PEDIATRIC HEALTH ASSOCIATES

On Monday, August 21 st we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to watch a total solar eclipse!  Since the Chicago area is not in the path of totality, we will be privy to about 90% of the eclipse. What a great teaching opportunity we have for our children to learn about our universe and improve their interest in science. We strongly encourage parents to take this opportunity to share this momentous occasion with your kids as a way to get them interested in our world and in science. Viewing will be between 11:30 am until 3pm in our area. Although an extremely rare occurrence, it is important to remember that it also can be very dangerous for a person's (or child's) eyes. The only way to safely view the eclipse is with a pair of properly fitting, NASA certified solar eclipse glasses.  Regular sunglasses will not work. Our friends at the Wheaton Eye Clinic shared with us the following recommendations from the National Eye Institute (NEI) to safely view the solar eclipse: A so...

Sometimes babies cry and fuss at odd hours for reasons that may be hard to pinpoint. While there is no getting around the reality that your baby will cry, there are ways that you can learn to read their body language so you can help them feel more comfortable. Check out our tips that will hopefully give you the magic touch you need to soothe your fussy baby. Are they hungry? It is often the first thing that comes to mind when a baby gets fussy. Other signs that come along with hunger can be nibbling of the hand or lip smacking. When was their last nap? Overtired babies are often the fussiest. Some parents have found that putting their child to bed as soon as they see that first yawn has caused them fall asleep a lot quicker and without all the fuss. Dirty diaper? This is an easy fix if it’s the cause of the fussiness. Some babies can tolerate a dirty diaper for a while, but others will let you know as soon as the time comes. Still fussy, what could it be? Try mimicking life in ute...