Call Us
STAMFORD OFFICE
203.323.1770
NEW CANAAN OFFICE
203.972.5232

NEW ENGLAND
PEDIATRICS

New England Pediatrics, founded in 1983, provides comprehensive health care to children from birth to 22 years of age. Families in Fairfield and Westchester Counties choose our practice for our experience and commitment to excellence.

We provide 24/7 on-call coverage. We welcome new families who expect compassionate, thorough, and collaborative care for their children.

Urgent care

Hours

HEALTH TOPICS TREATMENT TIPS

GENERAL SAFETY TIPS As pediatricians, we cannot overemphasize the importance of safety in maintaining the health and well-being of the children in our care. The vast majority of children will have little or no serious medical illness throughout their youth. However, injuries and accidents represent
major causes of disability and death in young people. Susceptibility to accidental injury is highly age-dependent.

Suffocation Risks:
  • Newborns should only be placed on the side or back to sleep (never on the stomach), to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
  • Babies should not sleep with pillows or heavy blankets until 12 months of age.
Burns:
  • Never warm baby bottles in the microwave or remove items from the microwave when holding a baby.
  • Do not bathe babies under running water, and set hot water temperatures no higher than 120 degrees F.
  • Turn handles of stove-top pots and pans inward and do not consume hot drinks while holding a child.
  • Cover electrical outlets and remove electrical wires from play areas
Falls and Head Trauma:
  • Infants must not be left alone on a bed or changing table, even for an instant.
  • Always secure the infant's harness when in an infant seat (or stroller) and do not place infant seats on countertops or tables.
  • Lower the baby's crib mattress to the lowest level at six months of age.
  • Install stairway gates well in advance of an infant's ability to crawl.
  • The use of walkers is ill-advised. They are a source of potentially serious or fatal head trauma, and do not promote walking ability.
  • Trampolines are utterly unsafe and should not be used in home or recreational settings.
Ingestions and Choking:
  • Keep Poison Control Phone Number next to your phone.
  • All medicines and household cleaners should be locked out of reach.
  • Small toys and parts, jewelry, buttons, coins, hardware and Christmas ornaments all represent serious choking hazards.
  • Avoid small, round, hard foods; do not allow a child to run with a utensil or lollipop in the mouth.
Water Safety:
  • Any collection of water, whether a partly-filled kitchen bucket, a toilet, bathtub, washing machine, or backyard lake or pool represents a genuine drowning risk.
  • Install appropriate gates, fences, alarms and covers on swimming pools.
  • Even children who swim reliably should always be attended by an adult.
Automobile Safety:
  • An age-and weight appropriate car seat properly installed in the back seat of a motor vehicle is crucial. In many municipalities, local police or fire personnel will install your car seat gratis.
  • When leaving a parked car in your driveway, turn the car around to point the front outward, to avoid backing up in the vicinity of toddlers and small children who may be out of the driver's line of sight.
  • Children should ride in the back seat until the 13th birthday.
  • Teenage drivers must be reminded repeatedly about the responsibilities and risks of motor vehicles. Aside from safe driving courses and DWI education, new drivers should be taught that driving is a privilege and a skill which improves gradually over time. Extra caution while in one's "driving infancy" is strongly advised.

HEALTH TOPICS TREATMENT TIPS

NUTRITION AND FITNESS Introducing Baby to Solid Foods Breast milk or formula is the only food your baby needs until 4 to 6
months of age. At that time you may begin to slowly introduce solid food. Always begin new foods in the morning and offer only one new food every 2-3 days. Observe for allergic reactions such as skin
rash, vomiting, diarrhea, irritability or in rare instances, wheezing.

Begin with one tablespoon of iron-fortified rice cereal (Stage I) mixed with 2-3 tablespoons of breast milk or formula once a day. The cereal should be thin and runny initially, but gradually thickened as
the baby learns to eat. You may work up to 4-5 tablespoons of rice cereal per serving over a 2-3 week period, and can then try oatmeal or barley.

Once your baby is eating cereal without incident, introduce single ingredient fruits and vegetables. Begin with one tablespoon of each new food and advance to 3 or 4 tablespoons per serving as the baby’s appetite increases. You may mix this with the cereal or give separately. Each feeding should end with breast or bottle feeding, although the amount of milk may decrease as the amount of solid food increases. By 6 months of age, most babies will advance to 2 meals per day: cereal plus fruit and vegetable plus fruit.

By 6 to 7 months of age, begin a third meal and add single ingredient meats. Foods should still be smooth in consistency. Once all single ingredient (Stage I) foods have been introduced, Stage 2 foods are appropriate to start. Avoid desserts and cobblers which are full of sugar. If you would like to prepare your own baby food, we recommend: “Feed Me, I’m Yours” by Bruce Lansky.

By 9 months of age, most babies are ready for more texture (Stage 3), lumpier foods and soft finger foods such as small pieces of ripe fruit or cooked-to-very-tender vegetables. You may begin yogurt, small cubes or shreds of cheese, pastina and scrambled or hardboiled eggs (yolk first, then whole egg). Most babies can also handle teething biscuits, crackers, rice cakes and Cheerios by this age.

Between 9-12 months, you may gradually transition to table foods (even if no teeth yet!). These should be minced or mashed and should dissolve easily in the baby’s mouth. Avoid foods like popcorn, nuts, raisins, grapes, hard raw vegetables and hot dogs as these may easily cause choking. If there is no family history of food allergy,
you may introduce fish, dairy products, berries and citrus products
after nine months. Otherwise, wait until one year of age to try the more allergenic foods. The latest recommendation is to avoid peanut butter and peanut products until age three.

One important aside: once your child is tolerating dairy products, and you are ready to try whole milk, remember to offer small quantities in a cup (any type of cup is okay). This early practice will help to ease the transition from bottle to cup at 12-15 months of age.

Every baby is different and will set his/her own course of feeding. If she seems fussy or turns away, end the feeding and try again at the next feeding time. You may have to offer certain foods many times before a baby accepts each one. Always feed your baby sitting up in an infant seat, highchair or your lap-never lying down!

Allow your baby to partake in the feeding process by leaving his hands free to “help” and push the spoon and food into his mouth. Expect a mess but also a delighted baby!

HEALTH TOPICS TREATMENT TIPS

SUN SAFETY The well-known link between sun exposure and the development of skin cancer is a major concern for pediatricians. Here are some helpful tips for our young patients:
  • First and foremost, USE SUNSCREEN even on cloudy days.
  • Set a good example: teach all members of your family how to protect their skin and eyes
  • Keep babies younger than six months out of direct sunlight (use umbrellas, stroller canopies, tree shade).
  • Wear a hat or cap with a brim that faces forward to shield the face.
  • Avoid the sun between 10 am and 3 pm when UV rays are the strongest.
  • Your child should wear well-fitting sunglasses with at least 99% UV protection.
  • Dress yourself and your children in cool lightweight cotton pants in light colors with tight weave (less sun penetration).
  • Use a sunscreen labeled "Broad Spectrum"; it will screen out both UVA and UVB rays. Sunscreen should be used as sun protection and not a reason to stay in the sun longer. Remember sunscreen can help protect skin from sunburn and some skin cancers, but only if used correctly.
  • Use a sunscreen of at least 30 SPF (Sun Protection Factor). The higher the SPF, the more UVB protection the sunscreen has.
  • There is now a new UVA rating system: one star is low UVA protection and four stars the highest over the counter UVA protection.
  • Put sunscreen on 30 minutes before going outdoors and rub in well to cover all exposed areas of the skin.
  • Remember, sunburn can occur even on cloudy days and UV rays can be reflected off water, sand and concrete.
  • Sunscreen may be applied to babies younger than six months on small areas of the baby (i.e. face and back of hands) if protective clothing and shade are NOT available. Be careful around the eyes.
  • For children whose skin becomes irritated by a particular sunscreen, try a sunscreen stick or sun block with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide (call your pediatrician if a true contact dermatitis rash develops).

Adequate sun safety for your children demands your closest attention.

HEALTH TOPICS TREATMENT TIPS

TICK BITES/LYME DISEASE Tick bites are very common in Fairfield and Westchester Counties and can cause an infection called Lyme Disease. Light colored pants and long sleeves can provide a barrier between ticks and your child's skin. Tick checks are important to do nightly on children who have been playing outside especially in woods or high grass. Pay particular attention to exposed skin, the hairline, the underarm area, the groin and scrotum. Removing a tick within 24 hours markedly decreases the risk of infection. In this area only the deer tick, not the larger dog tick, causes Lyme Disease.

To remove a tick, use blunt forceps which are available in drug stores and marketed for this purpose. Try to capture the entire tick, including head, using a firm straight pull without twisting. The site should then be cleaned and inspected for remaining parts which should be removed if possible. Don't worry if there are residual bits. Do not use matches, heat, pins or liquid substances to try and free the tick.

After a tick bite watch for signs and symptoms which may include a rash, especially a round or oval-shaped "bull's eye" rash, (which may occur at other than the site of the bite), fever, muscle or joint aches, head ache and general malaise or fatigue. If you are concerned, please schedule a visit to evaluate the need for testing or treatment. As a rule, we do not treat simple tick bites with antibiotics.

PRENATAL SESSIONS 

 

 2/11 • Dr. Palker
New Canaan

2/25 • Dr. Cipolla/Dr. Riordan
via zoom

3/10 • Dr. Davis
via zoom

3/24 • Dr. Morelli
Stamford

4/1 • Dr. Cipolla/Dr. Riordan
via zoom

4/14 • Dr. Palker
New Canaan

5/6 • Dr. Davis
via zoom

5/21 • Dr. Riordan
Stamford

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

NEW ENGLAND
PEDIATRICS

New England Pediatrics, founded in 1983, provides comprehensive health care to children from birth to 22 years of age. Families in Fairfield and Westchester Counties choose our practice for our experience and commitment to excellence.

We provide 24/7 on-call coverage. We welcome new families who expect compassionate, thorough, and collaborative care for their children.

HEALTH TOPICS TREATMENT TIPS

GENERAL SAFETY TIPS As pediatricians, we cannot overemphasize the importance of safety in maintaining the health and well-being of the children in our care. The vast majority of children will have little or no serious medical illness throughout their youth. However, injuries and accidents represent
major causes of disability and death in young people. Susceptibility to accidental injury is highly age-dependent.

Suffocation Risks:
  • Newborns should only be placed on the side or back to sleep (never on the stomach), to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
  • Babies should not sleep with pillows or heavy blankets until 12 months of age.
Burns:
  • Never warm baby bottles in the microwave or remove items from the microwave when holding a baby.
  • Do not bathe babies under running water, and set hot water temperatures no higher than 120 degrees F.
  • Turn handles of stove-top pots and pans inward and do not consume hot drinks while holding a child.
  • Cover electrical outlets and remove electrical wires from play areas
Falls and Head Trauma:
  • Infants must not be left alone on a bed or changing table, even for an instant.
  • Always secure the infant's harness when in an infant seat (or stroller) and do not place infant seats on countertops or tables.
  • Lower the baby's crib mattress to the lowest level at six months of age.
  • Install stairway gates well in advance of an infant's ability to crawl.
  • The use of walkers is ill-advised. They are a source of potentially serious or fatal head trauma, and do not promote walking ability.
  • Trampolines are utterly unsafe and should not be used in home or recreational settings.
Ingestions and Choking:
  • Keep Poison Control Phone Number next to your phone.
  • All medicines and household cleaners should be locked out of reach.
  • Small toys and parts, jewelry, buttons, coins, hardware and Christmas ornaments all represent serious choking hazards.
  • Avoid small, round, hard foods; do not allow a child to run with a utensil or lollipop in the mouth.
Water Safety:
  • Any collection of water, whether a partly-filled kitchen bucket, a toilet, bathtub, washing machine, or backyard lake or pool represents a genuine drowning risk.
  • Install appropriate gates, fences, alarms and covers on swimming pools.
  • Even children who swim reliably should always be attended by an adult.
Automobile Safety:
  • An age-and weight appropriate car seat properly installed in the back seat of a motor vehicle is crucial. In many municipalities, local police or fire personnel will install your car seat gratis.
  • When leaving a parked car in your driveway, turn the car around to point the front outward, to avoid backing up in the vicinity of toddlers and small children who may be out of the driver's line of sight.
  • Children should ride in the back seat until the 13th birthday.
  • Teenage drivers must be reminded repeatedly about the responsibilities and risks of motor vehicles. Aside from safe driving courses and DWI education, new drivers should be taught that driving is a privilege and a skill which improves gradually over time. Extra caution while in one's "driving infancy" is strongly advised.

HEALTH TOPICS TREATMENT TIPS

NUTRITION AND FITNESS Introducing Baby to Solid Foods Breast milk or formula is the only food your baby needs until 4 to 6
months of age. At that time you may begin to slowly introduce solid food. Always begin new foods in the morning and offer only one new food every 2-3 days. Observe for allergic reactions such as skin
rash, vomiting, diarrhea, irritability or in rare instances, wheezing.

Begin with one tablespoon of iron-fortified rice cereal (Stage I) mixed with 2-3 tablespoons of breast milk or formula once a day. The cereal should be thin and runny initially, but gradually thickened as
the baby learns to eat. You may work up to 4-5 tablespoons of rice cereal per serving over a 2-3 week period, and can then try oatmeal or barley.

Once your baby is eating cereal without incident, introduce single ingredient fruits and vegetables. Begin with one tablespoon of each new food and advance to 3 or 4 tablespoons per serving as the baby’s appetite increases. You may mix this with the cereal or give separately. Each feeding should end with breast or bottle feeding, although the amount of milk may decrease as the amount of solid food increases. By 6 months of age, most babies will advance to 2 meals per day: cereal plus fruit and vegetable plus fruit.

By 6 to 7 months of age, begin a third meal and add single ingredient meats. Foods should still be smooth in consistency. Once all single ingredient (Stage I) foods have been introduced, Stage 2 foods are appropriate to start. Avoid desserts and cobblers which are full of sugar. If you would like to prepare your own baby food, we recommend: “Feed Me, I’m Yours” by Bruce Lansky.

By 9 months of age, most babies are ready for more texture (Stage 3), lumpier foods and soft finger foods such as small pieces of ripe fruit or cooked-to-very-tender vegetables. You may begin yogurt, small cubes or shreds of cheese, pastina and scrambled or hardboiled eggs (yolk first, then whole egg). Most babies can also handle teething biscuits, crackers, rice cakes and Cheerios by this age.

Between 9-12 months, you may gradually transition to table foods (even if no teeth yet!). These should be minced or mashed and should dissolve easily in the baby’s mouth. Avoid foods like popcorn, nuts, raisins, grapes, hard raw vegetables and hot dogs as these may easily cause choking. If there is no family history of food allergy,
you may introduce fish, dairy products, berries and citrus products
after nine months. Otherwise, wait until one year of age to try the more allergenic foods. The latest recommendation is to avoid peanut butter and peanut products until age three.

One important aside: once your child is tolerating dairy products, and you are ready to try whole milk, remember to offer small quantities in a cup (any type of cup is okay). This early practice will help to ease the transition from bottle to cup at 12-15 months of age.

Every baby is different and will set his/her own course of feeding. If she seems fussy or turns away, end the feeding and try again at the next feeding time. You may have to offer certain foods many times before a baby accepts each one. Always feed your baby sitting up in an infant seat, highchair or your lap-never lying down!

Allow your baby to partake in the feeding process by leaving his hands free to “help” and push the spoon and food into his mouth. Expect a mess but also a delighted baby!

HEALTH TOPICS TREATMENT TIPS

SUN SAFETY The well-known link between sun exposure and the development of skin cancer is a major concern for pediatricians. Here are some helpful tips for our young patients:
  • First and foremost, USE SUNSCREEN even on cloudy days.
  • Set a good example: teach all members of your family how to protect their skin and eyes
  • Keep babies younger than six months out of direct sunlight (use umbrellas, stroller canopies, tree shade).
  • Wear a hat or cap with a brim that faces forward to shield the face.
  • Avoid the sun between 10 am and 3 pm when UV rays are the strongest.
  • Your child should wear well-fitting sunglasses with at least 99% UV protection.
  • Dress yourself and your children in cool lightweight cotton pants in light colors with tight weave (less sun penetration).
  • Use a sunscreen labeled "Broad Spectrum"; it will screen out both UVA and UVB rays. Sunscreen should be used as sun protection and not a reason to stay in the sun longer. Remember sunscreen can help protect skin from sunburn and some skin cancers, but only if used correctly.
  • Use a sunscreen of at least 30 SPF (Sun Protection Factor). The higher the SPF, the more UVB protection the sunscreen has.
  • There is now a new UVA rating system: one star is low UVA protection and four stars the highest over the counter UVA protection.
  • Put sunscreen on 30 minutes before going outdoors and rub in well to cover all exposed areas of the skin.
  • Remember, sunburn can occur even on cloudy days and UV rays can be reflected off water, sand and concrete.
  • Sunscreen may be applied to babies younger than six months on small areas of the baby (i.e. face and back of hands) if protective clothing and shade are NOT available. Be careful around the eyes.
  • For children whose skin becomes irritated by a particular sunscreen, try a sunscreen stick or sun block with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide (call your pediatrician if a true contact dermatitis rash develops).

Adequate sun safety for your children demands your closest attention.

HEALTH TOPICS TREATMENT TIPS

TICK BITES/LYME DISEASE Tick bites are very common in Fairfield and Westchester Counties and can cause an infection called Lyme Disease. Light colored pants and long sleeves can provide a barrier between ticks and your child's skin. Tick checks are important to do nightly on children who have been playing outside especially in woods or high grass. Pay particular attention to exposed skin, the hairline, the underarm area, the groin and scrotum. Removing a tick within 24 hours markedly decreases the risk of infection. In this area only the deer tick, not the larger dog tick, causes Lyme Disease.

To remove a tick, use blunt forceps which are available in drug stores and marketed for this purpose. Try to capture the entire tick, including head, using a firm straight pull without twisting. The site should then be cleaned and inspected for remaining parts which should be removed if possible. Don't worry if there are residual bits. Do not use matches, heat, pins or liquid substances to try and free the tick.

After a tick bite watch for signs and symptoms which may include a rash, especially a round or oval-shaped "bull's eye" rash, (which may occur at other than the site of the bite), fever, muscle or joint aches, head ache and general malaise or fatigue. If you are concerned, please schedule a visit to evaluate the need for testing or treatment. As a rule, we do not treat simple tick bites with antibiotics.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

PRENATAL SESSIONS 

 

 2/11 • Dr. Palker
New Canaan

2/25 • Dr. Cipolla/Dr. Riordan
via zoom

3/10 • Dr. Davis
via zoom

3/24 • Dr. Morelli
Stamford

4/1 • Dr. Cipolla/Dr. Riordan
via zoom

4/14 • Dr. Palker
New Canaan

5/6 • Dr. Davis
via zoom

5/21 • Dr. Riordan
Stamford

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEW ENGLAND
PEDIATRICS

New England Pediatrics, founded in 1983, provides comprehensive health care to children from birth to 22 years of age. Families in Fairfield and Westchester Counties choose our practice for our experience and commitment to excellence.

We provide 24/7 on-call coverage. We welcome new families who expect compassionate, thorough, and collaborative care for their children.

HEALTH TOPICS TREATMENT TIPS

GENERAL SAFETY TIPS As pediatricians, we cannot overemphasize the importance of safety in maintaining the health and well-being of the children in our care. The vast majority of children will have little or no serious medical illness throughout their youth. However, injuries and accidents represent
major causes of disability and death in young people. Susceptibility to accidental injury is highly age-dependent.

Suffocation Risks:
  • Newborns should only be placed on the side or back to sleep (never on the stomach), to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
  • Babies should not sleep with pillows or heavy blankets until 12 months of age.
Burns:
  • Never warm baby bottles in the microwave or remove items from the microwave when holding a baby.
  • Do not bathe babies under running water, and set hot water temperatures no higher than 120 degrees F.
  • Turn handles of stove-top pots and pans inward and do not consume hot drinks while holding a child.
  • Cover electrical outlets and remove electrical wires from play areas
Falls and Head Trauma:
  • Infants must not be left alone on a bed or changing table, even for an instant.
  • Always secure the infant's harness when in an infant seat (or stroller) and do not place infant seats on countertops or tables.
  • Lower the baby's crib mattress to the lowest level at six months of age.
  • Install stairway gates well in advance of an infant's ability to crawl.
  • The use of walkers is ill-advised. They are a source of potentially serious or fatal head trauma, and do not promote walking ability.
  • Trampolines are utterly unsafe and should not be used in home or recreational settings.
Ingestions and Choking:
  • Keep Poison Control Phone Number next to your phone.
  • All medicines and household cleaners should be locked out of reach.
  • Small toys and parts, jewelry, buttons, coins, hardware and Christmas ornaments all represent serious choking hazards.
  • Avoid small, round, hard foods; do not allow a child to run with a utensil or lollipop in the mouth.
Water Safety:
  • Any collection of water, whether a partly-filled kitchen bucket, a toilet, bathtub, washing machine, or backyard lake or pool represents a genuine drowning risk.
  • Install appropriate gates, fences, alarms and covers on swimming pools.
  • Even children who swim reliably should always be attended by an adult.
Automobile Safety:
  • An age-and weight appropriate car seat properly installed in the back seat of a motor vehicle is crucial. In many municipalities, local police or fire personnel will install your car seat gratis.
  • When leaving a parked car in your driveway, turn the car around to point the front outward, to avoid backing up in the vicinity of toddlers and small children who may be out of the driver's line of sight.
  • Children should ride in the back seat until the 13th birthday.
  • Teenage drivers must be reminded repeatedly about the responsibilities and risks of motor vehicles. Aside from safe driving courses and DWI education, new drivers should be taught that driving is a privilege and a skill which improves gradually over time. Extra caution while in one's "driving infancy" is strongly advised.

HEALTH TOPICS TREATMENT TIPS

NUTRITION AND FITNESS Introducing Baby to Solid Foods Breast milk or formula is the only food your baby needs until 4 to 6
months of age. At that time you may begin to slowly introduce solid food. Always begin new foods in the morning and offer only one new food every 2-3 days. Observe for allergic reactions such as skin
rash, vomiting, diarrhea, irritability or in rare instances, wheezing.

Begin with one tablespoon of iron-fortified rice cereal (Stage I) mixed with 2-3 tablespoons of breast milk or formula once a day. The cereal should be thin and runny initially, but gradually thickened as
the baby learns to eat. You may work up to 4-5 tablespoons of rice cereal per serving over a 2-3 week period, and can then try oatmeal or barley.

Once your baby is eating cereal without incident, introduce single ingredient fruits and vegetables. Begin with one tablespoon of each new food and advance to 3 or 4 tablespoons per serving as the baby’s appetite increases. You may mix this with the cereal or give separately. Each feeding should end with breast or bottle feeding, although the amount of milk may decrease as the amount of solid food increases. By 6 months of age, most babies will advance to 2 meals per day: cereal plus fruit and vegetable plus fruit.

By 6 to 7 months of age, begin a third meal and add single ingredient meats. Foods should still be smooth in consistency. Once all single ingredient (Stage I) foods have been introduced, Stage 2 foods are appropriate to start. Avoid desserts and cobblers which are full of sugar. If you would like to prepare your own baby food, we recommend: “Feed Me, I’m Yours” by Bruce Lansky.

By 9 months of age, most babies are ready for more texture (Stage 3), lumpier foods and soft finger foods such as small pieces of ripe fruit or cooked-to-very-tender vegetables. You may begin yogurt, small cubes or shreds of cheese, pastina and scrambled or hardboiled eggs (yolk first, then whole egg). Most babies can also handle teething biscuits, crackers, rice cakes and Cheerios by this age.

Between 9-12 months, you may gradually transition to table foods (even if no teeth yet!). These should be minced or mashed and should dissolve easily in the baby’s mouth. Avoid foods like popcorn, nuts, raisins, grapes, hard raw vegetables and hot dogs as these may easily cause choking. If there is no family history of food allergy,
you may introduce fish, dairy products, berries and citrus products
after nine months. Otherwise, wait until one year of age to try the more allergenic foods. The latest recommendation is to avoid peanut butter and peanut products until age three.

One important aside: once your child is tolerating dairy products, and you are ready to try whole milk, remember to offer small quantities in a cup (any type of cup is okay). This early practice will help to ease the transition from bottle to cup at 12-15 months of age.

Every baby is different and will set his/her own course of feeding. If she seems fussy or turns away, end the feeding and try again at the next feeding time. You may have to offer certain foods many times before a baby accepts each one. Always feed your baby sitting up in an infant seat, highchair or your lap-never lying down!

Allow your baby to partake in the feeding process by leaving his hands free to “help” and push the spoon and food into his mouth. Expect a mess but also a delighted baby!

HEALTH TOPICS TREATMENT TIPS

SUN SAFETY The well-known link between sun exposure and the development of skin cancer is a major concern for pediatricians. Here are some helpful tips for our young patients:
  • First and foremost, USE SUNSCREEN even on cloudy days.
  • Set a good example: teach all members of your family how to protect their skin and eyes
  • Keep babies younger than six months out of direct sunlight (use umbrellas, stroller canopies, tree shade).
  • Wear a hat or cap with a brim that faces forward to shield the face.
  • Avoid the sun between 10 am and 3 pm when UV rays are the strongest.
  • Your child should wear well-fitting sunglasses with at least 99% UV protection.
  • Dress yourself and your children in cool lightweight cotton pants in light colors with tight weave (less sun penetration).
  • Use a sunscreen labeled "Broad Spectrum"; it will screen out both UVA and UVB rays. Sunscreen should be used as sun protection and not a reason to stay in the sun longer. Remember sunscreen can help protect skin from sunburn and some skin cancers, but only if used correctly.
  • Use a sunscreen of at least 30 SPF (Sun Protection Factor). The higher the SPF, the more UVB protection the sunscreen has.
  • There is now a new UVA rating system: one star is low UVA protection and four stars the highest over the counter UVA protection.
  • Put sunscreen on 30 minutes before going outdoors and rub in well to cover all exposed areas of the skin.
  • Remember, sunburn can occur even on cloudy days and UV rays can be reflected off water, sand and concrete.
  • Sunscreen may be applied to babies younger than six months on small areas of the baby (i.e. face and back of hands) if protective clothing and shade are NOT available. Be careful around the eyes.
  • For children whose skin becomes irritated by a particular sunscreen, try a sunscreen stick or sun block with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide (call your pediatrician if a true contact dermatitis rash develops).

Adequate sun safety for your children demands your closest attention.

HEALTH TOPICS TREATMENT TIPS

TICK BITES/LYME DISEASE Tick bites are very common in Fairfield and Westchester Counties and can cause an infection called Lyme Disease. Light colored pants and long sleeves can provide a barrier between ticks and your child's skin. Tick checks are important to do nightly on children who have been playing outside especially in woods or high grass. Pay particular attention to exposed skin, the hairline, the underarm area, the groin and scrotum. Removing a tick within 24 hours markedly decreases the risk of infection. In this area only the deer tick, not the larger dog tick, causes Lyme Disease.

To remove a tick, use blunt forceps which are available in drug stores and marketed for this purpose. Try to capture the entire tick, including head, using a firm straight pull without twisting. The site should then be cleaned and inspected for remaining parts which should be removed if possible. Don't worry if there are residual bits. Do not use matches, heat, pins or liquid substances to try and free the tick.

After a tick bite watch for signs and symptoms which may include a rash, especially a round or oval-shaped "bull's eye" rash, (which may occur at other than the site of the bite), fever, muscle or joint aches, head ache and general malaise or fatigue. If you are concerned, please schedule a visit to evaluate the need for testing or treatment. As a rule, we do not treat simple tick bites with antibiotics.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

PRENATAL SESSIONS 

 

 2/11 • Dr. Palker
New Canaan

2/25 • Dr. Cipolla/Dr. Riordan
via zoom

3/10 • Dr. Davis
via zoom

3/24 • Dr. Morelli
Stamford

4/1 • Dr. Cipolla/Dr. Riordan
via zoom

4/14 • Dr. Palker
New Canaan

5/6 • Dr. Davis
via zoom

5/21 • Dr. Riordan
Stamford

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STAY INFORMED

Sign up for email alerts, and our news.
Enter email and click Submit