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Down Syndrome Awareness – Meet Crew

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March is Trisomy Awareness Month, and World Down Syndrome Awareness Day is March 21, and it just so happens our lives were changed by a trisomy condition this month last year. Most people have 23 pairs of chromosomes, resulting in 46 total chromosomes total. However, a trisomy disorder is where a person has a full or partial extra chromosome on most or all of their cells, making it 47 chromosomes in total.

Down Syndrome Awareness – Meet Crew

Some of the most common trisomy disorders are Trisomy 21, Trisomy 18, and Trisomy 13. These chromosomal disruptions can lead to various health issues, ranging from mild to severe, mild to severe cognitive abilities and physical abilities, and sometimes not compatible with life. This year we are lucky to have a very special reason to celebrate this month and World Down Syndrome Awareness Day, and it’s all because of my little boy, Crew, who has Trisomy 21.

Down Syndrome Awareness
Crew is our 5th baby, the sweet rainbow baby after two devasting miscarriages and his two beautiful sisters, Charlee (age 9) and Collyn (age 5). He was the baby we didn’t know that we needed to complete our family.

We met with maternal-fetal medicine and were told that he showed “soft markers’ on an ultrasound for possible Down syndrome, but the only way to know for sure was to do genetic testing. We chose not to do any testing because we had already made the decision to carry our baby to full term and trust in the Lord that he would be healthy, with or without Down syndrome. We knew that there was a 50/50 chance our son would have Down syndrome, and we would find out for sure on the day he was born.

World Down Syndrome Awareness Day
Crew was born on March 23rd, just two days after World Down Syndrome Day, a few weeks early, but a healthy 7.2 pounds. I knew he had Down syndrome immediately when I laid eyes on him, and he was the most beautiful boy; he was my answered prayer. He was breathing and crying, and that was the sweetest sound. He was the baby we prayed for, healthy, for the most part. They took him for a full cardio work- up and determined that he had a couple of holes in his heart, and that bought us a week stay in the NICU. This is pretty common for Down syndrome babies and to varying degrees. Usually, about 50% of babies born with Down syndrome also have major cardiac complications, and some need surgery right away.

After the year that we have had with Crew, with some scary medical issues that aren’t even related to Down syndrome, as crazy as that is, we are ready to celebrate Trisomy Awareness Month and World Down Syndrome Day!

Down Syndrome Awareness

Here are some facts from The National Down Syndrome Society, and some are just from my heart:

  • There can be a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21 – this extra genetic material is what causes characteristics that are normally associated with Down syndrome.
  • There are three types of Down syndrome – trisomy 21 (nondisjunction), which is the most common (95%) and the type that Crew has; translocation (4%) and mosaicism (1%).\
  • Down syndrome happens to people of all walks of life, all races and economic levels.
  • Some of the most common physical traits of Down syndrome are low muscle tone, called hypotonia, small stature, an upturned slant to their eyes and a single deep crease across their palms, called a palmer crease. However, every person with Down syndrome is different and has their own unique characteristics. Any one person can have all of the major characteristics to varying degrees or show none of these physical traits.
  • The life expectancy for a person with Down syndrome has increased significantly, from just 25
    years old in 1983 to 60 today! I would like to think this has to do with the level of care and awareness that is happening now.
  • People with Down syndrome can have fulfilling and productive lives with the help of educational programs, loving families devoted to their wellness and growing their abilities, access to good healthcare and positive support from their community, family and friends.

While these are some of the most common facts about Down syndrome, I have realized they don’t define my son. These traits and characteristics don’t change the fact that our whole family loves him tremendously. These things do not define us, as his loved ones, either. Crew is so much more than what you can see on the outside. This past year was one of the hardest for our family. He has absolutely rocked having Down syndrome. He was meeting his milestones and growing and thriving until Infantile Spasms knocked the wind out of our sails around six months.

This halted his progress and basically took him back to being a 3-month-old, all over again. These spasms took his smile, his bright eyes, his voice, and deteriorated his muscle tone. But God – as of now, Crew is 2 months seizure free and beginning to thrive again. He has found his voice, his smile, and is laughing and catching up on the physical “inchstones” that he has missed. For this, I have to give a huge shout-out to all of Crew’s “crew”, my parents for taking care of him daily, his occupational therapist, physical therapist, speech therapist, special interventionist, pediatrician, neurologist, and all of our friends and family.

With the year we have had, I have my own list of Down syndrome facts that I want everyone to know!

  • Tenacity – Crew has fought through having seizures and the medicine to fix his brain and continued to push through every therapy session like a champ. He does therapy four times a week, on top of multiple doctor visits every week. I can count on one hand how many weeks he didn’t have an appointment of some sort (it’s less than four weeks of his entire life).
  • Heart – The outpouring of love, support, and unfailing prayers for my little guy and my family is beyond words. I could never sum up how God has moved during this past year. Loved beyond measure.
  • Brave – Crew is so brave, and he just continues to push through the hard days. Crew has had probably close to 100 doctor visits in his first year of life. He has had more procedures than I care to remember, and we still aren’t done, but he’s teaching us every day that with God on your side, you can face anything.
  • Determined – He has continued to progress throughout all of this. He has grown and shown us how strong he is. He has shown us that he will figure out a way to get things done and prove doctors wrong. I will forever be proud of him for this.

So, these are just a few things I see when I look at my son. I see his beautifully shaped eyes, and I see the palmer crease in his hands and the sandal toe on his feet. But I also see so much love in his sweet smile and how his eyes light up when he sees his sisters. I see from week to week how determined he is to finally crawl. I see how intently he watches our mouths, just trying to get a word out. I see how loved he is by his grandparents, aunts and uncles, and especially his cousins. I see how he’s shaped me to be a better mom, guided by Christ and the Holy Spirit; because his health was out of my hands and I couldn’t fix him, I had to trust that God would. This is the awareness I want others to see. We can all see the physical traits and the common characteristics but there is so much more to people with Down syndrome. My hope is to show people to see past those common things and see things like heart, determination, strength, and love in our Down syndrome community.

We have a wonderful support system in Baton Rouge, called DSAG (Down Syndrome Awareness Group of BR) that hosts events for the children and families of the Down syndrome community in Baton Rouge and surrounding areas, and the annual Buddy Walk is a huge fundraiser for them. The Buddy Walk is coming up on March 25, 2023, at the A.Z. Young Park from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, with the walk starting at 11:00. If you want to get involved and meet other Down syndrome families, this would be a great place to start. This event is for everyone! There will be entertainment, food, drinks, dancing, and more! Come out and support this much deserving community and see what all Down syndrome has to offer. Here is the link to the event: https://www.ds-stride.org/dsagbuddywalk. If you aren’t able to participate but want to donate, it would be greatly appreciated.

Hi, my name is Jessica Walker, and I have lived in Central, LA, for most of my life. I am a Jesus lovin’ wife of 12 years and mom of 3, and also work full time! My girls are 9 and 5, and my son is 1. We are a very active family; from dance and cheer and tumble to theater and musicals, we stay on the go! We like to be involved in our community by participating in different events through our church, school, and Central chamber events, basically anything that supports Central schools and sports. As a family, we enjoy spending time with the rest of our family, outside when we can, listening to live music, watching my nephews play baseball or football, or just taking in what Baton Rouge offers.  Our lives took a detour we weren’t expecting last year when our son was born with Down syndrome. However, we have embraced all that this diagnosis has given us with as much grace as possible while learning all the new things along the way. I am an open book and ready to answer any questions about Down syndrome or any of his other medical issues. In my downtime, I love to read and research, work out and soak up the blessings we have received along the way!

Holly Clegg’s Kid-Friendly Easy Mardi Gras King Cake Recipe

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Holly Clegg was one of Baton Rouge Family Fun’s greatest supporters. She shared many recipes and resources with Baton Rouge Family Fun. We hope they will continue to be enjoyed by families in Baton Rouge and beyond for years to come. Below is one of her posts from 2018; it’s a community favorite, and it’s so darn good!! We hope you enjoy it.

Even if you’re limited on time, I promise my crescent roll Kid-Friendly Easy Mardi Gras King Cake recipe will be worth the 15 minutes it takes to make it.  No time-consuming yeast dough but all the richness of the best king cake you have ever put in your mouth!

I know I made an impression with this easy king cake recipe when my five-year-old grandson gave me a stack of cut-out king cake newspaper ads and told me he knew I would want them.  You probably have seen, Clegg, on my Facebook Live videos cooking with me. I realized cooking with him has become a teaching moment too.

Who doesn’t like king cakes?  We are so fortunate in Baton Rouge to have some of the best king cakes, but I have been told my crescent roll king cake recipe is “just as good (if not better) than at the bakeries!” With reduced-fat crescent rolls, reduced-fat cream cheese, cinnamon and sugar, and a little icing, this is a lighter trim and terrific king cake recipe that can be made wherever you live.  However, all the rage is my new savory, and sensational Crawfish King Cake with a scrumptious creamy crawfish filling topped with Mardi Gras colored Parmesan cheese. Sweet or savory, this king cake recipe will be your go-to recipe this carnival season! Having company—check out my easy Mardi Gras Menu filled with recipes and tips.

Kid-Friendly Easy Mardi Gras King Cake Recipe

How To Make My Kid-Friendly Easy Mardi Gras King Cake Recipe:  Fun Cooking!

Cooking With Kids:

  • Teaches you to follow directions
  • Measurements teach you math
  • Learn your colors + red and blue make purple
  • Instant gratification with finished recipe
  • Cooking gives kid’s confidence

Easy King Cake Recipe with Cream Cheese Cinnamon Filling from Gulf Coast Favorites cookbook

My most popular king cake recipe known as a crescent roll king cake! You can leave out the cream cheese filling if you have picky eaters or sometimes I put half with cream cheese filling and half plain.  Here are photos of the steps of how to make a king cake.

Makes 16 servings

2 (8-ounce) cans of reduced-fat crescent rolls
4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese
2 tablespoons confectioners sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Mardi Gras Icing (see recipe below)

  1. Preheat oven 350°F. Coat 10-inch round pizza pan with nonstick cooking spray.
    2. Separate crescent rolls at perforations, into 16 slices. Place slices around the prepared pan with points in the center. About halfway down from points, press seams together.
    3. In mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla until creamy. Spread on dough in the center where seams have been pressed together.
    4. In another small bowl, combine butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon with a fork until crumbly. Sprinkle over cream cheese. Fold dough points over filling and then fold the bottom of the triangle over points forming a circular roll like a king cake.
    5. Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly and drizzle with colored Mardi Gras Icing.

Mardi Gras Icing:

1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1-2 tablespoons skim milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Yellow, green, red, and blue food coloring.

  1. In a small bowl, combine all ingredients, except food color. Divide mixture into three bowls
    2. In the first bowl, add a few drops of yellow food coloring and in the second bowl, add a few drops of green food coloring. In third bowl, add equal amounts of drops of red and blue food coloring (to create purple). Drizzle over baked cake.

Nutritional information per serving: Calories 184 Calories from fat 36% Fat 7 g Saturated Fat 3 g Cholesterol 9 mg Sodium 275 mg Carbohydrate 26 g Dietary Fiber 0 g Sugars 16 g Protein 3 g Diabetic Exchanges 11/2 carbohydrate 11/2 fat

SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL RECIPE NEWSLETTERS ON MY BLOG: The Healthy Cooking Blog FOLLOW ME: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTubeVisit The Healthy Cooking Blog by #TeamHolly here.

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Be sure to check out Baton Rouge Family Fun’s 2023 King Cake Guide here!

Check out our full Mardi Gras Guide for more Mardi Gras Family Fun, King Cake Guides, and more!

Family Friendly Mardi Gras

5 Tips for Safe Trick or Treating

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(HealthDay News) — Arriving home safe and sound is one of the best Halloween treats of all – below you will find 5 Tips for Safe Trick or Treating.

First, be sure that costumes and goody bags have reflective strips that improve visibility to drivers!

Trick-or-treaters should also carry a flashlight, and costumes should be bright, reflective, and flame-resistant.

Safe Trick-or-treating

5 Tips for Safe Trick or Treating

  • If you plan to use makeup, test it on a small area of skin first to ensure it doesn’t cause an allergic reaction. Wash makeup off immediately after returning home.
  • Costume accessories should be soft and pliable in order to reduce injury risk. Don’t wear decorative contact lenses, which can cause eye infections.
  • Comfortable and supportive footwear can help prevent blisters and sprains.
  • Discard homemade treats and unwrapped goods, the risk isn’t worth it, as one doesn’t know the exact ingredients used in preparation. Prevent possible allergy exposure, bacteria, and lastly poison by only allowing wrapped, sealed treats.
  • When trick-or-treating, children should stay alert and walk in groups or with a trusted adult. The reality is there are predators who use Halloween in particular as a day to disguise themselves. Safeguard your children by making sure they stick together in a large group and have an adult along to prevent an incident from unfolding.”

If children aren’t accompanied by an adult, they should carry a charged cell phone so they can call for help immediately, or provide parents with updates about their location, he said. And kids should know not to text while walking or crossing an intersection.

Join the Baton Rouge Family Fun Team

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Are you a parent, grandparent, foster parent, aunt, or college student? Love Baton Rouge? Maybe you don’t have kids, but you grew up here and loved every second! Are you a part of an adventurous family? Do you love writing, taking photos, and sharing content on social media? Do you want to share your best tips and top places to go with other local families?

We’re looking for diverse contributors who want to share Family Fun, News, and Resources with the Baton Rouge Family Fun audience. If this sounds like you, please apply! 

BRFF Writer/ Content Creator / Hyperlocal Journalist

What we’re looking for in a writer:

  • Contribute one to two posts each month about Family Friendly places, events, local news, activities, eateries, or spots that are fabulous for families with young children, tweens, and or teens, including three photos. B-roll footage is the icing; we pay extra for the icing!
  • Pitch us new ideas of places you love in Baton Rouge and beyond.

Qualifications:

  • Live in the Greater Baton Rouge area (and beyond)
  • Write clearly
  • Have an eye for framing photos that tell a story
  • Be genuinely interested in seeking out new experiences with your family
  • Possess enthusiasm for Facebook and Instagram as platforms to share content
  • Consistently meet deadlines to which you commit
  • A cheerleader for the local community
  • Vision and passion to work towards a better future for not only ourselves and Baton Rouge Family Fun, but for the collective whole of our community.
  • Prior work experience in the field(s) of digital marketing, publishing, communications, journalism, or public relations is a plus!

Compensation: We compensate per post and provide occasional perks such as tickets to local events or destinations. Expenses are also reimbursed.

Content Creator Application 
https://bit.ly/BRFFContentCreatorApplication

Email Tiany@batonrougefamilyfun.com with any questions.

Applications are open through August 31st!
Thanks for your interest!

 

Learn more about Baton Rouge Family Fun:
Baton Rouge Family Fun is the largest online platform reaching families in Greater Baton Rouge and beyond. Our reach spans our website, Facebook 50,000+ followers, Instagram 15,700 followers.
https://batonrougefamilyfun.com/about

 

Back to School: Ensuring an A+ start to the school year

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Back to school…three words that represent great joy to parents who are ready to get back to routine and bring great anguish and “pain” to kids who aren’t quite ready to give up their summer freedom. In order to ensure a smooth transition from the fun and less structured summer into a new school year, I think it is important as parents to take the time to talk to our children about their worries and concerns going into the fall semester.

Back to School

Back to School: Ensuring an A+ start to the school year

Back to School – Ask Questions

The question could be as simple as, “Is there anything you are worried about for this school year?” I know in my office when I ask this question, I have had many a parent be surprised by the answer their child might give. When we know what our children are worried or afraid of, it makes us, as parents, better equipped to give them the guidance they need to maneuver through the unchartered waters of a new school experience happily and successfully.

Back to School – Set Expectations

I encourage parents to teach children to view school as their job—what better time to start teaching children about work ethic than from the very beginning of school. As parents, we should set expectations for our children in regards to their “job” performance, and if these expectations are not met, then they should be held accountable.

Now, the expectations, as well as the consequences, will, of course, vary by age, but even the youngest child should understand that they should strive to be the best they can be at their job. Even my son, who is starting Pre-K 3, knows that mommy and daddy expect him to listen to his teacher, follow directions, and be a good friend to his classmates. If he doesn’t achieve these things, he doesn’t get to read books at night (his favorite pre-bedtime activity).

These expectations are established from the get-go so that there is no confusion about the “job description.”

Back to School – Establish a good rapport with your child’s teacher

I also encourage all parents, but especially the parents of elementary-aged children, to establish a good rapport with their child’s teacher. After all, the reality is that in many cases, their teacher will spend more time with them during the weekday than we will.

It is crucial to make sure there are channels of communication that exist between parents and teachers, and these should not be one-way avenues. Parents should feel comfortable bringing up concerns to teachers, just as teachers should be respected when they bring concerns back to parents.

A partnership between teacher and parent is vital to helping children achieve success in the classroom which often translates to increased self-confidence in kids.

Stay positive

So as everyone heads back to school, establish those expectations, let them know their “job description,” and then make sure your voice as a parent is a positive one with excitement, support, and encouragement for the upcoming school year.

As kids make the trek up the ladder to reach those expectations you have set, make sure they know you are their biggest cheerleader and will always be behind them to catch them when they stumble, to give extra little pushes along the way, and to celebrate all of their achievements all from a place of unconditional love.

“Ask the Experts” is a series on Baton Rouge Family Fun where local experts share their thoughts, opinions and answer questions relating to health, wellness, parenting, and living in Baton Rouge.Ask the experts Baton Rouge Moms

Disclaimer: The purpose of this site is to share family resources and Baton Rouge Family Fun’s experiences with food, fitness, and health as well as opinions from some of our local experts. This content is for informational purposes only and isn’t a substitute for professional medical advice.  When it comes to your health or the health of your child, please be sure to contact your physician.

A well-planned morning routine – Baton Rouge Family Fun

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A smooth-sailing morning and you’re all ready to tackle whatever the day brings. A mad rush out the door clutching a breakfast bar, papers flying and shoes untied, and you’ll all need a nap by noon. A well-planned morning routine helps children handle problems, perform in school, and get along with others far better than if they start the day rushed and unorganized.

Parents can plan out a morning routine, writing down a detailed schedule of what needs to be done in the morning and how it can be done with a minimum of stress.

Morning Routine

A well-planned morning routine…

If your family’s morning routine is rushed, chaotic, and full of frustration, you should first be evaluating exactly what is happening in the mornings. What are the key things that get your attention and get you angry? A child who won’t get out of bed until the third call? A child who takes 10 minutes to put on his socks? Identify these situations and start responding to them in ways that will get your children to change their behaviors.

Here are some tips for streamlining your morning routine into a smooth ride for the entire family.

Get enough sleep.

No matter how well organized your morning routine is, you need to be well-rested to handle it. The first key to a great morning is to have had enough sleep. If you don’t already have a good bedtime routine for your kids, get one. Get up before your children. In order to lead the children in an efficient morning, parents need to be awake and ready to start the day ahead of time.

Set things out the night before.

Have your kids pick out what they’re going to wear and set out their clothes. Get completed homework back in the backpacks before they go to bed. Set out gym backs, forms, musical instruments, and anything they need to take to school.

Do as much as you can the night before.

Encourage your kids to shower the night before instead of in the morning, especially the slow-pokes. Pack lunches the night before and keep them in the frig, ready to grab and go.
Schedule an extra 10 minutes of wake-up time. If you’ve scheduled your kids’ morning down to the minute, build in at least a few extra minutes of cushion time, for them to get out of bed and get moving.

Give them a reward for “smooth mornings.”

Tell your kids if they can get through a morning without yelling, threats, and excessive rushing, they’ll get a sticker on a chart, a candy in their lunch, or another reward.

Don’t lump your kids together.

Kids are different and need different types of encouragement in the mornings to get things done. Let each of your children have input on their own personal morning routine. If one child needs more time, get him up earlier. If another child needs more time to eat breakfast, allow that for him. Allow each of your children to have a schedule that works for him, instead of running a boot camp group operation.

Keep things close to the door.

Organize your mudroom or entryway so that coats, hats, gloves, shoes, and anything else your child needs for the day are all near the doorway. Invest in a closet organizer that you can label with days of the week and hang in a closet near the door. Use it to stash signed permission slips, money the kids may need, sneakers on gym day, an instrument on music day, and whatever else your kids need.

Use written reminders.

Keep a whiteboard or a chalkboard near the back door and have your children write down reminders to themselves. Put it in a spot where it can be seen as you’re leaving the house.

Be flexible.

While there’s no arguing the significance of a healthy breakfast, sometimes your child just won’t be in the mood. Don’t fight it. While routines are important, when things come up, or the routine is not working, be flexible! There will be times when the routine can cause more stress and anxiety.

A well-planned morning routine need not be elaborate, just functional!

You may also like: Back to School: Ensuring an A+ start to the school year

Summer Travel Safety Tips – Ask the Expert

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“Ask the Experts” is a series on Baton Rouge Family Fun where local experts share their thoughts, opinions and answer questions relating to health, wellness, parenting and living in Baton Rouge. This week on Ask the Experts, Smith Shanklin Sosa, fellow Baton Rouge parents, are sharing a few Summer Travel Safety Tips.

Car Seat Safety

Summer and road trips go together like peas and carrots.  Traveling during these high traffic times can be dangerous and it is important to be extra cautious when sharing the road with large trucks and buses.  Even though truck drivers are well aware of the dangers their vehicles present to other passenger vehicles, I can guarantee that this mama is not going to trust my family’s safety to another driver.  As a personal injury attorney, I have seen beautiful vacations turn tragic on highways and interstates.  Follow my top 3 Summer Travel Safety Tips and put your family and yourself in a better position to avoid tragic accidents.

Summer Travel Safety Tips

Summer Travel Safety Tips

  1. Be Aware of the “No Go Zones”

Large trucks and buses have huge blind spots as shown in the below photo.  It is best to spend as little time as possible in these “No Go Zones”.  If you have a feeling that the driver of a large truck or bus does not see you, make some noise and honk that horn.  I know that horns can make you feel like your yelling at the other drivers on the road, but I personally have avoided my fair share of accidents by letting my horn rip.

Summer Baton Rouge

  1. Safe Passing

Make sure you can see the driver in the vehicle mirror. If you do not see the driver, it is best to assume he/she cannot see you.  When passing a truck or bus, make sure the truck or bus is visible in your rearview mirror before you pull in front giving extra space.  If possible, it is a good idea to avoid passing trucks and buses when you are traveling downhill.  These big trucks and buses take longer to stop and you do not want to be on the receiving end of their failure to slow down.

Summer Travel Safety Tips

 

  1. Avoid Wide Turns

Buses and trucks make wide turns.  Be aware that these trucks usually have around a 55-foot turning radius.  A lot of times truck/bus drivers will swing wide to accommodate this turning radius and you want to avoid them swinging into your vehicle.

Summer Baton Rouge

Disclaimer: The purpose of this site is to share BRM’s experiences with food,  fitness, health, and life as well as opinions from some of our local experts. This content is for informational purposes only and isn’t a substitute for professional medical advice.  When it comes to your health or the health of your child, please be sure to contact your physician.

 

Louisiana Summer Safety Tips for Kids

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Nothing says summer here in South Louisiana more than biting into a scrumptiously sweet Louisiana strawberry, having the juice drip down your chin after devouring a big slice of watermelon, or enjoying a strawberry cheesecake sno-ball made the Louisiana way (i.e. the right way) with condensed milk.  And, lest we forget, very soon the kiddos will be “free” for the summer, with swimming, vacations, sports, summer camps, and a seemingly endless supply of other activities (and energy) to take full advantage of that time off.  So if your family is like mine and beginning to prepare for the upcoming summer season, here are a few pediatric tips to keep your kiddos healthy so that they can soak up every last second of that summer break from school.

summer Safety Tips

It’s getting hot out here– As we all know, summer in Baton Rouge means temperatures in the 90s and humidity that seems to exceed 100% on most days.  In order to protect your little one’s skin from those intense sun rays, begin with thin, lightly-colored clothing covering as much of the body as possible, and pair it with a nice wide-brimmed hat.  For those 6 months and older, sunscreen is key.  You want to find a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF (sun protection factor) 15 or higher and remember – the most important part of using sunscreen is frequent reapplication.  We are talking at least every 2 hours, even with those sunscreens that are “waterproof”, “last all day,” or any other claims the manufacturers might make to entice you to buy their product.

What’s bugging you?- Have you seen those native Louisiana mosquitos that are nearly the size of small birds these days?  OK, so that might be a bit of an exaggeration (albeit a small one), but all joking aside, protecting your kiddos from mosquitos is of utmost importance.  Not only are mosquito bites just plain itchy and bothersome, but mosquitos can also be carriers of things such as West Nile Virus and other insect-borne illnesses.  The Center for Disease Control reported that there were 111 cases of West Nile Virus verified here in Louisiana last year, and there were 5 deaths.  In order to protect children from the nasty bite of these pests, use a mosquito repellent on children 2 months and older that contains DEET of 30% or less.  For infants and younger children, I recommend putting the repellent on your hand and then rubbing it onto the skin of your children to keep the bugs away.  You, of course, will want to avoid the area around the eyes and mouth, and for those infants and young children, avoid those hands as well since they will almost immediately make it to the mouth.

Drowning prevention–  Because of the number of water activities to stay cool during the hottest part of the year, this is part of summer that keeps me awake at night more than anything else.  Here are some startling statistics:

  • Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death in children 1-4 years of age
  • 70% of preschoolers who drown were in the care of one or both parents when the incident occurred
  • 75% of children are “missing” for five minutes or less
  • For every child the dies from drowning, another 4 are treated in emergency rooms for near-drowning
  • Last year alone, there were 10 children under 16 years of age who died in Louisiana, and there are on average 390 children who die from drowning each year in this country

Drowning in children is often a silent event as children do not scream or thrash around.  It will not look like it does in the movies.  So what is the number one way to prevent drowning in children? Constant supervision!  When children are in the water, use the rule of “touch supervision” meaning that a child should always be within arms reach of an adult.  While age-appropriate swimming lessons are a good idea, never assume that a child is “drown-proof” no matter the number of lessons they have had.  Finally, protect pools with fences that are at least 4 feet high and have a self-closing and self-latching gate, just like the modern glass pool fences, and make sure to remove all pool toys from the pool and surrounding area when done at the end of the day (these can be VERY enticing for younger children).

For more on each of these topics and much more on parenting and pediatrics in South Louisiana, please check out my website The Mommy Doctor at  www.themommydoctor.com .   And as you and your kids head into the impending break, make sure and have a safe, healthy, and, most importantly, fun summer this year!

Ask the Experts Baton Rouge

“Ask the Experts” is a new series on Baton Rouge Family Fun where local experts will share their thoughts, and opinions and answer questions relating to health, wellness, and parenting. If you have a question for one of our experts, please leave it in the comments below and they might just answer in an upcoming post.

Disclaimer: The purpose of this site is to share BRFF’s experiences with food,  fitness, health, and life as well as opinions from some of our local experts. This content is for informational purposes only and isn’t a substitute for professional medical advice.  When it comes to your health or the health of your child, please be sure to contact your physician.

 

Parents Ultimate Guide to Insect Repellent for Kids

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It’s that time of year again, with warmer weather comes the return of Louisiana’s second state bird… the mosquito!  In this installment of our Ask the Expert series, Dr. Mindy Calandro shares the best way to protect yourself and your kiddos from those pesky, Southern mosquitoes.

Parents Ultimate Guide to Insect Repellent for Kids

N,N dimethyl-m-toluamide (DEET)– This compound has been used as an insect repellent since the 1940s, and it is the insect repellent that is likely most widely known. DEET insect repellents may last anywhere from 2-8 hours depending on what percentage of DEET is contained in the products.

On average, products with 10% DEET will last about 2 hours while those closer to 30% DEET will last closer to 8 hours.  There are products available with DEET concentrations higher than 30%, but studies show that these products do not provide any longer/additional protection.

DEET can protect against not only mosquitoes that transmit West Nile Virus and Zika virus but also against biting flies, gnats and ticks that can carry Lyme disease (although our ticks here in Louisiana do not carry Lyme disease).

Now, a quick Google search will produce results citing that DEET can cause neurologic issues namely seizures.  This sure makes for good headlines, but the bottom line is that there have been 10 reported cases of seizures in children after applying DEET products to the skin in over 50 years!!

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that the risk of adverse reaction when DEET is appropriately used (i.e. applied only on the skin according to the recommended time intervals) is on the order of 1 per 100,000,000 people!

Insect Repellent

So what are the downsides to DEET? Well, if you have ever used a repellent containing DEET, you may recall a rather strong smell and a bit of a greasy feel.  Also, DEET can cause skin irritation for those with particularly sensitive skin.  Finally, DEET can cause damage to materials such as plastics, rubber, or leather so make sure to wash your hands prior to touching things like eyeglass frames, golf clubs or certain water bottles.

Recommendation for use: DEET 30% or less is ok for children 2 months of age and older.

Common Insect Repellent with DEET: Off! Familycare and Deep Woods, Cutter Skinsations and All Family, Repel Family

Picaridin– This product was approved by the Center for Disease Control for use as an insect repellent in April 2005 although it has been used for many years prior to this in other countries.  Picaridin is created from the extract of the leaves from the pepper plant and has really no odor, does not damage plastics, and has less risk of skin irritation when compared to DEET products.

Picaridin products are available in strengths from 5-20% with approximately 3-5 hours of protection with a 10% formulation.  Studies show that Picaridin can protect people from many of the same biting insects that DEET protects from including those pesky mosquitos that carry West Nile and Zika virus.

So what is the downside to Picaridin?  Since it is a relatively new product approved by the CDC and EPA, there are not as many long-term studies available here in the US.  However, based on what we know of this compound as well as reviewing many years of data from other countries on the use of Picaridin, it seems that Picaridin is likely a very safe and effective alternative to DEET.

Recommendations for use: 10% Picaridin lotions for children 2 months and older.

Common products with Picaridin: Avon Skin so Soft Bug Guard, Natrapel, Sawyer Picaridin

Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus– If we are talking about the CDC and EPA approved version of this compound, it is actually a chemically synthesized version of oil of lemon eucalyptus and not the “pure” oil.  Most versions of this repellent you will find are concentrations of 30% and can provide about 2 hours of protection.

However, the data is still out on if oil of lemon eucalyptus can protect as well as DEET or picaridin against West Nile mosquitos.  Another important thing to know about oil of lemon eucalyptus is that it should not be used on children under 3 years of age because of risk of skin irritation as well as significant eye irritation.

Recommendations for use: Only in children 3 and older, and I would consider it a distant 3rd to DEET and picaridin

Common products with Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus: Repel Lemon Eucalyptus, Off! Botanicals

Plant based oils:  In this final category, we will group all essential oils but those referenced most commonly include soybean, lemongrass, citronella, peppermint, and lavender.  It is important to realize that none of these oils have been approved by the EPA or CDC for efficacy in protecting against insects.

If these products do provide any protection from bug bites, and that is a big “if,” it is likely a very short window of less than 1 hour.  Also, as with all essentials oils, I would use extreme caution with these products on children with sensitive skin.

Recommendations for use: In my mind, I would not use these as insect repellents.

Common products with plant-based oils: California Baby Natural Bug Blend, Babyganics Natural Insect Repellent

A few things to keep in mind no matter what type of insect repellent you choose:

  • For young children, parents should use their hand to apply the repellent to children rather than spraying it on them.  For those children who tend to put their hands in their mouth, do not put the repellent on the hands.
  • Do not apply in close proximity to the eyes or mouth of children
  • Do not apply to open cuts or wounds
  • Products that are a combination of sunscreen AND insect repellent should not be used.  Since sunscreen should be applied every 2 hours, this would lead to most insect repellents being applied far too frequently.
  • When coming inside make sure to wipe/wash all insect repellent off prior to children getting into bed.

As you and your family are enjoying the last days of summer, and if you are like me, looking forward to the upcoming fall, realize that those pesky mosquitos will be hanging around for at least another few months.

Across the board for all of those 2 months of age and older, there may be many options out there when it comes to insect repellents, but I would recommend sticking with either a DEET or picaridin based product to provide the most protection for your loved ones.

“Ask the Experts” is a series on Baton Rouge Family Fun where local experts share their thoughts, and opinions and answer questions relating to health, wellness, parenting, and living in Baton Rouge.

Ask the experts Baton Rouge Moms

Disclaimer: The purpose of this site is to share Baton Rouge Family Fun’s experiences with food,  fitness, health, and life as well as opinions from some of our local experts. This content is for informational purposes only and isn’t a substitute for professional medical advice.  When it comes to your health or the health of your child, please be sure to contact your physician.

Dry Drowning 101: Know the Signs with Dr. Mindy Calandro – Ask the Experts

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As if the idea of drowning didn’t strike enough fear into the heart of every parent, recent news headlines and social media posts have brought a new term to the forefront… dry drowning.  You might be thinking, “Well of course my kiddo has had a cough a time or two after their face inadvertently went into the water. Is this something to worry about?”  Here is what parents need to know about so-called “dry drowning.”

Dry drowning

What is dry drowning?

To get scientific, there are actually two entities here:

Dry drowning– This occurs when a small amount of water gets into the nose or mouth, and this water causes a sudden spasm of the airway where it shuts close.  It is almost like the airway is “overprotecting” itself from the water that isn’t supposed to be there.  With dry drowning, there is no water in the lungs.  In these cases, you will see symptoms almost immediately after the water gets into the airway (the airway will not spasm if the water isn’t there).

Delayed or Secondary drowning– In delayed drowning, a child inhales a bit of water through their nose or mouth, and the water actually does make it down into their lungs.  Once in the lungs, the water begins to cause significant irritation and inflammation (after all, water is not supposed to be in our lungs) which leads to something called pulmonary edema.  This can occur anywhere from 1-24 hours after the initial inhaling of the water.

You can see that while these two terms mean something different from a medical standpoint, the term “dry drowning” is often used in the news headlines and on social media to refer to secondary drowning.

How common do these types of submersion injuries occur?

Good news…these are both UNcommon!  It is estimated that either dry or secondary drowning probably accounts for only 1-2% of all drowning-related injuries in children.  Think about all the times your child has inhaled a bit of water while in the bathtub or the pool, and the vast majority of the time, they are a-ok.

What are the symptoms?

Good news again…dry and secondary drowning do not occur without warning signs.  When it comes to dry drowning, the symptoms will often be sudden in onset, and remember, they will occur at the time of the incident (like while they are still standing in the pool water).  Children will have immediate coughing that doesn’t resolve and sudden difficulty breathing.

Now, with secondary drowning, the symptoms usually do not start immediately after they inhaled the water.  It takes time for the inflammation to begin in the lungs.  Rather kiddos will start with coughing, trouble breathing, faster breathing, fever, vomiting, extreme sleepiness or a drastic change in behavior anywhere from 1-24 hours later.

dry drowning

What should parents do if they suspect dry or secondary drowning?

If your child has been swimming and in the hours following a swim they show any of the above signs, they need to be brought to medical attention immediately.  These symptoms certainly might end up being just the start of a circulating summer virus, but it is important to make sure that it is not secondary drowning.  Often a good physical exam by your child’s doctor as well as checking of vital signs including their oxygen levels and sometimes even a chest x-ray can help to ensure that their lungs do not have fluid that shouldn’t be there.

And a quick reminder here as well…anytime a child has required a pool rescue of any kind, at a minimum, there needs to be a call to your child’s pediatrician.  Depending on how long the child was under water, many of these kiddos also need to be evaluated by a medical professional.

How can you prevent dry or secondary drowning?

Both of these entities really fall on the spectrum of drowning-related injuries, and the best way to prevent any kind of drowning is constant adult supervision while swimming.  I have written before about drowning prevention (you can click here to check out that blog post),  but close attention to a child while they are in the water and vigilance for new onset of symptoms after a swim are key.  And again remember, these dry or secondary drownings are NOT common.

So hopefully now that you understand these frightening terms of dry or secondary drowning, you will breathe a sigh of relief knowing that this does not happen commonly.  Kiddos will be kiddos playing in the water which often means an inadvertent inward sniff while in the water.  Let them continue to play, of course under an adult’s watchful eye, and if something doesn’t seem right after pool time is done, then you know the next step.  Happy summer!

“Ask the Experts” is a series on Baton Rouge Family Fun where local experts share their thoughts, and opinions and answer questions relating to health, wellness, parenting, and living in Baton Rouge.

Ask the experts Baton Rouge Moms

Disclaimer: The purpose of this site is to share BRM moms’ experiences with food,  fitness, health and life as well as opinions from some of our local experts. This content is for informational purposes only and isn’t a substitute for professional medical advice.  When it comes to your health or the health of your child, please be sure to contact your physician.