Pediatrician Dr. Jennifer Shu recently participated in an educational segment for CNN which highlighted the importance of cholesterol testing in overweight or at-risk children.

Checklist from Pediatrician Dr. Jennifer Shu

When you get up and go with your new baby, you’ll want to keep essential supplies close at hand for all but the shortest excursions.  Technically, all you really need in a diaper bag are diapers and a few wipes, but most parents find it helpful to include some other tricks of the parenting trade, especially if you’ll be out long enough to span a meal or naptime.  You can even make your own checklist to be sure you don’t leave home without something you’ll miss.

o        Diaper bag, backpack or other container

o        Diapers

o        Baby wipes

o        Diaper ointment

o        Diaper changing pad - You can get disposable ones, use a vinyl reusable version or just bring a small towel.

o        Food/drink - This may include a bottle or sippy cup, water, formula/breastmilk, and/or snacks for you and baby.

o        Change of clothes - Definitely for your newborn, but quite possibly for yourself as well.

o        Plastic bags to hold dirty diapers after changes

o        Sun protection (sunscreen or sunblock, hat, sunglasses)

o        Camera to capture those special moments.  Never again will you say “I wish I had brought my camera!”

Upon returning from your excursion, restock your diaper bag right away so that it’ll be ready to grab the next time you head out.

About Dr. Jennifer Shu
Jennifer Shu, MD, is a pediatrician, author and mother in Atlanta. Her passion is educating parents on all topics relating to children. Dr. Shu is editor-in-chief of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) Baby & Child Health and co-author of the award-winning books Heading Home with Your Newborn and Food Fights, both published by the AAP.

An enthusiastic and experienced writer and public speaker, Dr. Shu is a medical expert on CNNHealth.com, a member of the Parents magazine Board of Advisors and an editorial advisor for the AAP’s Healthy Children doctor’s office publication. She has been featured as a guest expert on CNN, NBC Nightly News, Headline News, MSNBC and Discovery Health, as well as in Newsweek, US News & World Report, USA Today, US Weekly, and numerous parenting magazines, newspapers and medical publications.

Dr. Shu received her bachelor’s degree at the University of Virginia and her medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia. Dr. Shu completed her pediatric training and chief residency at the University of California in San Francisco. She has been a leader within the medical profession as a past national chairperson of the young physicians sections for both the American Medical Association (AMA) and the AAP.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Prevention Tips From Baby Sleeps Safe

Having a baby is a wonderful experience that can be rewarding and challenging at the same time.  New parents must learn to master an array of skills from feeding and burping to changing diapers and getting their little one ready for bed.  While many parents are most preoccupied with activities that take place while their infant is awake, it is also very important to be vigilant while babies are asleep.  Parents must educate themselves about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), the leading cause of deaths in infants, as it claims the lives of more than 2,000 sleeping babies each year.

“Parents must be informed about the very real risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and the various precautions they can take to significantly impact their infant’s vulnerability to this tragic occurrence,” states Baby Sleeps Safe President Dr. Vicki Folds, Ed.D., a renowned child development expert with more than 35 years of hands-on and research experience.

What is SIDS?
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden and unexplained death of a sleeping infant under one year of age.  In most situations, infants show no physical signs of distress and are perfectly healthy.  Ninety percent of all SIDS fatalities occur before an infant reaches six months of age.

What can you do for your baby?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following measures that may help to prevent SIDS:

•  Place infants on their backs to sleep.  As sleeping preference is a learned behavior, parents should consider using products such as Baby Sleeps Safe, a two-piece infant safety product that keeps babies sleeping safely and securely on their backs, to ensure their baby is comfortable with the position.

•  Do not place your infant to sleep in your bed.  Instead, bring the crib into your room until your baby is at least six months old.

•  Make sure the crib has a firm mattress and avoid soft surfaces. Remove blankets, bumpers, toys or pillows.

•  Overheating an infant is a risk for SIDS.  Clothe your infant to keep him warm, but avoid too many layers or warm room temperatures.  The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests placing an oscillating fan in the room to help circulation and cooling of air.

•  Offer your infant a pacifier.  Studies have shown a lower rate of SIDS with infants who use pacifiers.

•  Breast-feed your infant whenever possible.  Natural milk decreases the likelihood of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, known to contribute to SIDS risk.

About Dr. Vicki Folds
Dr. Vicki Folds is president of Baby Sleeps Safe, an infant sleep safety product that keeps babies sleeping securely on their backs. She is one of the nation’s leading child development experts with 35 years of hands-on and research experience and several published childcare books including “Tray Tasking” and “Three Step Tray Tasking.”  Dr. Folds is currently on the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) Consulting Editors Panel and reviews articles for its Young Children Journal as well as future books for publication.

Simple bath-time safety measures from Pediatrician Dr. Jennifer Shu

It’s hard to miss the fact that babies are slippery when wet, much less ignore the occasional evening news story about an infant or child being unintentionally scalded or drowning unattended in mere inches of water. The good news is that most childhood injuries in general are preventable, and those related to bathing are no exception. Here are a few simple but extremely important bath-time safety measures that will keep you and your baby from getting in over your heads.

• It’s a matter of degree. The ideal bath water temperature is thought to be somewhere between 95°F and 100°F, while water warmer than 105°F is considered to be too hot and cooler than 90°F, too cold. In contrast, many water heaters are installed at 140°F to 150°F. At 140°F, it only takes 3 seconds for a child to get a third-degree burn. Pay a quick visit to your water heater and make sure that the upper temperature limit is set no higher than 120°F—a temperature at which you should be able to hold your hand under a running stream of hot water without getting burned.

• Fill ‘er up first. Run the bath water first. Turn off the water, and then put your baby in it. Having water flowing directly into the tub when your baby is already in it is an unnecessary risk because the temperature of running water can be inconsistent and hot water controls can be bumped.

• Know what your baby’s getting into. Make it a habit to always test your baby’s bath water on your own skin (preferably on a more sensitive area such as your wrist or elbow) before putting your baby in it. That way you’ll be sure to know exactly what you’re both getting into.

• Please give your undivided attention. Regardless of how much or how little water you have in your newborn’s bath tub, you’ll need to offer him at least one hand of support at all times and ideally keep two eyes focused on the task at hand.

About Dr. Jennifer Shu
Jennifer Shu, MD, is a pediatrician, author and mother in Atlanta. Her passion is educating parents on all topics relating to children. Dr. Shu is editor-in-chief of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) Baby & Child Health and co-author of the award-winning books Heading Home with Your Newborn and Food Fights, both published by the AAP.

An enthusiastic and experienced writer and public speaker, Dr. Shu is a medical expert on CNNHealth.com, a member of the Parents magazine Board of Advisors and an editorial advisor for the AAP’s Healthy Children doctor’s office publication. She has been featured as a guest expert on CNN, NBC Nightly News, Headline News, MSNBC and Discovery Health, as well as in Newsweek, US News & World Report, USA Today, US Weekly, and numerous parenting magazines, newspapers and medical publications.

Dr. Shu received her bachelor’s degree at the University of Virginia and her medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia. Dr. Shu completed her pediatric training and chief residency at the University of California in San Francisco. She has been a leader within the medical profession as a past national chairperson of the young physicians sections for both the American Medical Association (AMA) and the AAP.