It’s common for children to be afraid of certain things or anxious about a big exam or presentation coming up, but there are times when this worry and fear could be related to something else. Caring for your child’s mental health is just as important as caring for their physical health and you should be aware of any signs leading to mental health issues. Your pediatricians at Southwest Children’s Clinic in West Jordan, UT, can explain some common signs of anxiety in children and when you should seek out help for your child.

Common Signs of Anxiety in Children

Everyone deals with worries and fears, but it’s important to recognize when your child is dealing with an anxiety disorder. It’s important that you’re able to recognize the signs because your child may not be able to express their feelings and ask for the help that they need. Depending on how young they are, they may not be able to even understand their feelings and it’s your job to talk to their pediatrician in West Jordan, UT, about possible anxiety.

There are different types of anxiety disorders that your child might deal with and you should be aware of the different tropes of each kind. Your child may have issues being separated from their parents, have specific phobias, be nervous about being in crowds, or have sudden and unexplained fear that leads to a panic attack.

Some common signs to look for include:

• Having trouble sleeping
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Stomachaches
• Isolation
• Unexplained sadness
• Irritability
• Anger

Contact Your Pediatrician Today

Don’t wait for your child to come to you. Contact your pediatricians at Southwest Children’s Clinic in West Jordan, UT, to make sure you can recognize signs of anxiety and get your child the help that they may need. Call for more information and to schedule an appointment today at (801) 563-1975.

Anxiety and depression appear to be similar but have distinct characteristics. Anxiety is the body's fight or flight response before a noteworthy life event, trying a new adventure, or making an important decision. Depression involves feelings of remorse, helplessness, intrusive thoughts, a lack of energy or motivation, and persistent pessimism combined with a loss of interest in activities and hobbies once appreciated. Many children have fears and anxieties and may occasionally feel sad and hopeless at various stages of maturation. Toddlers frequently stress about parental separation, even if their safe and healthy. While some fears and worries are typical in children, persistent or intense forms of fear and sadness may indicate depression or anxiety in West Jordan, UT, which our Southwest Children's Clinic staff can assist you in identifying and avoiding.

Recognizing Anxiety And Depression in Children

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports in 2016-2019, 9.4% of children aged 3-17 years (approximately 5.8 million) were diagnosed with anxiety. During 2016-2019, 4.4% of children aged 3-17 years (about 2.7 million) were diagnosed with depression. It can manifest as fear or worry, but it can cause children to become moody and enraged. Anxiety symptoms include trouble sleeping and physical symptoms such as exhaustion, headaches, or bellyaches. Because some anxious children keep their worries to themselves, it's easy to overlook the signs. Depression symptoms include changes in eating patterns, avoiding social situations, difficulty paying attention, and reporting feelings of uselessness or guilt. In more severe cases, children may exhibit signs of self-harm. Contact us as soon as you notice indications of depression and anxiety.

Our pediatrician at Southwest Children's Clinic prioritizes your family's needs Your children are our staff's commitment, and we look forward to helping them reach their highest potential. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff is available to support and assist you with any questions or concerns about your child's health, particularly depression and anxiety. Please explore our website to learn more about the conditions we treat and the services provided. For more information about diagnosis and treatment for depression and anxiety in West Jordan, UT, or to schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Southwest Children's Clinic, call (801) 563-1975.

An immunization schedule is simply a set of recommendations created by health experts about which types of vaccines your child should get, and when. The complete schedule, and not just for newborns, is available on the CDC website for everyone to examine. Some vaccines need to be given at specific times to maximize their effect, and some need to be repeated. It can be a bit daunting to look examine those tables, as well as to try to keep track all on your own. But the good news is that your child's pediatrician can take care of all that. During the recommended checkups their doctor makes sure they are on a healthy track, and this includes immunizations, you can learn more about them by reaching out directly to your local West Jordan, UT, professionals of Southwest Children's Clinic.

Importance of Immunizations

Typically, another recommendation by experts is that you should have chosen your baby's pediatrician months before they are born, one of the primary reasons for this is that the very first appointment needs to take place just days after birth. Babies will go through six of these types of visits just within their first year, so it's important to establish that relationship early.

It's during these visits that their doctor will take the opportunity to vaccinate your child for their required immunizations.

Some of the vaccines in the schedule that they are recommended to get from birth until they are toddlers, and in no specific order, are for, hepatitis A and B, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, meningitis, pneumonia, polio, COVID-19, influenza, varicella, measles, mumps, and rubella.

It's an extensive list, although not a complete one, but those are all the types of diseases that you can help guard your child against.

Immunizations in West Jordan, UT

Make sure to bring your child in for all their recommended appointments so they can get access to every immunization, you can schedule a visit with Southwest Children's Clinic in West Jordan, UT by dialing (801) 563-1975.

You want what's best for your child. Sometimes that means helping your child prevent certain illnesses, like the flu. Our practitioners at Southwest Children's Clinic in West Jordan, UT, formulated a list of facts that about flu shots for children.

1. It's Not a Live Vaccine

While there was a nasal mist that was an attenuated one, meaning it's a weakened strain of the live virus, it's no longer on the market. The other versions use a dead strain of the virus.

2. Your Child Won't Get the Flu From the Vaccine

Your child won't get the flu from a vaccine. The symptoms he or she experiences are his or her body building up immunity.

3. Some Kids Should Absolutely Receive It

Children with an autoimmune disorder, asthma, heart problems, or various other chronic disorders should get the flu shot. The flu is more likely to be serious in these individuals.

4. Few Children Shouldn't Get It

There are only some children who shouldn't get the immunization. Those are the ones who had an allergic reaction in the past or are too young to get it. Some children with a history of Guillain-Barre also shouldn't receive it, but you can discuss your kid's specific risk and decide if it's right for them.

5. It Can Protect Others

By reducing your child's risk, it's less likely he or she will be able to spread it to others, particularly grandparents or other individuals in your family that are more prone to serious consequences from the flu.

6. It's Safe for Those Six Months and Up

After extensive studies, the flu shot has been proven to be safe for children six months and up.

7. Children Need a Yearly Flu Shot

A kid should get the flu shot at our West Jordan, UT, office every year because the immunity wanes, and the common strains change.

8. It Can Prevent Serious Complications

Although the flu isn't serious in everyone, the infection can be serious or life-threatening in some children.

9. You Should Get it for Your Child Early in the Flu Season

The average flu season lasts from September to March. Try to get it before then.

At Southwest Children's Clinic in West Jordan, UT, we offer the flu vaccines and are available for questions. Contact us at (801) 563-1975.

What you should know about your baby’s first shots.

Your pediatricians want to provide you with the accurate information you need regarding your child’s immunizations.

Your Baby’s First Shot

From the moment your child is born, they will begin their vaccine schedule, starting in the hospital. This first vaccine is the first dose to protect against the hepatitis B virus (HBV). By following the CDC’s child and teen immunization schedule, which our pediatric team follows, you can protect your newborn from 14 potentially life-threatening diseases before they turn two. After you leave the hospital, you’ll visit our office about 1-3 days after giving birth, during which we will administer the second HBV dose.

Will Vaccines Overload My Newborn’s System

We vaccinate our children more today than in the last three decades. This has some parents worried that getting regular vaccines might overload their child’s immune system. Luckily, this isn’t something that you should worry about. Fortunately, studies show that kids who get vaccines are less likely to get sick than those who miss out on certain vaccines. So, keeping up with your child’s immunization schedule will not weaken their immune system or lead them to get sick more frequently.

Are Vaccines Safe for My Newborn?

The CDC reports that the US has the safest vaccine supply in history, meaning millions of children receive safe, effective vaccines each year. Vaccines have undergone rigorous testing before being approved by the FDA. Only then can they be used on the general public. So, rest assured that these immunizations have been tested for safety and efficacy.

We know that nothing is more important than finding a doctor you trust. Here at Acton Road Pediatrics, we can trust that our team will always know your child by name. To schedule your child’s upcoming immunizations, call (205) 978-8245.