Rx For Parenting Today

Scary News for Parents and Children's Doctors

I was dismayed to read that Donald Trump in August met with Dr. Andrew Wakefield, the former British doctor who published the falsified information about the harm of immunizations. In 1998, Dr. Wakefield published an article that has since been withdrawn about the connection between autism and vaccinations. The doctor lost his British medical license and now is said to live in Austin, Texas. He still continues on his dangerous mission. 

If you had cared for a youth deaf from mumps, hospitalized a teen with chickenpox encephalitis and seen children die from polio, as I have, you would have your children vaccinated. Immunizations were not available when these children became ill. Now we are beginning to see more measles and other communicable diseases because some parents still believe in the connection between autism and immunizations. This connection has been reputed multiple times by top scientists. 

Not only has Trump met with Dr. Wakefield, but he has asked the anti-immunization individual, Robert F. Kennedy, to chair a commission on vaccine safety and scientific integrity.  What a waste of tax payer money and everyone's time. 

I was delighted to see the large women's marches yesterday protesting some of the Trump policies. I think parents may have to take to the streets if anti-immunization nonsense is going to be a theme in this administration. My own daughter had bad arthritis from rubella, (German measles)  and also had severe measles when she was five. That was a scary time and I stayed by her bed for several days. This was before immunizations were available. 

I hope the American Academy of Pediatrics and the group for Family doctors will contact Trump's advisors and speak out against Dr. Wakefield's false claims and any connection that he has with this administration. 

Betsy Devos has No Knowledge about Educating Kids- Particularly Those with Special Needs

I watched part of the confirmation hearing for Betsy Devos, who was nominated by Trump to be Secretary of Education and was appalled at her lack of basic knowledge about education.  She attended private Christian schools and a small private Christian college. I find no evidence that she has had any training in educating children or teens. Her only qualification for Mr. Trump's appointment appears to be that she and her husband are worth five billion dollars. Wouldn't be wonderful if they helped low income students go to college or trade schools, provide books for low income schools, and even good healthy school lunches? Many poor kids come to school hungry and how do you pay attention in class if all you can think about is being hungry?

Senator Murray asked Mrs. Devos if she would promise not to take money from public schools and put it into charter schools. The answer was nebulous. Of course, Mrs Devos could not promise that because apparently she wants to close public schools, give parents vouchers to be used for private and religious schools, preferably Christian private schools.

When she was asked about children with special needs, she had no idea  there were Federal laws regulating these programs.  She thought each state had their own laws. The Federal laws were adopted after a hard fight by parents and legislators, so children with special needs would not be pushed aside. I have attended many school IEPs and know how important special education is to give kids with disabilities a fair chance in life. How fortunate the Devos family is to have children who will never have to worry about having clothes to go to school, necessary special equipment, food, or transportation. Just think how you could help low income schools with five billion dollars?  Sadly, Mrs. Devos will probably be confirmed, so parents and advocates for children with special needs will have to pay special attention to what she does and does not do and advocate for the kids.

Parenting Picky Eaters

Feeding some children can be a struggle and an on-going battle. if you cater to a little child's likes and dislikes right from the beginning, a problem may be set up that is hard to change. I have always suggested that parents give the same meal to a child that is like everyone else's and then if the little boy or girl doesn't want to eat it to have them get down from the table. In a day or two most children will get hungry enough that they will eat whatever is put in front of them. As long as they are drinking enough fluid and urinating, they should be O.K. However, this plan does not work if a child has autism, allergies, or now a new diagnosis called AFRID. This stands for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. These children many need special therapy or if it is serious they may need to go to a special Center that treats these problems. I had one youth as a patient who would just eat white bread, french fries, and fruit cocktail. His mother was a physician who catered to his wishes and was unwilling to get any help for him. 

My first child was a picky eater, but gradually began to like food and became an excellent cook. The only thing she avoided were peas, which I never understood. Her brother would eat any thing I gave him and was very easy to feed. He also became a good cook.  Allergies can be a big problem, as can disorders such as Celiac disease with gluten intolerance, and anorexia.These disorders need a medical work-up by a specialist. 

Safety Tips for Infant Sleeping

In the recent pediatric newsletter sent by the American Academy of Pediatrics  a list is given of safety precautions to protect infants when they sleep. Most parents know these already, but I think it is always wise to check the list each year. That is because the Academy reports that 3500 infants die yearly from suffocation, strangulation, and sudden infant death.  Losing an infant must be one of the hardest things parents ever have to  survive. The list includes not using baby crib bumpers, placing an infant on the back to sleep, giving the baby a pacifier for sleeping, not sleeping with the infant, but having the baby in a bassinet or crib in the same room for the first six months; never using loose blankets, pillows or having stuffed toys in the bed, breast feeding and being sure immunizations are up to date.  Well child visits regularly are also important to pick up any problems. There are disorders such as infant spinal atrophy and other congenital disorders where the infants may look O.K. at birth, but then slowly develop weakness. These babies are then at great risk for respiratory illnesses. I had one baby who came in for a well baby check and I found bulging ear drums. When I did a myringotomy, a great deal of pus came out. The mother then admitted that the whole family had been sick with colds and coughs. Babies can become ill very quickly, so seeing the pediatrician or family doctor for regular visits is important, as is following the above precautions.

Childhood Asthma-Climate Change and Global Warming

As the new administration is about to be in place, I have great fears about what lies ahead for our planet and our children. Mr. Trump and the people he has chosen to work with him do not accept that climate change and global warming have occurred, even though 97% of our best scientists say they have. Children with asthma are particularly at risk with the increase in pollution and the drastic changes in the weather. Last year was the hottest year on record. Children with asthma who live in inner cities and low income children with asthma are particularly at risk. 6.3 million children in the U.S. have asthma and the numbers are climbing. They account for a large percentage of childhood ER visits and school absences.

Not only have I cared for many children with asthma, but I was married to a man with bad asthma and my grandson inherited asthma from both his grandfathers. He is fortunate to have had excellent medical care. Smoking is particularly toxic for children with asthma. I had one little patient whose mother was a chain smoker. The pediatric allergist found that smoking was the primary thing that set off his asthma. When I told the mother the results of the allergy testing, she said, "Well, I am not going to stop smoking. He can just have his asthma!" There was nothing I could do about the mother other than say I could not longer be the child's pediatrician. It was child abuse, but she was very wealthy and the child abuse agency was very ineffective. I hope parents who have children with asthma will speak out against  Mr. Trump's appointments and always work closely with a good pediatric allergist. 

Protecting Children with Disabilities

Children with disabilities are at far greater risk for bullying and even physical harm. With the recent news account of the 18-year-old who was tortured by four other teenagers, I think parents have to be even more aware if they have a child with special needs. Having cared for several hundred children and teens with disabilities in the last 30 plus years, I have been told accounts of unbelievable cruelty. If parents don't have a child with special needs, they can help by teaching their children to be sensitive to kids who have a special problem. My two children knew several of my patients with disabilities and at Christmas-time they took part of their allowance to buy gifts for children at the County Hospital and were able to deliver them to the kids. We also sponsored a child in Hong Kong and one in Korea.

One bright post-polio youth who was weak from the waist down and had to walk with crutches said kids thought he was "weak in the head, because his legs were weak."

Another extremely bright teen with weakness from spinal atrophy would not ride on the bus for the developmentally delayed because she said it would change what the other kids thought of her.

Another patient with Duchenne muscular dystrophy told me that boys put blocks in his wheelchair wheels, so he could not move and then tortured him. Parents can make a great difference if they teach their children about kindness  to others. I often wonder where the parents are when I hear horror stories about children being hurt by other kids. I wish these parents could be involved somehow in the punishment, as well as kids, who do the torturing.

Teaching Children the Difference Between Right and Wrong

Parenting children in today's world is difficult when ethics often seem to be  "Whatever is O.K. for the present situation." I was raised to believe that there there are no gray areas, but when you make a decision, it can be either right or wrong; not what ever fits that moment or situation. With so many people in Congress in trouble because of their ethics or even in jail, how difficult it must be for parents to raise ethical children.

Today,I was delighted to hear on the news that the independent Congressional Ethics commission will be retained even though the House of Representatives planned to get rid of it and Mr. Trump's spokesperson, Kellyanne Conway, supported this. Mr. Trump surprising spoke against this. I understand Ms Conway has four children. I wonder what she teaches them about ethics and what she believes about right and wrong?

I took a course many years ago at UCSD where the visiting professor said ethics are whatever fits the situation. I raised my hand and said I did not agree with that. It turned out that he worked for a company that later lost a government contract because of their most unethical practices!

Teachers tell me that they are not able to discuss morals and ethics because they differ in different cultures. How can that be? If you are wrong or cheat someone, how can there be a difference in different cultures? This is something I find hard to understand. When a child cheats or bullies another child, he or she has not learned the difference between right and wrong. As parents and grandparents, I believe we need to talk to our children and grandchildren about the right way to do things and the wrong way.