pediatric housecalls Robert R. Jarrett M.D. M.B.A. FAAP

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Showing posts from: Growth/Development

Parenting: Toilet Training Is Not a Parenting Test

Potty Trainiing: It's not rocket science you know
[Guest Author] This article on Toilet Training, is the fifth in a series of guest posts from a pediatrician I’ve never actually met but have “bonded” with because of shared ideas, opinions, experiences and philosophies—including having a penchant for medical blogging.
Read more →

Teenagers: Maturing and “THE Talk”

Father having THE talk with his teen girl and boy
[Guest Author] This article on having “THE sex talk” or sex education, is the fourth in a series of guest posts from a pediatrician I’ve never met but have bonded with over shared ideas, opinions and experiences; including having a penchant for medical blogging. This article on talking to children about sex is something that I’ve written about too, several times; it’s that important in the scheme of childrearing.
Read more →

Parenting: Four bad ages

Bad ages are universal not just in your kid
[Guest Author] This article on the “bad ages” for parenting is the second in a series of guest posts from another pediatrician I’ve never met but have bonded with. We share ideas, opinions and experiences including having a penchant for medical blogging.
Read more →

Vaccine Information Statements (VISs)

Toddler boy seemingly boored by having to receive an injection

There may not be a lot, or very often (proportionally); but, once in a while I run across a bit of “something good” on the internet.

Such is the case with a whole new section of what I would call “research summary statements” about vaccines and vaccinations from the leading research analysis team in the US, or perhaps even the world!

No, not the CIA, NASA or even Space-X – Read more →

Puberty and Underwear: Boxers, Briefs or Commando?

Boxer shorts are usually preferred once the growth spurt of puberty is underway

[I have to tell you, this article about boy’s underwear in puberty has been an interesting one to write. Mostly because I usually write about documented recommendations with scientific support and this topic is pretty much a collection of known, assumed and extrapolated suggestions from information in areas sometimes only tangentially related. Therefore it still leaves a lot of room for personal preference]

I answered a question of a 16 year-old patient who had been the subject of some school-girls’ highly personal and intrusive questioning: “What kind of Underwear do you wear? boxers, briefs or commando?” He wrote into an answer-line: “Which is best?” and I told him I’d think about it and see if there was an informed answer that covered all the Tanner Stages.
Read more →

Obesity Series: Intro/Index

Obesity, the plague of the new millennium

Obesity, it’s the “genes” you want to believe; but, really I’ve never known a “gene” to force-feed anyone, and the calories have got to come from somewhere.

And there’s that pesky research that showed a high link between obesity and the number of fast-food establishments around your house and on the way to work.

And how about twins living apart who are not both obese? And… and… and….

Is it really all genes, leaving us no hope; or is it environment and advertising? Let’s find out:

5 Posts in "Obesity" Series

  • Obesity Series: Intro/Index – 15 Jan 2016
    Obesity and how to avoid it, explaining "genes," tips for kids, fun videos and a great new skill to learn.

  • Fast Food – 16 Jan 2016
    Believe it or not, the more fast food outlets there are on your way to work the fatter you will be—genes or not!

  • 10 Ways To Ditch Obesity – 24 Jan 2016
    Have you taught your kids that all of us 2/3rds of US adults who are overweight or obese came from people JUST LIKE THEM! How can kids ditch obesity, I'll tell you.

  • Teens - Treadmill Dance – 1 Feb 2016
    Ok, in this series we've talked about the Obesity epidemic from various viewpoints. First, there was a great new research article describing a "smoking gun" of obesity: fast food. Then there was a great list for teens who'd like to kick obesity. Now a great way of loosing weight, if only some of us still had the ability.

  • Where does the fat go? – 9 Feb 2016
    In his TEDx talk, Ruben Meerman answers the question: When you lose weight… where does it go? Does fat evaporate, come out in urine or other body waste or get burned up? You'll know after watching this short and highly entertaining (there be vapors and smoke and test tubes) talk.


 

Sexual Attraction and Orientation →

Here is a link to an article for teens about sexual attraction and orientation and it’s printable. A good read for parents as well. It’s tremendously important that each teen finds a “confidant.”

[ http://kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?dn=KidsHealth&lic=1&ps=207&cat_id=20016&article_set=50685 ]

Am I Ready To Have Sex? →

“Am I ready to have sex?” That’s a question only a rare parent will ever be asked by their teen. But, they might read an article on it – like this one.

[ http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/dating-sex/Pages/Deciding%20to%20Wait.aspx ]

Parenting About Sex, Pressure and Promiscuity

Parenting: Birds and bees talk

“The Talk” isn’t over when your son or daughter says their final “good night” and walks out the door where you’ve been sitting in private discussing the… ahem… “birds and bees” stuff — not, by a long shot!
Read more→

Puberty Series: Intro/Index

growth boy when did that happen?

It’s hard to believe but less than eighty years ago humanity didn’t even have a clue about nutrition let alone what constituted adequate nutrition for a child!

During the war, there were developing so many refugee children that needed to be cared for by institutions that Great Britan decided to undertake a simple study about what “growth” looked like in children. Nothing was known about that of substance either.

Dr. James Mourilyan Tanner was asked to take over a nutrition study of institutionalized children with the intent of seeing to it that the children still grew well—whatever “well” looked like. He agreed to do it, used the scientific method, devised what is now still the definitive study on growth and puberty (the Tanner Scale) and the rest is history.

This series of posts is all about that. What it is, how it came to be, how it’s used and what we know about the study of puberty.

10 Posts in "Puberty Talk" Series

  • Puberty, Tanner Series: Intro/Index – 11 Jul 2015
    Puberty and the Tanner Scale, it's development, rationale and use in adolescent medicine, intro and index

  • Tanner Stages and Growth – 12 Jul 2015
    An explanation of the "five stages" of puberty that Dr. James Tanner developed, the physical characteristics and issues.

  • Tanner & Growth - Girls – 20 Jul 2015
    The physical stages of "Puberty" for girls as explained by the "Tanner Stages" one through five: it's characteristics and issues.

  • Tanner Stages - Boys – 28 Jul 2015
    The physical stages of "Puberty" for boys as explained by the "Tanner Stages" one through five: it's characteristics and issues.

  • Puberty: Psychological Stages – 5 Aug 2015
    Part one of the explanation about the psychological issues experienced in the first four Tanner Stages of pubertal development.

  • Puberty: Psychological Stages - Part 2 – 13 Aug 2015
    Part 2 of the discussion about the psychological states of puberty dealing with the last two "Tanner Stages" of development.

  • Video: Puberty Time Lapse – 5 Jul 2017
    A child's growth and development always interests a pediatrician. I ran across an effort by a parent to document his child's trip into adulthood with something more than the obligatory photo in a bathtub or school photos. It's an interesting journey into maturity which they will probably both watch many times and a valuable way to document what it took to get where they are now. No wonder teens eat so much and need so much sleep.

  • Doctor's Talking About Puberty and Sex to Patients – 28 Aug 2017
    This post is about a study I found where researchers examined how well doctors do at teaching and helping patients with sexual related issues.

  • FAQ - Boxers, Brief's or Commando – 28 Aug 2018
    A preliminary answer to a puzzled teens online question to his doctor after being embarrassed by girls at a party who asked him "what do you wear, boxers, briefs or commando?" He asked, "is there a best?" and his doctor asked if I'd take a crack at answering him.

  • Boys Underwear: Boxers, Briefs or Commando - explanation, recommendations – 22 Sep 2018
    A probably way too exhaustive post giving an answer to an embarrassed teens question: "Is there a 'best' one: boxer, brief or commando?"


If you’d like to read a bit more about historical medicine, you’d do well to peruse the Top 50 Doctors of All Time series as well.

Child/Teen Immunization Schedule, 2014: Changes You Should Know

5th grader being immunized by nurse - immunization schedule

Look, it’s getting so even I’m getting tired talking about immunization schedule, but every time I think about throwing up my hands I remember very clearly (as if it was yesterday) being sent down to the lower hospital ward to retrieve a piece of equipment and needing to push an Iron Lung out of the way in order to get to it.
(more…)

Immunization Schedule: Birth to Eighteen →

Immunization schedule that can be printed out. From the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

[https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/child-adolescent.html]

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