HEALTHY LIFE
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PARENT ING Just Say NO
RIDING IN THE FRONT SEAT. The CDC recommends that kids age 12 and younger ride in the back seat of a vehicle and are properly secured with a seatbelt, car seat or booster seat, whichever is appropriate based on their age, height and weight. “Kids 12 and under should ride in the backseat,” says Dr.
Shleifer. “A lot of parents forget this once their kids get bigger.”
Four common activities one Scripps pediatrician says children should never be allowed to do
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RIDING AN E-SCOOTER. A recent study found that over the past decade, the number of pediatric patients taken to hospitals for e-scooter injuries rose from 1 in 20 to 1 in 8. The average age of the patient was 11. Not only are e-scooters potentially dangerous, but your child could also be facing legal ramifications if they’re caught riding. In the state of California, it’s illegal for anyone under age 16 to operate an
KIDS DON’T ALWAYS HAVE the best judgment when it comes to balancing safety and fun. Though you can’t protect your children from everything, there are a few things that should be banned across the board for safety reasons, says Benjamin Shleifer, MD, pediatrician, Scripps Coastal Medical Center, Oceanside. “Summer doesn’t really end in September,” he says. “Even though kids are back in school, they still like adventures.” These are the four activities Dr. Shleifer says kids should avoid at all costs. The list isn’t comprehensive, he cautions, so when in doubt, look for recommendations from accredited agencies, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 1
e-scooter and the driver must at least have a learner’s permit. “Children under 16 should not operate or ride on a motorized e-scooter,” Dr. Shleifer says.
RIDING ATVS. All-terrain vehicles have killed more than 3,000 children and sent nearly a million others to the emergency department, according to the AAP. The dire statistics prompted the AAP to issue a statement last year urging parents to keep children under 16 off ATVs because “youth do not have the physical, mental and cognitive maturity to operate ATVs safely.” “I've seen very bad accidents happen from kids riding ATVs that ended up sending them to the ICU,” says Dr. Shleifer. “ATVs should be off limits.” PLAYING AROUND WATER UNSUPERVISED. Safe Kids Worldwide recommends keeping kids within arm’s length around water and not allowing yourself to get distracted. “Water safety doesn't end in the summertime; it’s important year round,” Dr. Shleifer says.
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Back-to-school stress could be behind
your child’s gastrointestinal issues TRESS AND ANXIETY have been linked to gastrointestinal (GI) issues in people of all ages, but for kids and teens, something like an upcoming test or uncomfortable social interaction can trigger severe abdominal pain and unpleasant symptoms like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
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“Kids feel stressed just like adults do, and the start of the school year is a very common time to see it,” says Christopher Price, MD, pediatrician, Scripps Clinic, Rancho Bernardo. The GI tract, which is modulated by the nervous system, is very complex. Things like stress, anxiety and lack of sleep can affect the way the GI tract functions. Also, many of the neurotransmitters that control moods—the same ones that control pain and digestion—are produced in the gut. The first step to getting to the bottom of your child’s GI issues is acknowledging that their pain is real, though many children won’t bring it up because they’re afraid that you’ll think they're exaggerating or making it up. “When we're in states of stress our brain can inadvertently interpret signals coming from our GI tract as pain when there's really nothing there. That’s not to say they're making up the pain—they're truly feeling the pain, it's just that their brain is incorrectly
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manifesting these signals as a perception of pain,” says Dr. Price. Not sure if it’s stress? Look for other signs, like changes in behavior and activity level, sleeping and eating more or less than usual and seeming withdrawn or down. You may not even realize there’s a problem until you start asking questions. If you feel that stress is affecting your child’s quality of life, consult their pediatrician. “It can be difficult, but you know your child best,” says Dr. Price.
8 SAN DIEGO HEALTH | FALL 2023
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