Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
We hope that all of our Fairhope Pediatric families had a wonderful holiday season and are having a great start to 2023.
Did you make any resolutions for the new year?
The new year is a great chance for small changes and creating new habits or resolutions. These resolutions can be a great conversation starter for families with kids of all ages. Remember to keep it fun. Involving kids in the decision-making can be fun for the entire family and hopefully create some lifelong healthy habits.
Not sure how to direct your children to make age-appropriate resolutions? Check out some of the suggestions from HealthyChildren.org below.
New Year’s resolution ideas for preschoolers:
- I will try hard to clean up my toys by putting them where they belong.
- I will let my parents help me brush my teeth twice a day.
- I will wash my hands after going to the bathroom and before eating.
- I will try new foods when I can, especially all the different colors of vegetables.
New Year’s resolution ideas for kids (5 to 12 years old):
- I will drink water every day and healthy beverages like milk with meals. I will keep soda and fruit drinks only for special times.
- I will wear my seat belt every time I get in a car. I’ll sit in the back seat and use a booster seat until I am tall enough to use a lap/shoulder seat belt.
- I will try to find a physical activity (like playing tag, jumping rope, dancing, or riding my bike) or a sport I like and do it at least three times a week!
- I will take care of my skin by putting on sunscreen and wearing a hat and sunglasses when possible.
New Year’s resolution ideas for teens (13 years old and older):
- I will try to eat two servings of fruit and two servings of vegetables every day. I will drink sodas or fruit drinks only at special times.
- When faced with a difficult decision, I will talk about my choices with an adult I can trust.
- When I notice my friends are struggling, being bullied, or making risky choices, I will look for a trusted adult so that we can attempt to find a way to help.
- I will try to get the 8 to 10 hours of sleep that my body needs each night.
Winter Car Seat Safety
Winter brings along colder temperatures to lower Alabama, and something we have to keep in mind is winter car seat safety. It is easy for us to dress babies and young children in many layers to keep them protected from the cold, but these layers could make it more difficult to keep them secured properly in their car seats.
Here are some of our top winter car seat safety tips:
- Dress your child in thin layers. Start with close-fitting layers on the bottom, like tights, leggings, or long-sleeved bodysuits. Then add pants and a warmer top, like a sweater, or a thermal-knit shirt. Your child can wear a thin fleece jacket over the top. In very cold weather, long underwear is also a warm and safe layering option.
- Tighten the straps of the car seat harness. Even if your child looks securely fastened in the car seat, multiple layers may make it difficult to tighten the harness enough. If you can pinch the straps of the car seat harness, then it needs to be tightened to fit more snug against your child’s chest.
- Use a coat or blanket over the straps. You can add a blanket over the top of the harness straps or put your child’s winter coat on backwards (over the buckled harness straps) after they are buckled up.
For further guidance and advice on winter car seat safety, please click here.
Birthdays
Help us celebrate two birthdays this month!
We want to say Happy Birthday to Kayla (1/5) and Jennifer (1/10). If you see Kayla in the office or speak with Jennifer on the phone this month, please give them some birthday wishes.
Anniversaries
We are also celebrating two work anniversaries this month.
Lindsey is celebrating her 4th year working with us, and Courtnie has been working with us for a year. We love having them both at Fairhope Pediatrics!
