Be able to spot the warning signs of anxiety in your child.

Anxiety is undoubtedly on the rise, not just for adults but for children. The pandemic has certainly left kids feeling uncertain and worried about the future. It’s important to pick up on the signs that your child might have anxiety so you can talk with their pediatrician about tips and strategies to help them better cope with the issues they’re facing.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms?

Children with anxiety may display these behaviors or motions,

• Avoidance
• Anger and aggression
• Irritability
• Mood swings
• Nightmares
• Headaches
• Unexplained physical symptoms such as stomachaches
• Nail-biting and other “nervous habits”
• Bedwetting
• Appetite changes
• Insomnia
• Social withdrawal and isolation
• Issues focusing or concentrating

How Can I Help My Child?

It’s important to figure out the type of anxiety your child is dealing with to help them cope with these emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. There are certain habits you can start adopting now that can help your child better deal with their anxiety symptoms,

• Don’t try to reason with your child when they are panicked or anxiety
• Help them take deep belly breathes to help stabilize their sympathetic nervous system
• Validate your child’s fears and listen to them; never dismiss them or tell them to “buck up”
• Don’t avoid the fear, which can often make it worse, but help your child face the fear with baby steps (talk to your child’s pediatrician about the best ways to do this)

These are some helpful tips to get parents started when they notice their child’s “worry brain” taking over. Of course, if you suspect that they could have a true anxiety disorder, it’s important to speak with your pediatrician right away.

How Are Childhood Anxiety Disorders Treated?

In most cases, your pediatrician will provide a referral to a psychotherapist that works with children. The first appointment, or intake session, will allow the therapist to get to know your child and determine if they have an anxiety disorder. Cognitive-behavioral therapy tends to be the ideal treatment option to help children talk through their fears and discover effective coping strategies to help them face and overcome their fears. Sometimes medications are prescribed in conjunction with therapy and lifestyle changes.

Worried that your child might have an anxiety disorder? If so, this is the ideal time to speak with their pediatrician to find out if they could benefit from additional diagnostic testing or talking to a mental health professional who works with children. A pediatrician can provide resources, support, and referrals.

Make sure your child is following a healthy, balanced diet.

One in 5 school children is considered obese in the US. So, how do we stop these statistics from getting any higher? It starts with proper nutrition, regular exercise, and a healthy lifestyle. Your child's pediatrician can always provide some helpful tips for ensuring your child is getting the vitamins and nutrients they need.

Daily Caloric Guidelines By Age

The number of calories your child consumes every day will depend on their age and their activity levels and gender. These are the caloric guidelines you should follow,

• 2-3 years old (both girls and boys): 1,000-1,400 calories

• 4-8 years old (boys): 1,200-2,000 calories
• 4-8 years old (girls): 1,200-1,800 calories

• 9-13 years old (boys): 1,600-2,600 calories
• 9-13 years old (girls): 1,400-2,200 calories

• 14-18 years old (boys): 2,000-3,200 calories
• 14-18 years old (girls): 1,800-2,400 calories

Incorporating the Right Foods into Your Child’s Diet

It’s important that your child is getting a variety of healthy foods to ensure that they get all the essential vitamins and nutrients they need to grow up strong and healthy. This includes,

Lean protein: This includes seafood, poultry, eggs, beans, and nuts

Vegetables: It’s important to incorporate many vegetables into your child’s diet every day. This can include everything from leafy greens to vibrant peppers to beans. If you do choose canned vegetables, make sure to check nutrition labels to ensure that there isn’t added sugar or sodium.

Fruits: Stay away from fruit juice, which can have a ton of added sugar, and opt for fresh or frozen fruit instead. Also, limit dried fruits, which can be high in calories.

Whole grains: Whole grains provide more benefits than refined grains (e.g., white bread and rice) and include whole-wheat bread, oatmeal, quinoa, and brown rice.

Dairy: Include some low-fat or fat-free dairy products such as yogurt, cheese, or milk into your child’s daily diet.

While sugar won’t cause harm in moderation, it is important to limit added sugars and trans and saturated fats (found in red meat, full-fat dairy, and poultry). Wonder if your child’s diet gives them all the nutrients they need? This is something that your pediatrician can discuss with you during their next well-child visit.

Are you having challenges helping your child maintain a healthy weight? Are you concerned about their health? If so, it’s time to turn to your child’s pediatrician. They can provide you with strategies to help your child eat healthier and maintain a healthy weight.

Taking care of your children requires working with a clinic team you can trust. For example, we at Southwest Children's Clinic can provide a child check-up in West Jordan, UT, which may help you take better care of your child and their overall health. Here's what you need to know about this process, including how it may help your child manage a multitude of serious health concerns.

Health Assessments

During your child's initial checkup, your doctor will perform many tests. They start by taking their vital statistics, including height, weight, hearing, and vision screenings. They then perform various physical examinations and provide immunization if your child needs an update on their vaccines.

These simple tests help to track a child's overall development and see if it is on par. They can help spot and track any delays in development and make it easier for parents to understand their child's health. In this way, a checkup may help you keep on top of your child's care needs more effectively.

Important Health Discussions

After the physical during your child's check-up in West Jordan, UT, your doctor will sit down and talk with you about your child's health. They'll cover many topics to ensure that everything gets discussed. These include things like nutrition, sleep, safety, physical health, and mental development.

Your doctor may also discuss your child's growth, discuss any family relationship problems, help you prepare for school, and connect you with the proper community services in your area. In this way, you can help your child transition to their school years with minimal challenges.

Follow-Up Scheduling

After your first check-up after birth, your doctor will schedule all other checks. They start by performing at least six different checkups before they reach the age of one. That early year is so important in childhood development, and spotting early warning signs can improve their health.

Afterward, your child will get two more checkups before they turn two, at which point their development progress should be fairly obvious. Your doctor can then schedule one meeting per year, typically until your child is 21 years old. At this point, they progress to adult-based medical care for the rest of their life.

Take Care of Your Child

At Southwest Children's Clinic, our diverse doctor team can provide a child check-up in West Jordan, UT, during each of your child's milestones. We'll schedule appointments to cover all important topics, provide immunizations as needed, and do everything we can to help your child. Please call us at (801) 563-1975 to get the help that you need. We'll do what we can to make this process smoother.

Kids are not small adults. Kids are kids. They have different cardiovascular, nervous systems, etc. Their bodies function at a very different level than that of an adult. This is why it is critical to have a pediatrician that specializes in how a child's body works and knows what to do when your child's body is not working the way it should. The benefits to your child of seeing a doctor who specializes in children, and can follow them throughout their growth and development are innumerable. If you are looking for a pediatrician in West Jordan, UT, you've come to the right place. Our providers here at Southwest Children's Clinic are all experienced pediatric specialists and will make your child feel comfortable and safe while in their care.

What are some reasons that having a pediatrician is so important for my child?

• Familiarity with their development and growth: The medical needs of children are very different from yours. When they regularly see a trusted pediatrician in West Jordan, UT, their doctor can track their growth and check to ensure that they are reaching appropriate developmental milestones. And they will know what to do when milestones are not met.
• Continuity: As your child grows up, it is a good idea to regularly visit a pediatric medical practice that knows your child's specific history and will therefore be better equipped to address any issues that may arise.
• Treatment of childhood illness: A child can have illnesses that an adult would not, and vice versa. A pediatrician is highly educated and trained in illnesses and other conditions that may affect children. Along with the treatment of illness, they are well-versed in preventive care, such as vaccines that are required at different ages.
• Kid-friendly surroundings: Visiting our clinic will be unlike the sterile clinics that you may be used to going to as an adult. Our office will put your child at ease, as they are probably feeling anxious about having to see the doctor. Our waiting room is equipped with a large fish tank, books, and a TV!
• Support for mental health issues: The times we are living in are taking a toll on the mental health of children in a big way. When a child is struggling with depression or anxiety, they might not always want to tell their parents or caregivers. Pediatric specialists are trained to recognize mental health struggles and ask appropriate questions that may get them talking. If your kids have someone that they trust and feel safe with, besides their parents, it can make a world of difference in a child's life.

Contact us

When your child is sick or acting inappropriately, remember that your child is not giving you a hard time, they are having a hard time. Contact Southwest Children's Clinic to schedule an appointment with a pediatrician in West Jordan, UT by calling (801) 563-1975.

Here’s your first-aid guide on how to care for minor childhood injuries.

In a perfect world, your child would never get injured, sick, or hurt; unfortunately, this just isn’t 100 percent preventable. Children are deeply curious and far more fearless than adults, which often means that they leave themselves prone to injuries and incidents along the way. Fortunately, most minor illnesses and injuries can be treated from the comfort of home.

Quick and Dirty First Aid Tips for Injuries

Minor burns, cuts, scrapes, and wounds won’t necessarily bring your child into the pediatrician’s office but you do want to know that you are doing everything you can to treat the injury. For minor scrapes, cuts, and wounds, gently clean the area with water to wash away any debris. If there is blood, apply pressure first for about 10-15 minutes before washing the wound. Then apply antibiotic ointment and a bandage to the area to prevent an infection.

If your child is dealing with a strain or sprain, using the RICE (rest, ice, compression and elevation) method can certainly help. Ask your child’s healthcare provider about any over-the-counter pain medications they can use that might help them manage their pain as the injury heals.

When to Call Your Pediatrician

It’s important to recognize when injuries can be treated at home and when you need to make a trip to the pediatrician’s office. You should turn to a pediatrician if,

• There are signs of an infection (e.g. fever; increased redness; pus or drainage)
• There is a visible deformity after injury
• There was a popping or snapping sound at the moment of injury
• Pain is severe or getting worse
• Your child can’t put weight on the injured leg, ankle or foot
• Bleeding doesn’t stop after 10-15 minutes of applying pressure

Treating Minor Illnesses

So, what constitutes a minor illness? Minor illnesses include colds, ear infections, sore throats, and stomach flu. Viral infections like colds and certain ear infections don’t respond to antibiotics, so often the best course of action is to keep your child well hydrated and rested so the body can fight the infection. Of course, you also want to know when you should turn to a pediatrician for treatment. It’s time to call your pediatrician if,

• Your child is dealing with a severe sore throat and is having trouble swallowing or breathing
• Your child’s fever is high (102.5 F for children 3 months to 3 years and 103 F in children older than 3 years)
• Their symptoms are getting worse or aren’t improving with home care
• Your child is showing signs of dehydration
• Your child is acting strangely (e.g. severely lethargic; confused)
• New symptoms appear
• Symptoms persist for more than 5 days

If you are ever concerned about an illness or injury your child is dealing with, it’s always best to play it safe and turn schedule an appointment with your child’s pediatrician.