There is a lot of care and work that goes into raising a newborn, and your pediatrician is here to help right from the beginning. Your pediatrician typically sees your newborn for their very first appointment within a few days of being discharged from the hospital. Your pediatrician is here for you to ask any questions or address any concerns you may have about your newborn and caring for your newborn. Some of the topics that your pediatrician may discuss in that first visit are:

Feeding- Your pediatrician will watch your baby’s feeding habits during this period and make sure that their growth is right on schedule. During the first six months of your newborn’s life, you’ll feed them formula or breastmilk. Breastfed babies tend to eat more frequently than babies who are fed formula.

Sleep- Every baby has different sleep schedules and needs. Most newborns tend to sleep sixteen to seventeen hours a day, but only sleep a few hours at a time. Sleep cycles don’t tend to normalize until your baby is about six months old. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that healthy infants should sleep on their backs until they are able to roll over on their own.

Bathing- Infants do not usually require daily bathing, as long as the diaper area is thoroughly cleaned during changes, because daily bathing dry out their skin. Instead, it’s recommended to sponge bathe areas as needed.

Umbilical Cord Care- An infant’s umbilical cord should eventually dry up and fall off on its own by the time your baby is two weeks old. Until then, make sure to keep the area clean and dry by using sponge baths instead of submerging your baby in the tub. Small drops of blood are normal around the time that the umbilical cord is supposed to fall off. If you notice any active bleeding, foul-smelling yellowish discharge, or red skin around the stump, contact your pediatrician.

Your newborn should see their pediatrician at 2 weeks, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, and regularly throughout their life. Call your pediatrician for any questions on newborn care today!

Learn more about childhood immunizations and how they can benefit your child’s health.

Keeping your child healthy and happy is the name of the game for all parents, and we can all agree that it’s much easier and safer to prevent illness from occurring in the first place than have to go to the hospital. From the office of our Fairfax, VA, pediatricians, find out everything you want to know about getting your child vaccinated.

Q. What is the purpose of a vaccine?

A. The purpose of immunizations is to help your little one develop the defenses necessary for their body to fight an illness. To do this, the vaccine will either administer a dead or weakened form of the virus, which will stimulate the body to produce the proper antibodies to build up immunity and to prevent your child from getting sick.

Q. Are vaccines safe?

A. Each year, millions of children are safely vaccinated without experiencing any serious effects. In fact, the benefits of keeping your child vaccinated far outweigh the cons. We know that some parents may be nervous that vaccines could cause autism or other conditions, but studies have found no link between immunizations and the development of autism.

In fact, not vaccinating your child can leave them at risk for serious and potentially fatal infections. If you have any concerns about vaccinating your child, don’t hesitate to sit down and talk with our Fairfax, VA, children’s doctors about it. We would be happy to put your mind at ease.

Q. How often should my child be immunized?

A. We know that it isn’t always easy to remember how many vaccines your child needs and when they need them throughout the course of their childhood. Luckily, the CDC offers up a simple immunization schedulefor all children under 18 years old to follow. Tack this schedule up on the fridge or someplace where you won’t forget about it!

Q. Will vaccines weaken my child’s immune system?

A. While you may think that administering a vaccine may leave your little one susceptible to other infections, this is certainly not the case. Rest assured that while the vaccine is helping your child develop the necessary antibodies to fight infection, it will not weaken their body or leave them at risk for other infections.

Q. Are there any side effects involved in getting vaccinated?

A. Most side effects associated with childhood vaccines are very minor and involve redness, swelling, or tenderness near the injection site. These side effects are self-limiting and will go away after a few hours or a couple of days. Of course, if your child develops other concerning side effects make sure to give us a call right away.

If you still have questions about immunizing your child or if you need to schedule an appointment with us, call Virginia Pediatric Group in Fairfax, VA, today at (703) 573-2432.

Does Your Child Have Vision Problems?

Does your child have vision problems? Children learn through their eyes. Healthy vision is critical for children to see the computer and chalkboard, read, write, and even play. Children's eyes should be examined regularly, as many eye conditions and vision problems can be detected and treated early. Here are six signs that your child may have a vision problem.

1. Squinting eyes. If your child is nearsighted then squinting his eyes helps him make his vision a little clearer and can clear up any distorted vision. Nearsighted just means that they can see things that are near them but have a harder time with objects that are far away. Squinting is a coping mechanism to help relieve their blurry vision.

2. Sitting close to the TV. While it's a myth that sitting close to the television will damage your eyes, this habit may be a sign of a vision problem. If your child can't see televised images clearly or always holds a book too close, it could mean she or he is nearsighted.

3. Frequent eye rubbing. Yes, kids often rub their eyes when they're upset or tired. But if your child rubs her eyes while she's trying to concentrate on something, or while she is being active, it could mean that she has a vision problem. Frequently rubbing their eyes can be a sign of eye strain in children. It can be a sign of a focusing issue that causes the eyes to tire easily.

4. Losing place while reading. When children learn to read and are sounding out words, they will frequently use their finger to track which word they're on. But eventually children should be able to focus without losing their place. If after a while your child still uses his finger, ask him to try reading without pointing. If he has trouble, he may have a vision problem.

5. Sensitivity to light. Are your child's eyes sensitive to sunshine or indoor lighting? Many common eye conditions can make people more sensitive to light. If your child's light sensitivity is caused by an eye condition, then treatment for their condition can mean that his eye becomes less light sensitive.

6. Receiving lower grades. If your child is having a hard time seeing what her teacher writes on the board because of poor vision, she may not tell you about it. As a result, her grades can suffer. Most of what kids learn in schools is taught visually. That means if your child has an untreated vision problem, it could affect his or her development.

Yearly eye exams are as important as visits to the pediatrician. If you think your child may have a vision problem, schedule an appointment with a doctor. Early detection and treatment provide the best opportunity to correct a vision problem so your child can learn to see clearly.

Is your child having trouble focusing, completing tasks, or paying attention in general? If so, your child might have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, commonly known as ADHD. How can you find out? The pediatricians at Virginia Pediatric Group can help! They have several convenient office locations in Fairfax, Herndon, Great Falls, and South Riding, Virginia to help you and your child.

More on Childhood ADHD

These factors as potential indicators of ADHD:

• Difficulty paying attention or focusing on a project
• Problems listening and following directions
• Impulsive, erratic behavior and excessive talking
• Squirming, fidgeting and other hyperactive behavior
• Inappropriate active behavior like running or climbing
• Losing things, and difficulty with organization

ADHD affects your child’s ability to make and keep friends, do well in school, and behave well socially. Your child may exhibit destructive, bullying behaviors which will affect friendships and their ability to learn may be compromised, resulting in poor grades. Sleeping problems are also a common issue with ADHD.

If you think your child might have ADHD, your pediatricians at Virginia Pediatric Group can help by performing behavioral testing at the initial consultation appointment. Your child, you, and your child’s teachers may be interviewed also.

Treatment

ADHD treatment often includes several types of therapy, such as:

• Medication therapy to help your child focus and practice self-control
• Behavioral therapy to reduce inappropriate and destructive actions

If your child has ADHD, you don’t want it to go undiagnosed and untreated, as it can dramatically affect many aspects of their life. It can even cause difficulties in adulthood. To learn more about ADHD diagnosis and treatment, call the pediatricians at Virginia Pediatric Group, with offices in Fairfax, Herndon, Great Falls, and South Riding, Virginia today!

Maintaining an optimum weight is important for the health of your little one.

It’s never too early to make sure that your child is adopting the best habits for maintaining a healthy weight. After all, with obesity on the rise among our children and teens, it’s so important that we are doing everything we can to keep kids healthy and to prevent serious health problems that can arise as a result of obesity. These habits, along with visiting a pediatrician for regular care and advice on maintaining a healthy lifestyle, can keep your child feeling their best.

If your child is overweight there are certain things you can do to help them lose the weight and to maintain a healthy BMI (body mass index),

Lead by Example

Children pick up a lot of their habits from their parents, and it’s certainly much easier to eat in an unhealthy fashion if everyone in the family is. This is the time to truly evaluate the family’s eating habits as a whole. Are your meals healthy, balanced, and nutritious or do you find yourself going out for fast food or heating up prepared meals? If parents make healthier eating choices children are more likely to, as well.

Get Active

While we all seem to be glued to electronics these days, it’s important to power down and to get some regular physical activity. This can include joining a school sports team, community sports, or even going out in the backyard and kicking a ball around. Children should get at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day.

Choose Healthy Snacks

When your child comes home from school are they rushing to grab cookies, potato chips, or other unhealthy snack items? While these foods can certainly be fun and enjoyable in moderation, they shouldn’t be the norm. Instead of stocking the house with junk food, opt for things like peanut butter or hummus on apples or veggies. If you aren’t sure which kinds of healthy snacks to get, talk to your child’s pediatrician for recommendations and advice.

Get Some Shut Eye

It’s important that your child is getting enough sleep each and every night. In fact, children that don’t get enough sleep may actually be more likely to become overweight or obese. Making sure that your child regularly receives eight hours a night is a great way to set them towards a healthy lifestyle.

Concerned? Give Us a Call!

If your child is having challenges with their weight it’s important to turn to a pediatrician who can provide you with the most effective and safest methods to help shed the excess weight and to maintain a healthier lifestyle.