Useful web links
- Center for Disease Control (Advice on preventing illness while traveling)
- HealthyChildren.org, American Academy of Pediatrics parenting information website
- KidsHealth.org: Advice on children’s health, behavior and growth
- Incredible Years
- Positive Parenting Program
- Center on Media and Child Health from Children's Hospital
- Balanced, practical information about kids and media
- Fruits and Veggies
- Nutrition for Kids
- ChooseMyPlate.gov (healthy food and lifestyle choices)
- ActionforHealthyKids.org (improving activities for kids)
- Dietary Supplement Information
- Eatright.org, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- Mental Health America Information
- TheBalancedMind.org (resources for families with children with mood disorders)
- Autism Speaks
- Exceptional Lives: Disability Information for families
- National Institute of Mental Health
- National Eating Disorders Association
Summer health tips
We are trying to get more families signed up for MYCHART, the patient and family portal, to access children’s records more easily. Families are able to get school/camp/sports forms online along with checking lab results , appointment times, and pay bills online. You may even schedule appointments through MyCHART. Parents are able to ask for some advice by sending a non urgent message to the office. If you would like to sign up for MyCHART please call the office. If you have already have a username and password but have never used it, take the time to learn how it can help you.
Many families use the Emergency Room or Urgent Care Centers after office hours for medical care. We would like patients and families to be aware that Dr.Feldman is on call most days and nights to answer questions and to guide families when they have accidental injuries, sudden onset of illness or encounter new situations about which the family needs advice. At night or weekends there is always a pediatrician on call to answer questions and to discuss any problems which are occurring. For some problems we will recommend the ER, but for others will suggest home remedies, some will require an office visit the next day, and other patients may need orders sent to the hospital or a prescription sent to a pharmacy. We can determine this only when we have a conversation. We can help to guide you in the right direction, saving you time and sometimes money and often hassles. Please call (781) 662-4560 whenever you are unsure what to do for your child. Call us first, unless it is truly an emergency which cannot wait 15 minutes; in that situation call 911.
Bacterial meningitis is a serious and potentially fatal infection which affects adolescents and young adults. A vaccine called Men B is available and is recommended for 16-18 year olds. For more information read:
Summertime is the most common time for children and adults to get bitten by ticks. There are ways of preventing getting tick bites including wearing proper clothing and using insect repellent sprays like “Skintastic “ which contain low levels of DEET. Inspecting for ticks every night at bathtime will allow you to remove any ticks you may find and prevent any diseases which might occur from a tick bite. Use of these bug sprays also will prevent mosquito bites which rarely cause serious diseases such as West Nile virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus infections. Read more preventing tick bites, removing ticks and what to do about insect bites:
Playing outside is fun and is good exercise. Please protect your skin from the sun to prevent sunburn. Not only do sunburns hurt but if you get sunburned over many years, you could get skin cancer. If you are going outside for only 10 to 15 minutes you don’t need to worry, but if you plan on being out in the sun for more than 30 minutes, especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., put on sunblock. Also remember to apply more after an hour. For more information about sun safety:
We all like to play in the water, whether at the beach, a lake, pond or a swimming pool. Children must always swim with others around who can look out for them, especially if there are no lifeguards on duty. There is no substitute for constant attention. Also take the time to teach young children how to swim, using floaties or bubbles until they can float on their own. Please be careful to prevent drowning as well as getting injuries when jumping into pools or lakes. Make sure the water is deep enough and does not have underwater rocks or other hazards which are not visible. For more information about water safety go to:
We all enjoy barbeques, cook-outs and campfires during the warm summer weather. Unfortunately there are a few dangers around grills, firepits and campfires. Be very careful to teach children about safety around fires. Make sure that kids do not burned by flying embers by keeping them a safe distance from the fire or grill. They do not realize the grill remains hot for some time after the cooking is done. In order to prevent accidental fires from starting, pay close attention and make sure the fire is put out completely before you leave it.
Every summer many people are exposed to poison ivy when they are outdoors. The plants are everywhere and if you get the oil on your skin it will easily cause weeks of annoying itching and terrible rashes. Learn to identify the leaves of poison ivy and get more information:
Time to book check-up appointments before school: Now is the time to make sure that your children have their yearly physical checkups scheduled. If your child will be participating in football or cheerleading, they will need an updated sports form before the end of the summer. If you forget whether you have scheduled an appointment, call the office now. If your child is going to enter kindergarten, seventh, or 10th grades, they will probably need an updated school form before September. Please call the office to schedule an appointment.
Other health tips
The school year is well underway now and some problems may have become evident. Some kids feel anxious about their situations and may experience problems socially, with schoolwork, or bullying. Contact your school guidance counselor, speak with the teachers or the principal and advocate for your child’s well-being. If you need further advice or need to discuss any school-related problems call the office. Often it is helpful to schedule a consultation in the office and talk about the situation. Do not wait until the difficulties cause problems outside of school. You can read more at:
It is extremely important to keep kids safe, especially in the winter months when there are some added dangers. Although the snow and ice create fun situations to play, children can get injured more easily. Some things to prevent these injuries include: supervise kids and insist that they are sledding and skating away from cars and trees and walls. Teach kids to sled with feet first, and have them wear helmets especially if going down larger, steeper hills. Children and adults should wear helmets when skiing and snowboarding. Make sure that children are kept away from snowblowers. Talk to kids about digging into snow mounds and watch them to protect them against being buried under the snow. For more information on safety go to:
Hockey, basketball, skating, and skiing can all lead to head injuries, and a few children will get concussions. Both parents and kids need to know the signs and symptoms of concussion, and how to diagnose and treat these brain injuries. We are here to help advise you regarding your children’s individual treatments based on their signs and symptoms. Please call the office if your child has had any head injury so we can decide what needs to be done. Please refer to the following links for more detailed information:
It is still not too late to get your influenza (flu) vaccine. Please call the office to schedule an appointment to receive a flu shot. The flu vaccine is recommended for all children over 6 months but it is especially important for children in daycare and children with any chronic medical problem. Any children over 9 years old, and those under 8 years of age who have received 2 flu vaccines in the past need only one vaccine this year. Infants 6 months and older should receive 2 influenza shots one month apart. They can receive them at the time of their regular well checkups or an additional appointment just to receive the vaccine can be made. We try to accommodate people’s schedule as much as possible. If you have questions about influenza and the vaccines available, call the office or go to:
Bacterial meningitis is a serious and potentially fatal infection which affects adolescents and young adults. A new vaccine called Men B is now available and is recommended for 16- to 18-year-olds. For more information read:
It is now recommended that all adolescents get immunized against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). This was determined by the public health officials to reduce the spread of HPV throughout the young adult community. The virus is very prevalent and has been shown to cause various types of cancers in young adults, both males and females. Adolescent children should receive this vaccine, at age 11 and 12 years. Recent studies from previous vaccinated children has shown twice as high antibody levels which should provide improved protection for younger adolescents compared to older teens and young adults. For those who get the first dose before their 15th birthday, only two doses are given six to 12 months apart. If they begin after 15, the vaccine must be given in three doses over at least six months. If you have questions please call the office.
To read more about HPV: