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Honey: a natural cough reliever

Many parents are surprised to learn that a natural food like honey can be dangerous for infants. While it is a wonderful remedy for older children, it requires a “safety

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June 5, 2026 No Comments

How to Manage a Tantrum in the Moment

​When a tantrum involves “low-risk” behavior (crying or screaming without danger), the best initial strategy is planned ignoring (also known as extinction).   ​During the Tantrum ​Avoid Engagement: Do not negotiate,

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May 26, 2026 No Comments
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Honey: a natural cough reliever

Many parents are surprised to learn that a natural food like honey can be dangerous for infants. While it is a wonderful remedy for older children, it requires a “safety first” approach for babies. Here is why you must wait until the first birthday and how honey can help after that milestone.  

The Strict Rule: No Honey Before 12 Months

The primary reason to avoid honey during the first year of life is the risk of infant botulism.

  • Honey can contain spores of the bacteria that cause botulism.  
  • Studies show that approximately 10% of honey contains these spores.  
  • Botulism is a very serious condition where toxins attack the body’s nerves, leading to muscle paralysis.  
  • This paralysis can even affect the muscles that help your baby breathe. 

Why is it safe for us but not for them?

Adults and older children have enough stomach acid and beneficial intestinal bacteria to neutralize these spores. However, a baby’s digestive system isn’t mature enough to inactivate the spores until they are about 12 months old.  

Once your child celebrates their first birthday, honey becomes one of the best tools in your medicine cabinet for managing colds.  

  • Why it works: Honey has natural antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties.
  • Better than medicine: Research shows that honey can be more effective at reducing the frequency and severity of coughs than several types of over-the-counter medications, with fewer side effects.  
  • Better sleep: Giving your child 1/2 to 2 teaspoons of honey about 30 minutes before bed helps ease nighttime coughing and improves sleep quality.  

Pro-Tip for Parents: For the best results, do not dilute the honey or mix it into water/tea. Giving it directly from the spoon allows the honey to coat the throat, which is what provides that soothing relief.  

A Quick Reminder for Families: 

Always double-check that your child is over 12 months old before introducing honey into their routine. If you have any questions about cough relief or your child’s digestive health, we are always here to help!   

Written by Dr. Palvadi

How to Manage a Tantrum in the Moment

​When a tantrum involves “low-risk” behavior (crying or screaming without danger), the best initial strategy is planned ignoring (also known as extinction).  

​During the Tantrum

​Avoid Engagement: Do not negotiate, argue, or try to discipline them while they are mid-meltdown.  

​Stay Calm: Avoid yelling or threatening, as this can actually escalate the behavior or make it last longer.  

​Avoid Corporal Punishment: Physical punishment should be avoided.  

​After the Tantrum

​Offer Comfort: Once your child has fully calmed down, you can provide comfort. 

​Positive Reinforcement: Give them praise for their good behavior once the storm has passed.  

When to Use Time-Outs

​For more frequent tantrums or problematic behaviors, a “time-out” in a safe, quiet area can be a helpful tool.  

  • ​The Timer Rule: A good rule of thumb is one minute per year of age (for example, a 3-minute time-out for a 3-year-old).  
  • ​The Follow-Up: After the time-out is over, have a gentle conversation with your child about why they were there and what behavior changes are needed for next time.  

When to Call the Pediatrician

​While tantrums are normal, we want to support you if they become overwhelming. It is a good idea to bring it up at your next visit if the tantrums:  

  • ​Persist beyond 5 years of age.  
  • ​Are unusually prolonged or aggressive.  
  • ​Involve injury to themselves or others.  
  • ​Are significantly affecting your family’s quality of life.  
  • ​Additionally, if your child has any developmental delays or impairments, let’s chat so we can assess if further evaluations might be helpful.  

​A Note for Parents

You are doing a great job navigating these “terrible twos” (and threes and fours!).

Remember, every tantrum is a chance for your child to learn how to handle big emotions, and we are here to help you through it.

What’s Actually Causing Those Sniffles?

Seasonal allergies happen when your child’s immune system gets a little too protective. It starts overreacting to harmless things in the air—mostly pollen and mold spores. The body treats these tiny particles like “invaders,” which triggers inflammation in the nose, eyes, and throat. That is where all that itching, sneezing, and watery eyes come from!.

Is it a Cold or Allergies?

It can be tricky to tell them apart, but here are a few clues that it’s likely allergies:

  • The Calendar: Symptoms tend to pop up around the same time every single year.
  • The Fever Factor: Allergies bring sneezing and runny noses, but they don’t bring a fever.
  • The Timeline: A typical cold usually clears up in 7 to 10 days, but allergies can linger for weeks at a time.

Simple Ways to Help at Home (No Medicine Required!)

You can actually do a lot to lower your child’s exposure to those “invaders” without even opening a bottle of medicine:

  • Watch the Clock: Try to limit outdoor play on high-pollen days, especially in the morning when pollen counts are usually at their peak.
  • The Post-Play Rinse: Pollen loves to cling to hair and skin. A quick shower and a change of clothes after playing outside can make a huge difference.
  • Saline Rinses: Using a simple saline (saltwater) nasal rinse is one of the most effective ways to wash out pollen and mucus.
  • Bedroom Basics: Keep the sleeping area a “pollen-free zone.” Wash bedding weekly in hot water, use HEPA air filters, and make sure your child showers before jumping into bed so they don’t bring the outside in with them.

Understanding Your Medication Options

When it comes to allergies, being proactive is key! It is much easier to prevent symptoms from starting than it is to stop them once they are in full swing.

  • Oral Antihistamines: Non-drowsy options like Claritin, Zyrtec, or Allegra are generally the first step. We prefer these over older options like Benadryl, which can cause sleepiness and don’t last as long.
  • Nasal Sprays: Corticosteroid sprays (like Flonase) are often the most effective for moderate to severe congestion. They work best when used daily. Pro-tip: Point the tip toward the middle of the eye (in a V-shape) for the best results!.
  • Eye Drops: If your little one only has itchy, watery eyes, specific antihistamine drops can be used on their own or alongside other meds.

When to Call the Pediatrician

Most allergies can be managed at home with rest and the right routine. However, we want to see your child if:

  • Over-the-counter meds aren’t helping after two weeks.
  • Symptoms are affecting their sleep or schoolwork.
  • Your child has frequent ear or sinus infections.
  • They also have asthma, as controlling allergies is a huge part of managing asthma care.
  • You aren’t 100% sure if it’s allergies or something else, like enlarged adenoids.

Ready to get your child back to feeling their best?
Our team is here to help you identify specific triggers and find a plan that works for your family.

Blog written by Dr. Palvadi

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Why is coming for check-ups so important?

Why is coming for checkups important?

Some people feel that if their child is not due for vaccines, there is no reason to come to the doctor’s office for a well checkup.  However, your child’s checkup is important for so many reasons including early detection of possible problems, prevention of disease, developmental assessments and personalized guidance tailored to your child. Insurance providers recommend and typically fully cover an annual wellness exam because prevention is the best medicine.

During the early months of your child’s life, checkups are frequent and this is because babies are growing and developing at a rapid pace and are at higher risk of potential problems. These early months of your baby’s development are an important time to monitor your baby’s growth, weight gain, head size and developmental milestones. There are also vaccines due at most check ups to protect your baby from vaccine preventable diseases. The multiple visits required for your baby’s checkups in the first 2 years of life provides an opportunity for you to get to know your child’s health care provider and for you to work as a team to help your child flourish.

Checkup highlights per age:

  • Newborn: This visit is important to establish care with your baby’s health care provider. We check the baby’s weight, evaluate their overall health and may check for jaundice. Most importantly, your baby’s primary care provider is a great support to you as a parent of a newborn.
  • 2-week checkup
    • Your baby’s weight will need to be checked and overall health. Newborn screening which includes a heel stick blood test to screen for congenital disorders is very important and can catch disorders early thereby preventing life threatening disease if left untreated.
  • 1-month checkup:
    • Your baby’s growth and weight will be measured and development will be assessed. Our priority in this visit is your baby’s health and to attend to your concerns. Caring for a 4-week-old infant can be challenging, and we are here to help.
  • 2-4-6 month checkups:
    • Your baby’s growth and development will be assessed.  We will evaluate your baby’s growth and development and review what to expect in the coming months.At 2 , 4 and 6 months of age most infants are due for vaccines.
  • 9 months of age checkup:
    • 9 months of age is an important developmental age and is often a fun checkup for your baby. If your baby is up to date with vaccines, no vaccines are typically due at this visit. It is an important to come even though vaccines may not be due because at this time your health care provider will be assessing your baby’s overall health and ensure your baby is meeting developmental milestones and growing appropriately.
  • 12 month checkup:
    • Happy birthday! The twelve month checkup is very important. Your baby’s growth and development will be assessed as your baby is continuing to grow and develop at a rapid pace. We will also check for lead in the blood and check for anemia. We will discuss upcoming developmental changes and provide guidance with what to expect and offer support. For most babies, vaccines will be due at the 12 month visit.
  • 15 months checkup
    • Congratulations- you now have a toddler!  At this checkup, your baby’s growth and development will be assessed. At this age, most babies are now walking and starting to talk.   We will discuss upcoming developmental changes and provide guidance with what to expect with your growing toddler. At 15 months of age most babies are due for vaccines.
  • 18 months checkup:
    • This visit focuses on overall health, growth, and developmental progress. An important developmental survey done at this age is the first M-CHAT screening which helps assess for signs of possible autism.  We will discuss upcoming developmental changes and provide guidance with what to expect with your growing toddler. At 18 months of age most babies are due for vaccines.
  • 24 months checkup
    • Happy birthday—your child is now two years old! At this checkup we will assess growth, development and health. An important developmental survey done at this age is the second M-CHAT screening which helps assess for signs of possible autism.  We will also check lead level and check again for anemia. We will discuss upcoming developmental changes and provide guidance with what to expect with your growing toddler. At 24 months of age if you have followed the recommended vaccine schedule, no childhood vaccines may be due.
  • Age 30 months checkup:
    • This is your toddler’s last check up before starting annual checkup visits. This is an important evaluation of health, growth and development. If your child needs additional support, this visit is great time to discuss concerns such as tantrums, potty training, or speech delays.
  • Age 3-5 yrs
    • Your preschooler is learning every day and developing new skills. This checkup is an important evaluation of health, growth and development. If your child needs additional support, this visit is great time to discuss concerns such as behavioral difficulties or speech delays. At age 4 yrs vaccines are due for most children entering preschool or kindergarten.
  • Elementary age (5yrs -10 yrs)
    • Annual checkups for your school age child are an important time to evaluate your child’s growth and development and to provide your child with an educational opportunity regarding their health. Your child’s checkup will include evaluation of growth, development, blood pressure and nutritional intake.
  • Middle school age (11-13 yrs)
    • Once your child reaches early adolescence there are additional concerns for children and their parents.  Your health care provider can help your pre-teen as they experience changes in their growing bodies and navigate the ever-growing challenges in the social climate. Most 11 yr olds are due for vaccines prior to entering middle school.
  • High school age (14 -18 yrs)
    • The annual check up for your teen is a very important time to meet with their health care provider. Along with checking your teen’s growth, weight and blood pressure, we also are touching base regarding their mental health. Your teen’s health care provider is an important resource to help you and your teen navigate the transition from being a child to becoming a young adult. Most 16 yr olds and 17-18 yr olds are due for vaccines.

Your Milestone Roadmap
​Here is a quick look at what we focus on during these key visits:

​The First Year

  • ​Newborn & 2-Week Visits: We establish care, check for jaundice, and perform the “heel prick” newborn screening to catch congenital disorders early. We are here to support you through those first exhausting weeks!
  • ​1, 2, 4, & 6 Months: We focus on growth and attending to your concerns as a parent. These are also the primary visits for early vaccines.
  • ​9 Months: This is an enjoyable milestone visit. Even though vaccines usually aren’t due, it’s a critical time for us to assess how your baby is meeting developmental milestones.
  • ​12 Months (The First Birthday!): Along with growth checks, we perform important screenings for lead levels and anemia.

​Toddlers & Preschoolers (15 Months – 5 Years)

  • ​15 & 18 Months: Now that you have a toddler, we focus on walking and talking. At 18 months, we perform the first “M-Chat” survey to look for early signs of autism.
  • ​24 & 30 Months: We check lead and anemia levels again at age two. The 30-month visit is the perfect time to chat about those “big” toddler topics:
  • ​3 to 5 Years: We transition to annual visits, focusing on school readiness, behavior, and the vaccines required for kindergarten.

​The School Years & Beyond

  • ​Elementary (Ages 5–10): We evaluate nutritional intake and blood pressure while giving your child the chance to learn about their own health.
  • ​Middle & High School (Ages 11–18): These years bring big changes. We help navigate the transition to adolescence, discuss the social challenges of middle school, and—most importantly—touch base regarding mental health.

​A Resource for Your Family

​Whether your child is a tiny newborn or a teenager preparing for adulthood, these visits are about more than just a physical exam—they are an opportunity for you to get to know your healthcare provider. We are here to provide guidance tailored specifically to your child. 

​Did you know? Many 11, 16, and 18-year-olds are due for important vaccines to stay protected through their teenage years. Check your records or give us a call to see if your student is up to date!

Written by Nurse Practitioner Rebecca Divack.