In my many years of pediatric practice, I have met countless anxious parents and their little ones. Every diagnosis and treatment is like a small adventure, not only to treat the child's disease, but more often to help parents get out of the misunderstanding of parenting. Today, I would like to share some common parenting pitfalls that not only cause unnecessary pain to children but also make many parents regret it.
Let me start with a story that happened last winter. It was a cold Saturday and Jay was taken to my clinic in a hurry by his mother. Xiaojie was only one and a half years old, and that day he was covered in sweat, his face was pale, and his body temperature was as high as 39.5 degrees. Xiaojie's mother was very anxious and told me that she tried everything she knew to reduce fever, including constantly changing the fever patch and feeding the child a lot of fever-reducing medicine. I immediately had a detailed examination of Xiaojie and asked more about his recent diet and lifestyle habits.
It turned out that Xiaojie's mother was worried that the child would be freezing, so she dressed him in many layers of clothes in the cold weather, and even wrapped him tightly indoors. This practice of "excessive warmth" made Xiaojie's body unable to regulate body temperature normally, and the excessive amount of medication made the situation even more complicated.
Overwrapping – Warm or Bonding?
1. Skin problems: the hidden danger of overwrapping
Over-wrapping can cause your baby to develop heat rash or eczema. This is because babies have very delicate skin, and an overly hot and humid environment can prevent the skin from breathing properly, leading to skin problems. For example, I once treated a distressing baby who was covered in a heat rash because he was over-wrapped.
2. Heat cold: a consequence of super-warmth
Your baby's thermostat system is not fully developed, and their ability to regulate their body temperature is weak. Over-wrapping can lead to hyperthermia and the development of a heat cold, a condition caused by dysregulation of body temperature that can be very serious.
3. The correct way to adjust the temperature properly
To avoid the above problems, parents are advised to follow these steps:
Indoor temperature control: Keeping the indoor temperature at 20-22 degrees Celsius is ideal. If you have a thermometer at home, that's the best. If not, you can tell by whether it feels too stuffy indoors.
Reasonable dressing: The principle of dressing for babies is the number of layers and one layer worn by adults in the same environment. For example, if an adult is wearing a t-shirt and a thin sweater indoors, then the baby can add a thin cardigan.
With these practical steps, we can effectively avoid the health risks of overwrapping, while ensuring that our baby feels comfortable and warm. Remember, moderation is key, too much. Through scientific parenting, we can not only avoid unnecessary "suffering" for children, but also promote their healthy growth.
The wrong way to reduce fever - there are many misunderstandings
Myth 1: Abuse of antipyretic patches
Antipyretic patches are loved by many parents because of their ease of use. However, in reality, the cooling effect of antipyretic patches is limited, and if used incorrectly, such as continuous use for a long time, it may cause the local temperature of the child's skin to be too low, causing other problems such as cold irritation. The correct thing to do is to take care not to exceed the recommended amount of time (usually 4 hours) when using the antipyretic patch and to give the skin a proper rest time between uses.
Myth 2: Over-reliance on physical cooling
Physical cooling methods, such as wiping with cold water or taking a cold bath, can quickly lower the body temperature, but the over-cold water temperature can cause the child to shiver, leading to increased body heat production, which is counterproductive. A more scientific method is to use warm water wiping, especially wiping the armpits, neck, groin and other areas where large blood vessels are concentrated, to help the body temperature naturally dissipate heat through blood circulation.
Myth 3: Ignoring the reasons behind the symptoms
Many parents focus too much on cooling their child when they have a fever and neglect to find and treat the root cause of the fever. Fever is usually the body's natural response to an infection, and a moderate amount of fever can actually help activate the immune system to fight pathogens. It is advisable to consult your doctor before using any antipyretic measures to understand the possible cause of the fever and whether medication is needed.
Myth 4: Abuse of antipyretics
Although antipyretic medications such as acetaminophen (Paracetamol) are effective in lowering body temperature, excessive or inappropriate use can be taxing on the liver. Before using antipyretics, it is important to confirm the appropriate dosage and follow your doctor's instructions, and do not increase the dose or frequency on your own.
Misuse of antibiotics – good intentions do bad things
First of all, not all infections need antibiotics to treat. Most respiratory infections, such as the common cold and most coughs, are actually caused by viruses, while antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infections. The use of antibiotics to treat viral diseases is not only ineffective, but may also lead to an increase in drug resistance. This means that when your child really needs antibiotics in the future, these medicines may no longer be effective.
Secondly, improper use of antibiotics can also lead to other side effects, such as gastrointestinal problems, and even worse, your child's body may have an allergic reaction to certain antibiotics. These side effects can sometimes have a more serious health impact on your child than the original condition.
So, as parents and doctors, how should we use antibiotics correctly? Here are a few key points:
Use antibiotics only when your doctor recommends them: You should only give your child antibiotics if your doctor has diagnosed a bacterial infection and recommended them.
Strictly adhere to the dosage and course of treatment: If the doctor prescribes antibiotics, be sure to use them according to the doctor's instructions and do not reduce the dose on your own or stop the drug early. Even if your child's symptoms improve, the entire course of treatment should be completed to kill all germs once and for all.
Monitor for side effects: During antibiotic use, watch your child for any uncomfortable reactions, such as diarrhea or rashes. If there is any abnormality, the drug should be discontinued immediately and a doctor should be consulted.
Promote a healthy lifestyle: Strengthening your child's immune system is key to preventing disease. Make sure they have a healthy diet, get enough sleep, and get regular physical activity.
With these methods, we can ensure that the effectiveness of antibiotics is maintained while minimizing their potential negative impact on your child's health. This is not only responsible for children, but also for society as a whole, as the problem of drug resistance has become a global public health challenge. Each of us should take responsibility for the use of antibiotics and avoid unnecessary "good intentions doing bad things".