Keeping Your Kids Safe and Healthy for Summer Chat TONIGHT at 8pm ET – Join the Discussion and Win a Gather Points™!

I'm not sure if I can make it.

Dr. McCarthy also has shared many great posts relating to the safety and well-being of children.

This sounds interesting.  I'll try to make it.

 I might not be able to contribute, Stephanie, as there are no children of any age here if one discounts the ones in their 50's that I keep an eye on,lol....

I really doesn't matter how old we are or our children either. In our minds eye they are still our babies and we want to keep them safe to the best of our abilities. We can no longer tell them when and what to do. But at times we can gently try to push them in the right direction.

I guess with all my children grown, I may not qualify for the discussion either . But Penni we can contribute as parents and grandparents.

I don't think people realize that when any kid is unsafe or being abused in any form in our neighborhoods - it affects us. 

It may be through medical bills, prayers on behalf of the family or any other kind of support. Neighborhoods tend to stick together in our area.

I agree Connie!

Hello, everyone.  I'm looking forward to the chat!

I think it is so cool that you are a contributing editor for Parenting magazine.  Do you choose your own topics for the magazine?

I am here. Ready to go. :)

Thanks for reading Parenting!  The questions in the Q and A section come from readers,  but when I do feature articles the editors and I choose topics together.   Do you have any questions about summer health and safety?

Sounds wonderful, glad I made it.

Me too!  Thanks for telling me about this one!

Kids tend to not like putting on sun protection.  What SPF do you suggest using on small children?

We have a history of skin cancer in our family so we have begun to use 70 SPF on the adults.

Wow I have never seen 70! That is great, I would love to use.

What sunscreen would you recommend as being safest?

To me some of the biggest safety issues with kids are people leaving kids in the car during a hot day & pool safety. I think every single parent should be educated on these.

Hi everyone

Hello!

An SPF of 30 or greater is a good idea (the difference between 30 and the higher numbers isn't actually that much).  As for application, I've found that the best thing to do is use lotion before you get them dressed into clothes or bathing suits--that gives you the best chance of getting them well-covered.  For reapplication during the day, sprays work better for squirmy kids!

What about brands? Is there some better than others? I tend to lean towards more natural products.

I had no idea that there was a more natural brand of SPF

I am trying new neutrogena baby sunscreen as a part of bzzagent and it has all natural sunscreen ingredients.

Oh cool, I didn't know that JK.

Right now I use Melalueca sunscreen. It works really good, but is a little chalky.

I use the Neutogena sunscreen as well and am very pleased with it!

I also love the Neutrogena baby sunscreen, has worked great for us!

I'm here! My question is about insect repellent. I've been wondering if coating my kids in chemicals is actually worse than them getting a few mosquito bites.

Off has a great product that you just clip on so you do not need to put chemicals o the skin. It is great and it does work. I love it.

I usually put a bit of tea tree oil on it. It keeps it from getting itchy & dries it up a little faster.

Do you add the Tea Tree Oil directly into the bottle?

Desiree--couldn't agree more with your concerns.  I have known of children that have died when they were left alone in cars on hot days!  Children shouldn't be left alone in cars ever, but on hot days it's especially dangerous.  As for water safety, never leaving kids alone, not even for a moment, is the cardinal rule.

On brands of sunscreen...I'm not much of a brand person.  If you have a child who has sensitive skin, look for ones meant for kids with sensitive skin, and try some on a test area before you slather it everywhere.

Ok, just wondered.

I actually use sunscreens that have no artificial ingredients. They contain zinc dioxide or so. I use Badger sunscreen and cvs sunscreens. At least i know they have no artificial stuff.

What are some more ways to keep your kids safe during the summer? I know to make sure they have sunscreen but are there any other ways that parents might not think of? I want to make sure I am doing all I can for my three children.

Just wanted to drop by and say hi, but I don't have kids, so I can't really participate in this chat. 

Renee--I hear you on the chemical concern.  Most of the time, mosquito bites are just a bother, but a kid covered in them can be really miserable.  Mosquitoes can also carry diseases, such as West Nile virus; in some parts of the world they carry malaria and dengue fever.  It really depends on the circumstances.  Used judiciously, the chemicals aren't dangerous.

When I think of safety of children I always think of the child molester who targets children. How can you tell if your child is being molested?

There was an article just in one of the parenting magazines that water is one of the biggest killer of children during the summer - so of course watch your children carefully whenever they'll be near water!

Shannon--sun and water safety are the big ones, but there are other things to remember.  Bike helmets are key, as is street safety when kids play outdoors.  Teaching kids to play safely on playground equipment is important, and heat exhaustion can happen if kids are out too long in the hot sun and aren't keeping hydrated.

Dr. McCarthy,

As a pediatrician what kind of dangers do you see the most in children?

Those long summer days can be killer. We live in a very hot area and I always tell the kids to have water on hand if they are playing outside.

as a grandparent of 5 (soon to be 6); i'm curious to know what is your opinion on whole milk vs. 2% milk?

when my kids were little it was a 2% push.  now it seems we're back to whole milk.  as a former nurse i understand the issues for both.

so, what say you??  thanks for coming to chat with us on gather!!  :)

I give my daughter whole milk, but she's low on the weight charts.

April--absolutely.   I can't remember the last time I ever read a book at the beach!  When I'm there, my eyes are CONSTANTLY on my children.  Flotation devices don't take the place of close supervision--in fact, some kids with them may overestimate their abilities and get themselves into trouble.

just for that reason I don't like the arm flotations, but those suits with the built in flotations are just wonderful.

I know!  Accidents can happen so quickly!  It's actually easier on me when my daughter is in the water with me than when she's running around near the water : )

I have always given my kids whole..........

Are there any of the bug repellants you would recommend?  I too hate to slather chemicals on me.

I am trying a new product from off thanks to bzzagent that is in a clip on that you don't apply anything to the skin and these seem to be great for adults but would like something safer for children.

I've seen the clip-on but for some reason I thought it was only for adults. My kids are 4 are 1.

my daughter who's 7 likes to ware it  and  lil bro 3 is never to far from her, but we've not  had a big pest problem here........

We have a lot of mosquitoes in our area and we do use the clip on. I have one here that is in the package. I will see what it says about age.

I don't see anything on the outside of the package about age.

Hmm. I'll have to take another look at that next time I'm out shopping. The 4yo might be ok with it but I'd be afraid the toddler would pull it off and lick it or something!

You could also try just turning it on near where they are playing - what is it's range?

I can't relax with a book at the beach or pool either there are too many drownings even at populated community swimming areas and pools.

Connie--child molesters can be a big nightmare for parents.  If you supervise your child carefully and teach them how to be careful and protect themselves, hopefully you will never encounter this.  As for behaviors to look for, any significant negative change in your child's behavior that can't easily be explained and lasts for more than a couple of days warrants a call to the doctor.  Most likely it won't mean your child has been molested, but you should pay attention to it.

Absolutely.

You can also encourage your children to let you know if anyone asks them to do anything that make s them feel uncomfortable.

Also don't forget to trust your motherly instinct! 

Michelle--I am in favor of low-fat milk.  I have way too many overweight patients.

that's what i say, too.  2 different pediatricians that my grandbabies go to are pushing whole milk for the fat content!!  none of the babies have weight issues at the moment.  thanks bunches, i appreciate your opinion!!  :)

I could never read at the water either with the kids, especially with my 4 year old. He was pervasive development disorder and even one second looking away could have a very bad result.

The most effective insect repellents are the ones that contain DEET, and if you have a child that gets eaten alive (one of my daughters must have really sweet blood, because she gets more bites than anyone!) or if you are in an area where there is mosquito-borne illness (or tics) that's the way to go.  You can use up to 30% DEET, but don't reapply.

There are lots of other insect repellents that are less strong, and worth trying if it's less crucial.

Thanks.

The Avon Skin So Soft usually works pretty well for us.

Thanks I've used that too.  I'd much rather use it than the chemical stuff.  DD and DH don't like the smell though.  :)

Could they be harmed by the new clip on repellents if they chewed on them?  4 year old don't always think about what goes in their mouth. :)

That is my fear Amanda.  I personally wouldn't put them on young children that would put them in their mouth.

I read somewhere that Wic is now even going to limit the people they help to 1% or 2% (though still whole for younger children I believe?) because of the overweight problem in kids.

We drink 2% and 1% on ocassion.

I like the suits with the built-in flotations too--but still, your eyes still need to be on 'em.  And I worry that the kids who wear them all the time may think that they can float even without them and might be more likely to jump in the water when they shouldn't!

They do sound neat but I would worry about that with my youngest son! He already thinks he is superman.

We've traditionally recommended whole milk under 2, but with so many overweight children many people feel that it should be low-fat from the start.

What if your child is low on the weight chart though?

Dr. Mc Carthy it seems like more and more allergic reactions are occuring as a form of injury.  Outside of educating the child and family with the allergy is there any other way to help protect the child from allergic reaction? 

One thing to steer away from is the combo sunscreen and insect repellent products--because you don't want to reapply insect repellent as often as you should reapply sunscreen.

GOOD TO KNOW!!

I have been working with 4 year olds this summer.  We usually go outside for about 30  minutes in the morning.  They don't usually have sunscreen.  Are they getting too much sun exposure?

I know at my child's daycare they apply sunscreen to all of the children before going outside!

JK--I'm not sure I totally understand what you mean by allergic reactions being a form of injury.

Education is the most effective way to prevent an allergic reaction.  It's also important that there is always diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and possibly an Epipen handy; that way if despite education a reaction happens, it can be treated before it gets worse.

My husband and both our daughtes were and are allergic to bee stings. We always kept  Benadryl and  an Epipen handy. We had one at home, one in my husbands lunch bucket and one in my purse.

I just mean the reaction itself as the injury as the Red Cross lumps allergic reactions in with injuries section of it's first aid classes.

I read in a parenting magazine that it's best to apply sunscreen to your children 30 minutes before you go outside. Is that true? Is it more effective that way?

Dr. McCarthy,

I breast fed both of our daughters. Neither of them were ever overweight. They are now 27 and 29. They are still not over weight. Does breastfeeding have anything to do with the weight of children?

I think it makes children healthier in general.  They're getting exactly what they need!

That being said, I was formula-fed and am healthy and have never been overweight.

I'm hoping that I can do the same for my unborn daughter.  It is much healthier in the long run.

I think breastfeeding is one of the best things you can do for your infant!

April H--what we want for our children is that they have a healthy weight their entire life.  If we teach them to eat and enjoy low-fat foods, we help make that happen.

I agree, but my daughter is about to fall off the charts and that makes the doctors nervous.  I figure whole milk is a relatively healthy fat.  I drank whole milk for a long time as a child for the exact same reason.

Amanda--the kids are probably okay for 30 minutes, but it depends on your latitude and the weather.  I got a pretty good sunburn on my back this weekend in just about 30 minutes.  You should tell parents to put sunscreen on their children in the morning when they get them dressed.

I like the idea of putting on the sunscreen before getting dressed but how long is the protection?

Connie--I am a big fan of breastfeeding (just weaned my youngest at three and a half).  It makes intrinsic sense that breastfeeding should prevent obesity, and I believe it does, but there isn't a whole lot of data to prove that breastfeeding itself does it.  It's hard to untangle from the influence of parenting.

How often sunscreen needs to be reapplied depends on whether your kid is getting wet and/or sweaty--if they aren't, a really good solid application of a high SPF in the morning should last many hours.

That is good to know. I will be sure to tell my daughter to put sun screen on the Grand-kids before dressing. So far the adults are the ones who have the sunburn.

Are children more susceptible to fluorescent lighting than adults?  I cannot be around it at all.

April H--if your child is underweight, then higher fat milk could make sense.  Talk to your doctor.

Most kids aren't bothered by fluorescent lighting, but I'm sure some of them are.

Shannon--I don't know that sunscreen must be applied a full 30 minutes before going outside, but it's a good idea to let it dry.  If it's still wet, it might wipe off.

What are some signs of overheating in the summer for children?  I know that they tend to push themselves more than adults do when they are playing outside.

Is it really important for kids to sleep in their own beds?

If children are sweating heavily and looking flushed, you should have them rest, preferably in the shade, and drink (water is fine).  More serious signs would be dizziness, weakness, nausea or vomiting, cramps, or headache.

Connie--whether or not kids should sleep in their own beds really depends on the circumstances. Sometimes cosleeping can be wonderful; sometimes it can be unhealthy or even dangerous.

The heat hits my oldest son harder then my other children. After he's been out in the sun a while (even with sunscreen and drinking water), he has to sit and rest in the shade. I mean, my other children sit and rest but you can tell it does a bigger whammy on my oldest. He'll lay on a towel in the shade, sometimes gets a headache. After a while though, he's good to go.

doc, i was told by my doctor and I have read too that whole milk is not good for adults and children after 1 year old that it contains too much fat that can even create more problems later in life.

So i was advised to stick to low-fat milk which i have been doing now for years. What is your take on that?

We only use 1% or 2% milk as well.

Thanks Connie and it's been working real good.

hi guys;) just saw this chat, i have one son who is 19months old and very healthy.  He has never had an Ear infection, never had a diaper rash, and other then a viral throat bug and a mild stomach bug he has never been sick:)  I breastfeed and i think that plays a big role in his health. 

Glad you made it Ashley!

I agree I think breastfeeding plays a major role in having a healthy baby.

I am just sitting here and reading you guys.  Good evening.  I have no kids to speak of.

Good evening Gessy!

Shannon--it's good that you know that about your son and can do what you need to do so he doesn't get into trouble with overheating.  It's good to bring water with you if you will be outside for more than a short while.

I co sleep with my son, i talked to his ped about it and was told when done safely it can decrease the risk of sids.  Because i breastfeed my son smells my milk all night long, and stays in a light sleep, by staying in that light sleep he is less likely to stop breathing in the middle of the night.  His breathing pattern was also regulated by mine because we slept chest to chest.  Co sleeping has been a beautiful thing for my family and we enjoy it.  I love waking up to find my sons hand on me and to be there to see him while he drifts off and wakes up.  My sons ped did give me safety advice and dh and i do follow it 100%

Dr. McCarthy,

I have to go now but I wanted to talk the time to thank you for spending an hour with us and answering our questions. Have a wonderful night.

I do have a question for the dr.  I am still breastfeeding my 19 month old son and i plan on letting him self wean.  I do offer goats milk twice a day because he wont drink cows milk.  I have heard that goats milk doesnt have enough folic acid.  Do i need to offer a folic acid supplement or is he getting enough of that from my breastmilk?  He still breastfeeds a lot and he did have a CBC done and it didnt show any issues. 

I breastfed my kids until they were two.

I breastfed too for 1 year.

My daughter self-weaned at one - you're lucky!  She still got a lot of health benefits though - she's had one ear infection and a mild cold here and there (she's in daycare), but that's it and she's 22 months!

Breastfeeding is the best thing for babies and toddlers.  The World Health Organization recommends that kids be breastfed until age 2!  If you are giving cow's milk between 1 and 2, check with your doctor as to whether low-fat or whole is best.  After age 2, except for special circumstances (such as being underweight), lowfat is best.

Thanks, my son is tiny, he is 23lbs and 19months old.  So im not worried about how much healthy fat he gets.  He eats a lot and just doesnt gain fast.  I have tried pediasure, carnation instant breakfast and things like that to help him gain weight and he wont drink them. 

My daughter is 23 pounds as well at 23 months!