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Bay Street Pediatrics

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

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Pediatrics

ACHOO! Do allergies make for a miserable spring and summer?

Allergies can be a barely noticeable runny nose that clears up as soon as pollen blooms fade. It can also be itching, watery eyes, difficulty breathing and uncontrollable sneezing during the spring and summer. Bay Street Pediatrics is here to help you better understand your child’s allergies and provide solutions to these symptoms.

Nearly 20% of children in the U.S. suffer from seasonal allergies. Once called hay fever – despite not resulting from hay or running a fever – seasonal allergies are the result of an immune system response to a range of environmental allergens, which can surge or wane with the change of seasons. Your child’s immune system reacts to these allergens as if they are a real danger to their health, creating antibodies to “battle” the invader, resulting in allergy symptoms such as hives, sneezing, coughing or runny eyes.

Seasonal allergies tend to begin just as winter’s cold and flu season is wrapping up, so we must first determine if your child really has seasonal allergies or if there is another reason for their runny nose. To distinguish a cold or virus from a seasonal allergy, examine the mucus coming from your child’s nose, as it’s an excellent indicator of the cause. If the mucus is thick and/or opaque, your child probably has a cold or virus. If the mucus is runny and clear, it’s most likely allergies.

Most common symptoms of seasonal allergies are a runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing, post-nasal drip, and nasal congestion. While these may sound like minor inconveniences, the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology reports that these symptoms can be persistent enough to cause real declines in a child’s quality of life and health. Itching eyes can lead to conjunctivitis or pink eye from rubbing and touching eyes. Congestion can cause trouble breathing at night, leading to a loss of crucial sleep. Chronic congestion and resultant inflammation can result in ear infections. Hives can cause flaking and peeling, which may lead to infections.

Allergy diagnoses typically increase between 3 and 5 years old because this is the age when children begin encountering more of the world, and so are exposed to more allergens. Seasonal allergies are caused by various pollens from trees, grass and plants. Environmental factors including animal hair, dust mites, mold, smoke, car exhaust, and even perfume could also cause allergy symptoms.

To ease allergy symptoms, help your child avoid the allergens that trigger their immune system. Tracking local pollen counts, keeping windows closed, and using a HEPA filter system will keep pollen-exposure to a minimum. More sensitive allergy sufferers should shower and change clothes when coming inside from outdoor time. On high pollen count days, you may want to limit time outdoors to provide more relief. Remove carpets if possible, or have them steam cleaned frequently. Change bedsheets often and wash towels frequently. Use fragrance free soaps and detergents.

Because some allergens can’t be fully avoided, Bay Street Pediatrics can help relieve symptoms with a range of treatments and medications. Over-the-counter nasal sprays and antihistamines can be administered according to medication label instructions for children over 2 years of age. For younger children, please call our office to discuss proper dosage. If your child is still battling discomfort from allergy symptoms, we may consider prescription medications. In some cases, allergy immunotherapy can provide more meaningful relief.

If your child experiences a runny nose or cough for more than a week, send us a message through your patient portal to discuss the possibility of an allergic reaction. Your healthcare provider here at Bay Street Pediatrics wants your child to enjoy spring, summer and fall and is ready to help make that happen.

Speech Development Is Worth Talking About!

First words are so very exciting! Will your baby say “mama” first, or could it be “daddy”? Your baby’s coos and burbles are turning into real speech faster than you could imagine, but in reality, it will take years for your child to develop the tongue, cheek and facial muscles to clearly enunciate all the sounds needed for intelligible, unambiguous speech. [Read more…] about Speech Development Is Worth Talking About!

Eating Disorders in Adolescents

Before we are parents, we can’t imagine a time when we would be so concerned about what someone else is eating. After having children, that seems to be our major worry. Is my newborn eating enough? Is my toddler healthy if they eat nothing but green beans? Is it okay if my kindergartner eats four Granny Smith apples each day?

While most of this works itself out, parents may again become concerned about eating habits when children enter adolescence and their teen years, especially if kids suddenly seem worried about calories, exercise and weight gain. [Read more…] about Eating Disorders in Adolescents

Understanding fevers helps prevent fever phobia

Few things make parents feel as helpless as when their child is sick. Most parents can handle a bit of a runny nose, a cough or an upset tummy, but fevers can make a parent panic – no matter how mild the temperature is. At Bay Street Pediatrics, we understand that concern, especially when it’s our little ones that are warm and flushed. We are parents ourselves! [Read more…] about Understanding fevers helps prevent fever phobia

Think Outside the Gift Box

Each year, you hope to purchase holiday gifts that will enrich your children’s lives, from educational games to toys that develop large and small motor skills, to equipment for activities to must-have clothing. Sometimes, you feel it’s impossible to select presents. What can you give your child that will make a lasting impression but not contribute to the amount of “stuff” they already have?

Bay Street Pediatrics is here to help! We are recommending holiday presents to complement your children’s lives. With these gifts, your child will understand that you admire their individual personality and their interests, no matter how different from yours they may be. [Read more…] about Think Outside the Gift Box

Avoid Screaming “Banshees” on Halloween

Halloween is a glorious time to be a child! Children (and many adults) revel in the spirit, planning costumes, candy-gathering routes and places to see the best decorations in town.

Keeping Halloween spooky and fun, but also safe is the best way to avoid scary shrieks, screams or meltdowns. Bay Street Pediatrics is here with helpful advice to make the holiday happy. [Read more…] about Avoid Screaming “Banshees” on Halloween

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

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Bay Street Pediatrics

156 Kings Highway North, Suite 3
Westport, CT 06880-2400


Phone: 203-227-3674

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