually, the virus comes on strong, then goes away over the next few days. But about 2 million children every year become very sick with stomach viruses and need medical care. “Knowing what to do can help your child get better...
Lifelines
Daylight Savings Time ends Nov. 6, and we’ll all set our clocks back one hour. As any parent knows, that little hour makes a significant difference when it comes to bedtime for our children. Dr. Bradley Berg, a pediatrician in Round Rock, explains, “Children are more...
Lifelines
When your child brings home a note from his teacher that he is having problems in school, how do you make sure you are addressing the real cause? Of course, you’ll make sure your child is getting enough sleep and eating properly. But there are other reasons behind...
Lifelines
August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety month! Take a minute to educate yourself on what you need to know to protect your child’s vision. Keep Up with Eye Evaluations Eye evaluations can help identify any problems with your child’s vision. Hillary Onan, MD, an...
Lifelines
You may not be doing the right things to protect your children from sun damage. As many as 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. “Skin cancer risk is related to cumulative lifetime sun exposure,” says Dr. Ted Lain, a board-certified...
Lifelines
Kids look forward to summer fun in the sun. But especially here in Austin, where the average high in July is 96° F, we need to take steps to protect our children from heat-related illness. “Children can develop heat-related illness, especially during the first...
Lifelines
Health officials in Texas are preparing for a possible outbreak of the Zika virus. It’s mostly spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which can also transmit other diseases, such as dengue and chikungunya. There’s no vaccine to prevent Zika, dengue or chikungunya, and...
Lifelines
Many parents worry about teen drinking, and rightly so. In the U.S., more than 4,300 teens die each year from drinking alcohol. And teen drinking is shockingly common. (See the box below titled, “Drinking Behavior in the Past 30 Days.”) Although teens often consider...
Lifelines
Bedwetting can be frustrating for both parents and children. Being “dry” at night is hailed as a major milestone, so children who continue to wet the bed can suffer teasing and embarrassment. As a parent, you may feel guilty and wonder what other parents are doing...
Lifelines
Dental decay is a serious problem in children. About 1 in 5 young children has high levels of untreated cavities, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Parents are often unsure of how to promote good oral health, so we asked Dr. Anil...
