Helpful Information

The mere thought of traveling with children can be overwhelming and stressful. Take the pains out of car or air travel with children with these tips. Take Your Time Whether it’s a cross country road trip or a flight from point a to point b, allowing yourself plenty of extra time can make the entire process much easier on everyone. Factoring in time for the unexpected and allowing time for young children to explore can help to elevate the stress of arriving on time. Book Ahead Spontaneous trips become a thing of the past when children are involved. Making reservations can help to reduce stress ......

Before you head outside to enjoy the sunshine and spring weather. There are a few steps and precautions to take to ensure that your children stay safe while enjoying activities and events this season. Helmets: If your child is taking the neighborhood or park by wheel, be sure they are wearing a helmet. Not only should your child be wearing a helmet, but they should be wearing one that fits well. The helmet should sit just above the eyebrows and not rock back and forth on the child’s head. When riding a scooter, bike, skateboard, tricycle or even rollerblades your child should be wearing a helm......

With warmer weather on the horizon, now is the perfect to head outside and enjoy the sunshine. When purchasing your child a bike or scooter, don’t forget a helmet to go along with their new ride. Each year approximately 300,000 children visit the emergency room due to bike accidents. Before your child sets out to ride the neighborhood, make sure they are prepared with these bike safety tips. Selecting a Helmet: It is important that your child is wearing a helmet that fits properly and meets the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s standards. The helmet should fit securely on the top of the hea......

While there is a threat for severe weather year round, spring typically brings with it storms and tornadoes. It is important to have a plan in place and be prepared to seek shelter when an emergency weather situation occurs. When you see information on the news about tornado watches and warnings, it can be difficult to distinguish between them. A tornado watch is issued when conditions are favorable for severe weather to develop. A warning is issued when severe weather is imminent. A thunderstorm can strengthen into tornado activity rapidly, therefore it is important to seek shelter quickly. A......

Oh the stomach bug… it is the black plague of many homes. The stomach flu or gastroenteritis is an infection and inflammation of the intestines. While it only lasts a few days, it brings with it vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, fever and abdominal pain. Children fall victim to the stomach bug frequently because there are a variety of viruses that can cause it. The most common offenders are rotavirus and norovirus. In most cases the stomach flu can be treated at home. Seek treatment if the illness has occurred longer than 2 days in children under the age of 2 or if there is blood in the vomit o......

Toddlers, they are tricky little creatures. With their growth and development come changes both emotionally and physically. If you are concerned about your toddler’s health, you are not alone. Here are the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions to toddler health concerns. Head Bumps Head bumps are common occurrence in the lives of toddlers. In most cases there is no need to worry when your toddler’s fall results in a bump, just be sure to pay a little extra attention in case there is a more severe head injury. Signs can include vomiting within hours after the accident, disorien......

With rain, ice, sleet and snow, winter can bring with it many unpredictable weather changes and road conditions. There are a few things to remember when driving with your little ones this season that can help to keep you both safe. Winter Coats Winter coats and bulky clothing should never be worn in the car seat. The fluffy material will immediately flatten in a crash, leaving extra space between the harness and child. The extra space it creates can leave your child more susceptible to injury in the event of a crash. Pinch Test The “pinch test” is the best way to determine whether or not the c......

Adults are not the only people suffering from allergies this season. Hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, is a common issue facing many infants and children. Most children suffering from hay fever experience a runny or stuffy nose, clear drainage, sneezing, itchy nose, sore throat and cough. For many allergy suffers, their symptoms are the worst when exposed to allergens such as tree pollen, grasses and weeds. Children can develop seasonal allergies at any point. In most cases children develop the allergies by age 10 and the symptoms reach their peak by early to mid twenties. If your child’s “cold......

One of the most common reasons parents visit our Chattanooga pediatric urgent care clinic. Cold are very common throughout the winter months, especially for school aged children. However, there is usually very little pediatricians can do to treat the cold itself. Colds are a common part of childhood. While it can seem alarming to many parents that your children have a runny nose and cough, it is not uncommon. Children have weaker immune systems and are more susceptible to colds. On average, children experience 8 to 10 colds by age 2. There is no treatment for a cold and it is best to just let ......

When you are sneezing, coughing and your entire body is hurting, it can be a challenge to distinguish between a cold or the flu. A cold is a milder respiratory illness than the flu and comes with different symptoms. On average cold symptoms last for a few days while flu symptoms can linger from days to weeks. Cold Symptoms: In most cases, a cold starts with a sore throat, but can also include a runny nose, sneezing, congestion, a cough and possibly a low grade fever. These symptoms last approximately a week. A cold is caused by a virus. During the first 3 days your child is sick, they are cont......