Helping your little one’s brain and language development is easier than you may think with these easy tips!

1. Do lots of talking. The more words your child hears, the better!
2. Be a tuned-in communication partner. When your child cries, coos, smiles, and laughs, they are trying to tell you something. Talk back!
3. Give your full attention. This means dedicated screen-free time. So much learning happens when you notice your child’s interests and respond (“Oh, you see that ball? It’s bouncing.”)  

Did you know the use of screens—both by you and by your child—can interrupt your child’s healthy development? Here’s why screen-free time is important: 

• Studies have shown that parents speak fewer words when they are using a smartphone. Find time to put screens away so you can talk about your activities.
• Looking down at your device makes it harder to notice your child’s smiles and sounds, leading to missed opportunities to connect and communicate. Your child wants to see your face!
• Use of screens by children can delay their speech and language development. They may not be talking yet, but they are learning words by interacting with you.
• When babies and toddlers use screens, it can be harder for them to learn how to soothe themselves. Giving your fussy baby or toddler your phone may help in the moment, but not in the long run.
• Talk with your partner about how you can both create technology-free spaces.
• Commit to tech-free times each day—such as meal times, caregiving, and play times.

While zero screen time for your child’s early development is best, it’s not always realistic. What’s most important is that you do your best to achieve a healthy balance. Turn to your pediatrician, speech-language pathologist, and other trusted experts for guidance about screen-time use.

When our children complain of stomach pain, or experience diarrhea after eating, it’s hard to know as parents if it is a typical childhood reaction, or if your child has a sensitivity or intolerance to certain foods. If your child regularly shows symptoms of stomach pain, diarrhea, tiredness or skin rashes after eating foods such as pizza, fried chicken or pasta, they may be experiencing an intolerance to gluten known as celiac disease. About 1 in every 133 people in the United States has celiac disease. Many people who have celiac disease do not know it.

what is celiac disease?

Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition triggered by gluten that leads to damage in the small intestine. Gluten is the general name of the proteins found in wheat, rye and barley and other grains.

In kids with celiac disease, gluten damages villi. Villi are the finger-like projections in the small intestine responsible for absorbing nutrients from food. When the villi are damaged, the body can’t absorb nutrients the body needs. If that happens, a child can become underweight and grow poorly.

Some people who eat gluten can have symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain and bloating, weight loss, tiredness, and skin rashes. Some people with celiac disease have no symptoms at all, but still have gluten-induced damage to their small intestine.

People with celiac disease are at risk of malnutrition, anemia (fewer red blood cells due to lack of iron) and osteoporosis (weakened bones from lack of calcium). There is currently no cure for celiac disease, but there are ways to minimize symptoms and damage to the intestines.

what is the difference between a gluten intolerance and celiac disease?

Some people experience symptoms found in celiac disease, but they do not test positive for celiac disease. This is usually referred to as non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) or non-celiac wheat sensitivity (NCWS).

The difference between a gluten intolerance and celiac disease is that a gluten intolerance causes short-term symptoms and doesn’t usually cause long-term harm to the body. Individuals with gluten intolerance may find relief by the volume of gluten in their diet or eliminating gluten from their diet entirely.

what are the signs and symptoms of celiac disease?

According to KidsHealth, some common symptoms of celiac disease are:

• diarrhea
• decreased appetite 
• stomachache and bloating
• poor growth
• weight loss.

Someone with celiac disease may feel tired and could be irritable. Some may develop skin rashes and mouth sores. Celiac disease is sometimes mistaken for other digestive problems called inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or lactose intolerance. And in some cases, a kid won’t have any symptoms and then will suddenly start having problems during a time of stress, such as after an injury.

when are kids diagnosed with celiac disease?

Many kids are diagnosed with it when they’re between 6 months and 2-years-old, which is when most kids get their first taste of gluten in foods.

For some people, the problems start slowly, and the symptoms may be terrible one week and not as bad the next. Because of this, some people aren’t diagnosed with celiac disease until they’re older. The problem is chronic, which means that although symptoms may come and go, people who have celiac disease will always have it.

when should I take my child to see a specialist?

If your child is having a lot of stomachaches, diarrhea, weight loss, or any of the other symptoms of celiac disease you should talk to their primary care provider or schedule an appointment with one of our pediatric gastroenterologists. Their symptoms may or may not be related to celiac disease, but your child’s provider can help sort it out and will usually order a simple blood test that measures the level of antibodies to gluten and other proteins involved in celiac disease. If high levels of these antibodies are found, a pediatric gastroenterologist will likely order an upper endoscopy of the small intestine and send it to a laboratory for testing.

If your child is diagnosed with celiac disease, they will be paired with a physician and a dietitian specialized in treating children with this disorder. The dietitian will work with you and your child on implementing a new gluten-free lifestyle.

Summer is in full swing! Kids are playing outside and staying active. This sometimes results in a broken bone and ultimately the dreaded cast. At Dayton Children’s, we know a kid’s summer lifestyle is not suited for a traditional cast. Traditional plaster casts are bulky, itchy, non-adjustable and not meant for water. With this heat, kids want to swim. That’s why we offer waterproof casting to keep kids being kids!  

Waterproof cast liners allow kids to bathe, shower, and even swim while wearing a fiberglass cast. The liner is an advanced cast padding that contains tiny pores that stop the passage of water, but allows water vapor to pass through. Water does not wet the liner, only the skin. 

benefits of waterproof casting

Besides the obvious benefit of being able to swim and shower while wearing the cast, there are other benefits as well! 

1. Less itch and smell. Because of the material waterproof casts are made of, they don’t cause as much itching or mold or mild dew build up from moisture which often causes an awful smell.  
2. More durable. Often because of the material type, waterproof casts are more durable and can even allow athletes to return to sports while wearing the cast. 
3. Fun colors! We offer every color under the rainbow and even glitter.  

is it broken?

First things first – when in doubt, get it checked out.

The only sure-fire way to know if a bone is broken is to get an X-ray. You’ll feel better hearing from a professional. However if you are a “wait and see” kind of parent, then here a few tidbits of info may help you decide what to do.

If you are like many people, you probably do not pay a lot of attention to the color of your urine. Or you may not have even realized that your urine can come in a variety of colors. But did you know that urine color can potentially reveal some important information about your health? 

“Changes in the color of your urine can be related to non-worrisome things like recently consumed foods, medications or food dyes, but could potentially be related to more serious health problems,” says Dr. Christopher Brown, MD, pediatric urologist at Dayton Children’s.

Wondering what these colors could be and what they mean? Dr. Brown is here to answer our questions!

why do we urinate and what is a normal color?

Urine is one way for our body to get rid of the waste it produces. It is made up of water and different waste products (such as salt, urea, uric acid or urochrome, which gives urine its color). When your body is functioning normally and you are getting an appropriate amount of fluid in your diet, your urine should be a faint yellow color and have a minimal odor.

what isn’t normal?

Most any other color of urine is not normal and could indicate there is a problem. Darker yellow or orange urine often indicates that you are dehydrated. Red or pink urine raises the possibility of blood in the urine, which in children is most commonly due to kidney stones, urinary tract infections, kidney disease or self-limited irritation of the lining of the urinary tract. Red urine can also be seen after an intense exercise session due to muscle breakdown. Other colors of urine (brown, blue, green, purple) are much rarer.

are there ways to fix your urine color at home?

The first step is to think back to recent food, fluid and medicine intake. If you notice that your urine changes colors after eating certain foods, fluids or medications, avoid these substances (if possible) for a period of time and monitor for change in your urine color. If you notice you have dark yellow urine, or it has a strong odor to it, start by drinking one to two glasses of water to address any dehydration. 

when should we see a doctor or specialist?

Donate today through the Dayton Foundation to support the Montgomery County Imagination Library. Click the link and use fund name: 1614 Montgomery County Imagination Library. 

join us in celebrating this milestone

If you have any urinary symptoms (pain or burning with urination, change in urinary frequency) associated with a change in urine color, or persistent change in urine color or odor, contact your primary care physician. They can troubleshoot some of the more common issues related to abnormal urine color, arrange for a urine test and help determine if (and how urgently) seeing a specialist is necessary.

New urology patients are now able to book an appointment online. Click here to make an appointment with a Dayton Children’s urologist.