Bay Street Pediatrics

Caring For Your Children From Birth to College Since 1978 - Westport, CT

Blog

The Fourth Trimester Of Baby’s Development

During your pregnancy, time was divided into periods of 12 weeks, or trimesters. After three trimesters (or so), your baby was born. According to a theory developed by Dr. Harvey Karp, this is about 12 weeks – or one trimester – too early. Dr. Karp coined the term “Fourth Trimester” to refer to this period of both infant development and maternal recovery.

The healthcare providers at Bay Street Pediatrics know that this Fourth Trimester calls for unprecedented care, including 24/7 attention, feeding, diaper changes and nurturing. [Read more…] about The Fourth Trimester Of Baby’s Development

Start Kindergarten Off On The Right Foot

Starting kindergarten can be exciting or scary, thrilling or intimidating, a new adventure or an anxiety-inducing occasion – and it all depends upon how parents and caregivers help our children prepare for this momentous day.

At Bay Street Pediatrics, we know that kindergarten is an important transition. While your child may be accustomed to being away from you all day, kindergarten is a different environment from preschool, day care or a babysitter. Your child, at five to almost six years old, is also now experiencing a great deal of cognitive and emotional growth.

[Read more…] about Start Kindergarten Off On The Right Foot

Woof – What to watch for during the dog days of summer

Children seem to endlessly enjoy their summer, running outside in the sunshine for hours on end, seemingly oblivious to the hot weather. Unfortunately, too much time in the sun can lead to forms of heat illness. While localized forms of heat illness like heat rash or heat cramps can be a minor inconvenience, heat exhaustion and heat stroke can be much more dangerous.

Your Bay Street Pediatrics healthcare providers are here to explain how heat illnesses happen, what to watch for and what to do when your child experiences a heat illness.

[Read more…] about Woof – What to watch for during the dog days of summer

Water fun means water safety

For children, a day spent splashing in water is perfect summer fun. For parents, water play, wading and swimming also means staying alert and keeping eyes on children at all times, so everyone can truly enjoy the fun.

Here at Bay Street Pediatrics, we are delighted to see that increased water safety awareness has led to a steady decline in drowning deaths over the last 30 years. Our providers stress that supervision, swim lessons and CPR are three interrelated ways to keep children safe around the water.

[Read more…] about Water fun means water safety

A comfy crib may not be a safe crib

Crib safety can be a matter of life and death.

When your baby is in the womb, they sleep in perfect comfort, surrounded by the perfect temperature, provided with food and soothed by the beat of your heart. As a parent, you may think putting your baby to sleep in a comfy, squishy spa-like crib would be a great choice, but in reality, your child’s crib should be more like a monk’s cot – plain and empty.

At Bay Street Pediatrics, we want your baby to sleep safely. Follow these guidelines to prevent avoidable tragedies like suffocation, choking and SIDS, sudden infant death syndrome.

[Read more…] about A comfy crib may not be a safe crib

5 Ways Reading Benefits Your Child

Whether you open a chapter book or select a pile of favorite picture books, curling up with your child to read can be the perfect way to spend time together. You may both think that this is just some quality time spent without screens. In reality, you are planting seeds for an enormous harvest of advantages for your child.

Bay Street Pediatrics is here to explain five ways reading aloud to your child – at any age – benefits them.

[Read more…] about 5 Ways Reading Benefits Your Child