So, your child’s teeth just started to come in. We know that this can be an exciting milestone for parents. Of course, this also means considering your child’s oral health. Just as you brush and floss your teeth every day, you will now need to begin brushing your child’s teeth. While the techniques and practices will be a bit different and probably less time-consuming (seeing as your child probably only has one or two teeth at the moment), here are some tips for how to brush your child’s teeth properly,

• Even before your child’s teeth start to erupt it’s important to keep their gums healthy and clean by wiping them with a soft, damp cloth after each feeding and right before bedtime. Your child will get their first tooth between 6-14 months.
• Yes, even children’s teeth can develop decay. As soon as the tooth is formed it can develop decay, so it’s important that you start brushing it as soon as you see it.
• Purchase a child-sized toothbrush from your local drugstore and wet the soft-bristled toothbrush with water to brush your child’s tooth or teeth (at this point you don’t need toothpaste).
• Your child won’t start needing toothpaste until they are 2 years old. From 2-3 years old your child only needs toothpaste the size of a grain of rice in order to clean their teeth. After 3 years old, you can upgrade to a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.
• Just as you do for your own teeth, you should also brush your child’s teeth twice a day (once in the morning and again at night right before going to bed).
• Use soft, circular motions when brushing the teeth and the gums. Again, just as you do your own teeth, you should brush for a minimum of two minutes. Don’t forget to brush their tongue and roof of their mouth, too.
• We know that your child may not fully understand the brushing process, so it’s a good idea to tell them what you are doing and the importance of brushing their teeth. Even though they can’t brush their own teeth yet it’s still great to show them how to brush so that when it’s time to start brushing their own teeth they understand how to do it.
• Most children can start brushing their teeth around 7-8 years old, but still need to be supervised by an adult until around 10-11 years old.

Have questions about caring for your baby’s developing smile? Keeping your child’s smile healthy is so important for their development and practicing good oral hygiene at home will ensure that your child’s smile stays healthy.

Parents want nothing more than their children to be healthy and happy. This applies to every element of their well-being, including their eyes! Your pediatrician recommends that all children receive a comprehensive eye exam by the age of one. These tests detect any problems that require correction. Prolonging an exam can damage your child’s eyes for life. 

• At birth: this is performed right away on your child, as part of the newborn physical assessment.
• 6 months: your pediatrician evaluates your child’s eyes at their regular appointment. 
• 3.5 years old: at your child’s appointment, the pediatrician tests their eyes and also their visual acuity. 
• 5 years old: a standard assessment performed at a pediatric appointment. 

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition that affects how a person views and interacts with the world around them, including other people. In most cases, differences become apparent by the time your child reaches 24 months. Mainly, parents notice behavioral differences and language delays. If you suspect that your child has ASD, schedule an appointment with your local pediatric office. We work with you to figure out what to do next.

• Your child doesn’t keep or make eye contact
• They don’t respond to your facial expressions or smiles
• Does not reciprocate facial expressions or have the appropriate ones
• Doesn’t respond to parent’s pointing 
• Has problems making friends
• Shows a lack of concern for others

• Your child hasn’t spoken by 16 months
• Repeats or parrots what others say
• Doesn’t feel the need or want to communicate 
• Starts missing language and social milestones after 15 months
• Doesn’t pretend play but does have a good memory for numbers, songs, and letters

• Has an affinity for routines and schedules and does not like altering them
• Likes to twirl their fingers, sway, rock, or spin
• Has strange activities that they enjoy doing repeatedly
• They are sensitive to sounds, lights, touch, textures, and smells
• They are more interested in the parts of a toy instead of the whole thing

Everyone is born with two tonsils. These are lymph nodes located right in the back of the throat. They help out the immune system by housing important white blood cells. Even so, the tonsils themselves can become infected, which is known as tonsillitis. The tonsils swell up, causing pain and discomfort. Children between the ages of five and eleven experience it the most. You need to bring your child in to see a pediatrician right away. Tonsillitis is commonly caused by streptococcus pyogenes also known as strep throat. 

• Sore throat
• Noticeably bigger tonsils
• Fever
• Pain or problems with swallowing
• Yellow or white patches coating the throat and tonsils
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
• Foul breath
• Stiff neck
• Headaches
• A scratchy or rough voice
• Stomach pain

Sports physicals are physical examinations that are immensely crucial in ensuring your child’s wellbeing and health while they participate in physical activities. Also called a PPE or pre-participation physical examination, a sports physical can help measure the physical ability of children and adults to determine whether they’re physically able to safely play their chosen sport.

Available from your pediatrician here at Northside Pediatrics Associates in Conroe, TX, Dr. Ayotunde Faweya, here’s what you should know about sports physicals.

What to Expect During Your Child’s Sports Physical

To start off, your pediatrician will check your child’s vitals, including their blood pressure and pulse. Height and weight are likewise recorded, as weight changes and growth spurts could put unwarranted stress on the bones, muscles, and joints. Next up is an eye inspection to check whether your child’s eyesight is just fine or whether they need prescription glasses or adjustments to existing glasses.

Your pediatrician will then do a thorough review of your child’s medical history. Make sure to come in for your appointment with details of your child’s recent, existing, or past conditions, surgeries, or illnesses. This crucial information will aid your pediatrician in identifying potential issues that might need further referrals, examinations, or restrictions to help avoid potential complications.

The last part of the sports physical is the actual fitness exam. Your pediatrician will conduct a physical test of your child’s heart, abdomen, and lungs to ensure that they don’t have physical limitations such as a hernia, injury, heart condition, or asthma, that may negatively impact their capability to safely play and train.

The physical test will likewise entail an examination of your child’s flexibility, strength, joints, and posture. By testing these, your pediatrician can pinpoint any injury-prone areas and recommend specific tips and exercises that will help in injury prevention and make your child’s body stronger.

For More Information on Sports Physicals, Talk to Our Conroe Office

Call (936) 270-8655 to arrange a consultation with Dr. Ayotunde Faweya of Northside Pediatrics Associates here in Conroe, TX.