Synchrony

February 9, 2022

Quick tip to promote synchrony: Encourage parents to think about how their baby is feeling, or what their baby is communicating. Then, model for parents how they can match their baby’s mood with their voice and response. For example, you can say: “I know you’re cold, that isn’t fun. I’m right here, and I’m going…Read More

Crying and Fussiness

February 2, 2022

Though infant crying and fussiness is an expected part of development, it isn’t easy for parents. Help build knowledge and understanding with these strategies: Promote soothing. Newborns cannot be spoiled and need help from adults to calm down. Encourage sleep. Remind caregivers that being overtired contributes to fussiness. Advise putting the baby down every 1.5-2…Read More

Postpartum Depression and the Baby Blues

January 26, 2022

Parents of infants may express concerns around fluctuating emotions during the first few weeks after birth. Reassuring parents that it is totally normal to experience Baby Blues, while discussing more serious signs of PPD or PP Anxiety, is an important part of ensuring baby’s health, too. Untreated parental depression can disrupt a parent’s ability to sensitively respond to their infant, accurately read infant cues, and to engage…Read More

Family Meals

January 19, 2022

Research suggests that regular family meals are associated with children having healthier eating habits, better academic performance, and higher self-esteem. Family meals also help with picky eating, power struggles around diet, and getting children to sit at the table for longer periods of time. When you’re discussing nutrition in any visits from 12 months on, suggest…Read More

Anxiety about Illness and Death

January 12, 2022

Given the uptick of COVID variants and cases, children may be experiencing even greater anxiety about sickness and death. As a provider, you can help parents give children a clear and age-appropriate explanation of this crisis, and this may stop them from making up their own explanations, which can be scary or inaccurate. Being available and willing to answer specific questions from patients can also help children feel safe and express any lingering worries. For more…Read More

Noticing Positive Behavior

January 5, 2022

Research shows that giving attention to any behavior – positive or negative – increases the likelihood that you’ll see more of it. In the exam room, you can use the power of praise to notice and comment on positive behaviors and model this technique for parents. Try something like, “Great job taking in a deep breath. That really helps…Read More

Being Bilingual

December 29, 2021

Many bilingual or non-native English speaking caregivers ask about the potential impact of multiple languages in the home. You can reassure them that research shows that being bilingual has MANY advantages for kids, and that there is no known language delay. In addition, in order to teach the variety and depth of language and emotion,…Read More

Shifting Attention

December 22, 2021

In stressful moments, many children can benefit from shifting their focus out of the exam room and onto something else. Once you’ve validated any feelings a child has, you can suggest an activity or exercise to help them shift their focus away from the procedure or exam. That may go something like this, “It’s normal…Read More

Storytelling

December 15, 2021

Storytelling serves many purposes. It can help to build memory, imagination, attention and focus. It can connect children to generations past and present, raise cultural awareness and build a positive sense of identity. Here are a few ways to incorporate storytelling into your next visit: Ask patients over 3 to tell you about a holiday…Read More

Tummy Time

December 8, 2021

As you know, many caregivers may avoid doing tummy time, since babies often get a little fussy when on their tummy. By modeling and discussing it in the visit, you can help caregivers understand how important tummy time is to build a child’s autonomy, self-regulation, and motor skills. Your words can encourage caregivers to do it throughout the day and give them strategies to help their baby be less distressed during it! See…Read More

Comfort Positioning During Painful Procedures

December 1, 2021

A trip to the doctor’s office can be scary for children, especially when there are possibilities of vaccines and bloodwork. Comfort positions are ways that caregivers can hold their children to provide comfort, while also helping keep them still.  You can try suggesting that caregivers hold children chest to chest, back to chest, or sitting…Read More

Reflective Practice

November 24, 2021

Thanksgiving is a time to express gratitude, and reflective practice can help people connect with feelings of gratitude. Reflective practice is the act of thinking about our experiences in order to learn from them for the future. As a provider, you may want to find time to reflect and encourage families to do so as…Read More

Supporting Children Through Painful Procedures

November 17, 2021

A trip to the doctor’s office can be scary for children, especially when there are possibilities of vaccines and bloodwork. Over the next month, we will be sharing a series of tips on how to help make children feel more comfortable during a wide variety of procedures. Here are three to get started: Take Deep Breaths Encouraging…Read More

Creating a Yes Environment

November 10, 2021

As babies grow, they become more mobile, and caregivers may find themselves saying “no” a lot more as they try to help children navigate their surroundings. Exploration is a key part of growth and saying “no” often makes it less effective. By baby-proofing and creating a “yes” environment, caregivers can save “no” for the times…Read More

Picky Eating

November 3, 2021

During well-child visits, you may hear complaints from caregivers about their child’s picky eating.  As a provider, you can validate parents’ concerns, set expectations, and explain how giving some choices can promote their child’s autonomy and healthy eating habits. You can remind parents of both the importance of not forcing a child to eat and…Read More