articles
Topic: Questions & Answsers
September 2009
Q. Am I ruining my child if I let him watch television?
Dr. Zibners' Answer:
Well, if a little TV ruins a person, I’m like the city of Rome. The official AAP stance on TV is none before the age of 2. It is supposed to slow a child’s normal language development and is generally frowned upon. On the other hand, what about all things in moderation? TV is not and shouldn’t be used as a babysitter. Your kid needs to interact with you and learn about the real world, not Jack Bauer’s world. However, I will defy the AAP on this one and say I really don’t think an occasional bit of video is going to destroy a child’s mind. If a Sesame Street video gets you through a 2 hour plane ride, then by all means, spare your fellow passengers some grief!
Should I be worried about the hard edges on my furniture?
This week I heard from a dad who wanted to know if he should be worried about hard and sharp edges on the dressers and tables. Actually he seemed more concerned about himself than his kid, but the point is still the same. Remember my motto: if it is possible for a child to injure himself, he’ll find a way. Sure the hard corners on the dining room table can meet a forehead and cause a cut or bruise. If you are worried about it, you can buy corner protectors from your local baby and kids shop. Or use some foam rubber and a little creativity. But remember that your kid will just have to find another way to injure himself if you remove this option.
Q. My kid ate a quarter. What should I do?
Dr. Zibners' Answer:
An oldie but goodie showed up in my inbox this week. Quarter, nickel, dime, penny, doesn’t matter. First make sure he is breathing okay and if not, call 911. But if the coin seems to have gone the way of the fish fingers, don’t panic. First ask your child if he has change for a dollar. Then make sure he’s acting okay and can eat and drink. The only concern is if the coin is stuck in the esophagus or in the airways but if he is breathing normally and can swallow solids, he’s fine. No need to check the poop for the exiting currency by the way. (Although I know most of you will…)
Q. My 2 year old keeps saying her “eye hurts” but I can’t see anything wrong. What should I do?
Dr. Zibners' Answer:
Michelle sent this one in and wanted to know if her daughter is just playing or if something is really wrong. Well, that is kind of a toughie without seeing the kid but there are a couple of points to think about. One is that kids can’t always accurately pinpoint the source of their pain. So they will complain about a knee if it is really their hip or their ear if it is their throat. Of course it could actually be her eye. But in an otherwise well appearing kid with no other symptoms my suspicion is that she has figured out that she gets a rise out of Mommy when she complains and this has become a fun game. I would recommend mentioning it to your pediatrician at her next visit if the problem persists but until then try to ignore her and make your observations when she doesn’t realize you are looking. If there is any change either to the eye or her behavior, coordination, activity levels and so on, absolutely call your doctor right away.
August 2009
Q. How do I remove a tick from my kid?
Dr. Zibners' Answer:
While most ticks don’t cause any infection, you still need to remove them from dogs and children alike. I used to have this really cool tick remover that I found in a camping store. But if you don’t have one of those, a pair of tweezers will do. Grab the tick as close to the mouth as you can and pull straight up, tenting the skin, and within a couple minutes it should let go. Try not to squish the fat part because you might squeeze infected fluid into the skin. Once the tick is off, wash with soap and apply a little antibiotic ointment. Easy Peasy. Of course, one time I couldn’t get a tick to come loose easily and ended up pulling off a good chunk of skin from some kid’s penis. Not my finest moment.
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