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Pediatric House Call Solutions, Milford, CT (2026)

08/09/2026

Backpack Shopping For Kids

Many backpacks come with multiple compartments that help students stay organized while they tote their books and papers from home to school and back again. Compared with shoulder bags, messenger bags, or purses, backpacks are better because strong muscles — the back and the abdominal muscles — support the weight of the packs.

When worn correctly, the weight in a backpack is evenly distributed across the body, and shoulder and neck injuries are less common than if someone carried a briefcase or purse.

As practical as backpacks are, though, they can strain muscles and joints and may cause back pain if they're too heavy or are used incorrectly.

Here's how to help kids find — and use — the right backpack.

Problems Backpacks Can Pose
Many things can lead to back pain — like playing sports or exercising a lot, poor posture while sitting, and long periods of inactivity. But some kids have backaches because they're lugging around their entire locker's worth of books, school supplies, and personal items all day long.

Healthcare clincians and physical therapists recommend that kids carry no more than 10% to 15% of their body weight in their packs. But many carry a lot more than that. When a heavy backpack is incorrectly placed on the shoulders, the weight's force can pull a child backward. To compensate, the child might bend forward at the hips or arch the back. This can make the spine compress unnaturally, leading to shoulder, neck, and back pain.

Kids who wear their backpacks over just one shoulder — as many do, because they think it looks better or just feels easier — may end up leaning to one side to offset the extra weight. They might develop lower and upper back pain and strain their shoulders and neck.

Improper backpack use can also lead to bad posture. Girls and younger kids may be especially at risk for backpack-related injuries because they're smaller and may carry loads that are heavier in proportion to their body weight.

Also, backpacks with tight, narrow straps that dig into the shoulders can interfere with circulation and nerves. These types of straps can lead to tingling, numbness, and weakness in the arms and hands.

And bulky or heavy backpacks don't just cause back injuries. Other safety issues to consider:

Kids who carry large packs often aren't aware of how much space the packs take up and can hit others with their packs when turning around or moving through tight spaces, such as the aisles of a school bus.
Students can be injured if they trip over large packs or a pack falls on them.
Carrying a heavy pack changes the way kids walk and puts them at risk of falling, particularly on stairs or other places where a backpack puts a student off balance.
Finding a Safe Pack
Despite their potential problems, backpacks are great when used properly. Before you buy one, though, consider a backpack's construction.

Look for the following to choose the right backpack:

a lightweight pack: get one that doesn't add a lot of weight to your child's load; for example, leather packs look cool, but they weigh more than canvas backpacks
two wide, padded shoulder straps: straps that are too narrow can dig into shoulders
a padded back: it not only provides increased comfort, but also protects kids from being poked by sharp objects or edges (pencils, rulers, notebooks, etc.) inside the pack
a waist belt: this helps to distribute the weight more evenly across the body
multiple compartments: to help distribute the weight throughout the pack
Although packs on wheels (which look like small, overhead luggage bags) may be good options for students who have to lug around really heavy loads, they're very hard to pull up stairs and to roll through snow. Check with the school before buying a rolling pack; many don't allow them because they can be a tripping hazard in the hallways.

The Pediatric Office Comes To You!
Our service lets you avoid the germy office. Avoid the inconvenient and awkward appointment times. Avoid dragging well children with your sick child so they get exposed to germs. Avoid the long waits and short visits. We stay until ALL of your questions are answered and you understand the situation. Pediatric House Call Solutions comes to you, respecting your busy schedule. Your child stays in bed, resting, watching TV, whatever. We bring the entire pediatric office to your home. Most insurances, Husky accepted. No extra charge. Give us a call at (203) 893-5394.

07/11/2026

Parents,
Summertime is usually a season where there is a dramatic decrease in infectious disease. Things like strept, bronchitis, sinusitis and other illnesses are much less frequently seen (they’re out there though, unfortunately, with some “special” summer illnesses). The incidences of things like swimmer’s ear, playground injuries, poison ivy and other pathologies go way up, however. Give us a call if we can help out.

Housecalls for sick kids. We come right to the house. All testing done right there. Your child stays in bed, watching TV, whatever. No more germy offices, long waits, in and out visits. Call (203) 893-5394. Charles Wetmore APRN with over 30 years of pediatric experience comes to the house. We test for the Flu, Strept, RSV, Mono, UTI's, and much more. Husky and most insurances accepted. No extra fee. Give us a call if we can help out

07/09/2026

Parents,
Summer and warm weather are synonomous with swimmer's ear. The medical term for swimmer's ear is otitis externa (OE). Although it is an ear infection it is completely unrelated to the ear infection that a child gets with a cold.
OE is an infection of the skin in the ear canal. Nearly all of us have experienced the mechanics that cause OE. When one spends an extended period of time in a pool or bathtub the skin of their fingers become wrinkled or "pruney". The same thing happens when water sits on the skin in the ear canal.
The skin in the ear becomes fragile. It breaks open easily and becomes inflammed and infected. One's ear is exquisitely sensitive. The slightest insult causes severe pain.
The treatment for OE usually involves the application of antibiotic drops with a mixture of a hydrocortisone soothing solution. Infrequently, oral antibiotics are used as well as a "wick" which is inserted into the ear to aid in the delivery of the medicine. The insertion of the wick is usually a painful procedure.
The ear often becomes swollen, the child has difficulty hearing from the ear, yellow/green fluid seeps from the ear, the child is very uncomfortable and sometimes developes a fever. Rarer still, the child's face can become swollen on the affected side.
Many times parents try to use "ear plugs" to prevent water from entering the ear. In general, these plugs infrequently work, are painful and can be very exspensive.
Here is a better solution. Go to the store and purchase a bottle of rubbing alcohol and white vinegar. Mix the fluids together 50/50. Every time the child exits the water for the day (pool, lake, ocean) apply a "splash" of the concoction to each ear (about 1 teaspoon). The alcohol dries the ear out and the vinegar creates an acidic environment that prevents the growth of bacteria. Do not apply this concoction to a child with an acute case of OE! The alcohol will sting and cause intense pain.
The mixture of alcohol and vinegar can be stored on a shelf at room temperature and used all summer long.

The Pediatric Office Comes To You!
Our service lets you avoid the germy office. Avoid the inconvenient and awkward appointment times. Avoid dragging well children with your sick child so they get exposed to germs. Avoid the long waits and short visits. We stay until ALL of your questions are answered and you understand the situation. Pediatric House Call Solutions comes to you, respecting your busy schedule. Your child stays in bed, resting, watching TV, whatever. We bring the entire pediatric office to your home. Most insurances, Husky accepted. No extra charge. Give us a call at (203) 893-5394.

06/29/2026

4th of July/Fireworks Safety Tips

The National Safety Council has deemed the 4th of July the most dangerous holiday of the year. So before going outside to celebrate, be sure to look over these safety tips for the Fourth of July.

Ear safety
According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, one in five American teens suffer some type of hearing loss from various causes. Noise from fireworks can reach levels higher than 155 decibels. To limit dangers of hearing loss, fear and panic from the blasts, ensure that you and your family:

Sit more than 500 feet from where fireworks are launched. If your child tells you his/her ears are buzzing or ringing, it’s a sign that you should move farther away.

Bring earplugs for every family member over 7 years old, and use child-sized ear muffs for your smaller children and babies. Earmuffs are known to effectively reduce dangerous levels of noise on babies as young as six weeks old.
Comfort and reassure your frightened child, and be prepared to make a quick getaway if that doesn’t work. Alternatively, plan to watch the show from your car or a rooftop deck so that a scared little one has somewhere safe to go inside.

Food safety
The 4th of July and grilling go hand in hand. Here are some food safety tips to keep in mind:
Use soap and water to clean all surfaces, utensils, and hands.
Use different plates for raw vs. cooked foods – do not put that perfectly grilled burger back on the same platter where you prepped before cooking.

Use a food thermometer to be sure you have cooked your food to a safe temperature. Burgers should be cooked to 160° Fahrenheit.
Bring plenty of ice or cold packs for your cooler. Do not leave food at room temperature for longer than two hours (one hour if outdoor temperatures spike above 90° Fahrenheit).

Crowd safety
If you plan on attending a fireworks show or other crowded event:
Talk to your children about stranger safety.
Make a plan to meet up or stay put throughout the event.

If lost, teach your children to find a security or police officer, or if they cannot spot someone immediately, to find another parent who has children with them, and ask her for help.
Tag your children using a temporary tattoo, a bracelet, or a sharpie with your emergency contact information.

Eye safety
Thousands of people, many of them children, suffer eye injuries from fireworks each year. The best way to avoid injury is by attending a professional public fireworks show rather than putting on your own fireworks show.

Fireworks safety
Try to attend professional fireworks displays in communities surrounding the shows:
Respect safety barriers and view fireworks from at least 500 feet away.

Do not touch unexploded fireworks; instead, immediately contact local fire or police departments to help.

If you decide to purchase your own fireworks, follow these safety tips to prevent eye injuries:
Never let young children play with fireworks of any type, even sparklers.

People who handle fireworks should always wear protective eyewear that meets the parameters set by the American National Standards Institute and ensure that all bystanders are also wearing eye protection.
Leave the lighting of professional-grade fireworks to trained pyrotechnicians and adults.
If an eye injury from fireworks occurs:
Seek medical attention immediately.
Do not rub your eyes.
Do not rinse your eyes.
Do not apply pressure.
Do not remove any objects that are stuck in the eye.
Do not apply ointments or take any blood-thinning pain medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen.

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!
The Pediatric Office Comes To You!
Our service lets you avoid the germy office. Avoid the inconvenient and awkward appointment times. Avoid dragging well children with your sick child so they get exposed to germs. Avoid the long waits and short visits. We stay until ALL of your questions are answered and you understand the situation. Pediatric House Call Solutions comes to you, respecting your busy schedule. Your child stays in bed, resting, watching TV, whatever. We bring the entire pediatric office to your home. Most insurances, Husky A&B accepted. No extra charge. Give us a call at (203) 893-5394.

06/19/2026

Parents, here are some tips to make summer vacation productive and healthy for the kids:

1. STRUCTURED ROUTINE

Even Summer Break needs some order.

During Summer Break, it’s tempting to let loose and throw routine out the window. However, maintaining a structured routine can benefit you and your child. Consistency in a daily schedule helps foster a sense of stability and security while setting clear expectations that can prevent chaos from taking over. So embrace a flexible routine that strikes a balance between fun and structure.

2. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IS KEY

Get those little legs moving!

Encouraging your child to engage in physical activity and outdoor play isn’t just about keeping them busy– it’s about keeping them healthy and happy. Not only does physical activity boost physical health but it also boosts mood, cognition, and social skills! So, get them off the couch and onto a playground at summer camp or with friends and watch them thrive.

3. MAINTAINING A HEALTHY ROUTINE: EATING HABITS, SLEEP, & HYDRATION

Just because it’s break time doesn’t mean you toss your healthy habits out the window like last year’s homework. Make sure to keep up with a balanced diet and quality sleep that fuels your summer shenanigans and get moving with some fun exercise. Just like a wilting flower, kids need water to bloom in the summer heat. Make sure your little ones are drinking enough water to keep them thriving in the warm months. And don’t forget, water fights count as hydration too!

4. BUDGET-FRIENDLY SUMMER FUN IDEAS

Who says summer fun has to break the bank? Explore budget-friendly outdoor activities like picnics in the park, hiking trails, or organizing a friendly sports tournament. Enjoying the great outdoors doesn’t have to cost a fortune!

DIY and Home-Based Entertainment

Bring the fun indoors with DIY and home-based entertainment ideas. From movie marathons to board game nights to trying out new recipes, there are plenty of ways to have a blast without emptying your wallet.

5. SETTING GOALS AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Summer break does not have to be a break from learning. Encourage your kids to explore the world around them. Whether, it’s through books, nature walks, or STEM activities. Help your child set some summer goals that are attainable and fun. Whether it’s mastering a new hobby, reading a certain number of books, or learning a new dance. Setting and achieving goals can boost your child’s confidence faster than you can say “Summer Vacation”.

06/12/2026

Summer Fun

Parents, summer fun starts super soon. I’ll be having some more detailed information regarding sunscreen shortly. FYI, the FDA just approved a sunscreen protective ingredient that may VERY WELL greatly benefit children.

Housecalls for sick kids. We come right to the house. All testing done right there. Your child stays in bed, watching TV, whatever. No more germy offices, long waits, in and out visits. Call (203) 893-5394. Charles Wetmore APRN with over 30 years of pediatric experience comes to the house. We test for the Flu, Strept, RSV, Mono, UTI's, and much more. Husky and most insurances accepted. No extra fee. Give us a call if we can help out

06/02/2026

Swimming Safety

When it comes to spotting your child in the water, the color of their swimsuit can make a big difference. Before purchasing new swimwear this season, see how visible certain colors are in pool, ocean, and lake water.

Housecalls for sick kids. We come right to the house. All testing done right there. Your child stays in bed, watching TV, whatever. No more germy offices, long waits, in and out visits. Call (203) 893-5394. Charles Wetmore APRN with over 30 years of pediatric experience comes to the house. We test for the Flu, Strept, RSV, Mono, UTI's, and much more. Husky and most insurances accepted. No extra fee. Give us a call if we can help out

05/28/2026

Parents, the warm weather is coming. We will all be heading to the pool or beach. If you do use these devices, make sure you are still watching your kid like a hawk.

Housecalls for sick kids. We come right to the house. All testing done right there. Your child stays in bed, watching TV, whatever. No more germy offices, long waits, in and out visits. Call (203) 893-5394. Charles Wetmore APRN with over 30 years of pediatric experience comes to the house. We test for the Flu, Strept, RSV, Mono, UTI's, and much more. Husky and most insurances accepted. No extra fee. Give us a call if we can help out

05/24/2026

Avoiding Tick Bites
Parents, as we enter the warmer months of spring and summer, many of us will be playing with our children in the outdoors. This outdoor play is a welcome change to the months of cold weather, and often, inside confinement. The outside play will give us many hours of enjoyment but it is not without it’s concerns. Besides the worries of sunburn, animal bites, playground safety, and others, the worry about tick bites and the diseases they may carry loom in front of us. Although the specter of Lyme Disease and other tick borne illnesses scare us all, the myths surrounding the disease are, often times, worse than the realities. Regardless of this, preventing tick bites is the best defense against these concerns. The following is some information that can help avoid tick bites in general

Avoid Direct Contact with Ticks

Avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter.
Walk in the center of trails.

Repel Ticks with DEET or Permethrin
Use repellents that contain 20 to 30% DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) on clothing for protection that lasts up to several hours. Always follow product instructions. Parents should apply this product to their children, avoiding the skin and especially the hands, eyes, and mouth. Later in this post, we will briefly discuss why DEET insect repellents are NOT good for direct contact on the skin.
Also, use products that contain permethrin. Treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks and tents with products containing 0.5% permethrin. It remains protective through several washings. Pre-treated clothing is available and may be protective longer.

Find and Remove Ticks from Your Body
Bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors (preferably within two hours) to wash off and more easily find ticks that are crawling on you.
Conduct a full-body tick check using a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body upon return from tick-infested areas. Parents should check their children for ticks under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, behind the knees, between the legs, around the waist, and especially in their hair.
Examine gear and pets. Ticks can ride into the home on clothing and pets, then attach to a person later, so carefully examine pets, coats, and day packs.
Tumble clothes in a dryer on high heat for an hour to kill remaining ticks. (Some research suggests that shorter drying times may also be effective, particularly if the clothing is not wet.)

The above is some excellent advice on avoiding tick bites. A quick word about insect repellants that contain DEET. DEET, in any strength, is absolutely fine to spray on your children’s clothes. Repellants that contain large concentrations of DEET are not the best thing to apply directly to a child’s skin. Evidence of neurological insult exist. There is some debate on this subject. To be on the safe side, I recommend repellants that contain no more than 10% DEET directly on the skin. Lower concentrations are even better. Again, however, high concentrations of DEET are absolutely fine on clothes.

Housecalls for sick kids. We come right to the house. All testing done right there. Your child stays in bed, watching TV, whatever. No more germy offices, long waits, in and out visits. Call (203) 893-5394. Charles Wetmore APRN with over 30 years of pediatric experience comes to the house. We test for the Flu, Strept, RSV, Mono, UTI's, and much more. Husky and most insurances accepted. No extra fee. Give us a call if we can help out

05/18/2026

Parents,
I am getting more and more calls for children having coughs, runny noses, sore throats and other symptoms. We are thick in the midst of spring allergy season. Currently it is the tree pollen that is causing issues. Soon it will be the grass then weeds.

Allergies effect many of us differently. Most of us will have some element of nasal congestion. For some, this will be very severe. Others will have red, itchy eyes. Some children develop dark circles under the eyes. These are known in the medical business as “allergic shiners”. It is caused by a pooling of blood under the eyes. It is not at all dangerous but cosmetically alarming. A large portion of children exhibit what is known as the “allergic salute”. It is a red, irritated patch under a child’s nose from incessant wiping. Again, it is no dangerous, but looks bad. Some children will develop increasing fatigue and poor sleep. This is a very common symptom of allergies and, actually, one of the most irritating. There are other symptoms as well. A child may develop one symptom, a combination of symptoms, or all of them.

There several different strategies to combat allergies. The first order of business is to determine that allergies are what are causing the difficulties. Allergies do not cause fever but may cause a slightly elevated temperature. They can, however, cause other problems that do create fever: such as ear infections, sinusitis, bronchitis, etc. but they, alone, do not cause fever. There are many clinical features that accompany allergies. If you have any doubt or questions, see your healthcare provider. After a careful history and physical exam, a healthcare provider can determine if allergies are the root of the problem.

Combating allergies is both a very simple process, yet sometimes a difficult one. The first thing is to establish the cause. If you have been fine for months and all of a sudden your eyes are getting red, the need for extensive allergy testing is not present. If it floats, swims, and flies like a duck-it is a duck. No tree pollen, no symptoms, then tree pollen and symptoms, it is the trees. Avoiding tree pollen is very difficult. All of us need to go outside for something. If the cat at your aunt’s house is the culprit, the cat might be avoided. However, if it is trees, no such option exists.

If you are in a situation where the allergen culprit cannot be avoided there are some options available. There are several over the counter medicines that work well. All were once available only via prescription, but several years ago they became over the counter and are easier to obtain.

One of these medicines is loratadine. It is commonly known as Claritin. The medicine comes in a liquid, chewable tablet, and a swallow pill. It is non-sedating and fine for a child to take and go to school. For a child age 2-6 a 5mg dose, once a day is fine. For children age 6 years and up, a 10 mg dose once a day is fine. The generic version that you buy at CVS is just as effective as “Claritin” but a lot cheaper.

Another great medicine is cetirizine. It is commonly known as “Zyrtec”. I feel it works better that loratadine, but it can make a child sleepy. I tend to recommend this medicine at bedtime due to it’s sedating effects. It also comes in a liquid, chewable, and swallow form. For children ages 2-6 years, a 5mg dose is fine. For children ages 6 years and up, a 10mg dose. Again, generic cetirizine works great.

A medicine very similar to Zyrtec is Xyzal. It also works very well and in a similar fashion (meaning it can make a child sleepy). The generic form is called levocetirizine. It comes in a liquid, chewable and swallow form. For children ages 2-5 years, a 1.25mg dose is sufficient. Children ages 6-11 years, 2.5mg and age 12 years and up 5mg. The generic form works as well as the brand name.

Fexofenadine, or “Allegra” is yet another anti-allergy option. it, too, comes in a variety of forms; liquid, chewable, and swallow. It is non-sedating and is fine for a child going to school. A dose for a child 2 years to 12 is 30mg once or twice a day. A dose for a child 12 and up is 60mg once or twice a day or 180mg once a day. Generic fexofenadine is fine.

All of these allergy medicine claim to last for 24 hours. This may be true, but during severe allergy season, I find that these medicines often do not provide the 24 hours of coverage that is heralded. If you are finding that these medicines are not providing 24 hour coverage, talk to your healthcare provider. I have often "bridged" a child with 2 allergy medications: Like loratadine in the morning and cetirizine in the evening.

There are a variety of nasal steroids that were once via prescription only but have recently become over the counter. It is important for a parent to understand that these medicines often take at least 4 days to start working. Perhaps, more importantly, I have yet to meet a child who likes to shove medicine up their nose.

Allergies are a squirrely business. They are often times difficult to treat and manage. I expect to have more information in the coming days. If you have any questions or concerns, please give me a call.

The Pediatric Office Comes To You!
Housecalls for sick kids. We come right to the house. All testing done right there. Your child stays in bed, watching TV, whatever. No more germy offices, long waits, in and out visits. Call (203) 893-5394. Charles Wetmore APRN with over 30 years of pediatric experience comes to the house. We test for the Flu, Strept, RSV, Mono, UTI's, and much more. Husky and most insurances accepted. No extra fee. Give us a call if we can help out

Pediatric House Call Solutions

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