articles
Topic: Questions & Answsers
July 2009
Q. Can I use sunscreen on my 3 month-old?
Dr. Zibners' Answer:
You know how when you are used to hearing someone talk all the time, you tend not to listen? This week’s question comes from my sister, Mandy in Ohio. Despite discussing this last week, she remains confused. Yes, you can use sunscreen on my niece. Little babies should be kept in the shade as much as possible and covered up with loose clothing. However, the bits you can’t cover, such as hands and feet can and should be given a little sunscreen treatment. Do remember that babies are more susceptible to overheating so watch out. As to the rest of her question, of course you can go to the pool, but try to find a bit of shade. Put a big hat on her. The parts that are exposed should be protected. But no, I don’t recommend you use your diaper cream as a sun barrier.
June 2009
Q. What should I do for my kid when he’s got a sunburn?
Dr. Zibners' Answer:
Thanks to Sara from IA for this timely gem. If your kid does get burned, don’t beat yourself up too much. Stick her in a cool room, give her something nice and chilled to drink. Cover the painful spots with a cool wet washcloth if it makes her feel better. An age and weight-appropriate dose of ibuprofen will also help with both pain and inflammation. And if the baby is under 1 year of age, or the burn is very large and deep with blisters, give your pediatrician a call just to make sure there is nothing else you should be doing. Sunburn is no different from any other kind of burn.
Can I use sunscreen on my little one?
Thanks to Brenda from CA where the sun is always shining! The answer is absolutely! I know many of the sunscreen bottles say not to use the product in children under 6 months but that doesn’t mean it’s not safe. The smaller the kid, the more coverage (hats and loose long sleeves and pants) we’d prefer and strollers should be parked in the shade. However, a little sunscreen on the parts you can’t cover, such as the backs of hands, foot, and tips of ears is a very good idea. Older kids should be completely smeared in the stuff. Minimum SPF 15 please and reapply after swimming or sweaty play.
I’m terrified my kid will develop serious food allergies and I won’t know what to do!
This week’s question comes from Nikki in London. And it’s a really good one in that the question is mainly how to prevent allergies in the first place. The answer to that is really difficult because no one is absolutely certain. I was a super allergic kid and I’m hopefully going to become a mom myself this year so I’m really tuned into the latest word from the experts. For a long time pediatricians have been recommending that parents avoid giving children certain foods, such as peanut butter or egg whites, until they are of a certain age, with the thought that their immune systems would be more mature and not be so touchy. However, now science is suggesting the opposite. There is a theory that our super-clean environment isn’t challenging kids’ immune systems enough, making them ultra-sensitive and therefore allergy-prone. So the answer is I’m not sure. My gut says the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle and we should make sure children are exposed to a lot of different foods early on, while trying to avoid giving too much of any one thing and being particularly cautious with foods that mom or dad might have an allergy to. This is probably a topic best sounded out on your pediatrician who can help you come up with a reasonable approach based on your family history and types of allergies.
As to what to do when an allergy occurs, if it is mild, a simple dose of an over-the-counter antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine, by mouth is reasonable. More serious reactions should prompt an urgent call to the doctor. Any kid who is having swelling of the lips and tongue, passing out or having trouble breathing needs to be seen immediately and you should call 911. Of course, you should let your doctor know if you suspect any allergic reaction to a food so that she can decide whether further testing is appropriate.
Can I let my kid go to sleep after he hits his head?
Thanks Mandy from OH for this one. The myth about not going to sleep after a head injury is just that: a myth. One perpetuated by a lot of bad TV. I first heard it when watching Emergency with Randolph Mantooth. Keeping a kid awake only makes him more irritable, sleepy and cranky, all of which are also signs of a more serious head injury. Therefore, if a kid has been denied his nap, we don’t know whether it’s sleep deprivation or something more serious going on. Let him go to sleep. Wake him once every couple hours if it makes you feel better. Call the pediatrician if he is sleeping longer than usual, at a time that isn’t normally nap time if you are at all worried.
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