How has routine pediatric advice changed over the last two decades?
I have three grown children and we have just adopted two babies. Is there any “routine care” advice that has changed since my first children were babies?
Things do change as new information becomes available. Here are a few relatively new recommendations:
1. ‘Back to Sleep’: Babies should sleep on their backs in their own beds for the first year to reduce the risk of SIDS.
2. ‘Rear facing car seats until age 2 years’: Keeping your child facing back until age two makes them five times less likely to die in a car accident.
3. ‘Dentist by one year’: The importance of dental care to overall health is behind the recommendation for a visit by one year of age.
4. ‘Supplement Vitamin D’: We’re all low on Vitamin D, so from breastfed infants through adolescents, all need a supplement.
5. ‘Immunize’: As more people choose to eliminate or delay immunizations, outbreaks of “old” diseases from measles to menigitis are once more emerging. Protecting infants and children with immunizations remains extremely important, particularly in this day of global travel.
6. ‘Booster seats’: After some false starts, the recommendation after outgrowing the car seat is to use a booster until your child is 57 inches tall. No riding in the front seat until 60 inches.
7. ‘Water-drinking’: Make your children water drinkers by offering plain water in a sippy cup starting at six months of age.
