Think your child’s car seat is installed correctly? Chances are, it’s not. According to safety professionals at Norton Children’s Prevention & Wellness, nearly 4 out of 5 car seats they check are used incorrectly. “Not all of the errors are what most people would consider huge,” said Sharon Rengers, R.N., manager with Norton Children’s Prevention…
How did I not see the signs? What could I have done? These are questions no parent wants to ask. While suicide can be a dark and difficult subject to talk about, shining a light on it can help save a life. Suicide by the numbers More than 47,000 Americans die by suicide each year, making…
The pressures teens face today are enormous and much different than what most adults faced at their age. During these formative years, teens simply aren’t equipped to handle a lot of stress. As a result, more than ever teens are turning to suicide as a way out. In Kentucky alone, suicide is the second leading…
September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, and getting kids involved in the kitchen is one way to teach them mindful eating practices. Making sweet treats at home is also a way to avoid dangerous additives like high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners and food dyes. Have your little chefs help you whip up this…
This September we are focusing on healthy eating for kids during Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. Knowing that obesity correlates with increased risk of disease, mental health conditions including depression, higher risk of bullying, poorer performance in school and greater medical costs for life, it’s no wonder parents are concerned. Continued exposure to high-calorie, shelf-stable processed…
Do you remember helping your parents bake cookies or make dinner as a child? Did you realize you were learning skills such as how to count, measure and read recipes? Cooking activities for kids can help them develop confidence and skills naturally in the kitchen. Cooking together also can help your family commit to healthy…
We often give reminders to our kids and family members about washing their hands. After all, it’s a do-it-yourself vaccine that can help prevent flu and other disease, and keep infections at bay. Did you know that when you’re in any kind of medical setting, whether it be your pediatrician’s office or a hospital, you…
Parents and kids are back to morning routines and nightly homework. Yet for many, the school year can come with unwelcome health issues. Shared classroom supplies, seasonal viruses and close contact on the playground can lead to illnesses, injuries and other conditions. Libby W. Mims, M.D., pediatrician with Norton Children’s Medical Group – Shepherdsville, highlights several…
An American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) report in the August 2019 edition of Pediatrics says that too many U.S. children start kindergarten without adequate social, emotional, cognitive and physical development critical to school success. The article “School Readiness” features rapidly expanding research that shows how these gaps can be lowered or eliminated. Providing developmentally sound…
If you have a college freshman heading off to campus, you know it is an exciting time, full of promise. When you think of this time in your child’s life, the phrase “estate planning” doesn’t exactly come to mind. However, an advance directive could help your child should he or she experience a health crisis…
A recent study by the Journal of the American Medical Association, JAMA has prompted worries about sunscreen ingredients such as oxybenzone that can be absorbed into the bloodstream, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to stop protecting your family’s skin from ultraviolet rays. Indeed, the risks of skin cancer and other effects of overexposure to…
Germany had more than 300 drownings in the summer of 2018. The German Lifeguard Association (DLRG), the world’s largest lifeguard organization, issued a warning to parents in response: There is a direct link between being distracted by smartphones and child drowning deaths. Studies show that cell phones are a growing distraction for parents who should be supervising…