So, your child’s teeth just started to come in. We know that this can be an exciting milestone for parents. Of course, this also means considering your child’s oral health. Just as you brush and floss your teeth every day, you will now need to begin brushing your child’s teeth. While the techniques and practices will be a bit different and probably less time-consuming (seeing as your child probably only has one or two teeth at the moment), here are some tips for how to brush your child’s teeth properly,

• Even before your child’s teeth start to erupt it’s important to keep their gums healthy and clean by wiping them with a soft, damp cloth after each feeding and right before bedtime. Your child will get their first tooth between 6-14 months.
• Yes, even children’s teeth can develop decay. As soon as the tooth is formed it can develop decay, so it’s important that you start brushing it as soon as you see it.
• Purchase a child-sized toothbrush from your local drugstore and wet the soft-bristled toothbrush with water to brush your child’s tooth or teeth (at this point you don’t need toothpaste).
• Your child won’t start needing toothpaste until they are 2 years old. From 2-3 years old your child only needs toothpaste the size of a grain of rice in order to clean their teeth. After 3 years old, you can upgrade to a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.
• Just as you do for your own teeth, you should also brush your child’s teeth twice a day (once in the morning and again at night right before going to bed).
• Use soft, circular motions when brushing the teeth and the gums. Again, just as you do your own teeth, you should brush for a minimum of two minutes. Don’t forget to brush their tongue and roof of their mouth, too.
• We know that your child may not fully understand the brushing process, so it’s a good idea to tell them what you are doing and the importance of brushing their teeth. Even though they can’t brush their own teeth yet it’s still great to show them how to brush so that when it’s time to start brushing their own teeth they understand how to do it.
• Most children can start brushing their teeth around 7-8 years old, but still need to be supervised by an adult until around 10-11 years old.

Have questions about caring for your baby’s developing smile? Keeping your child’s smile healthy is so important for their development and practicing good oral hygiene at home will ensure that your child’s smile stays healthy.

Parents want nothing more than their children to be healthy and happy. This applies to every element of their well-being, including their eyes! Your pediatrician recommends that all children receive a comprehensive eye exam by the age of one. These tests detect any problems that require correction. Prolonging an exam can damage your child’s eyes for life. 

• At birth: this is performed right away on your child, as part of the newborn physical assessment.
• 6 months: your pediatrician evaluates your child’s eyes at their regular appointment. 
• 3.5 years old: at your child’s appointment, the pediatrician tests their eyes and also their visual acuity. 
• 5 years old: a standard assessment performed at a pediatric appointment. 

Following the immunization schedule recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics can help you protect your son or daughter from a variety of childhood diseases. Your child's pediatricians at Pediatrics of Central Florida offer immunizations at their Orlando, St. Cloud and Kissimmee, FL, offices.

Why You Should Immunize Your Child

Immunizations protect your son or daughter from contracting diseases that caused untold suffering and even death just a few generations ago. Today, polio, a viral disease that caused temporary or permanent paralysis, has been eradicated across the entire U.S., thanks to a vaccine developed in the 1950s.

Over the years, researchers have created vaccines that protect your children from measles, chickenpox, hepatitis, rotavirus, the flu, human papillomavirus (HPV), tetanus, whooping cough, mumps, diphtheria, and other potentially serious illnesses.

Immunizing your child offers these benefits:

• Your child will never become affected by common viral diseases: Outbreaks of measles, whooping cough, and chickenpox are on the rise in the U.S., as immunization rates decline in some areas of the country. These diseases don't just make children uncomfortable. They can cause serious illness, lingering health consequences, and even death. Immunizations use a small amount of an inactivated or weakened virus to give your child the antibodies he or she needs to fight off common viral illnesses.
   
• The entire community is protected by immunizations: Immunizations protect babies not yet old enough to receive immunizations or people who can't receive vaccines due to health reasons. When most of the population is immune, a disease can't spread to these unprotected people.

Are you worried about possible immunization side effects? A low fever, fussiness, and a little pain at the injection site are the most common side effects, and they all usually go away in a day or two. If you have questions about the immunization schedule or a particular vaccine, your child's pediatrician will be happy to discuss your concerns with you.

Prioritize Your Children's Health

Protect your child's health with immunizations! Schedule an appointment with the pediatricians at Pediatrics of Central Florida by calling:

• (407) 846-3455 for Oak Street Kissimmee
• (407) 933-5985 for Orange Blossom Trail Kissimmee
• (407) 857-2816 for Orlando
• (407) 891-0479 for St. Cloud

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition that affects how a person views and interacts with the world around them, including other people. In most cases, differences become apparent by the time your child reaches 24 months. Mainly, parents notice behavioral differences and language delays. If you suspect that your child has ASD, schedule an appointment with your local pediatric office. We work with you to figure out what to do next.

• Your child doesn’t keep or make eye contact
• They don’t respond to your facial expressions or smiles
• Does not reciprocate facial expressions or have the appropriate ones
• Doesn’t respond to parent’s pointing 
• Has problems making friends
• Shows a lack of concern for others

• Your child hasn’t spoken by 16 months
• Repeats or parrots what others say
• Doesn’t feel the need or want to communicate 
• Starts missing language and social milestones after 15 months
• Doesn’t pretend play but does have a good memory for numbers, songs, and letters

• Has an affinity for routines and schedules and does not like altering them
• Likes to twirl their fingers, sway, rock, or spin
• Has strange activities that they enjoy doing repeatedly
• They are sensitive to sounds, lights, touch, textures, and smells
• They are more interested in the parts of a toy instead of the whole thing