Los Alamitos Pediatrics

When is your child ready to be potty trained, how will I know? Here are some good tips to help you make it as easy as possible.

As has been reported before, children and daycare do not seem to be that big a problem in spreading the Coronavirus. It is usually spread by family members and in families or groups where people don't wear masks. Lets go adults and parents, lets keep social distance, wear masks, get control of this pandemic and keep pour children in schools-they and we all benefit from that

All parents have learned how difficult parenting is and how different it is than we imagined. Having children changes all our preconceived ideas about how we will handle things from what we have read and been told. Reality sets in pretty quickly. Here is a humorous article about how two very different parenting styles have raised their twins. I am sure most of you can appreciate what they have been going thru.

Can my child go to a playground? Is it safe and what can I do to make it safer? These are very important questions and concerns. Our children need to get outside to play, and parents need their children to get their energy out playing outdoors. Just make sure it is not too crowded, bring sanitizing hand wipes and keep their hands clean. After you are done wash their and your hands well with soap. Even if you just run round with a ball, their bike or a Frisbee-just being outside in the fresh air is good for al of you. Too much time in our houses, on line doing virtual school , work, or playing video games will get us all more depressed and more Covid fatigue. Wear a mask as it shows the respect you have for others and will help show your children how important it is.

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CIhM6ImJdhR/ Update from Dr. Kaplan 12/7

HERE IS WHAT OUR COVID HALLOWEEN IS LIKE

We are all bummed out that Halloween may not be as much fun as usual for our children. Here are some ideas how to make it special for you and your family.

We are thrilled to announce the addition of our newest member to the Los Alamitos Pediatrics family! Please join us in welcoming Dr. Yu. He will be starting with us in November.

As more sports resume here are some tips to make sure your children return to sports safely. Returning to SPORTS During COVID-19 Below are tips for a safe and healthy return to sports during the COVID-19 pandemic Start slowly... It has been some time since you/your child has played sports; do not expect to start where you left off Start with a review of basic skills and techniques, and build up to more advanced skills Plan shorter workouts to give yourself time to build up endurance Limit repetitive movements such as throwing, swinging, and jumping Pay attention to your body Quickly returning to sport activities after time off increases the risk of overuse injuries o An overuse injury happens when 1) there is too much stress on normal bones, joints, and muscles, or 2) when normal stress is put on weaker bones, joints, and muscles Maintain 8 hours of sleep or more per night Follow your instincts if you are hesitant to return to that activity, then wait or slow down Stay hydrated to help your body perform at its best o Beware of heat illness: Early in conditioning, especially during hot days, watch for overheating (i.e. more tired than everyone else, dizziness, confusion). If you have these symptoms, seek medical care immediately! Open mind This is a unique situation; you may not be able to practice like you usually do Reset expectations and short-term goals Be mindful of your mental health and well-being during this extraordinary time Think of ways to cross train or do alternative workouts Red flags to see your pediatrician, sports medicine physician, athletic trainer, or physical therapist Pain in a small area (can point to a spot with one finger) Limping or not able to move normally Pain/soreness greater than a four on a pain scale of 10 Pain or soreness when you are not playing sports Pain or soreness that lasts 2-3 days after activity Take steps to limit the spread of COVID-19 Never practice or play when you are feeling sick in any way When possible, train outside to limit the risk of transmitting/catching infections Train in smaller, consistent position/drill groups when working out to keep everyone safe Wear a mask or face covering when possible (i.e. in team meetings and when on the sideline) Bring hand sanitizer so you can wash your hands often Try not to share equipment o If not possible, limit the number of people using that equipment and clean in-between uses Bring your own water and snacks Avoid high-fives, fist/chest bumps, and hugs; create your own hands-free celebration Stay positive Sports are fun and social; they make us stronger physically and mentally, and help us through challenging times You can’t always control circumstances. However, you can always control your attitude, approach, and response. Tony Dungy, professional football coach Developed by Dr. Matthew Kornswiet Sports Medicine Pediatrician, CHOC Children’s Primary Care Network

We all now how amazing and frustrating toddlers are. It is a critical time for them to develop social skills, emotional regulation and language skills. Here are things to look for and to help you let them develop that self-awareness. It's an amazing time to watch how much they will learn-enjoy it, don't get caught up in that "Terrible two battle"-it is normal and they will win. Remember you are the "adult".

Our very own Dr. Tosu featured on the CHOC site https://blog.chocchildrens.org/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-pedi/

Testing for Covid-19 is becoming more available and more accurate. The turnaround time is getting much faster also. We will have the Antigen test ready to use in our office in the next two weeks. Here is information to help you understand the different types of tests, accuracy, etc. for you and your children.

We got our flu shot. Did you?

9/24 Update from Dr. Kaplan

As we get further into the Covid pandemic, our medical knowledgeabout Covid is getting better. One of the areas now being looked at are the long term effects of a Covid infection-whether mild, moderate or severe. There is some new evidence of possible long term cardiac issues in some teens and young adults who recovered from Covid. If your child or teen had Covid and wants to return to sports please let us check them out to make sure they are safe and ready to resume their full activity.

We are glad our Covid numbers are down in our area, so many of our children are now starting to do their sports activities. Its important to support them in those and to realize that winning is not the issue-it's participating. If they drop out all they will do is sit home on their phone or playing video games. We need to keep their minds and bodies moving and active.

9/17 Update from Dr. Kaplan