Questions and Answers

By Susan J. Margolin, M.D., M.P.H.
Chief, Section of General Pediatrics

Q. I am expecting a second child and wonder how I will manage the busy schedule of a three-year-old along with the needs of a newborn. Most babies seem to nap in the morning and late afternoon, while my toddler sleeps in the mid-afternoon. Is it possible to synchronize nap schedules? If not, what do you suggest? 

A.Infants and young children easily adapt to the needs of their parents. You should be able to plan the day so that your infant naps in the morning and takes a second nap in mid-afternoon when your three-year-old is napping. Initially your infant will sleep most of the time. As his/her period of awakening increases, you can assure that his naptime coincides with that of his sister or brother by habitually putting him in to sleep at the same time each day. He will quickly learn that this is the time to sleep.

Q.What health or first aid materials do you recommend that I pack for a summer vacation with two children?

A. The health aids you take depend on where you are going. If you are going to the beach, the most important thing to take is sun block #30, which should be applied ½ hour before going out of doors and reapplied when coming out of the water. Children should also be shaded as much as possible but just in case, take along a soothing spray or lotion for sunburns. If you’re going camping, you will want to take long pants and long sleeved shirts as well as insect repellent to keep away the mosquitoes. Always take along some children’s acetaminophen (Tylenol™), a topical antibacterial agent for cuts and scrapes, Band-Aids™, and any of the medications your child takes at home. It may be a good idea to have a topical anesthetic ear drop (such as Auralgon™) on hand. Should your child develop an earache, you can use this medicine until your child is seen by the physician. And if you’re going out of the country, consult your physician before you leave to ask about antibiotics for travelers diarrhea and shots that your child may need before you leave the U.S.

Q. As an adult, I take herbal supplements, such as Echinacea, to boost my immune system. Do pediatricians recommend the use of these supplements for children?

A. We do not recommend the use of herbal supplements in children. Like many medications that have not had clinical trials in children we do not know the side effects of these supplements on a child’s body. Additionally, researchers are now beginning to find that the use of some of these supplements may actually decrease the efficacy of other medications. Generally, pediatricians feel that we should use as little medication in children as possible and only what is necessary.